Preliminary job information

• Job Title: WASH ASSISTANT
• Country and Base of posting: YEMEN - MOKHA
• Reports hierarchically to: WASH OFFICER
• Position Type: Full time
• Travel requirement:  Frequent field Movement 
• Announcing Date: 28/09/2022
• Closing Date:  11/10/2022

General information on the mission

Context

Première Urgence - Aide Médicale Internationale (PU-AMI) is a non-governmental, non-profit, non-political and non-religious international aid organization. Our teams are committed to supporting civilian victims of marginalization and exclusion, or those hit by natural disasters, wars and economic collapses by answering their fundamental needs. Our aim is to provide emergency relief to uprooted people in order to help them recover their dignity and regain self-sufficiency. The association leads in average 190 projects a year in the following sectors of intervention: Food Security, Health, Nutrition, Construction and Rehabilitation of infrastructures, Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Economic Recovery. PU-AMI is providing assistance to around 5 million people in 20 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and France.

Yemen is one of the 30 poorest countries in the world with 54% of the population (2014 est.) living below the poverty line on less than two dollars a day. In parallel, since 2011 and the Yemeni revolution, the State is facing major humanitarian challenges. The transitional process failed to provide sustainable peace in the region. The country is now divided in two, with northern Yemen being under severe stress to provide for its population. In March 2015, a Saudi-led coalition began airstrikes in support of southern based pro-government forces, leading to a very unstable situation and dire humanitarian needs. 
The armed conflict has spread rapidly throughout much of Yemen since mid-March 2015, with devastating consequences for civilians. Two years of violence has led one of the world's poorest countries into chaos. Around 70% of the population, or 18.8 million people, now depend on humanitarian aid (OCHA); 2.8 million people are displaced; Dozens of schools and hospitals were the target of attacks; 17 million Yemenis are food insecure and 3 million children and pregnant or lactating women are acutely malnourished. The lack of access to safe drinking water and sanitation also affects 14 million people. 14.8 million people have no access to health care. A generation of Yemeni children is at risk, as nearly 2 million children do not have access to education because of conflict, poverty and discrimination. Yemen has turned into the number one humanitarian crisis in absolute numbers of people in need.

PU-AMI’s history in the country and intervention strategy

PU-AMI has been present in Yemen since 2007. From 2007 to 2011, PU-AMI supported the primary health system in Hodeidah Governorate. After a one-year stand-by in 2011 due to security reasons, the mission re-started in July 2012 with a nutrition project focusing both on emergency response and a longer term community-based approach in Hodeidah and extended its activity in Raymah Governorate. 
In 2017, PU-AMI continues to concentrate its intervention in 6 districts of Hodeida and 3 districts of Raymah. The number of IDPs in those two Governorates is very large and weight consequently on a population already living in extreme precariousness. The core field of intervention for PU-AMI in these Governorates is an integrated approach on nutrition including community-based activities (OTP/SFP and community mobilization as a strong component of the program, within health facilities, but also within an outreached approach and mobile clinics). 
In Hodeidah governorate, PU-AMI works to contribute to reduce the impact and severity of nutritional challenges and to improve health status of most vulnerable populations, through supplementary nutrition integrated response based upon health, hygiene and nutrition education and capacity building (Mobile Health Clinic, support to Health facilities, General Food Distributions, etc.). 
In Raymah governorate, PU-AMI is responding to the ongoing nutrition crisis through the same activities as in Hodeidah (primary health care and management of acute malnutrition for children U5 and pregnant and lactating women), as well as running a Stabilization Centre for severely malnourished children with medical complications. 
As part of this integrated approach in those two governorates, PU-AMI also implements food security and livelihoods activities, mostly consisting on general food distribution and some Food For Training activities (started in 01/2017). In addition, water, hygiene and sanitation will also be part of PUI intervention in the focused area, with WASH being prioritized in the rehabilitation of health facilities to manage more effectively nutrition activities.
In May 2017, PU-AMI started being a part of the Emergency Cholera Response in Hodeida and Raymah through the set up or Oral Rehydration Points and support of one Cholera Treatment Centre in Raymah.
PU-AMI will also position itself in influencing positions, through effective participation to clusters and sub-clusters (nutrition; food security and livelihoods; WASH) and working closely with relevant government departments (MOPIC; MoPHP).The mission will explore opportunities for geographical expansion through developing and clarifying expansion criteria beyond the current Governorates and District.  

Job Description

Overall objective

The WASH Assistant is in charge of the following-up of all the technical aspects of WASH activities and rehabilitation works conducted by PU-AMI in the framework of the NGO’s programs. Under the direct management of WASH Officer, he/she technically assesses the needs, prepares the Bills of Quantities (BOQs), compares the technical offers from the suppliers, follows up the implementation of the work and ensures a proper use of the premises/equipment.

Tasks and Responsibilities

For each WASH water quality activities planned by PU-AMI, the WASH assistant will perform the following tasks:

1. Main responsibilities

• Conduct field assessments and coordinate with the different stakeholders to determine the scope of the work, to be conducted, the resource requirements, etc.
• Support Water Supply infrastructures assessment along with Wash Officer and Wash Advisor.
• Conduct Bacteriological test to verify the contamination or not of each water supply facilities.
• Helping in the installation of chlorination points in the intervention areas.
• Clean assessment data and participate in the analysis of information
• Contribute to the preparation of reports of assessments
• Monitor Water quality water source in catchment area of HFs, Water Points and Health Centers.
• Become familiar with water quality standards and testing procedures
• As per Concern testing protocols, take samples of drinking water at source and point of consumption
• Analyze results of testing as per procedures and against agreed standards.
• Document results of testing and refer abnormalities to WASH Supervisor.
• Provide or undertake water treatment (bacteriological, physical) and assist Hygiene Promoters to assess effectiveness of the intervention.
• Detect new potential water source/point subject to be contaminated or at risk of contamination and conduct Water Quality Test
• Draft/write regular Water Quality report in combination with Data entry officer
• Check if the employees in HFs do regular FRC monitoring and if they do that following standard.
• The ability to carry out pumping tests for wells according to technical standards.
• Leading the emergency response team, sterilizing, and washing wells (Chock chlorine) using chlorine.
• Preparing lists of requirements to complete the work involved in it,
• Executing any work assigned to him outside his competence in accordance with the work requirements.
• Form community committee
• Management of Hygiène Promotion activities, Jerrycans, waste campaign and daily workers.
• Training community committee & daily workers.
• Pre-assessment and form community committee and training community committee & Daily workers.
• Management campaign and supervisor of (Jerrrycans & waste).

2. Technical review of suppliers and support in the contractor selection process

• Assess relevant markets in the targeted area
• Assess the capacities and expertise of potential contractors for the implementation of the water quality activities and perform a first screening.
• Support the collection of quotations during the procurement process.
• Participate in the technical review of the offers received by contractors, identify weaknesses and strengths of each application 

3. Follow up the implementation and ensure a correct use of the equipment 

• Supervise the implementation of the WASH construction/water quality activities work by the selected contractor
• Conduct daily site visits to monitor the progress of the activity.
• Ensure the full compliance with required standards and specifications.
• Ensure the compliance with the signed contract (budget, working plan, deadlines, etc.), and immediately report any deviations.
• Compile progress reports including the cost controlling, scheduling, risks, and management aspects
• Provides technical input whenever necessary.
• Work with multiple contractors on site to ensure that the interface among them is properly coordinated.
• Establish safety and security measures for each activity and ensure that these rules are respected by the workforce under his/ her supervision and by the population
• Report on obstacles regarding the timely achievement of the activity.
• Provide technical support and/or refer to relevant stakeholders in order to solve the water problem. 
• Prepare the certification of the tasks achieved by the contractor before each payment.
• Ensure the conduction of the hand-over process after the accomplishment of the work.

Team Management

• Directly Managed By: WASH Officer
• Technically Reports To: WASH Officer
• Direct line Management: None

Required Personal Characteristics (fitting into the team, suitability for the job and assignment)

• Problem solving skills (innovative and creative solutions are encouraged) 
• Analytical thinking and ability to evaluate    
• Excellent organisational skills, able to prioritise a complex workload and to work autonomously as needed
• Ability to work under pressure and willingness to work flexible hours in the event of major emergencies