Mercy Corps is a global non-governmental, humanitarian aid organization operating in transitional contexts that have undergone, or have been undergoing, various forms of economic, environmental, social and political instabilities. The organization claims to have assisted more than 220 million people survive humanitarian conflicts, seek improvements in livelihoods, and deliver durable development to their communities. In 2019, senior staff resigned following public disclosure of the organization’s longtime inaction over its co-founder’s sexual abuse of his daughter. Mercy Corps proposes a mission to “alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities.” As of August 2021, the organization reports to be operating within 38 countries, including Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Myanmar and Yemen, with programs focused in a number of humanitarian sectors ranging from conflict management, children & youth to agriculture and food security.

Job Summary

The WASH Technical Manager will be an integral part of the Program Performance and Quality (PaQ) unit and will be responsible for offering specialized support and guidance in the conceptualization, execution, quality assurance, and strategic development of WASH programming across our operational areas in Afghanistan. This role is pivotal in scaling up WASH initiatives, in adherence to Mercy Corps' global and local WASH standards and aligned with Afghanistan strategies.

The position serves a key role in securing new funding and actively participating in strategy discussions, situational/ needs analyses, and responses related to WASH-based interventions in Afghanistan. Working closely with program teams, the WASH Technical Manager will assist in crafting innovative WASH initiatives that effectively address the unique needs of vulnerable populations in Afghanistan.

The WASH Technical Manager is expected to offer hands-on technical support while working closely with various program implementers and senior management teams and provide technical support and inputs to the development of new WASH Programs. This role requires a high level of operational understanding and will offer practical/technical support in the daily management of WASH Programs. As such, the position necessitates at least 40% travel to field locations across Afghanistan for direct oversight and coordination.

The Mercy Corps Jobs in Kabul - Wash Technical Manager will have responsibilities that include:

• Develop Mercy Corp’s WASH Capacity Statement in adherence to Afghanistan context ensuring compliance across programs, and field offices.Conduct periodic site visits to the field offices for project and program monitoring, delivering actionable feedback to optimize the efficiency and sustainability of WASH-based interventions.
• Collaborate with the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) team to implement qualitative evaluation methodologies, contextualizing learning for WASH-based programming within the Afghanistan setting.
• Monitor adherence to globally recognized WASH standards, identifying and rectifying discrepancies in alignment across various programs.
• Evaluate and integrate lessons learned and emerging best practices into new program designs with special focus on Afghanistan’s socio-political landscape.
• Conduct quality assurance of donor reports concerning WASH programs, ensuring all donor requirements are met and contextualized to Afghanistan.
• PROGRAMME DEVELOPMENT:
• Collaborate with field and Program teams to provide technical input during proposal development, ensuring the specific needs of Afghanistan are considered.
• Under the guidance of the Sr PaQ Manager and DoP, liaise with donors to present tailored WASH-based approaches, coordinating with regional and hub offices to create compelling concept notes and proposals.

• Ensure that budgets specifically address the unique technical resource requirements for delivering WASH-based programming in Afghanistan.

  HR AND CAPACITY-BUILDING:

• Offer tailored training and capacity building on WASH to field staff, linking with subject-matter experts as needed and making use of localized resources.
• Assist in identifying technical capacity gaps in the field offices and facilitating technical WASH staff recruitment and training as required.
• INTERNAL NETWORKING AND COORDINATION:
• Coordinate WASH -based interventions with other peer organizations active in Afghanistan, aligning the designs and implementation of WASH programming to the local and cluster priorities and strategies.
• Foster peer networks among field offices to develop a community of practice focused on WASH-based interventions within Afghanistan.

• Stay abreast of organizational policies, global objectives, and training opportunities, ensuring alignment with the Mercy Corps’ global vision.

  EXTERNAL NETWORKING & REPRESENTATION:

• Build and manage relationships with WASH technical cluster in regional and national levels, tailoring these collaborations to the Afghan context.
• Represent the organization's WASH-based programming at regional and national levels, staying updated on policy shifts that might offer opportunities or challenges.
• Ensure Mercy Corp’s provide updates of its WASH programming using the reporting hub.
• SECURITY:
• Strictly adhere to country-specific security protocols and procedures.
• Proactively ensure team awareness and compliance with security policies, particularly in the context of Afghanistan.
• ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING:

• Dedicate 5% of work time to learning activities beneficial to both the individual and Mercy Corps, with an emphasis on continual improvement and adaptation to Afghanistan's evolving humanitarian landscape.

  ACCOUNTABILITY TO BENEFICIARIES:

• Uphold the highest standards of accountability, ensuring that beneficiary communities in Afghanistan are actively involved in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of WASH programming.
• Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders
• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Job Requirment

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering with at least five years’ experience working for NGOs focusing on WASH-based programming.
• Strong commitment to capacity-building of staff, with a willingness to adopt a participatory and consultative management approach that is culturally sensitive.
• Strong understanding of local governance and community structures.
• Demonstrated expertise in market-based programming that ensures optimization of the efficiency and sustainability of the WASH programming in adherence to the local and cluster standards.
• Strong understanding of the cluster and coordination system in Afghanistan related to WASH programming.
• Strong report writing skills, particularly in crafting proposals and donor reports that meet the requirements and challenges of working in Afghanistan. Advanced analytical skills and computer literacy are required.
• A mature understanding of rights-based approaches and participatory concepts, with practical experience in similar humanitarian contexts like Afghanistan.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, capable of clear communication and negotiation at all levels. Cultural sensitivity, tact, and diplomacy are essential, especially within the Afghan context.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team, demonstrating patience, adaptability, flexibility, and the capacity to work in a stressful and potentially volatile environment typical of Afghanistan.
• Willingness to travel regularly to other offices in Afghanistan, such as Kandahar and field visits in Herat, and to adjust travel plans based on security conditions.
• Fluency in spoken and written English and Dari and/or Pashto
• Comprehensive knowledge of humanitarian response standards, including Sphere and the Core Humanitarian Standard, with a specific understanding of how these standards apply in the Afghan context.

Submission Guideline

• o apply for this position, please submit your CV and Cover letter, with the vacancy number and position title (MCA101-2024 - Wash Technical Manager  ) in the subject line, by emailing  af-vacancieskbl@mercycorps.org.
• The deadline for submission is the close of business on 21- May-2024, applications received after the closing date and without a subject line will not be given consideration so, please make sure you put the vacancy number and title on the subject of your email, or your application will be disregarded by the system.
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates whose application responds to the above criteria will be contacted for the written test/interview.
• Note: Please note that MCA will provide office space and facilities only and is not providing any lodging facilities for its Team Members/Employees in HQ and field offices and it is the employee’s responsibility to arrange the lodgings for themselves if they work in a field office other than their home province.

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Country

Afghanistan

City

Herat

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