Share this job:

JOB DESCRIPTION

TITLE	Program Coordinator Climate and Water Security (PRESERVE)
REPORTING TO	Senior Programs Manager
LOCATION	Rabaul East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea
EMPLOYMENT BASIS	Three-years contract (subject to three months’ probation)

Overview

WaterAid has been operating in Papua New Guinea (PNG) since 2004, working with local partners and the government to increase access to gender sensitive, socially inclusive and climate resilient water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services. WaterAid PNG’s geographic focus is on the National Capital District, and Central Province in the Southern Region and East Sepik Province.

WaterAid works through supporting local organisations and government authorities to design and demonstrate appropriate and sustainable WASH programs. WaterAid also seeks to influence policy change through government and other key sector actors to secure and protect the right of poor people to safe, affordable water and sanitation services.

Everything we do is shaped by our six values:

• Integrity
• Respect
• Collaboration
• Courage
• Accountability
• Innovation

WaterAid is a child safe organisation. We recognise that we must meet community expectations, and the trust placed in our personnel to maintain the highest standards of conduct with children. Therefore, all positions within WaterAid are required to comply with our Child Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct.

WaterAid is committed to protection from sexual exploitation and abuse in everything we do. The values and standards we uphold are highlighted in our Global Code of Conduct. All positions within WaterAid are required to comply with our Global Code of Conduct.

WaterAid passionately believes everyone in the organisation has a role to play in innovation, encourages curiosity about the world and empowering everyone to act. We recognise that both big and small changes can have positive impacts on our roles, our team and our mission. WaterAid is open to employing and working with People Living with any forms of impairment and disability and other marginalized population.

About the Project

The Kiwa Initiative funds regional programs that enhance climate resilience in Pacific Island countries and territories by supporting biodiversity conservation and nature-based solutions. Its focus includes empowering local communities, fostering regional collaboration, and addressing the interconnected challenges of climate change and ecosystem preservation. The initiative prioritizes projects that strengthen sustainable practices and promote inclusive, long-term impact.

Within this funding opportunity, WaterAid is proposing to collaborate with Live and Learn in Papua New Guinea to implement a program similar to the Climate Resilient Islands program, with the overarching objective to enhance climate resilience across Pacific Island communities, ecosystems, and economies by embedding community traditional knowledge and fostering inclusive, participatory action.

The objective of PRESERVE is that Pacific Islands communities, ecosystems and economies have enhanced resilience to climate change. The project enhances ecosystem and economic resilience to climate change by addressing vulnerabilities in water security, food production, and livelihoods through Nature-based Solutions (NbS), traditional knowledge and sharing, and inclusive governance.

JOB DIMENSION

Purpose of the Role

The specific purpose of the Program Coordinator is to oversee effective implementation of the PRESERVE Project, with a focus on strengthening the capacity of country program staff through training, mentoring and accompaniment to effectively manage grants, and all the quality program processes this entails.

The project is led by WaterAid Australia, the primary beneficiary and contracting entity with the French Development Agency (AFD) through the Kiwa initiative, a regional multi-donor fund (EU, France, NZ, Australia and Canada). WaterAid Australia will oversee all aspects of project governance, including financial management, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), and regional knowledge-sharing, as well as implementing activities project activities in Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste

Live & Learn Environmental Education will act as an implementing partner, focusing on activities in Papua New Guinea and Samoa. Permatil Global, another implementing partner, will lead efforts in Timor-Leste.

Both Live & Learn and Permatil will also serve as on-grantees, receiving part of the grant to implement activities in their respective regions.

The project will commence in May 2026 with a deadline for implementation of the project by 30 September 2029.

Location

This position will be based in Rabaul, East New Britain Province.

Line Manager

Senior Program Manager, East New Britain

Budget / Operational duties

The role will support budget management and operational duties for East New Britain Office.

Team Membership

WaterAid East New Britain Programs team.

Documentation and Reporting

Inputs to quarterly reports and general weekly progress reports. Will also assist with documentation concerning monitoring, evaluation, knowledge and learning.

Key Performance Areas

1. Program Management

• Coordinate effective implementation of the PRESERVE project including timely and quality delivery of program activities and financial budgeting, acquittals and reporting on a timely manner
• Build and strengthen WaterAid relationship with district WaSH stakeholders and implementers including government and civil society organizations
• Manage and oversee to implement field activities for PRESERVE are documented and reported
• Lead programmes team regularly use of WaterAid Programme System (WAPS) and projects programmatic and operational data, and organization risk are updated weekly and monthly basis.
• Work with GEDSI Officer to ensure the integration of GEDSI into program activities and provide support to women and PWD leadership in local community and capacity building of rights-based organizations.
• Develop and coordinate the implementation of periodic workplans with the programs team
• Assist in preparation of progress reports, donor reports, and evaluation inputs
• Support organization of learning events and knowledge-sharing platforms

2. Monitoring, Evaluation, Knowledge and Learning

• Monitor and evaluate program activities and contribute to a team culture that is conducive to learning, sharing and innovation.
• Assist the Monitoring & Evaluation Coordinator and Learning & Effectiveness Advisors in the development of data collection forms and tools suitable to program activities and measuring outcomes and impact.
• Working with WaterAid’s Communications Coordinator, partners and the programs team to identify and compile case studies on program highlights that demonstrate.
• Documentation of learning and working with the team to measure the impact of programs and the efficacy of program implementation.
• Assist partner organisations and the East New Britain team with monthly, quarterly and annually reporting and learning cycles.
• Actively engage in learning process within the WaterAid PNG country program working on sector strengthening and contribute to global publications and global learning events.
• Facilitate documentation of lessons learned, case studies, and best practices

3. Equity and Inclusion

• Work with WA GEDSI officer to ensure inclusive and effective engagement of women, marginalised groups and people with disabilities with natural based solutions in the community planning meetings and approaches.
• Work with the WA GEDSI Officer to identify opportunities to further engage the community in the planning, monitoring and review of WASH services and work with local authorities and community representatives to design and implement feedback mechanisms about community access to water, sanitation and hygiene services.
• Promote a ‘Do No Harm’ approach amongst WaterAid staff and local partners and ensure that referral pathways are accessible for stakeholders and beneficiaries affected by WaterAid’s work.

4. Staff Management

• Support the development of WaterAid East New Britain program and field staff and build their capacity.
• Identify program and field staff priorities and assist them to prepare weekly and monthly workplans in line with the overall program workplan.
• Promote a culture of respect, collaboration. Learning and sharing building on WaterAid’s values.
• Promote collaboration across country teams and partners

5. Office Administration

• Request Monthly Cash Advance for where required for office and field operations and acquit monthly
• Ensure vehicle log registers are filled and signed off and vehicle maintenance and registration are up to date
• Ensure operational functions are aligned to the Security Plan, Vehicle Policy and the Operational Manuals.

6. 
   Partner Engagement

• Maintain constructive working relationships with WaterAid’s local partners.
• Facilitate regular meetings with partners to discuss project design and delivery, reflect on progress, identify risks and challenges and jointly propose solutions.
• Mentor and support WaterAid program and field staff to build and maintain constructive partnerships and working relationships.
• Coordinate field visits with partners with sensitivity to security and accessibility issues.
• Represent WaterAid through local sector coordination bodies.

The role requires engagement with a moderate degree of complexity, due to the need to:

• Coordinate with multiple stakeholders, including formal program partners, as well as community leaders, traditional landowners and government agencies.
• Ensure that risks concerning financial mismanagement and fraud are adequately managed.

Relationships

Internal

• WaterAid PNG
• WaterAid Australia (participation in learning events etc)
• WaterAid global intranet (participation in webinars and other online learning platforms)

External

• Rabaul District Development Authority
• National & Provincial Weather Services
• Provincial Office of Climate Change and Disaster
• Local partners, as determined by grants and advised by Senior Management Team (SMT)

Physical Environment and Demands

• High travel requirements within Rabaul District. Occasional travel to Port Moresby. Possible travel to other districts in the East New Britain Province, as needed.

Level of contact with children

• The role may involve baseline and supervision work in communities in Rabaul District with limited contact with children, as well as general work on WASH in Communities, Schools and Healthcare Facilities (HCFs). The position will be required to always maintain WaterAid child safeguarding principles and standards.

Qualification, Skills & Attributes (Key Capabilities/Selection Criteria

Essential
Experience	Proven experience in working within the natural resources management sector in PNG context. Proven experience in community development, which includes sound knowledge of working with various stakeholders at District to local communities. Experience in networking and liaising key stakeholders within government and civil society. Proven research experience, preferably around human behaviour change Experience in program and project management. Experience working in the NGO sector and managing donor funded projects
Knowledge and Skills	Solid project management skills, including time management, budget management and forward planning. Good understanding of inclusive, participatory planning and climate change adaption and mitigation approaches such as the Healthy Island Concept. knowledge of international development theory and practice Strong analytical and research skills Excellent written and spoken communication abilities Strong facilitation, presentation, and collaboration skills General knowledge of nature-based solutions approaches and tools and Development in PNG

Education	Graduate (i.e. minimum of Bachelor) in a relevant field (e.g. Environmental Health, Development Studies, Public Health, Anthropology, Marketing, Psychology, etc.)
Personal qualities	Willingness to travel up to 12 weeks per annum, including to rural communities. A passion and enthusiasm for the developmental impact that program can achieve. Able to work and communicate effectively at all levels and in multi-cultural settings. Able to with minimal supervision and also a good team player.

Email Applications To: [email protected]