Programme Officer - WASH 

Location: Abuja, Nigeria 

Starting Salary: N15,241,952  

Contract: Fixed Term (2 Years)

Job Profile

The WASH Program Officer will support the implementation of the Isle of Man Government's supported WASH project titled: Enhancing Access to Safe and Dignified Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Assistance for vulnerable populations of Bugha and Pushit communities in Mangu LGA of Plateau State.  

This position requires expertise in WASH programming, conflict sensitivity, advocacy and community engagement while contributing widely to CAFOD Nigeria Programme in line with the Core Humanitarian Strategy (CHS) and CAFOD Nigeria Programme Strategic Plan by leading the day-to-day management of CAFOD’s Isle of Man Government supported WASH programmes in Plateau State Nigeria and management of CAFOD partners. 

The postholder must be able and willing to travel up to 12 weeks per year, sometimes at short notice and to areas of potential risk. 

The scope of the post falls into the following broad functions: 

Programme management and development: in line with the direction set by the Humanitarian Strategy: in co-operation with CAFOD Programme Manager support the implementation of WASH projects including water supply; solar powered borehole drilling, sanitation and hygiene promotion and ensuring timely and quality delivery of WASH services including provision technical assistance to partner’s WASH team on conducting water quality testing and monitoring, water treatment, borehole maintenance and training of community WASH committees to ensure adherence to national and international WASH standards guided by the CHS. 

Coordination and managing effective relationships with partners: work closely with CAFOD partners in Plateau state and other sectors and coordinating with local authorities, other actors in the state including UN agencies and INGOs as well as participating in WASH cluster meetings and working groups. Developing and nurturing partnerships and providing or facilitating capacity development support for partners where appropriate.  

Internal and external representation: of the Nigerian programme, in coordination with the Programme Manager. 

Financial management and monitoring of programmes and projects: developing and managing budgets and monitoring expenditures in line with agreed parameters with the Programme Manager and the Programme Finance Accountant.  

Systems and Compliance: ensuring the use of CAFOD’s systems effectively to share programme knowledge and inform decision making. This includes ensuring compliance with agreements, regulations and requirements attached to our work and abiding by all programmatic and financial regulations and policies of CAFOD. 

Key Responsibilities 

Programme management and development in line with the direction set by the Humanitarian Strategy:  

• In co-operation with partners, develop and implement WASH strategies and plans to effectively manage the Isle of Man Government-supported WASH programmes in Bugha and Pushit communities of Mangu LGA, Plateau State, contributing to the development and review of CAFOD’s Strategy and programme frameworks.  

• Identify WASH gaps in the targeted communities and advocate to address these gaps jointly with the implementation partners and local leadership in coordination with the PM and the CR 

• With the support of the PM assist the partners to develop WASH-related policies and procedures for the partners and the country office. 

• Support the implementation of hygiene promotion activities appropriate to the context in close collaboration with the IP’s WASH Team to ensure that technical and social aspects of water and sanitation programming are integrated.  

• In coordination with the Ips, local government partners and health authorities, mobilise and train community hygiene promotors/volunteers to support WASH/hygiene promotion activities in communities and schools to ensure quality hygiene promotion activities are conducted regularly.  

• Oversee the Isle of Man Government, WASH programme implementation, ensuring the integration of beneficiary participation and accountability and provide accurate and timely reporting of activities according to CAFOD, donor and other applicable timeframes and formats.  

• Promote gender and protection mainstreaming in the WASH response programming in liaison with the Protection Programme Officer while ensuring women and girls can influence decisions around WASH issues.  

• In collaboration with the MEL team continuously monitor and supervise WASH activities, overseeing the technical design, execution, and evaluation of progress through outputs and impacts using quantitative and qualitative data.  

• Jointly responsible with partners for the effective implementation, monitoring, evaluation (including facilitating external assessment) and reporting on programmes in line with jointly agreed standards (programme cycle management) and donor requirements.  

• In agreement with partners, jointly develop emergency programmes and promote, capture and disseminate learning from partners and programmes and ensure that this informs future programme development.  

• Contribute, where appropriate and in agreement with partners, to advocacy and information work supporting partners' efforts with relevant stakeholders at the state and federal levels.  

• Oversee and support (where appropriate) the work of Programme Accompaniers working on CAFOD-supported programmes.  

• Respond to emergencies as they occur, as requested by the PM and the Country Representative. 

Managing effective relationships with partners:  

• Develop, nurture and manage relationships with CAFOD’s partner organisations in line with the principles and standards set in our Partnership Policy, guidance and tools and in agreement with the PM and the Country Representative.  

• Work with partners to regularly assess the quality of the relationship, ensuring that effective and transparent communication channels are in place and that any shortcomings are addressed in a timely and dignified manner. 

• Invest in partners’ capacities by jointly identifying needs, developing plans to strengthen capacities, identifying sources of support, and allocating resources. 

• Support partners in accessing the tools and support required to implement capacity development plans successfully.  

• Organise (and, where relevant, accompany) partners’ visits. 

Internal and external representation:  

• Work together with the PM to build, maintain, and foster connections and efficient communication with pertinent parties, such as local government, national networks, INGOs and other state and federal agencies. 

• Maintain ties with important bilateral agencies, looking for opportunities for program funding where appropriate, in coordination with the Country Representative and PM  
• Ensure that the program is well understood, and that information is available for fundraising and other communications need such as publications, media briefings, education, etc. By coordinating with other CAFOD teams. This could entail attending meetings or activities with CoP, working groups, supporters, etc., as decided with the PM. 

Financial management and monitoring of programmes and projects:  

• In close cooperation with the relevant roles in the finance and funding teams, prepare, manage and monitor CAFOD and partner-led expenditure budgets, as agreed with the Programme Manager. 

• Deliver the programme within agreed budgets or instigate revisions according to evolving needs, per CAFOD’s finance guidelines and procedures.  

• Develop relevant risk registers and monitor them with the Country Representative and Programme Manager.  

• Where appropriate, commission and manage (with partners) audits for programmes and projects.  

• Carry out partner financial profiles reviews with the finance team.   

Systems and Compliance:  

• Effectively use CAFOD’s programme management information systems to ensure up-to-date programme and project information. This will include producing and managing information to support decision-making.  
• Ensure compliance with agreements, regulations and requirements attached to our work. 

Safeguarding  

All CAFOD staff share responsibility to promote and maintain a strong safeguarding culture, including identifying the key actions they should take given their role and responsibilities.   

Job-specific competencies 

1. Understanding and first-hand experience of institutional funding work/projects, priorities, trends and donor conditions.  

1. Experience using programme cycle management tools effectively to deliver work within an agreed programme framework.  

1. Able and committed to working with and developing the capacity of local partner organisations/ National NGOs.  

1. Financial management understanding and experience.  

1. Ability and willingness to travel (approximately 12 weeks per year), sometimes at short notice and to areas of potential risk  

1. Languages (context-specific); Ability to communicate in English and Hausa 

1. Thematic experience (if applicable) 4-6 years of experience in WASH programming, preferably in conflict-affected areas. Experience managing teams and budgets 

Desirable Criteria  

• First-hand work experience with a value-based partnership approach. 

• Experience working with faith-based organisations  

• Previous work experience in the sector, LGA and State. 

Safeguarding for Children and Vulnerable Adults

CAFOD recognises the personal dignity and rights of children and vulnerable adults, towards whom it has a special responsibility and a duty of care and respect.  CAFOD, and all its staff and volunteers, undertake to do all in our power to create a safe environment for children, young people and vulnerable adults and to prevent their physical, sexual or emotional abuse.  CAFOD is committed to acting at all times in the best interests of children and vulnerable adults, seeing these interests as paramount.  Any candidate offered a job with CAFOD will be expected to adhere to CAFOD’s Safeguarding policy and sign CAFOD’s Code of Behaviour as an appendix to their contract of employment and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these documents

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references, and appropriate screening checks can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. CAFOD also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of, and consent to, these recruitment procedures.

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