WASH Coordinator (Morocco EQ Response)

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 192-member National Societies. The overall aim of the IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” The IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.

The IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of the IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

The IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services.

The IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. The IFRC also has country cluster delegation and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.
IFRC has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). IFRC also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles.

A 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit Morocco on September 8, killing and injuring thousands of people and causing widespread destruction. The Moroccan Red Crescent Society (MRCS) responded immediately, providing first aid and psychosocial support, helping transport the injured to hospitals, evacuating people from damaged buildings and providing dignified burial management. Through this appeal, the IFRC is supporting MRCS to meet the immediate and early recovery needs of 500,000 affected people. Priorities include providing food and safe water, essential household items, shelter support, health and mental health services, and cash assistance.

This position is based in Marrakech, Morocco and requires in-country travel (when deemed necessary, to places where the safety situation permits). IFRC works in an integrated manner with the Moroccan Red Crescent (MRC) and its partners. MRC has the role as the Movement convener for operational field response and coordination among Movement partners.

Job Purpose

The WASH Coordinator is responsible for the coordination and management of the country level WASH operations in cooperation with National Societies (NS). The coordinator will ensure the rapid reduction in risk of WASH related diseases and efficient and effective WASH activities.
In support of the IFRC operation, the WASH Coordinator guides and develops the overarching emergency plan of WASH action and implementation of activities. This must build on evidence, best practices, solid understanding and participation of local communities, the changing external humanitarian context and the interests and capacities of the host National Society and internal and external stakeholders. The WASH Coordinator works closely with the Operations Manager and other relevant stakeholders to set up the necessary steps for guaranteeing that health and dignity considerations and needs are met in the immediate response through high quality, effective and appropriate WASH interventions. This includes direct support to WASH programming implementation that builds upon community capacities and accountability to affected populations.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

This role carries both coordination and management responsibilities. The role will coordinate country level emergency and recovery WASH programming in conjunction with NS. The ultimate aim of working with the NS is to build the skills and capacity of the NS to enable them to manage country level WASH. The coordinator is also responsible for the direct management of IFRC WASH programs, including WASH ERUs, and carries accountability for country level IFRC WASH assets.
• Assist NS to undertake assessments and the development of baseline data to support planning and monitoring of the WASH programme.
• Support NS and the IFRC operations team to develop a WASH programme with vulnerable communities in the affected area, including recommendations on further Surge deployment such as WASH Rapid Response Personnel and ERUs, and ensure that the WASH activities within the emergency and recovery operation link with the NS’s wider WASH programme.

• Provide management, technical oversight and coordination of RC/RC WASH activities, including WASH ERUs and Rapid Response Team deployed in country.
• Facilitate the development of partnerships with and proposals for potential donors, including private sector organisations.
• Work with the Operations Manager and Logistics to procure WASH materials and to engage contractors as required.
• Assist the NS and WASH Surge teams to develop systems to ensure the project management and rigorous monitoring of the WASH programme.
• In collaboration with the NS, represent the Movement at sectoral coordination meetings and ensure that WASH activities are well coordinated with the WASH Cluster (or equivalent sector coordination mechanism) and other relevant government agencies and maintain effective coordination with other international agencies and NGOs engaged in WASH activities.
• Work with the NS to provide timely, quality reporting on the programme and provide regular formal and informal reports and updates to immediate and technical supervisors.
• In coordination with country cluster and/or regional and Geneva WASH teams, explore possibility of long term developmental (including One WASH cholera preparedness and prevention) programming in the affected area.

Education

• Relevant university degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering, hygiene promotion or similar fields or equivalent experience – Required
• WASH RRT/ERU specialized training – Preferred

Experience

• At least 5-7 years of experience in developing and managing WASH programmes including personnel, budget, and financial management to ensure compliance – Required
• At least 3-5 years of field experience in emergency contexts managing – Preferred international humanitarian operations in WASH and/or public health. – Required
• Experience in reporting and proposal writing. – Required
• Experience in donor/partner relationship management.
• Experience working for a humanitarian aid organization in a developing country.
• Experience of working for Red Cross/Red Crescent. – Preferred
• Experience of developing training and facilitating and in preparing and making presentations – Required

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

• Good knowledge of WASH management, as well as mechanisms, tools and guidelines for programming and coordination at different levels. – Required
• Ability to independently deliver a range of WASH operational and coordination/representation and advocacy roles within an emergency response. – Required
• Results oriented and demand driven individual, entrepreneurial, ability to lead in unprecedented and/or ambiguous situations. – Required
• Demonstrated management skills, including the ability to lead within a matrix management structure and utilize talent and experience of team members in a productive way – Required
• Outstanding networking, representational, communication and negotiation skills. An ability to be proactive and persuasive. – Required
• Demonstrated track record in innovating, contributing to a learning culture, sharing knowledge and new approaches to engaging partners. – Required
• Professional credibility, able to work effectively at all levels across the organisation. – Required
• Proven good judgment and ability to work with complete integrity and confidentiality. – Required
• High degree of discretion, tact and sensitivity in dealing with internal and external clients and stakeholders at all levels – Required
• Ability to work within a multi-cultural, multilingual, multidisciplinary environment. – Required

LANGUAGES

• Fluent spoken and written French and/or Arabic. – Required
• Good command of English. – Preferred

Competencies, Values and Comments

• Values: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability
• Core competencies: Communication; Collaboration and teamwork; Judgement and decision making; National society and customer relations; Creativity and innovation; Building trust, Movement context, principles and values
• Managerial competencies: Managing Performance, Managing Staff Development
• Functional competencies: Strategic Orientation, Building Alliances, Leadership, Empowering Others

Comments:

We encourage qualified Moroccan nationals to submit their applications, whereby if selected, the contract will be applied as national.

IFRC Ensures equal employment opportunities.