Local recruitment: Programme Associate (WASH, Shelter & Settlements)

European Commission's Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations

Nairobi, Kenya 🇰🇪

DG ECHO is recruiting one National Staff to be based in Nairobi (Kenya) as a Programme Associate (WASH, Shelter & Settlements), for its Nairobi Regional Office.

REF. ECHO/PA/NRO

The European Commission’s Directorate General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) funds relief operations for victims of natural disasters and conflicts outside the European Union. DG ECHO works with about 200 operational partners, including United Nations agencies, the Red Cross/Crescent movement, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Aid is channelled impartially, straight to victims, regardless of their race, ethnic group, religion, gender, age, nationality, or political affiliation.

DG ECHO is recruiting one National Staff to be based in Nairobi (Kenya) as a Programme Associate (WASH, Shelter & Settlements), for its Nairobi Regional Office.

1.   Duties & Responsibilities:

The jobholder carries out activities to contribute to the delivery of an effective humanitarian response in their area of expertise. The jobholder contributes to assessments, monitoring and evaluations of projects, as well as to the analysis of the humanitarian context in the area of coverage and s/he will be responsible for the following tasks, among others:

  • Contributes to the appraisal, monitoring and evaluation of projects, including financial assessment of proposals.
  • Critically studies and comments upon partners’ reports and field operations and reports to line manager.
  • Assists the HoO/ТА (Technical Assistant) in the preparation of fiche-ops (e-documents completed by DG ECHO staff for assessing and monitoring projects), as appropriate.
  • Assists with, participates in, and reports on meetings, as appropriate.
  • Advises on the operational capacity of implementing partners.
  • Drafts reports on the humanitarian situation, including any political, economic and security events relevant to the analysis of the humanitarian situation in the country/region.
  • Produces and circulates information of common interest (humanitarian situation reports, background information, etc.).
  • Accompany the TA on field visits as requested and may act as an interpreter if necessary.
  • Assists the HoO/TA in the event of an emergency response.
  • Prepare maps, when appropriate.
  • Provides backstopping and surge support capacity in case of need.
  • Undertakes any additional reasonable tasks as assigned by the TA, HoO) and/or Headquarters.

Working with partners:

  • Maintains contact with DG ECHO’s partners, advising the TA of any major issues arising.
  • Acts as a point of contact between the activities of the Thematic Unit responsible at HQ and the partners involved in these programmes.
  • Works closely with other employees to coordinate the activities of the responsible thematic unit at HQ in the field, including other ECHO staff from other units.
  • Represents DG ECHO in relations to all partners.
  • Contributes to improving partner relations by maintaining professional, user-oriented communication.
  • Listens to partners’ requests and provides support and solutions.
  • Maintains contracts/grants database.

Coordination:

  • Participate in meetings, as requested and appropriate. 
  • Liaises with local authorities and institutions, in coordination with the HoO/TA, as delegated and appropriate.
  • Helps to increase the visibility and communication of DG ECHO’s overall assistance.

A detailed Terms of Reference (including competencies required and more detailed information on the tasks) is available at: https://echo.gestmax.eu and below

TOR PA WASH Nairobi.pdf

2.    Required Qualifications:

Education: A relevant first level university degree, preferably in water engineering or a corresponding scientific discipline related to technical water and sanitation, or equivalent professional experience.

Knowledge and experience:

  • Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in WASH, Shelter & Settlements at national or international level in supporting programme/ project operations, including at least 2 years of experience with an NGO, UN, donor, or national/international organisation.
  • Good knowledge of the EU humanitarian aid system.
  • Good knowledge of International NGOs in the field of humanitarian aid/development, UN Aid Agencies and Red Cross Movement.
  • Good understanding of Humanitarian Aid principles, policies and standards.
  • Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, MS Excel, etc).

Languages:

  • An excellent knowledge of English (oral and written) is required.
  • Knowledge of French is an asset.

3.   Required Competencies:

  • Working and communicating effectively with people: ability to communicate, support and work effectively with colleagues and teams to achieve collective goals. Building and maintaining excellent relationships with colleagues and partners.
  • Achieving impactful results and quality: ability and commitment to organise and perform the job to the highest standards, delivering consistent results and striving for quality assurance.
  • Understanding of the humanitarian and DG ECHO way of working: ability to support DG ECHO’s mandate, strategies and operations, to ensure policy compliance and in particular the correct use of the Key Results Indicators (KRIs), and to ensure DG ECHO’s visibility. Ability to ensure the correct application of DG ECHO guidelines and procedures in all the decisions taken.
  • Demonstrating exemplary attitudes and behaviours: commitment to act in line with DG ECHO and humanitarian values, demonstrating the required and exemplary attitudes necessary for the Field Network.

DG ECHO applies a policy of equal opportunities. Our recruitment policy is based on respect for diversity and on maintaining the gender balance. Our human resources management provides for balance between professional and private life, and support for training and developments opportunities.

For information, the employment conditions that could be proposed include an initial contract of one year with the possibility of renewal subject to a 3-month probationary period and following a positive annual evaluation. As an indication, the monthly basic salary range is KES.350,795/- (minimum corresponding to 5 years’ experience and subject to local tax law). The salary will be adapted according to the exact duration of relevant professional experience supported by a work certificate (one year of relevant experience account for one step in DG ECHO’s salary grid). In addition to this, the employee will also receive disability/retirement allowance, 13th month salary as well as a medical coverage.

DG ECHO’s employees are bound by the National Staff code of conduct which is available on the link: https://ec.europa.eu/echo/system/files/2019-09/code_of_conduct_for_national_staff.pdf

Only the short-listed candidates will be contacted. Candidates who are not contacted by 30/11/2026 should consider that they have not been selected.  Any form of canvassing, soliciting, or influencing will be treated as grounds for disqualification.

Shortlisted candidates who are successful in the written test and who make it to the oral interview phase but are not to the final selection, could be included (depending on the results of the oral interview) in a reserve list and can be considered if a new procedure takes place for a similar post within the next 12 months.

“Any processing of your personal data will be done in accordance with the applicable EU legislation (Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2018 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and on the free movement of such data.” The privacy statement can be found on DG ECHO’s website.

https://ec.europa.eu/echo/system/files/2020-01/privacy_statement_recruitment_ns_final_version.pdf

10 days remaining

Apply by 22 September, 2026

POSITION TYPE

ORGANIZATION TYPE

EXPERIENCE-LEVEL

DEGREE REQUIRED

IHE Delft - MSc in Water and Sustainable Development