WASH Project Officer: Hilfswerk der Evangelischen Kirchen Schweiz (HEKS)

WASH Project Officer: Hilfswerk der Evangelischen Kirchen Schweiz (HEKS)

HEKS which stands for Hilfswerk des Evangelischen Kirchen Schweiz (the aid organisation for the Protestant Church of Switzerland) is based in Zurich. It has an office for French speaking Switzerland in Laussane. The French abbreviation is EPER – Entraide Protestant Suisse.

HEKS gives humanitarian and emergency aid and fights the causes of hunger, injustice and social deprivation. All the people should be able to live a life of dignity and of safety in social, economic and political terms. The aid organisation has five regional offices in Switzerland and is engaged in about 200 projects world-wide. HEKS operates in 21 key countries mostly through Coordination Offices that work with local implementing partners. In Zimbabwe, HEKS supports the efforts of various implementing partners in Matabeleland South Province particularly in the Development of Rural Communities theme.

In pursuing its mandate, HEKS is currency supporting two partners in the implementation of a Water Infrastructure Development Project in Matobo District through funding from the Swiss Development Cooperation. This project seeks to complement efforts aimed at promoting access to safe, adequate water supply and empowerment of communities to maintain and promote hygiene in their communities.

The position needs to be filled As Soon As Possible.

Job Summary
The Water Sanitation and Hygiene Project Officer will work closely with the two implementing partners by providing technical support and advice for the consolidation of all (hard and software) components of the Water Infrastructure Development Project in Matobo District. Technical support will include the implementation of Government Rural WASH compliant hardware components such as boreholes, deep wells, roof top rainwater harvesting initiatives and solid waste disposal infrastructure including the mentoring of field staff in WASH. The incumbent will improve community knowledge, behavior and practices in water, sanitation, health and hygiene. At the operational level, the WASH Project Officer will liaise and interact with Government and other partners in ensuring that all the WASH interventions comply with environmental and sustainable development practices.

He/she will apply the Results Based Management Approach to monitor the performance of the implementing partners’ progress in meeting the project’s outputs, outcomes and impact thereof. Furthermore, the WASH Project Officer will promote knowledge management through exchange of knowledge, experience, information, and will identify and compile the best practices for dissemination to the various stakeholders. The incumbent will work within the ambit of the District Water Supply and Sanitation Subcommittee and will report to the Programme Coordinator.

Essential qualifications required
–    Minimum five years field experience in managing the implementation of WASH programs particularly in rural settings
–    Hands on experience in Project Cycle Management is a requirement
–    Solid knowledge of community approaches (PPHE, PHAST PRA and CLTS)
–    Excellent writing and research skills, strong computer skills in particular MS Word, Excel, Power Point
–    Proven technical expertise in water, sanitation and hygiene related fields
–    University qualifications in any one of the following disciplines an asset; Sanitation/Environmental Engineering, Public Health, Civil/Mechanical Engineering, Geology, Hydrology, Development/Social Work

Applications
Interested and qualified candidates may send a covering letter stating their interest and salary requirement, their CV, references and copies of all official documents to:

The Programme Coordinator on email: heksprogrammes@yoafrica.com

or post/drop them off at No 6 Wallasey Street, Donnington, Bulawayo.
Application deadline: 13 September 2013 (close of business)
Women are encouraged to apply. Only short listed candidates will be contacted.