CARITAS Switzerland Jobs: Community Development Specialist (WASH)

Background

“Expanding access to education, health, and water and sanitation is a critical component of the peace dividend for Sudan because it redresses one key dimension of the historical neglect of the people of the South”. The present service provision of water and sanitation, health and education in Eastern Equatoria State, Southern Sudan, is inadequate for its more than 900,000 inhabitants. Caritas Switzerland/Luxembourg (Caritas) work in close collaboration with the Catholic Diocese of Torit (CDoT) and through Local Authorities and civil society organisations (CSOs), to provide basic services that aim at increasing access to quality education as well as improving access to, and use of, clean safe water by the beneficiaries.

Caritas is now looking for a qualified Community Development Specialist (with a focus in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) to strengthen its programme team in Torit, Eastern Equatoria State. The Community Development Specialist will be accountable to the Caritas Country Representative for Southern Sudan.

Organisation

Caritas Switzerland and Caritas Luxembourg are Roman Catholic aid agencies and members of Caritas Internationalis. Caritas works worldwide and adheres to international humanitarian principles (NGO code of conduct). Caritas encourages people to take charge of their own fate and does this by promoting local initiatives that sustainably improve the living conditions of the socially disadvantaged; advocating the conservation of natural resources; supporting civil conflict resolution and peace building; cooperating with local partners in strengthening their own commitments.

Caritas Switzerland and Caritas Luxembourg act in the frame of an MOU as a consortium in the region EA/Horn. They operate a joint regional office in Nairobi and country offices in Hargeisa (Somaliland) and Torit (Sudan).

Position Community Development Specialist WASH (Water Sanitation and Hygiene)

Reporting to : Country Representative Southern , Sudan

Location : Torit and Ikotos, Eastern Equatoria Southern Sudan with frequent travel within Eastern Equatoria

Key tasks & responsibilities

• Identify and assess project partners and service providers
• Develop guidelines and support materials in WASH, community mobilization & development
• Guide support and train local partners on technical issues related to WASH, community mobilization & development, programme quality issues and PCM,
• Systematically monitor and evaluate project progress, effectiveness and impact
• Co-ordinate and liaise with local authorities and provide technical support
• Represent the project at specified NGO and donor meetings

Essential requirements, Qualifications

• Degree in Development or a related field (water, health)
• At least 3 years work experience with a development agency, working with local communities and Civil Society Organisations in the field of WASH (Water Sanitation and Hygiene)
• Experience in PHAST and CHAST methodologies is an advantage
• Proven track record in facilitation, training and Project Cycle Management,
• An in-depth knowledge of the key issues and trends in development, with specific knowledge and understanding of key approaches and cross cutting issues such as gender, HIV & AIDS, conflict transformation, disaster risk reduction, livelihood and food security.
• Experience in setting up community development committees and monitoring of community development projects.
• Experience with international donors and grant requirement,
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English; Knowledge of Arabic or another local language is an advantage
• Ability to motivate and work in a team in a hardship environment
• Flexibility, sense of humor and good interpersonal skills
• Knowledge of and work experience in Sudan

Contract start date : As soon as possible

Application

If you feel you fit the required profile, please let us know how your qualifications, experience and career ambitions fit in with the requirement of this position.

Send your application latest by 16^th October 2009 to jobs@caritas-switzerland.org indicating “CDS-WASH”.

Please provide a Curriculum Vitae (CV) that contains details of your qualifications, experience, present position, current remuneration, earliest date of availability, day and evening telephone numbers and names of three referees.

Due to the current composition of the team priority will be given to female candidates. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

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