WASH Assistant job at IsraAID

About IsraAID:

IsraAID is an international non-governmental humanitarian aid organisation based in Israel. Since we were founded in 2001, our teams have worked in emergency and long-term development settings in more than 60 countries around the world. IsraAID responds to emergencies and helps communities affected by crises rebuild their lives and their futures together. From hurricanes to refugee crises to global pandemics, we mobilise quickly and collaborate with communities at the deepest level, accompanying the process of becoming self-reliant in the ability to prepare and respond to emergencies and crises and return to adaptive functioning.

In Uganda, we support the recovery and restoration of people affected by humanitarian crises and to cultivate and nurture resilience and build agency while establishing systems and partnerships to reduce the risk of future disasters. We work in 3 geographical locations in Uganda. In Northwestern Uganda in the Palorinya refugee settlement and Southwestern Uganda in the Nakivale Settlement and Nyakabande Transit centre.

About The Position

IsraAID Uganda is seeking a dedicated and skilled WASH Assistant to join our team to implement our WASH activities in Nyakabande Transit Centre, Kisoro. Under the guidance of the Senior WASH Officer, the WASH Assistant will implement field-level institutional and community WASH interventions in line with program targets, national and humanitarian standards in Nyakabande TC and host communities. This position will play a key role in planning, implementing, and monitoring WASH projects to ensure that Forcibly Displaced and Stateless Persons (FDSPs) and host communities, including institutions, have access to adequate quantities of safe drinking water, improved sanitation facilities, and promote the practice of optimal WASH behaviours for better health and nutrition outcomes.

Detailed responsibilities:

1. Program technical support

• Under the guidance of the Senior WASH officer, ensure adequate access to clean and safe water at the transit centre, refugee, and host communities
• Apply appropriate behavioural change and communication (BCC) approaches, methods and practices to mobilise and sensitise communities and institutions on best Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) practices.
• Work closely with Persons of Concern (POCs), refugees/asylum seekers and host communities to assess their WASH priorities, needs, and devise strategies of addressing them effectively.
• Lead the promotion of sanitation campaigns in selected communities through latrine construction, desludging, wastewater, and drainage management as appropriate.
• Lead efforts to end open defecation and to improve sanitation facilities in target areas.
• Working collaboratively with POCs, refugees and host communities, support promotion of appropriate hygiene practices and behaviours at the transit centre, refugee, and host communities.
• Assist the Senior WASH Officer in managing and distributing WASH materials related to assigned project activities.
• Facilitate meaningful involvement and participation of POCs, refugees/ asylum seekers and host communities in planning, implementing, and maintaining of WASH and infrastructure projects to promote ownership, continuity, and sustainability.

2. Coordination, Networking and Partnership Building

• Ensure non-duplication of programs with other partners operating in the same locations, and in similar sectors of activity.
• Promote integration of WASH programs with other IsraAID project sectors and activities.
• Participate in inter-agency discussions at national and settlement level, ensuring that IsraAID’s position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the planning and agenda setting.

3. Documentation and reporting of project activities

• Timely development and share weekly project updates, monthly reports, and quarterly reports on WASH project activities.
• Contribute to the monitoring and evaluation of IsraAID’s WASH interventions and ensure that all required progress and other reports are submitted in an efficient and timely manner.
• Support in providing necessary data for the successful implementation of all the WASH software activities and ensure they’re implemented in a timely and are of high quality.
• Identify and document significant change stories and key learnings that arise from WASH interventions.

Essential skills, knowledge, and competencies

Essential Requirements

• Must be a Ugandan National
• A Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Public Health, Community Health, Water Engineering or a similar field from a recognized higher institution is required.
• A minimum of 3 years of demonstrated professional experience in WASH programmes in similar contexts is required.
• Experience in implementing WASH-related activities or public health-related activities, preferably within an International NGO context/ humanitarian context.
• Knowledge about WASH Social Behaviour Change and Communication approaches such as CLTS, CHAST, MHM and PHAST is an added advantage.
• Very strong facilitation skills, community mobilisation skills and the ability to effectively communicate key issues to communities.
• Good Computer skills and ability to write technical reports.
• Strong organisational abilities to manage inventory, schedules, and documentation effectively.
• Ability to work collaboratively with team members to achieve common goals.

Specific Skills:

• WASH Technical Expertise: In-depth knowledge of water supply, water quality, sanitation infrastructure, and hygiene promotion – as they relate to WASH programme design and implementation strategies. This includes understanding the technical aspects of water supply systems, waste management, and the promotion of hygiene practices among communities.
• Adaptability and Problem-Solving: The capacity to adapt to rapidly changing situations and find innovative solutions to complex challenges.
• Cultural Sensitiveness and Cross-Cultural Communication: Proficiency in communicating effectively across different cultures and languages. This skill ensures respectful, efficient, and effective engagement with local communities, stakeholders, and team members from diverse backgrounds.

• Under the guidance of the Senior WASH officer, ensure adequate access to clean and safe water at the transit centre, refugee, and host communities
• Apply appropriate behavioural change and communication (BCC) approaches, methods and practices to mobilise and sensitise communities and institutions on best Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) practices.
• Work closely with Persons of Concern (POCs), refugees/asylum seekers and host communities to assess their WASH priorities, needs, and devise strategies of addressing them effectively.
• Lead the promotion of sanitation campaigns in selected communities through latrine construction, desludging, wastewater, and drainage management as appropriate.
• Lead efforts to end open defecation and to improve sanitation facilities in target areas.
• Working collaboratively with POCs, refugees and host communities, support promotion of appropriate hygiene practices and behaviours at the transit centre, refugee, and host communities.
• Assist the Senior WASH Officer in managing and distributing WASH materials related to assigned project activities.
• Facilitate meaningful involvement and participation of POCs, refugees/ asylum seekers and host communities in planning, implementing, and maintaining of WASH and infrastructure projects to promote ownership, continuity, and sustainability.
• Ensure non-duplication of programs with other partners operating in the same locations, and in similar sectors of activity.
• Promote integration of WASH programs with other IsraAID project sectors and activities.
• Participate in inter-agency discussions at national and settlement level, ensuring that IsraAID’s position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the planning and agenda setting.
• Timely development and share weekly project updates, monthly reports, and quarterly reports on WASH project activities.
• Contribute to the monitoring and evaluation of IsraAID’s WASH interventions and ensure that all required progress and other reports are submitted in an efficient and timely manner.
• Support in providing necessary data for the successful implementation of all the WASH software activities and ensure they’re implemented in a timely and are of high quality.
• Identify and document significant change stories and key learnings that arise from WASH interventions.

• Very strong facilitation skills, community mobilisation skills and the ability to effectively communicate key issues to communities.
• Good Computer skills and ability to write technical reports.
• Strong organisational abilities to manage inventory, schedules, and documentation effectively.
• Ability to work collaboratively with team members to achieve common goals.
• WASH Technical Expertise: In-depth knowledge of water supply, water quality, sanitation infrastructure, and hygiene promotion – as they relate to WASH programme design and implementation strategies. This includes understanding the technical aspects of water supply systems, waste management, and the promotion of hygiene practices among communities.
• Adaptability and Problem-Solving: The capacity to adapt to rapidly changing situations and find innovative solutions to complex challenges.
• Cultural Sensitiveness and Cross-Cultural Communication: Proficiency in communicating effectively across different cultures and languages. This skill ensures respectful, efficient, and effective engagement with local communities, stakeholders, and team members from diverse backgrounds.

• Must be a Ugandan National
• A Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Public Health, Community Health, Water Engineering or a similar field from a recognized higher institution is required.
• A minimum of 3 years of demonstrated professional experience in WASH programmes in similar contexts is required.
• Experience in implementing WASH-related activities or public health-related activities, preferably within an International NGO context/ humanitarian context.
• Knowledge about WASH Social Behaviour Change and Communication approaches such as CLTS, CHAST, MHM and PHAST is an added advantage.