POSITION DESCRIPTION

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 centering 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.

Purpose of the Role

The Program Officer will play a critical role in supporting the implementation of the PRESERVE project. This role will focus on coordinating field activities, managing data collection processes, and ensuring effective engagement with community and government stakeholders. The Program Officer will work closely with the PRESERVE Program Coordinator to ensure project activities align with established objectives and contribute to the long-term success of the initiative

Location

This position is based in Rabaul District, East New Britain Province

Line Management

Program Coordinator - PRESERVE

Budget Responsibilities

None.

Team Membership

WaterAid PNG Rabaul and POM Programs team.

Documentation and reporting

Inputs to quarterly reports and general progress reports.

Duties and Accountabilities

1. Field Coordination & Community Engagement

• Support target community selection in Rabaul District through participatory approaches, ensuring inclusive representation in decision-making.
• Facilitate engagement with the Rabaul District Development Authority (DDA), District WASH Committee (DWC), Local Level Government managers, and the East New Britain Provincial Health Authority (ENBPHA).
• Assist in capacity-building efforts for local stakeholders, ensuring communities understand and actively participate in project activities.

2. Data Collection & Information Management

• Work with the Program Coordinator and consortium partners to refine the data collection framework, ensuring alignment with project objectives.
• Lead key informant interviews, focus group discussions, household surveys, and participatory rural appraisals to gather baseline for local nature-based solutions
• Support water resource mapping, emphasizing resilience, adaptation measures, and the integration of GEDSI principles.
• Ensure all collected data is properly documented and analyzed for reporting and decision-making.

3. Knowledge Generation & Research Support

• Support the conducting of surveys focused on freshwater resource management and climate change adaptation.
• Assist in compiling findings survey reports, contributing insights that inform inclusive adaptation measures.
• Provide technical support for policy review discussions, ensuring local implementation experiences help shape national frameworks

4. Policy Alignment & Institutional Strengthening

• Support coordination efforts between WaterAid, AFD and government agencies to ensure policy frameworks align with project implementation
• Work with provincial and district authorities to ensure WASH activities contribute to climate resilience objectives within PNG’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and Medium-Term Development Plan IV (MTDP IV).
• Ensure knowledge-sharing activities effectively engage stakeholders in meaningful policy discussions.

5. Logistics & Operational Support

• Assist in coordinating field visits, stakeholder meetings, and training sessions, ensuring smooth execution of project activities.
• Work with the Program Coordinator to ensure that all financial reporting and documentation comply with donor requirements.
• Support monitoring and evaluation efforts, ensuring that project milestones and outputs are met in a timely manner.

Physical Environment and Demands

• Must be able to travel to projects sites within Rabaul District as well as provincial office when required.

Level of contact with children

• The role may involve baseline and supervision work in communities in Rabaul District. The position will be required to always maintain WaterAid child safeguarding principles and standards all times.

Person Specification and Selection Criteria

This role has been created to recruit recent graduates with a tertiary qualification in Environmental Sciences, Social Sciences or Development Studies. Prior work experience in natural resources management or community development is desirable.

The following criteria will be used to assess candidates for the post. All applicants must address these criteria in their application:

Email Applications To: [email protected]