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 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 Officer will play a critical role in supporting the implementation of the PacFresh H2O 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 Program Coordinator and GEDSI Officer to ensure project activities align with established objectives and contribute to the long-term success of the initiative

Location

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

Line Management

Program Coordinator

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 Pomio District through participatory approaches, ensuring inclusive representation in decision-making.
• Facilitate engagement with the Pomio 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 WASH and WRM data.
• Support water resource mapping, emphasizing resilience, adaptation measures, and the integration of GEDSI principles.
• Ensure all collected data is properly documented and analysed for reporting and decision-making.

3. Knowledge Generation & Research Support

• Support surveys focused on freshwater resource management and climate change adaptation.
• Assist in compiling findings into 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, GIZ, SPC, 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 Pomio District as well as provincial office when required.

Level of contact with children

• The role may involve baseline and supervision work in Communities, Schools and Health Care Facilities in Pomio 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 health, Social Sciences or Development Studies. Prior work experience with WASH, health 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]