WASH Engineer, Baidoa, Southwest state of Somalia

Organization background

Wadajir Rural Development Organization (WARDO), WARDO is a civil society organization established in 2005 by group of Somali humanitarian and development workers who were dedicated and committed to social developments through education and youth development, agriculture and livelihoods, protection, emergency response and water and sanitation programs. WADAJIR Rural Development Organization (WARDO) is a registered and operational Non-Governmental Organization in South and Central Somalia, WARDO was registered in 2005 by the Federal Government of Somalia. The organization has its main office in Mogadishu and Baidoa, with regional offices in the other 4 FMS of South and Central Somalia (Jubaland, Galmudug, Southwest, and Hir-Shabelle).

Context of the project

The heavy rains and floods linked to the El Nino weather phenomena have killed dozens of people and caused widespread displacement, destruction of infrastructures and other public assets shared by the community, particularly in Somalia, where the rains have wrecked bridges and submerged residential areas.

According to SoDMA and humanitarian partners more than 1.7 million people are in need as torrential rains destroyed their homes, destructing existing WASH infrastructures and livelihoods in Somalia. The number of people displaced by heavy rains and floods in Somalia has nearly doubled in one week from 334,800 to 649,000.

The heavy rains fell in south-West State of Somalia have resulted in flash floods across Baidoa district. As of 6th November 2023, at least 247K people in 384 informal settlements in Baidoa were affected by El-Nino flash floods. The number of affected sites has increased from 164 to 384 sites in the last two weeks while the affected population has doubled. Approximately 1077 communal latrines in Baidoa are damaged by recent flash floods. Exposed sewage has contaminated water sources increasing the risks of AWD/Cholera outbreak. In Bardale town over 95K IDP population are affected by flash floods of which 1264 people have moved to higher grounds.

Purpose of the job

The WASH Engineer will be Responsible for ensuring quality and coordinated implementation of WARDO WASH project in areas of humanitarian response, particularly in the wake of Elnino, with an emphasis on timeliness and best use of resources and building community capacity on community-based WASH activities. The WASH Engineer plans, designs, and implements various emergency WASH projects with the best satisfaction of the target IDPs, the desired quality and service value aspects of the WASH sector includes program’s water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities at the sites.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Compile Assessment report and work plan for implementation of the proposed activities. To conduct need assessment for all WASH facilities in targeted areas in Baidoa of southwest state of Somalia.
• Oversee and create a community-based oversight system for all engineering work done by contractors. Oversee and create a community-based oversight system for all engineering work done by contractors.
• In collaboration with project manager, community mobilizers and hygiene promoters and the entire team participate in selection of targeted communities and ensure registration of beneficiaries for all water, sanitation infrastructure (Latrine, water supply system etc.) in targeted IDPs.
• To conduct technical assessment and feasibility survey for all water and sanitation infrastructure.
• Assess emergency needs, as requested, especially taking in the broader perspective of hygiene promotions.
• Coordinate WASH construction activities with other local actors (governmental and non-governmental). Build strong relationships with local and government partners, Local Water and Sanitation corporation.
• Supervise and be responsible for all technical aspects of project implementation, ensure they are completed in a timely, efficient, and accurate manner according to standard engineering methods.

Program implementation

• Preparation of BOQs and drawings for all water supply and sanitation facilities to be implemented.
• Execute implementation of all WASH infrastructure activities as per implementation plan, BOQs, drawings and specifications.
• Contribute to the monitor and supervise activities of WASH activities and ensure effective implementation.
• Make sure that all required preparations are in place for technical estimates, design and resource management plan, prepare bid documents and support the project team for the bid selection.
• Maintain material record at construction sites and ensure quality and quantity of all material arriving on all sites.
• Ensure community participation in all WASH infrastructure activities; from needs assessment; targeting; actual implementation to monitoring and evaluation.
• Ensure all WASH infrastructure activities are well coordinated with local county government, other humanitarian actors, and all other stakeholders, also ensure integration of engineering activities with hygiene promotion activities.
• Conducting water quality analysis in the field locations and updating water quality reports, also to propose recommendations for the water treatments to the communities.

Financial management

• Participate in the preparation of detailed project budgets and budget revisions.
• Responsible for ensuring proper, efficient, and timely utilization of allocated program/project budget, including purchasing of quality construction materials.
• Responsible for controlling the budget allocated to the sector and ensuring that activities are implemented according to quality required and agreed plans.

Reporting and documentation

• Preparation of weekly work plan for WASH team and sharing with project manager
• Preparation of weekly, monthly, and field visit reports and sharing with line manager on timely manner.
• Ensure proper record keeping for all WASH infrastructure activities in hard and soft form.

Skills and Qualifications

• /MEng/BSc. degree in the field of civil, hydraulics, irrigation, water resources or any water related engineering disciplines, or any other relevant fields of study.
• At least five years of experience in increasing capacities in the WASH sector; of which three years in NGO setting related to rural water supply and sanitation.
• Experience with public health promotion and integration with engineering activities.
• Excellent teamwork skills and the ability to build good relations both internally and externally.
• Experience in the design and delivery of training or capacity building programs.

Language

• Fluency in Maay and English language

How to apply

Qualified Somali Nationals with the required skills are invited to submit their cover letter and detailed curriculum vitae, mentioning three work related referees and contacts to jobs@wardosom.org on or before 00:00Hrs on 07th December 2023, please indicate in the subject line “WASH Engineer – Baidoa.”

Please note that only the shortlisted candidates will be contacted.