WaSH Assistant - (Applications will only be accepted if submitted online, through the URL link provided)

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty, and oppression by helping people build secure, productive, and just communities. The agency pursues its mission through emergency relief services, sustainable community development, civil society, and economic development initiatives. Mercy Corps has been present in the Middle East since the 1980s and currently works in Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq.

Working in Lebanon since 1993, Mercy Corps has implemented community development programs focused on promoting economic development and increased opportunity for disadvantaged communities, while responding to emergencies as they emerged in the country. In 2012, the program portfolio shifted in response to the massive refugee influx from Syria and Mercy Corps in Lebanon has solidified its emergency response programming while integrating longer-term development programming by focusing on key sectors: Protection, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Governance and Conflict, and Livelihoods.

Mercy Corps is launching the “Holistic Humanitarian Assistance to Syrian Refugees and Host Communities in Lebanon Program” (HHAP). The HHAP programs aim to provide a multi-sector humanitarian assistance to improve the wellbeing of conflict-affected Syrian refugees and vulnerable host communities in Lebanon through integrated WASH services and facilities, livelihood opportunities and Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) prevention and response services. The project will be implemented in the Governorates of Bekaa, Hermel-Baalbek, South Lebanon, and Nabatieh, funded by the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (BPRM) for 24 months. The program will take a multi-faceted approach to achieve this goal by:

(1) Improving access to water and sanitation facilities and promoting improved hygiene practices;

(2) Creating short-term livelihood opportunities through Labor Intensive Projects (LIP); and

(3) Reducing SGBV through increased awareness and improved access to quality services. This will be accomplished by carefully sequencing and integrating activities, with WASH and livelihood activities integrating SGBV risk mitigation in their design and implementation.

[Describe overview of job missioGENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

Under the supervision of the BPRM Project Engineer, the BPRM WaSH Assistant will follow up the implementation of the day-to-day activities in the targeted working sites.[HK1]  The BPRM WaSH 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 raising addressing the Syrian refugees and host communities. This will also include (1) following up on the technical implementation of the hardware component of the project, (2) community mobilization in supporting the construction and maintenance of the water and sanitation facilities such as water points and latrines, (3) Hygiene promotion, promotion of Syrian and Lebanese participation in project activities, and (4) strengthening the role of women in decision making.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

1. Assist in monitoring and supervision of contractors work, specifically desludging activities. That includes strict adherence to SOPs to ensure monitoring, managing and recording desludging activities on relevant trackers. Report any and all malpractice on behalf of contractors.
2. Facilitate carrying out community mobilization and support the hygiene promotion team in their activities, sessions and events.
3. Contribute to baseline, endline and needs assessment surveys.
4. Support in the distribution activities  (such as hygiene kits).
5. Monitor and report technical issues related to the construction of water and sanitation facilities assuring their proper operation and maintenance.
6. Plan the implementation of the field work and set work schedule.
7. Assist in defining the approach with local stakeholders.
8. Perform and document regular monitoring of all project’s sites; planned, ongoing and completed activities.
9. Participate in other monitoring and evaluation activities including collaboration in field and program-based research. 
10. Support in maintaining and updating project level database of refugee profiles and sector-based needs.
11. Keep detailed up to date records for the project’s activities and water, latrines sites as per instructions and formats provided by the Program manager.
12. Conduct herself/himself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
13. Any other tasks as assigned by the supervisor.

Other:

• Ensure all activities are gender sensitive and follow Mercy Corps’ Gender Equity Policy.
• Apply Do No Harm standards to ensure activities do not have detrimental effects on vulnerable communities. Refer protection issues witnessed in the field to relevant staff.
• Contribute to monthly reports and other ad hoc reports to meet donor and internal requirements.
• Participate in internal office coordination and planning meetings and workshops.
• Conduct him/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.

Organizational Learning: As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve. We expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries: Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, M&E of our field projects.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY:

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: BPRM Project Engineer

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Hygiene Promotion Officer, Community Mobilizers, Livelihood Coordinator, Livelihood Assistant, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Officer, GBV Team, Program Support Coordinator, Project and Program Manager, other BPRM team members.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum of 2 years’ work experience working directly for an NGO or relevant organization in Lebanon;
• Diploma/Degree in Civil, Environmental or Mechanical Engineering, Public Health, or any related field of study;
• Demonstrate good expertise in emergency response program management;
• Experience in implementing a WASH project and working with refugees or other vulnerable population is required;
• Experience in working in Refugee Informal Settlements (IS);
• 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;
• 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 BPRM WaSH Assistant will be bright, energetic, hard-working and eager to learn.  She/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. She/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. She/he will be creative and flexible, but at the same time will adhering to all organizational systems, procedures and policies. She/he will strictly follow all protocols related to safety and security. She/he will have a strong collaborative spirit with the ability to work independently and with a team, while maintaining a sense of humor.