Local recruitment: WASH Officer (South Sudan nationals)

Job Description

• TITLE: WASH Officer
• TEAM/PROGRAMME: Integrated WASH Programme
• LOCATION: Based in Juba Country Office
• GRADE: 4
• CONTRACT LENGTH: 8 months.

CHILD SAFEGUARDING: 

The role holder will have contact with children and/or young people, or access to personal data about children or young people, as part of their work; therefore, a police check will be mandatory unless the content or location of the role changes, in which case the Child Safeguarding level will be reviewed.

South Sudan lags behind the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa in access to drinking water supply and sanitation services. Low levels of access to water supply, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) severely undermine health and nutrition outcomes in South Sudan. WASH-related neglected tropical diseases are widespread across the country, and the persistence of the underlying factors that intensified successive cholera outbreaks in South Sudan between 2014 and 2025 puts the country at high risk for a resurgence of the disease. In addition, lower respiratory tract infections and diarrheal disease are the second- and third-largest causes of death in South Sudan, with poor WASH being the second leading risk factor for all death and disability combined. Conflict dynamics, population movement, and climate change all influence the emergence and dispersal of many infectious disease pathogens, and the risks are exacerbated by lack of access to water supply and sanitation services, and poor-quality health services.

The WASH needs in South Sudan is deteriorating because of the economic crisis, climatic shocks – primarily widespread flooding – conflict and insecurity, coupled with public health issues (including waterborne diseases e.g. Cholera, Mpox, HEV, etc.) has been an underlying driver of WASH conditions in almost all states, limiting the ability of service providers to deliver WASH services while also restricting people’s access to existing WASH infrastructure. The inflow of returnees and refugees fleeing the conflict in Sudan is exacerbating the situation, putting additional pressure on an already fragile country. The Nov.2024 IPC report revealed that between September and November 2024, an estimated 6.3 million people (47 percent of the population analysed) are classified in IPC Phase 3 or above (Crisis or worse). Of this total, 1.71 million people are facing critical levels of acute food insecurity – classified as IPC Phase 4 (Emergency) – and a further 41,000 people are facing catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity – classified as IPC Phase 5 (Catastrophe). The population in IPC Phase 5 (Catastrophe) includes an estimated 31,000 South Sudanese returnees who have fled Sudan because of the ongoing conflict. Compared to the same period last year, this indicates an increase of approximately 500,000 people in Phase 3 or above. The nutrition situation has also deteriorated, with an estimated 2.1 million children aged 6-59 months suffering or expected to suffer elevated levels of acute malnutrition between July 2024 and June 2025, out of which 650,000 are cases of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM). About 1.11 million pregnant or breastfeeding women (PBW) are also suffering or expected to suffer elevated levels of acute malnutrition in the same period. An estimated 67 percent of the acute malnutrition burden is concentrated in the five states of Jonglei, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Upper Nile, Unity and Warrap.

According to WASH cluster, 2,251,568 people will be in dare need of WASH services in 2025 and as of 1^st January 2025, a total number of cholera cases reported is now 14,832, with 235 deaths across 29 counties and 7 states. 1,585 cases including 28 deaths were reported in Juba which is the highest. The 2,251,568 people will be affected by WASH-sector challenges including limited access to safe/clean drinking water, inadequate sanitation facilities, poor hygiene practices, and congestion to access water and sanitation resulting in disputes and GBV cases (especially affecting women and girls). Flooding will worsen these challenges. In addition to being sources of unclean water, most areas of South Sudan have also been known to be places where flooding, abduction of children and women and killing of people have occurred in the past.  In dry seasons, households relying on surface water sources such as swamps for their domestic water are usually affected due to drying up of open swamps. Women and girls are forced to trek long distances in search of water. This further exposes the women and girls to GBV and abduction risks. 

Therefore, SC proposes to continue provision of software water, sanitation and hygiene across the targeted counties. 

SCOPE OF ROLE: 

Reports to: WASH Coordinator

Work with:  WASH/Hygiene Assistant Infrastructure Engineer and WASH Officers

Under the general direction and guidance of the National WASH Specialist, work to strengthen WASH Infrastructure intervention including water, sanitation and hygiene, foster and strengthen WASH integration with other thematic sectors, provides thematic lleadership in designing WASH facilities in collaboration with the construction Officer/Manager, and ensure all WASH programming is well monitored and is of excellent technical quality, attracts significant donor funding and contributes significantly to national/global learning, advocacy and programme development.

The WASH Officer is responsible for developing BOQ, WASH contract management, Quality construction assurance and providing technical guidance on approved government infrastructure designs. The post holder is expected to provide (1) technical advice and (2) support to SC project staff to ensure programming objectives are successfully achieved. 

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

1. Need Assessment: – Contribute to WASH needs assessments in respective target location to inform program design.
2. Responsible for the design, establishment of work specifications and quotation, follow-up and evaluation of activities related to the construction of WASH infrastructures in public institutions and communities, such as: Construction or rehabilitation of sanitation facilities (latrines, incinerator, refuse pit, soakage pit…).
3. Lead the implementation of WASH at community level, WASH in Schools, WASH in Health and Nutrition Centers in SCI target locations.
   – Be responsible to establish the technical aspect of the internal purchase order and tender documents for purchase of WASH related materials.

– Lead the planning and organizing WASH awareness activities in the targeted schools

1. Provide direct management and oversight over the WASH infrastructure development activities, in line with work plans and standards of the project, with the support and oversight by the SCI WASH Specialist
2. Source and provide technical resources and support needed to complete scopes of work, including reviewing the quality of the work completed, the adherence to health and safety standards and ensuring the work stays within assigned schedules and cost targets.
3. To work with other WASH officers, construction manager and sectorial TA to ensure WASH related engineering activities are of high quality, and to provide technical backstopping and trouble shooting.
4. Together with the team, ensure regular contact with the beneficiaries is maintained in target areas including refugee representatives, peer group members, as well as with the wider community members, with particular attention to vulnerable groups.
5. Ensure all implemented WASH activities are in line with recommended Sphere standards for WASH, WHO standards and the national standards and policies
6. Conduct community training in Hand Pump repairs and rehabilitation and support the establishment and training of Community WASH User Committees 
7. Work with the project team to define the methods of community participation that ensure the greatest possible participation of vulnerable groups, and mentor SCI Community Health Volunteers and others WASH partner team members in the implementation of appropriate approaches for community engagement and provide feedback as necessary.
8. Contribute to monitoring learning and developments of community focal points and groups, impact of activities and adapt project activities and approaches accordingly in coordination with the project manager and relevant technical Advisors. 
9. Ensure that health and safety and child safeguarding monitoring is incorporated into all daily site supervision activities.
10. Ensure the integration of gender, child protection, environment and other crosscutting issues to the design, implementation and development of WASH construction activities, and ensure that activities take into account the needs of specific groups and individuals, especially children, the elderly and disabled.
11.  Ensure that construction works is integrated with hygiene promotion and community participation component, to ensure sustainability of the infrastructure built.
12. Create and maintain a good relationship with the community, implementing partners and construction workers and sub-contractors.
13. Ensure that daily site supervision for WASH infrastructure and ensure its in line with agreed specifications and method statements, with comprehensive documentation of supervision activities.
14. Contribute to the generation of ‘lessons learnt”, innovation and research during the project.
15. Plan and be responsible for the weekly reporting of data to follow up the standard project and strategic indicators (number of beneficiaries, number and type of activities completed
16. Coordinate WASH construction activities including borehole drilling with other sectors of Save the Children, to integrate activities in the same geographical area and for the same beneficiaries.
17. Other responsibilities may include Solid waste management, Vector control, Hygiene promotion, distribution of WASH NFIs and Menstrual hygiene management to girls of reproductive age in schools.
18. To implement any other tasks assigned to him / her.

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

• sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
• widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• Future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration:

• builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
• values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity:

• develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• Willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

• honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Must be a South Sudanese national
• Previous experience with NGO; s in the field of WASH engineering, WASH in School, project management, or construction including borehole drilling and supervision.
• Educational Qualification Diploma/BSC in, Civil engineering, Water Engineering, sanitation engineering, water hydraulics, Construction Engineering, public health, Development Studies Education, etc
• Previous experience in emergency response (flooding, public health diseases outbreak, displacement, conflict).
• Previous experience in WASH infrastructure construction, BH drilling, hand pump repairs, solar pumping station, Surface water treatment, water Quality Assurance (desirable)
• High level and ability and understanding of key concepts of Water Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion 
• Good knowledge of WASH Minimum standards, Sphere and WHO standards
• Knowledge in Cluster coordination and representation 
• Enthusiastic, willing to work for community and has or can easily gain support of community.  
• Ability to understand the cultural and traditional practices of the communities in the area
• Ability to assess and understand community WASH needs
• Able to engage communities in finding problems and, with the support of PHO and supervisor to help the community find solutions to their health problems
• Carry out any other responsibility as may be requested by his or her immediate supervisor

Desirable

• Previous experience within a humanitarian aid organisation is a plus.
• WASH in schools (EiE setting) experience in South Sudan
• Experience in use of Engineering software AutoCAd, ArchCad, Water Cad if an add advantage
• Previous experience working within the regions of focus (county) in Southern Sudan
• Knowledge of locally spoken languages will be an added advantage.

About Us

The Organization
We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard. We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

· No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
· All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
· Violence against children is no longer tolerated

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children.We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive workplace where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

Application Information:
Please apply using a cover letter and up-to-date CV as a single document. Please also include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations. A copy of the full role profile can be found at www.savethechildren.net/jobs We need to keep children safe so our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

Job Info

• Job Identification: 11367
• Job Category: Programme Operations
• Posting Date: 01/14/2025, 11:30 AM
• Apply Before: 01/31/2025, 06:00 PM
• Job Schedule: Full time
• Locations: CO – Juba