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POSITION DESCRIPTION

TITLE	Programs Coordinator - WaSH and Nature based solutions (nbs)
REPORTING TO	Senior Program Manger
LOCATION	Pomio, East New Britain Province
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.

JOB DIMENSION

About the Project

The PacFresH2O (Protecting Freshwater Resources for Increased Climate Resilience in the Pacific Islands) project is a multi-year initiative running from February 2024 to January 2031, aimed at enhancing climate resilience in rural communities of Papua New Guinea (PNG) and the Solomon Islands (SLB). Funded through the International Climate Initiative (IKI) and led by GIZ in partnership with the Pacific Community (SPC) and various national government bodies, the project responds to pressing climate-related challenges like drought, flooding, and cyclones that threaten water resources and infrastructure. It seeks to address the low levels of access to safe drinking water—particularly in rural and marginalised communities through integrated water management and sustainable, community-based interventions.

The project’s core strategy is built around three outputs: strengthening governance, coordination, and data use; implementing phased, climate-resilient water and sanitation solutions; and embedding Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) priorities into national policy frameworks. A key focus is on showcasing underutilised resources such as groundwater, improving meteorological and hydrological capabilities, and training local and national actors, including women and marginalised groups in climate finance and evidence-based water resource management. Through these efforts, PacFresH2O aims to create scalable and replicable models for rural water resilience, boosting the adaptive capacity of Pacific Island nations in the face of climate change

Purpose of the Role

The Program Coordinator – WaSH and NBS will play a crucial role in ensuring the successful implementation of project activities, strengthening coordination, and supporting strategic alignment with consortium partners and stakeholders. Additionally, the Program Coordinator will have supervisory responsibilities, overseeing the work of Program Officer for Pomio District to ensure effective delivery of project components

The Program Coordinator will be responsible for facilitating multi-level coordination, overseeing project implementation, supervising staff, and ensuring compliance with donor and partner requirements. This includes working closely with WaterAid, GIZ, SPC, and government agencies to ensure effective planning, execution, and reporting of activities in Pomio District, while preparing for full-scale implementation upon project commissioning (expected late 2025).

Location

This position will be based in Pomio District, East New Britian Province.

Line Manager

Senior Program manager ENB

Budget

The role will support budget management for local operations.

Team Membership

WaterAid Rabaul, NCD and Central 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. Project Coordination & Implementation Oversight

• Lead the implementation of preparation phase activities, ensuring alignment with project goals and timelines.
• Manage target community selection, coordinating with the Pomio District Development Authority (DDA) and District WASH Committee (DWC) to reaffirm priorities based on Pomio District’s 5-year climate-resilient WASH plan and the National WaSH Policy (2015-2030).
• Oversee WASH and Water Resource baseline, ensuring data-driven decision-making and targeted interventions within the target communities.
• Lead data collection processes in target communities, including undertaking Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) Survey

2. Stakeholder Engagement & Multi-Level Coordination

• Serve as the primary liaison between WaterAid, GIZ, SPC, and government partners in East New Britain to streamline project implementation.
• Strengthen collaboration with the East New Britain Provincial Administration (ENBPA), District Development Authority and East New Britain Provincial Health Authority (ENBPHA) for policy alignment.
• Ensure effective communication with Rabaul District Development Authority regarding project adjustments due to implementation focus on Pomio District.

3. Supervision & Team Leadership

• Provide guidance and oversight to the Program Officer for Pomio District, ensuring efficient execution of their responsibilities.
• Foster a collaborative and inclusive team environment, supporting professional growth and skill-building for staff.
• Conduct regular check-ins, mentoring, and performance evaluations to maintain high-quality project delivery.

4. Policy Support & Institutional Strengthening

• Support policy reviews and advocacy efforts, ensuring integration of climate adaptation and gender-responsive WASH governance into PNG’s national frameworks.
• Work with GIZ and SPC to align local WASH interventions with PNG’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP), Medium-Term Development Plan IV (MTDP IV), and climate resilience strategies.
• Ensure district and provincial WASH committees receive technical capacity building and structured support for improved governance.

5. Data Management & Knowledge Generation

• Oversee the development of baseline data collection frameworks, ensuring inclusion of key informant interviews, focus group discussions, household surveys, and participatory rural appraisals
• Lead Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) surveys to assess community freshwater resource management and climate change adaptation needs.
• Work with consortium partners to analyse findings and integrate lessons into project adaptation strategies.

6. Compliance, Reporting, & Financial Oversight

• Ensure compliance with donor requirements, working closely with WaterAid PNG’s finance and grant management team to uphold transparency and contractual obligations.

• Lead project documentation and reporting, ensuring timely submission of updates to consortium partners.

• Coordinate with WaterAid National Program Manager – WaSH system Strengthening, Australia’s Technical Lead – Planning and Monitoring and Program Coordinator in Melbourne to maintain strategic alignment and donor engagement.

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

• Pomio District Development Authority
• East New Britain Provincial Health Authority
• Provincial Community Development & Youth and Religion
• Provincial Education Office
• National & Provincial Weather Services
• Provincial Office of Climate Change
• East New Britain Public Works Department
• Local partners, as determined by grants and advised by Senior Management Team (SMT)
• Local NGOs operating within Pomio and Rabaul Districts

Physical Environment and Demands

• High travel requirements within Pomio 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 schools in East New Britian Province, as well as general work on WASH in Communities, Schools and Healthcare Facilities (HCFs). The position will be required to maintain WaterAid child safeguarding principles and standards at all times.

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 coordination
Knowledge and Skills	Solid coordination and 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 analyse data Strong facilitation, presentation, and collaboration skills General knowledge of WASH sector status and Development in PNG
Education	Bachelor degree in related field including Environment, Community Development Studies, Social Works, Public Health, Development studies or other related field.
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 a good team player.

Email Applications To: [email protected]