VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Title WASH Project Officer – DARIS WACAN

Location Mandera T o w n w i t h f r e q u e n t t r a v e l s t o t h e p r o j e c t l o c a t i o n s
Reporting To Project Manager
Contract Duration Twelve (12) Months, renewable based on performance and funding availability
Posting Date 22nd November 2024
Deadline Date 4th December 2024

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 About OSDA

Organization for Sustainable Development Africa (OSDA) is a youth-led national non-

governmental organization working with communities in Northern Kenya. OSDA’s mandate
over the years has been Humanitarian Response, Climate Action, Women and Youth
Empowerment, Health and Nutrition, Peacebuilding and Governance, Research and
Advocacy, Food Security and Livelihood (FSL), and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH).
OSDA is a forward-thinking, community-focused organization dedicated to addressing the
pressing socio-economic challenges facing vulnerable communities in Northern Kenya,
Somalia Region of Ethiopia and Somalia. Our work is grounded in the belief that sustainable
development is key to creating empowered communities that can thrive amidst adversity.

OSDA’s programs are designed to foster long-term resilience, promoting peaceful

coexistence and ensuring that vulnerable populations are equipped to overcome future
challenges. With a strong emphasis on partnerships and community-led approaches, OSDA
is committed to delivering impactful, evidence-based interventions that uplift women,
youth, and marginalized groups. Through our various initiatives, we strive to promote self-
reliance, improve livelihoods, and build resilient communities across Somalia.

OSDA is headquartered in Mandera County. It has a liaison office in Nairobi and offices in
Garissa and Moyale. OSDA is also registered in Ethiopia and Somalia with the Federal
Governments and Somali state of Ethiopia.

1
 1.2 Project Overview

OSDA is planning to implement a project titled DARIS WACAN (Good Neighbors): ‘Resilience
Building among Cross-Border Communities through enhanced access to water and livelihoods’
in Mandera County whose objectives is to build climate change resilience and integrated water
resource management through improved water infrastructure, rainwater harvesting, better
natural resource management, accessibility to market and trade routes in Mandera county.
The project will take an integrated approach to build resilience and social cohesion that helps
people to prepare for and cope with current threats whilst building their capacity to adapt in
the long term to shocks, stress, and uncertainty. Community-based approaches will underline
all components of the action, whereby local government, community institutions, community-
based organizations, and water management committees as well as target beneficiaries will
play a central role in the planning and implementation of the action
To respond to the immediate needs of climate change affected populations whilst
strengthening durable solutions for long-term stability, IOM Kenya is implementing a project
“Resilience-Building Among Cross-Border Communities Through Enhanced Access to Water
and Livelihoods” through the funding from the European Union.
The project objective is to build climate change resilience and integrated water resource
management through improved water infrastructure, rainwater harvesting, better natural
resource management, accessibility to market and trade routes in Mandera East. To achieve the
objective, the project aims to achieve the two Specific Objectives:
Specific Objective I: Targeted border communities have increased availability and access to
markets and sustainable water for human consumption and their livelihood.
Specific Objective II: Develop livelihood interventions and regional initiatives on water
resource management and climate change adaptation to prevent and mitigate impacts on
future droughts.
The main Results to implement these components are:
Result 1: Communities living along the border areas have increased access to WASH services
through construction/ rehabilitation of ground and surface water infrastructures.
Result 2: Communities have increased capacity to sustainably manage water resources and
related infrastructure through WUAs
Result 4: Border communities are supported through income-generating livelihoods activities.

2. POSITION SUMMARY

The WASH Officer will be responsible for planning, implementing, and monitoring water,
sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) activities under the DARIS WACAN project. The role focuses on

2
improving access to safe water, promoting hygiene practices, and enhancing sanitation services
for cross-border communities. The WASH Officer will work closely with local stakeholders to
ensure sustainable and community-driven approaches to WASH programming.

3. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
i. Project Implementation:
 Conduct assessments to identify WASH needs and gaps in targeted communities.
 Oversee the design, construction, and rehabilitation of water and sanitation
infrastructure.
 Facilitate community-led initiatives to promote hygiene practices and improve sanitation.
 Facilitate timely and quality implementation of Water, sanitation and Hygiene projects,
other construction infrastructures and multiple use of water initiatives.
 Provide effective, innovative and WASH technical support to other programs ensuring
effective integration for synergies, efficiencies and greater impact.
 Capacity Building of CBOs and Water Users Committees to be able to effectively manage
WASH facilities in scenario where there is no regulated water service provider to take over.
 Ensure that processes, standards and guidelines related to WASH and Construction
initiatives are effectively applied in project implementation.
 Carry out feasibility studies, water resource mapping, EIA support, Technical Design of
WASH and Construction projects as need arises.
 Support development of technically sound funding proposals through provision of
information & data and review in collaboration with the Project Manager, other sector
Managers. Preparation of the tender documents (Technical Specifications, Drawings, Bills
of quantities and Terms of Reference).
 Facilitates Topographical Surveys and GIS activities.
 Capacity building of communities in programming and implementation of WASH and
construction projects for sustainability.
 Conduct training for water Users Associations to empower them to run their own water
supply systems in line with the approved rural water management models for improved
governance and sustainability.
 Support preparation and conducting hygiene and sanitation promotion training sessions.

ii. Community Engagement and Capacity Building:

 Conduct participatory consultations to involve communities in designing and
implementing WASH activities.
 Support the formation and training of water management committees and other local
structures.
 Deliver training sessions on hygiene promotion, and sanitation to community members.

iii. Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Compliance:

3
  Collaborate with the MEAL team to monitor the effectiveness of WASH interventions.
 Collect and analyze data on WASH indicators to inform project planning and decision-
making. Prepare and submit timely, detailed reports on WASH activities to the Project
Manager.
 Ensure adherence to EU and IOM standards in all WASH programming.

iv. Coordination and Partnerships:

 Liaise with government agencies, NGOs, and other partners to align WASH activities with
national and regional strategies.
 Represent OSDA in WASH-related coordination forums and working groups in liaison with
the Project Manager.

v. Other

 Perform other duties as may be assigned by the line manager.

4. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

 Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering/water engineering, environmental health, Water
Resource Management, Public Health, or a related field.
 At least 3 years of experience in WASH programming, including water infrastructure
development and hygiene programming and implementation models.
 Proven experience in working/programming in either relief or development including
managing a large scale Community based water project with evidence of successful
implementation of similar projects.
 Ability to conduct community WASH needs assessment, program planning,
implementation, monitoring and evaluation of WASH activities.
 Good understanding of water supply – improved operational efficiency, smart metering,
O&M and water supply sustainable models for rural water management.
 Expertise in collaboration and partnership agreement with development partners, county
governments and community in WASH related interventions.
 Proven experience in working with cross-border or marginalized communities.
 Excellent communication and report-writing skills in English.
 Experience with EU-funded projects or IOM frameworks is an advantage.
 Proven ability to work in multicultural environments and with diverse stakeholders.
 Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
 Willingness to travel to the field as and when needed.
 Experience in working in insecure environment and ability to strictly adhere to OSDA’s
security operating procedures.
5. HOW TO APPLY

4
Interested candidates should send their CV and cover letter to info@osdafrik.org with the subject
line: WASH Project Officer – DARIS WACAN by 5:00 PM East African Time on 4th December 2024.

Early application is encouraged as this position is urgently required. This is a rolling recruitment
and OSDA reserves the right to appoint a suitable candidate as soon as they are identified.

OSDA is committed to equal opportunities and diversity. We welcome and encourage applications
from women, minority, underrepresented groups and candidates from cross-border communities.

We regret that only short-listed applicants will be contacted.