Job Title:  Water Supply Behavior Change Officer

Reports To:  Senior Water Supply Manager

Duty station:   Water For People in Rwanda office

Supervisory Duties:          –          

Annual Gross Salary range: Rwf 14,074,021 to Rwf 19,715,750.

JOB SUMMARY:

Water For People is an international not-for-profit organization established in 1991. Our vision is a world where every person has access to reliable and safe Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) services. We exist to promote the development of high-quality drinking water and sanitation services, accessible to all, and sustained by strong communities, businesses, and governments. We value accountability, courage, empowerment, partnership, and transparency.

Isoko y’Ubuzima is a five-year Rwanda Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) activity funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), awarded in July of 2021. The activity is being executed by a consortium led by Water For People including IRC, CARE International, and VEI. It will take place in ten districts namely Rwamagana, Kayonza, Ngoma, Kirehe, Nyagatare, Nyanza, Ruhango, Nyamagabe, Ngororero and Nyabihu.

The overall goal of the Isoko y’Ubuzima project will be achieved through three interrelated and mutually reinforcing strategic objectives:

1) Improving decentralized WASH Governance;

2) Improving Rural Drinking Water Services, and

3) Improving Rural Sanitation and Handwashing Services and Products.

Health and water are closely interlinked everywhere and in Rwanda in particular. The sustainable good health of the population depends mainly on the availability of safe water. While the Government of Rwanda has committed to ensuring its population’s high standards of health by 2030 and 2050 it is working hard to ensure safe water is available to everybody with no one left behind by 2030.

It is against this background that Isoko y’Ubuzima is hiring a Water Supply Behavior change Officer who will focus on the drinking water component of the project.

The WASH Behavior Change Officer reports to the Senior Water Supply Manager. She/ he will be responsible for providing contributions to the project on strategies to engage the community to play its role on 1) the appropriate use and handling of safe water and 2) in the management of water supply through water user committees before, during and after the implementation period.

She/ he will be responsible for organizing capacity-building activities of relevant local officials and stakeholders who are involved in community mobilization, develop with them an action plan and monitor the implementation of the agreed plan. 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES

1. Participation in Strategic and Operational planning

• Assess the need related to safe water handling and use in the community (households, water points, schools, health centers)
• Assess the need for the involvement of communities in the management of water supply facilities (water users communities, fight against vandalism, proper use of water supply facilities, reporting of channels …)
• Work with Isoko y’Ubuzima team to develop a related strategy and operation plan, with quick wins for FY2.

2. Capacity development

• Work with districts to identify gaps in hygiene and behavior change related to water, involvement of communities in the management of water supply as well as challenges faced
• Develop capacity development plan of local officials and relevant stakeholders in charge of community mobilization in hygiene promotion and management of water supply services
• Lead the capacity building of district officials and relevant stakeholders

3. Advocacy and learning

• Work closely with Water for people staff and members of the Isoko y Ubuzima consortium that work around Behaviour change activities to align interventions in the targeted districts.
• Contribute to organizational learning by preparing and disseminating data, lessons learned, good practices and statistical and qualitative data to Water For People staff, partners and other stakeholders, and organize periodic organizational learning events to share best practices.

     4. Monitoring and Evaluation

• Work with the MEL team to analyze data collected under the monitoring framework for assessment of progress, social impact on beneficiaries and areas for improvement;
• Based on monitoring results, work with partners to design strategies to improve hygiene and sanitation conditions in the communities and public institutions;
• Ensure regular monitoring of work progress against plan and take action towards any deviation or delays.

5. Finance

• Provide all required data to the finance team on time and indicate appropriate GL account (s) to be affected by expenditures incurred under your area of responsibility.
• Track revenue and expenditures against the grant budget on monthly basis.

COMPETENCIES

• Connects to the Mission – Embraces the mission of Water For People and is passionate about advancing the dynamic role it plays leading social impact in international development.
• Demonstrates Ethics and Integrity – Understands ethical behavior and business practices, and ensures that own behavior is consistent with these standards and aligns with the values of the organization.
• Manages through Ambiguity – Demonstrates flexibility and adaptability in responding to change and ambiguity.
• Demonstrates Cultural Awareness – Able to engage the wide range of stakeholders from a variety of backgrounds and cultures.
• Action-oriented – Maintains an attitude of open, curious and proactive learning, continually expanding own area of understanding and expertise.
• Connects with Others – Listens and fosters open communication through questioning, dialogue, and information sharing.
• Self-confident – Demonstrates humility, mature confidence and courage to innovate, risk, and lead in own role.

QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS REQUIRED:

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Health sciences or related studies (Master’s degree would be an added advantage)
• At least 5 years of experience in the environmental health area;

• Experience in environmental health-related research studies;
• Experience in WASH networks and strong relationship management skills;
• Strong interpersonal communication skills and excellent written and analytic skills, report writing, networking, and representation;
• Be a risks taker, and have a nose for entrepreneurial opportunities;
• Good analytical skills and the ability to extrapolate lessons to other situations;
• Comfort and talent in communicating with diverse and international constituents;
• Ability to analyze and organize data and communicate results effectively;
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and projects with multiple priorities;
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a collaborative team effort.
• Well-developed written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills
• Fluent in English and Kinyarwanda.
• Flexible, innovative, proactive, to work under tight deadlines and have excellent follow-through skills.
• Maintain sound ethical principles, integrity, and transparency of the due process
• Be a self-starter and work with limited supervision. 

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

This role will require traveling to the areas of Isoko y Ubuzima operations and other parts of the country to execute her/ his responsibilities.

EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS: 

• Position will be based at Water For People in Rwanda office.
• Regular travel to program sites.

Note:   This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the job.

Salary Range:

Rwanda expected annual gross salary range is Rwf 14,074,021 to Rwf 19,715,750..

The actual salary will be determined based on experience and other job-related factors.  

Benefits: 

Benefits are one of the ways we encourage healthy living for you and your family. Our generous package includes medical and life insurance, annual leave allocation equal to one month of salary, and other benefits in accordance with the Rwanda labor law.