WATSAN FOR THE EMERGENCY UNIT (1 YEAR CONTRACT)

GENERAL CONTEXT

Médecins Sans Frontières is an international independent medical-humanitarian organization, which offers assistance to populations in distress, to victims of natural or man-made disasters and to victims of armed conflict, without discrimination and irrespective of race, religion, creed or political affiliation.

MSF is a civil society initiative that brings together individuals committed to the assistance of other human beings in crisis. As such MSF is by choice an association. Each individual working with MSF does it out of conviction and is ready to uphold the values and principles of MSF.

The MSF movement is built around five operational directorates supported by MSF’s 24 sections, 24 associations and other offices together worldwide. MSF OCBA is one of those directorates. The operations are implemented by field teams and the mission coordination teams; together with the organizational units based in Barcelona, Athens and decentralised in Nairobi, Dakar and Amman. The field operations are guided and supported by 5 Operational Cells, the Emergency Unit and other departments supporting operations.

Emergency responses fall under the responsibility of the Operations Department, specifically the Emergency Unit (EU). The operational plan is channeling most of its energies and capacities to-wards providing lifesaving and comprehensive care for victims of acute and protracted conflict and violence, emphasizing high quality interventions and the safety and dignity of patients. In doing so OCBA will have Emergency response to acute needs at the forefront of our organizational priorities and culture. We will continue improving timely and appropriate emergency response in conflicts and disasters, to outbreaks and to acute nutritional crises.

JOB GENERAL OBJECTIVE AND CONTEXT

Hierarchically accountable to the Head of the Emergency Unit (REUE) and/or its deputy, and functionally under the Operational Cell-based Medical Responsible (TESAUE), (s)he is part of a team composed of around 20 people of MSF OCBA “Emergency Team”, or emergency pool. A typical intervention is composed of a General Emergency coordinator, emergency medical/logistic/financial coordinators and medical/logistic/financial technicians. (S)He will be responsible to support and manage all activities developed by the medical teams working for MSF OCBA in the field, ensuring a suitable response. Exceptionally and if timely adequate, (s)he will also be in charge of launching regular activities and/or projects in countries where MSF OCBA is not present.

The main purpose of this position is leading the Watsan activities in the mission/project, providing technical guidance and ensuring the correct implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the overall content of all Watsan programs in the country, its national policies, guidelines and common practices, in accordance with MSF protocols, standards and policies in order to optimize the mission’s response to the needs of the target population and ensure an optimal running of the project.

(S)He will be responsible to support and manage all activities developed by the teams working for MSF OCBA in the field, ensuring a suitable response. Exceptionally and if timely adequate, (s)he will also be in charge of launching regular activities and/or projects in countries where MSF OCBA is not present.

MAIN RESPONSABILITIES, FUNCTIONS AND TASKS

• In collaboration with the Country Management Team (CMT), and the Watsan Advisor, elaborating the Watsan strategies and activities for the country and /or mission/project, ensuring compliance with essential Watsan requirements, in order to prioritize objectives and plan activities accordingly.
• In collaboration with medical teams, conducting assessments, identifying Watsan needs, and based on findings, recommending appropriate responses to CMT. Contributing to the development of project proposals and/or work plans, when Watsan is integrated in medical interventions.
• Being responsible at mission/project level for the supervision and monitoring of the Watsan activities, ensuring that the works are done following MSF protocols, national policies and state regulations and project specifications.
• Validating the technicity of the Watsan projects in the mission, participating in the planning, project design and development and ensuring compliance with the local legislation and practices.
• Planning and organizing, in collaboration with the Logistics Coordinator and the Field Coordinator, the purchase of required materials and equipment, in order to ensure appropriate technical specifications, stock management and timely deliveries.
• Developing community participation strategies related to the improvement of Watsan practices, engaging local authorities or other non-governmental actors, in order to improve the standard of living conditions of the target population.
• Coordinating the implementation of Watsan reporting systems, project standards and indicators (both qualitative and financial) in order to ensure the expected quality, terms and costs and to early detect/report potential deviations and propose solutions, in collaboration with the Medical, Logistical and the Financial Coordinators.
• Identifying, collaborating and providing main support in the Watsan technical representatives of the national interlocutors like ministries or national suppliers. Preparing all Watsan technical content in the national and international tenders and participating in the selection committee.
• Planning and supervising, in close coordination with the HR Co, the associated processes (recruitment, training/induction, evaluation, potential detection, development and communication) of the staff under his/her hierarchical supervision in order to ensure both the sizing and the amount of knowledge required.
• Writing the Watsan part of SitRep, monthly Watsan reports, collaborating with other members of CMT for quarterly reports.

SELECTION CRITERIA

• Academic background in engineering or an equivalent relevant training.
• Previous MSF experience as a Watsan required, preferably in low income countries.
• Fluent (master them as working language) in English and French. Spanish is an asset.
• Computer literacy (Word, Excel).

CONDITIONS

• Based in the field during interventions.
• Full-time position.
• Salary defined by the MSF-Spain salary grid (IRRFG Level 10).
• Commitment: minimum 1 year.
• Starting date: ASAP.