Catholic Relief Services - Zambia Country Program
THIS POSITION IS CONTINGENT UPON FUNDING
About CRS
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion, or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs in emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding.
Catholic Relief Services began working in Zambia in 2000 at the invitation of the Zambian Conference of Catholic Bishops. Our initial work included strengthening and enhancing partnerships with the local church and development partners and supporting community development initiatives in Zambia. What had started as a small, privately funded program has grown into a complex country program in response to the variety of shocks over the past two decades. CRS Zambia now implements programs in partnership with a variety of stakeholders, including the local church, faith-based institutions, and local organizations, and in collaboration with the government of Zambia. Our current work in Zambia focuses on the following areas: Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture & Livelihoods, Water, Hygiene and Sanitation, HIV / AIDS, Health Systems Strengthening, Microsavings, Orphans and Vulnerable Children, and Early Childhood Development programming.
Background
Zambia is currently facing several challenges to it s development. Access to water sanitation and hygiene is essential to the development of the country in order to achieve SDG6, and to provide populations with the required means to sustain public health and dignity.
In the recent years Zambia faced episodes of cholera, droughts, cyclones which are jeopardizing the efforts for development by affecting the populations and limiting their access to safe drinking water, to dignified sanitation and to decent public health services. In order to improve access top essential services, efforts have to be made by partners including local government to achieve SDG6 by providing a continuous access to safe drinking water, ensuring each family has the mean to access safe and dignified sanitation and wastewater treatment and decent public health services. It is important to foster a culture of resilience among communities and at government level, so those communities don’t lose access to essential service during shocks. Local governance for water and sanitation is an essential component in order to ensure that communities and local leaders, private actors involved in water and sanitation and local government are working together to achieve the objectives for development.
Project Summary
The Sanitation director will work together with partners to implement the sanitation component of the upcoming WASH project and will be tasked with facilitating the discussion and strategic planning between mandated national authorities, municipal governments, WASH partners and sanitation private sector to achieve the sanitation objectives of the wider WASH project. The Sanitation director will coordinate and have a dotted line to the CRS Zambia country program, especially the Head of programs, CRS WASH Team and report directly to the project Chief of Party. With the aim of scaling functional and viable sanitation service, chains at household, community and the municipal level and build upon the CP’s previous experience in WASH, the director will mainly focus on:
1) Designing, implementing monitoring and reporting on the sanitation component of the WASH project
2) Continue to develop our knowledge and understanding of the Sanitation and Fecal Sludge sector and identify opportunities to increase the sanitation footprint in country through formative research.
3) Ensure the strong collaboration of the project with partners, local authorities, institutions and communities.
4) Mapping and understanding of opportunities to improve private sector engagement for sanitation, their function and capacity to propose solutions at scale for the sector.
Job Responsibilities:
1. Manage, coordinate and implement all activities related to sanitation of the project
2. Ensure throughout relevant project cycles – project design, start-up, implementation, and close-out – that an efficient and effective implementation is executed in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, partner requirements, and good WASH practices as developed by CRS WASH team.
3. Ensure project team use the appropriate systems and tools to implement and monitor the project.
4. Champion learning, analyze and evaluate project performance data following MEAL policy.
5. Proactively identify issues and concerns and use participatory processes to overcome implementation obstacles.
6. Help identify, assess, and strengthen partnerships relevant to the Zambia WASH program, applying appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools and approaches and ensure there is proper coordination among them.
7. Coordinate and monitor financial and material resources on a monthly basis through planning and oversight and ensure efficient use of project resources in line with project objectives.
8. Manage any consultants, staff involved in the project
9. In coordination with core team members (Zambia CR, Zambia HoP, CRS WASH Team, and other relevant team members) help identifying scaling approaches for sanitation
10. Plan, organize and execute meetings, workshops, learning events and any other key project events
11. Produce monthly reports of the state of the project to be shared with line manager, CR, HOP and CRS WASH team
Typical Background, Experience & Requirements:
Preferred Qualifications
- Project management
- System thinking and experience in the reinforcement of sanitation systems.
- Sanitation, wastewater treatment, sludge treatment, sanitation in institutions
- Community engagement and social behavior change expertise
- Market based programing for WASH, sanitation marketing, private sector engagement, public private partnership and market analysis
- Advocacy for Water sanitation and hygiene
- District and local government engagement, WASH governance
- Experience engaging/collaborating with partner organizations.
- Experience with WASH and proven application of WASH methodologies
- MEAL skills and experience preferred.
- Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications and information management systems
- Ability to work with stakeholders on multiple levels including government authorities at all levels, non-government organizations, CRS partners, donors and media groups
- Project Process and Project Management Process Documentation
- Ability to facilitate in group discussions with stakeholders and partners
- Good written and interpersonal communication skills.
Personal Skills
- Observation, active listening and analysis skills with ability to make sound judgment
- Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners and community members
- Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities
- Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented
- Ability to work as part of diverse and multi-cultural team.
Required Languages
- Strong written and verbal communication skills in English with ability to write technical reports
Travel Required
- Based in Lusaka but must be willing and able to travel up to 50% to the field.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Strong critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgment.
- Strong relationship management skills and the ability to work effectively.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to write reports
- Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented
Key Working Relationships:
Internal: Country Representative, Head of Programs, CRS WASH Team
External: Chief of Party
***Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.
CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Applicant Instructions: Please email a cover letter, and curriculum vitae which should include three references to: [email protected]. Please include the position you are applying for in the subject line.
The closing date for applications is Monday, 24th June 2024. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.