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TITLE	Program Coordinator
REPORTING TO	Senior Programs Manager
LOCATION	Wewak, East Sepik 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 to increase access to gender sensitive, socially inclusive water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services. WaterAid PNG’s geographic focus is on Central Province in the Southern Region and East Sepik Province.

Since 2018, WaterAid has been working with district and provincial government stakeholders including the East Sepik Provincial Health Authority (ESPHA) and Wewak District Development Authority (DDA) to implement a district-wide program that aims to support government-led WASH service delivery in Wewak District. The Inclusive WASH for Wewak District program, funded under the Australian Government’s (DFAT) Water for Women Program, will run for five years. The WaterAid office in Wewak town will take the lead on partner engagement and co-delivery of WASH projects. The Port Moresby office will provide strategic and technical support and lead on engagement with national government.

WaterAid works through supporting local organizations and government 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.

Our Mission and Vision

WaterAid’s mission is to transform the lives of the poorest and most marginalized people by improving access to WASH. Our vision is that all Papua New Guineans should have access to WASH by 2030.

Our Values

Everything we do is shaped by our six values:

Respect Accountability Courage

Collaboration Innovation Integrity

WASH in PNG

In 2015 the government launched the country’s first National WASH Policy, which has led to the setting of clear WASH targets and priority areas for action. PNG has also signed off on a new WASH in Schools policy (as of April 2018), which will help to draw attention to the urgent need for improved WASH facilities in schools.

The implementation of the National WASH Policy is being led by the development of five-year District WASH Plans to drive service delivery in the districts. Several donors are currently working with the WASH PMU to resource the development of District WASH Plans and facilitate learning on the process. District WASH Plans should be supported with annual budgets, to be funded through District Service Improvement Program (DSIP) funding and other government grants.

The drive for district level service delivery within the framework of the national WASH policies creates new opportunities to increase access to WASH services. PNG is now one of only three countries globally that has safe water coverage of less than 50% and has the twelfth highest proportion of people using unimproved sanitation. The positive changes in the enabling environment therefore need to lead to better planning for WASH services and an increase in public expenditure on WASH services.

JOB DIMENSION

Purpose of the Role

Reporting to the Head of Wewak Programs and Operations, the Programs Coordinator Wewak will support and coordinate the implementation of existing grants in Wewak district and in East Sepik Province. The role will initially primarily concern the delivery of the Water for Women program and the new “Climate Resilient WaSH” program along with any new programs added under the role as secured.

As the Wewak program expands, the Programs Coordinator Wewak may be responsible for supervising a number of program staff as required. A key aspect of this role will be working with WaterAid partners, including local government offices and representative bodies for women and people with disabilities, to coordinate and implement program activities.

Location

This position will be based in Wewak town, East Sepik Province.

Line Manager

Head of Wewak Programs and Operations

Budget

The role will support budget management.

Team Membership

WaterAid Wewak 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 Water for Women Program including timely and quality delivery of program activities and financial budgeting, acquittals and reporting on a timely manner
• Build and strenghten WaterAid relationship with district and provincial WaSH stakeholders and implementers including governent and civil society organizations
• Manage and oversee program staff to implement field activities for the Water for the Advancing Quality Universal Access (AQUA) to WASH Project are documented and reported
• Lead programmes team regualrly use of WaterAid Programme System (WAPS) and projects programmatic and operational data are updated weekly and monthy basis
• Work with GEDSI Officer to ensure the integration of GEDSI into program activities and provide support to women and pwd leadership in WaSH and capacity building of rights based organizations.
• Develop and coordinate the implementation of periodic workplans with the programs team
• Contribute to the development of WaterAid PNG country program and strategy.

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 Officer and Learning & Effectiveness Advisors in the development of data collection forms and tools suitable to program activities and measuring outcomes and impact
• Lead the Monitoring and Evaluation framework, indicator, and results on WAPS for the programs team
• 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 –Head of Wewak Programs & Operations 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.

3. Equity and Inclusion

• Work with the WA GEDSI Officer to support the Wewak district WaSH Coordination Committee and partners to engage effectively with women, people with disabilities and marginalised members of the community in the WaSH sector, through the East Sepik Council of Women (ESCoW) and the East Sepik Disabled Persons Association (ESDPA)
• 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 Wewak 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.

5. 
   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

• Wewak District Development Authority
• East Sepik Provincial Health Authority
• Provincial Education Office
• National & Provincial Weather Services
• Provincial Office of Climate Change
• East Sepik Public Works Department
• Local partners, as determined by grants and advised by Senior Management Team (SMT)

Physical Environment and Demands

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

Level of contact with children

• The role may involve baseline and supervision work in schools in East Sepik Province, 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 WASH experience in working with schools, health care facilities and communities in PNG context. Proven experience in community development, which includes and health care facilities with 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.
Knowledge and Skills	Solid project management skills, including time management, budget management and forward planning. Good understanding of inclusive, resilient WASH community and institutional (schools and HCFs) mobilisation approaches including CLTS, PHAST and Healthy Island Concept. knowledge of international development theory and practice Strong analytical and research skills Excellent written and spoken communication abilities Strong numeracy, including the ability to understand and analyze data Strong facilitation, presentation, and collaboration skills General knowledge of WASH sector status 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 and WASH activities 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]

Closing date: 22nd May 2026