Coordinator, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian network, with 191-member National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. IFRC uses the Triple R – response, resilience and respect – to deliver on Strategy 2030. IFRC responds to disasters and crises, ensuring timely, coordinated and locally led humanitarian action. IFRC supports its members in building community resilience in the areas of climate and environment, health and wellbeing, and migration and displacement. IFRC promotes respect for our fundamental principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality, including in our work on values, power and inclusion. The IFRC focuses throughout on our core mandate – our raison d’être – of strategic and operational coordination, humanitarian diplomacy, National Society development, and accountability.

IFRC is led by its Secretary General and has its Headquarters in Geneva and five regional offices in Africa (Nairobi); the Americas (Panama); Asia Pacific (Kuala Lumpur); Europe (Budapest); and MENA (Beirut) as well as representation offices, service centres and delegations across the globe.

IFRC has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). IFRC also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles.

BVD had been reported in 63 health zones across seven provinces: Ituri, North Kivu, Haut-Uélé, Tshopo, Bas-Uélé, South Kivu and Sud-Ubangi. Ituri remains the main epicentre, with 28 of its 36 health zones affected, followed by North Kivu with 16 of 34. The mains WASH activates are focused on IPC/WASH in health facilities, Safe and Dignified Burials (SDB) support, Water supply and water-quality management, Community WASH and outbreak prevention, Sanitation and environmental health, Preparedness and capacity strengthening, and technical coordination and quality assurance.

The WASH Coordinator will provide strategic and technical leadership for the development, coordination, quality assurance and implementation of WASH preparedness and emergency response activities in DRC. The position supports the National Society and IFRC operational teams to deliver timely, appropriate, inclusive and technically sound WASH interventions, with particular attention to BVD response, Infection Prevention and Control (IPC)/WASH, WASH in health-care facilities, community-based WASH, emergency water supply, sanitation, hygiene promotion and safe and dignified burial measures. The position contributes to preparedness, surge capacity, assessments, response planning, resource mobilization, partner coordination, monitoring and learning, while ensuring alignment with IFRC standards, technical guidance and the Red Cross and Red Crescent Fundamental Principles.

The Coordinator, WASH is responsible for the coordination and management of the country level WASH operations in cooperation with National Societies (NS), WASH Cluster, Health cluster and the National Government. The coordinator will ensure the rapid reduction in risk of Ebola and WASH related diseases and efficient and effective WASH activities.

In support of the IFRC operations, the Coordinator guides, plans and develops with the NS and partners the overarching emergency and recovery plan of WASH action and implementation of activities. This must build on evidence, best practices, solid understanding and participation of local communities, the changing external humanitarian context and the interests and capacities of the host National Society and internal and external stakeholders. The WASH Coordinator works closely with the Health Coordinator, Operations Manager and others to set up the necessary steps for guaranteeing that health and dignity considerations and needs are met in the immediate response through high quality, effective and appropriate WASH interventions. This includes direct support to WASH programming implementation that builds upon community capacities and accountability to affected populations.

The Coordinator will work as part of a team of International Red Cross and Red Crescent public health, clinical and operational management staff. He/she will actively engage in providing water supply and sanitation to health facilities Ebola Treatment Centre’s high and low risk areas. The coordinator will coach, mentor and supervise both international and national staff in the operation.

This role carries both co-ordination and management responsibilities. The role will co-ordinate country level emergency and recovery WASH programming in conjunction with NS. The ultimate aim of working with the NS is to build the skills and capacity of the NS to enable them to manage country level WASH. The coordinator is responsible for the technical management and oversight of IFRC WASH programmes, including but not limited to, the coordination and technical supervision of WASH personnel deployed through Emergency Response Units (ERUs), and is accountable for the management, maintenance, readiness and appropriate utilization of IFRC WASH assets at country level.

• Assist NS to undertake assessments and the development of baseline data to support planning and monitoring of the WASH programme.
• Support NS and the IFRC operations team to develop a WASH plan / programme with vulnerable communities in the affected area, including recommendations on further Surge deployment such as WASH Rapid Response Personnel and ERUs, and ensure that the WASH activities within the emergency and recovery operation link with the NS’s wider WASH programme.
• Provide management, technical oversight and coordination of RC/RC WASH activities, including WASH ERUs and Rapid Response Team deployed in country.
• Ensure WASH programmes comply with Sphere standards, IFRC WASH guidelines, the Movement's WASH commitments and national WASH policies.
• Facilitate the development of partnerships and proposals for potential donors, including private sector organizations and PNS.
• Work with the Operations Manager, Health coordinator, and Logistics to procure WASH materials and to engage contractors as required.
• Assist the NS and WASH Surge teams to develop systems to ensure the project management and rigorous monitoring of the WASH programme.

• In collaboration with the NS, represent the Movement at sectoral coordination meetings and ensure that WASH activities are well coordinated with the WASH Cluster (or equivalent sector coordination mechanism) and other relevant government agencies and maintain effective coordination with other international agencies and NGOs engaged in WASH activities.
• Work with the NS to provide timely, quality reporting on the programme and provide regular formal and informal reports and updates to immediate and technical supervisors.
• In coordination with country cluster and/or regional and Geneva WASH teams, explore possibility of long-term developmental programming in the affected area.
• Ensure water and sanitation services in IFRC Ebola Treatment Centre(s) and Health and Care facilities.

• Relevant university degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering, Public health or similar fields or equivalent experience.
• WASH RRT/ERU specialized training or other public health related RRT/ ERU training is preferred

• At least five years of experience in developing and managing WASH programmes
• including personnel, budget and financial management to ensure compliance.
• Field experience in emergency contexts managing international humanitarian operations in WASH and/or public health.
• Experience in reporting and proposal writing.
• Experience in donor/partner relationship management.
• Experience working for a humanitarian aid organization in a developing country.
• Experience of working for Red Cross/Red Crescent.
• Experience of developing training and facilitating and in preparing and making presentations.
• Experience in Ebola response.

• Good knowledge of WASH management, as well as mechanisms, tools and guidelines for programming and coordination at different levels.
• Ability to independently deliver a range of WASH operational and coordination/representation and advocacy roles within an emergency response
• Good analytical thinking skills.
• Excellent networking, representational, communication and negotiation skills with the ability to be proactive and persuasive
• Ability to work within a multi-cultural, multilingual, multidisciplinary environment
• Demonstrated core proficiency in (a) digital communication & collaboration, (b) basic digital content creation, (c) digital safety & security, (d) data literacy, and (e) problem solving with technology (including responsible use of AI assistants.
• Understanding of and commitment to IFRC’s mission and values.
• Fluent spoken and written French and English

Values: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability

Core competencies: Communication; Collaboration and teamwork; Judgement and decision making; National society and customer relations; Creativity and innovation; Building trust