Wash Project Assistant

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY: Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty, and oppression by helping people build secure, productive, and just communities. Mercy Corps has been present in the Middle East since the 1980s and currently has offices in Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Egypt and Libya. Working in Lebanon since 1993, Mercy Corps has been running community development programs focused on promoting economic development and increased opportunity for disadvantaged communities, while responding to emergencies as they have emerged. Recently, the program portfolio has expanded in response to the massive refugee influx from Syria, including grants from UNICEF, the European Commission, Canadian and American governments, and private foundations.    The conflict that began more than four years ago in Syria has resulted in a steady increase of Syrian refugees to Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Turkey.  To date, more than one million refugees have fled to Lebanon. As numbers have continued to increase, humanitarian conditions are deteriorating.  The burden on host communities and the financial and emotional stress on refugees and their hosts is tremendous. Mercy Corps is responding to these needs by addressing urgent basic needs, child protection as well as the psychosocial impact of the conflict and displacement.  At the same time, Mercy Corps’ programmatic focus is on mitigating social tensions between hosts and refugees, particularly over economic resources, by addressing both livelihood opportunities, conflict mitigation capacity and local government capacity.   GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY: The WASH project assistant -under the supervision of the WASH Project Manager- will follow up the implementation of the day-to-day activities in the targeted working sites, during the lifetime of the project. The project will provide access to improved water services for vulnerable Syrian Refugees and host communities. The WASH project assistant will maintain impartiality and neutrality in dealing with all stakeholders. He/she will be responsible for executing tasks that are directly focusing on increasing access to safe water and sanitation services/facilities and hygiene awareness rising addressing the Syrian refugees and host communities. This will also include following the technical implementation of the hardware part of the project, community mobilization in supporting the construction and maintenance of the water and sanitation facilities such as water points and latrines, Hygiene promotion, promotion of Syrian and Lebanese participation in project activities and strengthening the role of women in decision making.   ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: Assist in the implementation of the WASH activities as defined by his/her supervisor. Plan the implementation of the fieldwork and setting work timetable. Facilitate carrying out community mobilization and hygiene promotion session among the refugees and host communities. Carry out and record distribution campaigns according to detailed population data (hygiene and baby kits) Follow up day to day and report technical issues related to the construction of water and sanitation facilities in for the targeted communities. Assist in defining the approach with local stakeholders. Regular monitor the WASH activities and WASH Volunteers at field level; Perform and document regular monitoring of all projects sites; planned, ongoing and completed. Regular follow up and conduct Hygiene Promotion activities at field level; Conduct surveys and routine monitoring activities to support Mercy Corps programs, Enter data collected from monitoring activities accurately and according to schedule. Participate in other monitoring and evaluation activities including collaboration in field and program based research.  Support in maintaining and update project level database of refugee profiles and sector-based needs; Keep detailed up to date records for the projects activities and water, latrines sites as per instructions and formats provided by the Program manager. Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission. Other duties as assigned by the supervisor.   SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: None. REPORTS DIRECTLY TO:  WASH Project Manager WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Project Team, M&E Team, Area Manager   KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE: Minimum of 2 years’ work experience working directly for an NGO or relevant organization in Lebanon Demonstrate good expertise in emergency response program management Commitment to local capacity building and the ability to engage local stakeholders in project design and implementation. Demonstrated capacity to collaborate closely with INGOs and national NGOs and CBOs. Good organizational and basic project management skills Experience working with refugees or other vulnerable population required, implementing a WASH project and conducting training is preferred. Proven understanding of Do No Harm principles and methodology with applied experience implementing projects with/for women and girls.  The applicants should have good written and verbal English and Arabic skills.  Must be computer-literate, particularly in programs such as MS Word and MS Excel.  Strong organizational and collaboration skills required, with the ability to work independently and be self-directed, as necessary.  Must work well as a member of a team.   SUCCESS FACTORS: The successful Assistant Project Officer will be bright, energetic, hard-working and eager to learn.  S/he will take a deep personal interest in supporting the Syrian refugees’ situation in Lebanon and in learning about the work of Mercy Corps and the humanitarian/development community.  S/he will be attentive to detail and able to carry out assigned tasks in high pressure circumstances in a timely manner and according to a very high standard of quality.  S/he will be creative and flexible, but at the same time will adhering to all organizational systems, procedures and policies.  S/he will strictly follow all protocols related to safety and security. S/he will have a strong collaborative spirit with the ability to work independently and with a team, while maintaining a sense of humor.