Medair is an international humanitarian organization established in 1988. Medair has been operating in Afghanistan since 1996 with programs mainly in the Health, Water & Sanitation, and Livelihoods sectors with significant reconstruction activities in remote areas. Current projects are Water & Sanitation, Food Security, & Disaster Risk Reduction.

An Integrated Emergency Response: Medair aims to respond to high levels of food insecurity, malnutrition, and morbidity in Tirinkot district.  The project intends to improve and extend WASH services including water supply infrastructure and hygiene practices to improve outcomes for vulnerable families.

An Integrated Emergency Response: Medair aims to respond to high levels of food insecurity, malnutrition, and morbidity in Uruzgan, which has been significantly affected by drought and conflict conditions. Building upon Medair’s decades of experience in the Central Highlands and Kandahar, the project intends to improve and extend utilisation of lifesaving preventive and curative nutrition and health services by mothers, PLWs and children U5; to increase access to clean water, to reduce vulnerability to water-related and other preventable diseases, and to improve and increase food security for the most vulnerable families through food voucher distributions.

OVERALL, PURPOSE

The Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) & Food Security (FS) Advisor provides technical advice and support to management and project staff, delivers training, and ensures quality programming. On a day-to-day basis this involves developing, leading, monitoring and evaluating technical aspects of the country programme activities in WASH (60% time) and Food Security (primarily through Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) (40% time). The role includes coordinating and networking at a senior level with national and regional authorities, clusters, and other NGOs, providing capacity building for national and international staff, championing best practice (international and Medair) in the programmes, and contributing to the overall management of the country programme. The WASH & food Security Advisor will advise on assessment and survey design, for existing and new project areas. Provide technical advice and ensure quality programming in WASH and some Food Security aspects of programmes. Provide capacity building for national and international Project Managers. The role Holder will be the Point of contact in the country programme for HQ sector Technical Advisors. Champion best practice (international and Medair) in the WASH programmes and contributing to the overall management of the country programme.

General Duties and Responsibilities

Project Management

• Maintain an overview of the country WASH & Food Security programme(s) and of the regional context, with a view to strategically developing new projects in current sites and / or in surrounding regions.
• Monitor the project quality outcomes and make necessary recommendations including corrective action related to changes to the project scope, project schedule and project costs in consultation with project and senior management.
• Participate in the recruitment of staff for the country programme, providing advice on technical skills and experience as requested. 
• Carry out regular monitoring visits in conjunction with other field project managers, ensuring that project objectives are met within the stated timeframes and in accordance with recognised international standards.
• Supervise and monitor the development of reporting systems for data collection (qualitative and quantitative), analysis and follow-up and feedback to relevant staff, donors, partners, and other agencies.
• Maintain an oversight of WASH supplies ordered for the WASH projects, supporting the WASH and logistics staff in the coordination and quality control of WASH supplies.

• Provide input into the integration of beneficiary participation and accountability in all aspects of Projects.
• Develop new project design for WASH, HHP, Food Sec and DRR components of projects, in consultation with wider senior management team.

Representation

• Develop and maintain relationships with UN, NGOs, donors, partners, and other stakeholders, with the objective of raising public awareness of Medair and ensuring good co-operation and partnerships.
• Seek out relevant networks or task groups on specific Sector -related humanitarian aid issues and actively participate, if possible
• Accompany donors on field trips, as requested, and ensure programme details are transmitted in a timely and professional manner.
• Represent Medair, as appropriate, at coordination, sector, and bilateral meetings, working groups, with national and / or local government departments and any other relevant meetings or events, facilitating supportive synergies and overall progress in the WASH sector and avoiding duplication with the work of other agencies (e.g. NGOs, UN Clusters, etc)

Staff Management

• Participate in the recruitment of WASH, Food Security and DRR staff for the country programme, providing advice on technical skills and experience as requested. 
• Ensure that all WASH staff are adequately trained and, if necessary, create possibilities for capacity building, mentoring, and coaching, within budget constraints. Plan and develop training material as required.
• Support line managers in inductions and appraisals of WASH staff, particularly about technical skills.

Financial Management

• Work with the DCD, Projects Coordinator and relevant field project managers and HQ staff to plan and construct Sector budgets.
• Work with the DCD, Projects Coordinator to ensure the project expenditure is in line with approved budgets, advising on potential under / overspend and recommending appropriate corrective action.

Quality Management

• Promote and use the Medair e-library and other operating procedures, ensuring that all standardised formats are used, and guidelines are followed.
• Ensure WASH & Food security projects are implemented in line with donor proposals and requirements and in accordance with Medair, donor, country, and international standards e.g. Sphere and HAP standards, WHO recommendations, etc. Follow the direction of the WASH Advisor at HQ regarding quality, strategy, and technical guidelines.
• Ensure sectoral integration, learning, sharing and adoption of best practices to ensure quality of projects in liaison with other sector advisors, and under advice of GSO WASH Advisor.

Maintain a resource library for the WASH, Food Sec, HHP and DRR teams and keep up to date with the latest trends and updates within the sector. Ensure staff have access to necessary and appropriate information as required. 

Delegated Responsibilities

• Development of and adherence to the in-country WASH and FS policy, strategy, and guidelines in consultation with other relevant field managers and HQ staff
• Oversight of the technical aspects of the WASH and FS projects, including recommendations for WASH and FS staff objectives, training, promotion, and disciplinary action
• Responsible for the WASH & Food security sections of donor proposals and reports and for all administrative records for the sectoral components of the projects
• Oversight of Sectoral budgets, ensuring implementation within agreed parameters and timeframes
• Oversight and management of stock levels for WASH and FS projects in consultation with other relevant field managers.
• Take the lead in WASH and FS aspects of external relations in the country with authorities and government ministries, UN agencies, partner NGOs and donors, in consultation with the Country Director

Vocational qualification

• BSc in Water or Environmental or Agriculture Engineering; or Management or Civil Engineering or Hydrology / Geology
• Postgraduate degree in relevant subject

Relevant Work Experiences

• Relevant post-qualification professional experience, in a management position
• At least 5-years’ experience in relief work with an NGO managing and coordinating WASH/ CVA preferably in an emergency context.
• Experience of the humanitarian sector in an emergency context
• Project Management experience
• Programme development and monitoring and evaluation skills and experience.
• Experience of Participatory Disaster management and Community Based Development

Language Skills

Good English, Pashto and Dari (spoken and written)

IT Skills

• Computer literate with good working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook
• Experience using GIS software.
• Trained in quantitative and qualitative data analysis programs

Motivation

• Self-motivated, energetic, hard-working,

Team building

• Team-player with good inter-personal skills
• Committed to team-building and able to develop and support other team members
• Conflict management skills

Adaptability

• Capacity to work under pressure and manage personal stress levels.
• Creative, open-minded, flexible, self-learner.
• Able to travel to provincial teams as required.
• Willingness to be stretched professionally, and personally.
• Able to persevere in the face of difficulties and discouragements.
• Actively looking for ways to improve the quality of Medair’s work

Technical Expertise

• Excellent proposal and report writing skills (including ability to develop and report on log-frames and a knowledge of indicators and impact).
• Experience in the design, monitoring of implementation and evaluation of public WASH programmes.
• Knowledge of Humanitarian Essentials, Sphere and HAP Standards, protection issues and other international humanitarian guidelines and protocols
• Knowledge and experience of the principles and the design, monitoring, implementation, and evaluation of humanitarian projects
• Good financial management skills (budget design and control)
• Excellent negotiation/advocacy skills within varying cultural and professional contexts, in particular regarding donors and government officials
• Excellent time management and an ability to meet goals.
• Commitment to best practice
• Advanced planning, assessment, and analytical skills
• Good report and proposal writing skills.
• Problem solving ability
• Networking and advocacy skills
• Experience in dealing with donors and government officials.
• Good knowledge of UN and other humanitarian actors and of current humanitarian debates and issues
• Trained in quantitative and qualitative data analysis programmes

Management & Leadership

• Advanced leadership and project management skills
• Committed to consultative leadership.
• Excellent communication skills
• Experience and willingness in training/mentoring staff.
• Problem solver, dynamic, mature
• Experience of representation at national and local levels

Work Conditions

Kabul based position with frequent Field travels.

Interested applicants should apply and forward their applications through the online JOB APPLICATION FORM which could be found under the submission email. The link should be copied, pasted and opened in a new page.

Note: Please indicate the position tittle and vacancy number in your application letter. Applications received after the closing date or without the exact position title and vacancy number will not be given consideration. After submitting the online application, if some applicants do not immediately receive an automatic email from Medair, they shouldn't worry about their submission. When you open the link. please use the dropdown menu and choose the tittle of the position.

Note: 

Medair will provide the following benefits for the selected candidate:

• Competitive salary 
• Employment benefits such as (medical, transportation, economic hardship, food, Mahram and accommodation for non-residents)
• Annual leave, sick leave, maternity leave, and other types of leave as per Medair policy.