Technical WASH Specialist

Job Title:                                       Technical WASH Specialist

Department:                               Program Department

Location:                                      Phongsaly Province, Lao PDR

Position Reports to:                  Provincial Program Manager

Position Type:                             Fixed-Term (1 year with potential extension), Full-time

CARE INTERNATIONAL IN LAO PDR

CARE International is a global NGO working to end poverty and achieve social-justice. We rebuild and improve the lives of the most vulnerable groups, especially women and girls who are often the most marginalised individuals in their communities and face unequal access to social and economic rights. In 2024, CARE worked in more than 100 countries around the world, supporting 200 million people from vulnerable communities to fight poverty and social injustice. To date, CARE supported over 52 million participants to promote lasting change in their lives, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.

CARE International in Lao PDR began its operations in 1992 and has worked since then to improve the lives of vulnerable groups in both rural and urban areas, particularly the ethnic minority communities. CARE works in partnership with community members, the government, local civil society organisations, and the private sector. CARE currently implements projects in seven provinces: Vientiane Capital, Phongsaly, Luang Namtha, Luangprabang, Salavan, Champasack and Sekong.

CARE’s “Marginalized Women and Girls” program in Laos empowers women and girls through integrated initiatives focusing on women’s health, economic empowerment, and climate resilience, utilizing evidence-based practices to drive sustainable socio-economic justice. This is achieved by strengthening health systems, combating gender-based violence, improving food access, fostering resilient livelihoods and inclusive value chains, and enhancing climate adaptation through community-driven action plans that combine scientific and traditional knowledge, ultimately contributing to poverty reduction and a more equitable society.  CARE Laos commits to women and girl empowerment, locally led and globally scaled through a comprehensive approach to long-term commitment to building local capacity as central to our mission.

Job Summary / About the Role

The Technical WASH Specialist will work closely in cooperation with local partner, especial with Provincial Health Office, as a core partners, also working and collaboration with others government agencies such as: with the PHO, PLWU, PAFO, PONRE and in close coordination with other CARE development projects in Phongsaly province Lao PDR.

This position will lead technical implementation of the project, providing technical and implementation advice on key aspects of CARE’s work on promoting WASH access and behaviors, gender equality, and climate resilience. This position will work closely with ethnic communities including women in 15 communities in Samphan and Mai districts.  The project will focus on strengthening access and quality through exploring more sustainable approaches to water infrastructure and community behavioral practices. This will be achieved through:

1. Ensuring all families in 15 target communities have year-round access to adequate volumes of safe water at the household level and that models for the sustainable supply of clean drinking water for all households developed and implemented in at least two communities.
2. Capacities are built at village and district levels ensure technical, social and environmental sustainability of water supply systems established.
3. Climate resilient adaptation options that enhance community incentives for watershed forest protection / expansion and thus contribute to sustainable water access are piloted and assessed

This position is based at Mai district, Phongsaly Province with extensively travel to project target villages in Mai and Samphan Districts with travel to Vientiane sometimes.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategy and Leadership

• Work with the Program team, project staff and technical advisors to support the development and review of the project goal, objective and its log frame and based on Program Strategy;
• Active support of CARE Lao’s long term program strategy has a strong focus on gender equality and women’s empowerment through actively contributing to strategy development
• Demonstrate a passion for Women & Girls equality, women’s empowerment and a commitment to CARE’s approach and values including ethnic diversity and cultural sensitivity

PROJECT DEVELOPMENT

• Support further development and review of the project design
• Active participate the Women & Girls analyses and update them periodically for effective program development, planning, management and advocacy.
• Ensure quality, coherence and synergy of Women & Girls related work in program development planning and management; and
• Keep informed of key trends and best practice related to the Women & Girls priorities.

PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION AND QUALITY ASSURANCE

• Provide Technical advice and leadership on daily project activity, project implementation based on the project’ action plan and its log frame including the design of water systems and WASH SBCC approaches.
• Lead the creation and actively implement agreed technical approaches and provide feedback on cross-cutting issues.
• Facilitate action and reflection at community level to empower women and reflect on social norms.
• Supporting preparation of quarterly report, Bi-annual report, annual report and project final report.
• Carry out monthly, quarterly, six monthly and annual meetings with implementing partners and relevant partners including the line ministries and concerned provincial government.
• Support for monitoring change at community level.
• Learning CARE MILKA framework, closely follow up project proposal and project log-frame.
• Participation in CARE PIIRs report.
• Facilitation to consultant conduct the project baseline survey process, Mid-term review and project final evaluation process.
• Monitoring and supporting target communities based on project action plan, including project baseline survey, mid-term review and project final evaluation.
• Contribute to continuously improving the quality of activities through leading on joint reflection.
• Entering data into the Activity Tracking System.
• Fully lead and manage the team to implement the project activities
• Provide technical support to the partners through mentoring and on-the-job training.
• Liaise with government counterparts on MOU negotiation, implement agreement, and ensure that the on-time submission of MoU reports to the relevant government partners.
• Review project budget monthly and quarterly and report to provincial manager and to budget holder
• Sign and approve the project’s advance request to do outreach activity based on financial rules and regulations.
• Verify and approval expenses concerning project activity and other costs based on financial rules and regulations.

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

• Conduct the staff Annual Performance Appraisal (including the APPA midterm review) following the HR policy and procedure.
• Maintain good inter-team communications and team dynamics; promote collaborative efforts among project staff, exercise good leadership, and take suitable action when problems occur.
• Ensure compliance to CARE International in Lao PDR HR policies and guidelines with the support of the senior management team.

Budget Management

• Responsible of supporting project budget management including:
• Supporting planning that expenditure is in line with approved budgets and adherence with CARE and donor financial policy and procedures.
• Timely preparation of project advance and clearance of all the project team members.
• Support the efficient and proper use of project funds in line with the approved budget and in compliance with CARE’s finance manual and donor guidelines.
• Request and clear all field cash advances in a timely fashion in accordance with CARE Finance policies and procedures and ensure project staff manage any cash advances in line with financial management procedures.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:

• To proactively participate in the Annual Planning and Performance Appraisal (APPA) process including the annual appraisal, midyear review and regular 1:1 meeting, ensuring that the APPA process (including the paperwork) is an integral component of Annual Work Plans and activities.
• Engage in emergency preparedness, assist in any emergency response as required.
• Promote a safe and secure work environment; foster a culture of safety and security awareness and ensure compliance with the safety and security policies, procedures.
• Demonstrate an ongoing commitment to gender equality, diversity and child protection and Safeguarding policy (Protection from Sexual Harassment, Exploitation and Abuse);
• Comply with CARE Laoss financial and operational requirements, foster strong communication between operations and programs teams and uphold high standards of honesty and integrity in personal conduct.

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in construction Engineer/or Rural Development.
• Minimum 5 years’ work experience in Engineer/or rural development
• Have experience on water supply construction and water supply system management.
• Have experience in climate change adaptation promotion.
• Have experience in WASH/or hygiene promotion.
• Good communication in English skill.
• At least 5 years’ experience work with ethnic communities including women/ ethnic farmer.
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in Lao, knowledge of local ethnic language highly desired.
• Basic skills in Microsoft Office with knowledge in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Have the patience to work in remote areas for long periods.