Concern Worldwide started working in DRC in 1994. Since that time we have grown into one of the leading humanitarian organisations operating in DRC with national rapid response programmes, resilience programmes, cash, WASH and nutrition programmes. This is an exciting opportunity to support the development of existing and new WASH programmes for DRC and ensure that they are implemented to the highest quality.

About the role: This is a 12-month role with unaccompanied terms based Kalemie with 50% travel to other project locations with a salary of Band 4 (€44,133 – €49,038). You will report to the Programme Director. You will also liaise with Area Coordinators, the Emergency Coordinator, the Programme Quality and Development Coordinator, Livelihoods Advisor, Gender and Protection Advisor, MEAL Coordinator, Programme Managers, Country Finance Controller and Programme Partners. You will also represent Concern, in consultation with the Programme Director, at the WASH Cluster as well as other relevant Clusters/Working groups, Coordination Forums and NGO partner meetings.

We would like you to start on 5 June 2023.

Your purpose: You will oversee the implementation of Concern’s global and national WASH strategy, ensuring that all of Concern’s WASH activities in DRC - including the construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of water supply systems (water networks, solar powered boreholes, hand-dug wells, water source catchments) and sanitation facilities, and hygiene promotion programming - are implemented to the highest quality international and organisational standards.* You will also contribute to Concern’s multi-sectoral emergency response in DRC through the development of new WASH programmes and proposals, high quality internal and external reports. A core part of your role will involve ensuring that lessons learned are disseminated across and embedded in Concern’s in-country programmes.

*Concern’s engineering Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs), Sphere and DRC WASH Cluster standards, Concern’s global and national WASH strategy.

In this role you will:

1. Programme Planning and Development:

• Provide technical oversight and supervision of all WASH projects to ensure high quality WASH programming.
• Support WASH Project Managers to ensure that all resources (technical, financial, HR) are in place to implement the different aspects within the WASH programme.
• Identify and plan for assessments of sites for the implementation of planned engineering works as per agreed proposals.
• Oversee the design of the assigned engineering works, following international and humanitarian best practice and in line with Concern, donor and local authority policies and guidelines.
• Prepare technical documents such as tenders, BOQs, designs, procurement plans and oversee material and equipment purchases and delivery as necessary ensuring that Concern and donor policies and procedures are applied and followed; working with logistic and finance departments when required.
• Ensure regular communication with the Concern HQ WASH engineering team.
• Ensure WASH programming is integrated with Gender and Protection approaches and policies.
• Oversee the work of selected contractors ensuring implementation of construction projects of the highest quality and are in accordance to agreed designs, policies and procedures and timelines.
• Carry out regular field visits to inspect works and organize regular project review sessions through participatory methodologies involving beneficiaries and other stakeholders in the areas of intervention, with the aim of establishing and/or verifying emerging needs, gaps and priorities, and communicate these to the Programmes Director as part of a continuous programme review and improvement process.
• Ensure the mWater data system is applied in all programmes.
• Contribute to the preparation of detailed implementation work plans and provide the necessary guidance and support to the team to achieve timely and quality implementation of activities.
• Contribute to the implementation of the M&E system to monitor progress and capture impact and provide support on necessary adjustments to work plans when required.
• Contribute to the preparation of WASH budgets, funding concept notes and proposals through analysis of field data and actual costs incurred on activity implementation.
• Oversee the preparation of high-quality donor narrative reports on WASH activities.
• Contribute to the development of WASH concept notes and proposals under the strategic guidance of the PQDC and PD. This includes background research, stakeholder analysis, data collection & analysis, consultation processes, development of narrative, development of budget and production all associated documents to a high standard in accordance with donor requirements.

1. Consolidate Concern’s WASH Capacity in DRC:

Coordination and Positioning:

• Participate proactively and contribute in relevant coordination forums, working group and cluster meetings.
• Strengthen links with WASH departments in other NGOs through effective and on-going coordination, information sharing and results dissemination at regional and national level.
• Represent Concern and its WASH programmes in relevant fora, including donor meetings, and with local authorities.
• Promote the adoption of mWater technology platform in DRC.
• Share information on Concern activities and intervention and promote good relations and collaboration with other actors working in the area.
• Work closely with colleagues and external actors around WASH positioning in emergencies to prepare and provide quality responses according to needs.

Capacity Building:

• Train Concern and key partner staff, including local authorities and (I)NGOs, on technical WASH activities.
• Support the technical management of WASH staff.
• Ensure regular communication and exchanges between programme teams.
• Work with the PD, ACs, EC and PMs to ensure WASH teams are efficient and effective .
• Communicate and track the implementation of the WASH strategy with the WASH teams in country
• Identify potential national partners for current and future projects.

1. Accountability

• Participate in the design and implementation of accountability and quality initiatives ensuring that they are integrated into the programmes.
• Adhere to and promote Concern’s Programme Participant Protection Policy and Code of Conduct (P4 and CoC).
• Undertake other related duties as may reasonably be assigned by the Country Director and/or the Programme Director Ensure that all staff is aware of and comply with Concern’s policies and procedures.

1. General

• Contribute to all aspects of the Programme e.g. mainstreaming of equality, protection, and disaster risk reduction.
• Collaborate on advocacy work through provision of sound, reliable and evidence-based information based on thorough research.
• Provide all necessary documentation support to the Senior Management Team (SMT) including visibility material and programme brochures which promote Concern’s work.
• Any other tasks mutually agreed with the Programme Director and /or the CD.

Your skills and experience will include:

Essential: This position demands a highly organised and dynamic individual with a demonstrated ability to achieve results in a demanding environment.

• BSc in Water Engineering, Civil Engineering, hydrogeology or any related Engineering field
• Minimum 5 years WASH experience including at least 2 years at management level
• Thorough technical knowledge of water supply construction and maintenance, including experience with household level sanitation, hygiene promotion, community mobilization, participatory planning and environmental conservation
• Fluent English and French – written and spoken
• Experience working collaboratively with a variety of stakeholders including local authorities, partners, and other I/NGOs
• Thorough understanding of budgetary, logistic and procurement processes
• Good team player, flexible and politically and culturally sensitive
• Experience of GIS/Mapping software knowledge

We would also like:

• Post graduate degree in relevant discipline
• Practical experience of implementation of mainstreaming activities, especially in the key dimension of equality
• Previous experience in Concern and/DRC
• Experience in preparing budgets and reports for international donors.
• Familiar with UN coordination mechanisms (cluster approach)