Public Outreach Volunteer

                 I.      Background and Purpose Oxfam is an organisation that works to address the causes of poverty through campaigning and responding to the needs of the poor. Oxfam works in both development and humanitarian contexts, focusing particularly on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) protection and emergency food security and livelihoods. In Lebanon, Oxfam is responding to the Syrian Refugee Crisis addressing emergency water needs through WASH service provision to populations residing in informal settlements. Oxfam also addresses the needs of the Lebanese host communities and local authorities through the rehabilitation and expansion of water supply networks, to improve access to water. Currently, Oxfam is implementing a European Union (EU) funded project in the Municipality of Chtaura, Bekaa Governorate in Lebanon, whereby the water supply network of approx. 14 km is being replaced to reduce technical water losses and improve the water quality and service provided to residents of Chtaura. The Bekaa Water Establishment (BWE) is responsible for the construction, operations and management of all water supply networks in the Bekaa, including the collection of annual water consumption fees from households subscribed to a public water network. Needless to say, these fees are a direct means for the BWE, and other water establishments in the country, to finance their mandated tasks. However, evidence has shown that in the Bekaa, public water network subscription rates by the residents are low, even lower rate of payment of annual water consumption fee, direct water theft from the public network and general lack of water conservation practices, are amongst the main challenges to water supply management in the Bekaa. This has resulted in major financial deficits at the BWE leading to a generally inadequate service provision and over exploitation of water resources. The lack of appreciation by the general public that water is a finite natural resource that needs to be conserved and protected, and that its provision by local authorities is reliant on cost recovery mechanisms, is not exclusive to the Bekaa region and is apparent throughout Lebanon. Therefore, to ensure that Oxfam achieves a higher impact for the infrastructure assistance it provides to the BWE, a public outreach and awareness campaign is necessary. Oxfam will conduct a blanket registration/assessment in Chtaura, which shall cover the entire cadastral map covered by the constructed water network. The assessment shall create an accurate database that would praise the one that’s already been produced by the BWE. The total number of direct beneficiaries will be decided based on the outcome of this assessment.             II.         Roles and responsibilities -          Participate in Oxfam’s Public Outreach field visits and activities. -          Conduct field assessment and registration -          Promote the project’s information, process and criterion (to be based on a given Q&A) -          Stick to provided texts and data, and refrain on improvising. -          Work closely with Oxfam and the BWE staff while conducting any activity. -          Visit identified housing units (commercial and residential) -          Conduct interviews using the assessment tools and questionnaire as advised; -           Handle and fill in questionnaire on paper and/or through digital devices  -          Undertake structured/semi-structured observation and fill in appropriate form -          Recognize and give an account of problems in obtaining data during the assessment and other challenges encountered, as to support evaluation of data collection mechanism; -          Submit completed tasks to the team supervisor and discuss developments daily.                III.   Knowledge and Skills Requirements for an Enumerator Job:   -          Good understanding and knowledge of the local situation and of the community dynamics -          Ability to gather information in an objective, appropriate and sensitive way by carefully observing, by actively listening, by paying full attention to the situation and the information of the various sources, and understand the points being made; -          Ability to pose appropriate questions incl. gender sensitive, child or vulnerable community-focused; -          Know how to effectively convey information, in local language and in English; -          Acting with appropriate respect for local culture, understanding and interpreting reactions in a culturally and gender sensitive way; -          Expertise to enter, transcribe, record, maintain data/ information in written or electronic forms; -          Basic understanding in IT (Basic computer skills, Microsoft, smart devices, etc. ) -          Good communication skills               IV.   Experience required:    Education degree: No Degree Required  Field of experience: Experience in community work  Proven skills in community mobilization and sensitization  Practical experience in community-led development and participatory methods and tools, research Familiar with digital data collection or use of digital technology  Sensitivity to cultural and ethnic differences and the ability to work in a context where community sensitivities and tensions may exist  Committed to Equal Opportunities (e.g.: gender, race, disability, ethnicity) Diplomacy and good interpersonal skills, together with the capacity to remain calm under pressure and not lose sight of priorities.  Willingness to travel/work at short notice, and often in difficult circumstances Excellent communication skills, with ability to participate converse in Arabic English is an asset