World Vision (WV) has recently been awarded a multi-million EUR grant from the European Union (EU) to lead a consortium of partners to implement their Accelerating Health Agriculture and Nutrition (AHAN) project under pillar three of the EU’s Partnership for Improved Nutrition in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR). Consortium partners include World Vision Australia (lead) with 4 implementing partners: World Vision Laos, Agronomes et Vétérinaires Sans Frontière (AVSF), Green Community Development Association (GCDA) and the Burnet Institute.
Commencing on the 1st of October 2017, this 48 month project has the overall objective of creating supportive conditions for enhanced household (HH) nutrition through the following specific objectives:
1) Improved access to and availability of sufficient and/or diverse foods year round; 2) Improved dietary and care practices among Women of Reproductive Age and children under 5; 3) Reduced incidence of selected Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) related diseases/illnesses linked to under nutrition; 4) Improved gender equitable relations at the HH level, particularly in decision-making and distribution of workload; and 5) Strengthened multi-sector coordination and support for nutrition. The project will be implemented across three provinces and 12 districts of Lao PDR.
The WASH advisor is responsible for technical support and leadership for all WASH activities under the project. The WASH Advisor will advise, train and direct all District Coordinators (DCs) and Project Officers (POs) on various activities as well as build and maintain strong connections with the Government of Lao (GoL) Provincial Water Supply in the three target provinces. This position is based in the Svannakhet provincial office and is reporting to the Technical Team Lead - Multi-sector (WV).
The WASH Programme Advisor is responsible to conduct the project´s activities as described in the project and enforce them in term of verifiable impact, appropriateness, efficiency, effectiveness, coverage, coherence, sustainability and contextual transversal issues.
- Train Village Water and Sanitation Management Committees (VWSMCs) members, LWU volunteers & VHWs on personal and environmental hygiene and the importance and practice of safe water and sanitation management
- Organize with VWSMC members, LWU volunteers & VHWs community-wide water, sanitation & hygiene promotion events including construction demonstrations and distribution of selected materials (including behavioral change approach)
- Train and support VWSMC members, LWU volunteers & VHVs to conduct Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS), incorporating sanitation safety planning components (Activity 3.2.1)
- Coordinate for HHs to access materials for latrine construction
- Coordinate the construct minor water supply systems in selected districts based on the findings of a preliminary water systems analysis.
- Train and support VWSMCs to establish and strengthen management and accountability structures and systems
- Train VWSMC members on basic maintenance of water infrastructure and how to access existing support services for major maintenance works
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES
- Leadership of all WASH activities
- Plan, direct and implement with operation team all aspects of project implementation related to WASH activities, including ensuring that all Partners meet their obligations under the project, and meet WV and EU compliance standards
- Collaboration and Coordination
- Manage proactive and responsive relationship with Project Partners, Government stakeholders, and other partners in the field, under the direction of Technical Team Lead (Multisector)
- Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Communication
- Establish and maintain effective project reporting, monitoring, evaluation, and communication systems. Submit timely accurate and professional reports that meet donor and WV requirements
- Financial management
- Manage project budget within approved spending levels and ensure accurate and timely financial reports to WVA, who then submits to the donor
- Learning Evidence
- Consistently look for more effective and efficient implementation methods and opportunities to increase impact. Facilitate learning of best practice by ensuring a continuous learning process is developed and in place with key staff and partners/sub-grantees.
- Bachelor’s degree (Engineering, Hydraulic engineer, Rural Health Care, Health Sciences, Environmental science or similar field)
- Technical training and demonstrate knowledge on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene sector
- Knowledge of development work, including program logic, theory of change, and community empowerment.
- Good understanding of WASH Lao Government policies, laws, and institutions and ability to work together with various stakeholders.
- Ability to identify and plan work strategically and to work to deadlines.
- Project management knowledge and skills.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and Lao.
- Ability to train others, ability to provide technical guidance and support to operation staff.
- Possess strong organizational, IT, and writing skills.
- Ability to function efficiently and effectively with little day-to-day supervision.
- Willingness to travel to the districts and villages on a frequent basis.