Introduction

WaterAid’s vision is of a world where everyone has access to safe water and sanitation. Our mission is to transform lives by improving access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in the world’s poorest communities. WaterAid works with partners to maximise its impacts for policy change/influence.

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 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, East Sepik Province and East New Britain 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.

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.

WASH in PNG

Papua New Guinea (PNG) faces a severe WASH crisis, with some of the lowest access rates globally. Only 45% of the population has access to basic drinking water, 19% to basic sanitation, and 28% to household handwashing facilities with soap (JMP, 2024). WASH access in healthcare facilities (HCFs) is critically low, with 86% not meeting basic service levels (National Department of Health & WaterAid, 2021). Addressing these gaps is essential for improving public health, particularly for pregnant women and newborns.

The overarching goal of the Advancing Quality Universal Access to WASH in East Sepik Province (AQUA) project is to improve access to safe, clean and sustainable WASH and enhance health outcomes in East Sepik Province. By focusing on target districts, including Wewak district, the project aims to catalyze sustainable WASH system improvements, advancing the Wewak District WASH Plan (2024 – 2027). A particular emphasis on WASH in healthcare facilities will enhance the health and safety of patients and healthcare workers. Additionally, the project will strengthen the capacity, leadership and evidence base of the East Sepik Provincial WASH committee and Health Authority, supporting the future scale-up of essential WASH services.

Inclusive, Climate Resilient WASH in Wewak District, East Sepik, Papua New Guinea (TCCF 2024-2025): This is a continuation of WaterAid's WASH service delivery efforts in the Wewak District, East Sepik province, which has been ongoing for the past three years with support from TCCF (2021-2025). Our activities have primarily centered around increasing access to clean, safe, and reliable water sources, as well as offering appropriate sanitation and hygiene solutions to both communities and healthcare facilities.

By addressing critical WASH challenges, this project will contribute to sustainable, equitable water and sanitation access in PNG’s most vulnerable communities. The goal aligns with Country Strategy aim 2- WaSH in Public Health and increase the political will and commitment for them prioritise WaSH in Health Care Facilities ensuring the policy, practise and investment are aligned well.

Position Summary

The Senior WASH Technical Officer will support in the implementation and partner management projects delivering improved health outcomes through inclusive and equitable water, sanitation and hygiene across PNG.

The Senior WASH Technical Officer works closely with WaterAid Technical Advisor and the wider program and partners’ teams in providing technical assistance to infrastructure projects now focusing on the AQUA project in Wewak District in East Sepik province. The individual has critical knowledge and skills to design, cost effective and quality infrastructure and to oversee quality control of implemented activities by partners.

Key Performance Areas/Accountabilities

1. Program Management

• Lead on design of appropriate, cost effective, sustainable and inclusive WASH infrastructure that responds to local contextual factors in various districts in Wewak, East Sepik province.
• Develop accurate bills of quantities.
• Ensure that programs and projects satisfy minimum criteria defined in WaterAid Guidelines and PNG Government policy, law and regulation, and are implemented in line with grant requirements, budgets and plans, including by overseeing work of construction partners.
• Ensure to review the project workplan, MEL framework, risk matrix and RAG rating data are updated on WaterAid Programme System (WAPS) on a monthly, quarterly and bi-annually.
• Work with the WASH Technical Advisor, Wewak Project Coordinator and Program Officers to prepare and deliver project implementation plans that take into account project/grant requirements, partner engagement and capacity, and good development practice (sustainable, collaborative, empowering, rights based).
• Work with Program Officers to provide guidance to the WaterAid team on hygiene and sanitation behaviour change approaches and support the team to ensure ‘good practice’ approaches are pursued at all times.
• Arrange meetings with WaSH Committees/partners/constructors to agree on designs, construction approaches, negotiate contracts, build capacity of construction partners and local technician in the community, monitor progress of infrastructure construction; identify and manage any risks.
• Lead contracting and procurement of goods and services of the projects are documented in consultation with the WASH Advisor for approval by the Country Director in a timely manner.
• Ensure timely processing of acquittals and follow up with partners/contractors. Ensure activities are implemented in accordance with the design, scope of work and available budget.
• Ensure timely submission of payment requests & advances, processing of acquittals and follow up with partners/contractors for finance documentation as needed. Ensure activities are implemented in accordance with the design, scope of work and available budget.
• Oversee procurement of goods and services required for infrastructure projects adhering to WaterAid procurement & finance processes. This includes engagement of casual staff to assist with procurement process where necessary.
• Ensure the Directors and Senior Programs Manager, WASH Advisor & Wewak Project Coordinator are kept informed of activity progress, risks and all relevant issues at all times by sending reports, and messages on WhatsApp group
• Respond to requests for information promptly and accurately.
• Conduct formative research on hygiene and sanitation and support the design of activities that aim to change practices.
• Ensure water quality testing is carried out for all WaterAid Projects and transported to laboratory for testing & results communicated and uploaded to WAPS. Conduct frequent rapid testing at project sites as needed.
• Comply with contextualised WA standard Occupational Health & Safety and Operations & Maintenance are adhered to in project implementation.

2. Monitoring, Evaluation, Knowledge and Learning

• Monitor and support implementing partners and staff to ensure that construction is of a high-quality standard and consistent with their contractual obligations and plans.
• Ensure that data to support reporting is collected and maintained and is accurate and the Framework, indicators and results are updated on WAPS weekly and monthly
• Ensure the design documents are uploaded onto WAPS
• Support the Project Coordinator; and Program Officers to facilitate information gathering activities related to the collection or development of baseline data, case studies and research.
• Coordinate and compile technical reports on WaSH infrastructure using WAPNG approved templates to contribute to timely reporting, communication and learning for WaterAid (internal), donors, partners and stakeholders.

3. Equity and Inclusion

• Ensure that WaterAid’s WaSH infrastructure work is inclusive in design, with consideration to women, girls, people with disabilities and other marginalised groups in design and implementation.

• Ensure the GEDSI and security Risks are documented and reported onto WAPS on weekly and monthly basis
• 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.
• Build the capacity and understanding of the WaterAid Team on gender, equity and inclusion and how to ensure WaterAid programs are inclusive.
• Consult with the GEDSI Advisor on the equity and inclusion aspects of the work and ensure that WaterAid staff and external stakeholders are sensitive to gender and social inclusion considerations.
• Promote a ‘Do No Harm’ approach amongst WaterAid staff and partners and ensure that referral pathways are accessible for stakeholders and beneficiaries affected by WaterAid’s work.

4. Partner and Contractors Engagement

• Build and maintain constructive working relationships with WaterAid’s local partners. Mentor and support WaterAid Team members to do likewise.
• Coordinate field visits with partners and contractors with sensitivity to security and accessibility issues Document the security risks and update the security offline plan to be uploaded into the risk register in WAPS.
• Work in close collaboration with the Community Engagement Officer to ensure the Safeguarding tools and inductions for partners and contractors are met including occupational health and safety of contractors and causals engaged in construction works.
• Support WaterAid to undertake due diligence assessments on all new /potential contractors and to take forward corresponding development plans.
• Represent WaterAid through local sector coordination bodies where required.

The role requires engagement with 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.

Communications & Working Relationships

Internal

• WaterAid PNG- Programs & Operations-Finance
• WaterAid Australia (participation in learning events, liaising with various technical Leads & Advisors)
• WaterAid global intranet (participation in webinars and other online learning platforms)

External

Multiple governmental and non-governmental stakeholders

• Contractors
• Good and Service providers

Physical Environment & Demands

• High travel requirements within Wewak District & potentially other districts in East Sepik Province with the occasional travel to Port Moresby as required.

Level of Contact with Children

• The role may involve engaging with communities and schools to develop and collect information for program monitoring and evaluation purposes, and such may come into contact with children. The position will always maintain WaterAid child safeguarding principles and standards.