Environmental Health / WATSAN Team Leader at Medecins Sans Frontieres
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organisation that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural disasters and exclusion from healthcare. MSF offers assistance to people based on need, irrespective of race, religion, gender or political affiliation.
Our actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of neutrality and impartiality.
A worldwide movement
MSF was founded in Paris, France in 1971. Its principles are described in the organisation’s founding charter. It is a non-profit, self-governed organisation.
Today, MSF is a worldwide movement of 24 associations, bound together as MSF International, based in Switzerland.
Thousands of health professionals, logistical and administrative staff – most of whom are hired locally – work on programmes in some 70 countries worldwide.
Humanitarian action
MSF’s work is based on humanitarian principles. We are committed to bringing quality medical care to people caught in crisis, regardless of race, religion or political affiliation.
MSF operates independently. We conduct our own evaluations on the ground to determine people’s needs. More than 90 per cent of our overall funding comes from millions of private sources, not governments.
MSF is neutral. We do not take sides in armed conflicts, we provide care on the basis of need, and we push for independent access to victims of conflict as required under international humanitarian law.
Bearing witness and speaking out
MSF medical teams often witness violence and neglect in the course of their work, largely in regions that receive scant international attention.
At times, MSF may speak out publicly in an effort to bring a forgotten crisis to public attention, to alert the public to abuses occurring beyond the headlines, to criticise the inadequacies of the aid system, or to challenge the diversion of humanitarian aid for political interests.
Quality medical care
MSF rejects the idea that poor people deserve third-rate medical care and strives to provide high-quality care to patients. In 1999, when MSF was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, the organisation announced the money would go towards raising awareness of and fighting against neglected diseases.
Through the Access Campaign, and in partnership with the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, this work has helped lower the price of HIV/AIDS treatment and stimulated research and development for medicines to treat malaria and neglected diseases like sleeping sickness and kala azar.Main Purpose
Overall responsible for the correct planning, implementation and monitoring of the environmental health including Water, Hygiene and Sanitation (Watsan) content of the projects in collaboration with the EH Managers, maintaining the oversight of all teams involved in the application of major Watsan activities at the projects level, according to MSF protocols, standards and procedures in order to improve health and living conditions of the targeted population.
Accountabilities
Being responsible for leading the design, technical implementation, acceptance and management of all assigned Watsan interventions (water supply, excreta disposal, waste management, vector control and dead bodies management) and teams in the project. In collaboration with the Medical Coordinator, leads the development of project proposals and/or work plans, when Watsan activities are integrated in medical interventions. For some interventions, in the absence of the Watsan Manager, will be involved directly in the implementation of project activities
Adapting and implementing both minimum Watsan standards and monitoring indicators (including reporting procedures) to the context to ensure that MSF's Watsan standards are reached and protocols are maintained
Conducting Watsan assessments in collaboration with project medical teams to identify Watsan needs at the project level, and summarizing findings to the direct line manager and recommending appropriate responses. In emergency response situations at the project level, leading the development and planning of Watsan emergency strategies and resources planning, in collaboration with the medical and logistical teams
Guiding processes of Watsan technical support to the project's medical team in identifying possible “risk factors” (e.g. behavioural practices, environmental sources of infection, and transmission routes) and controlling measures to address modes of transmission of infection and corresponding ways of controlling spread.
Monitoring the strict application of safety measures in all Watsan activities in the project
Ensuring proper Watsan staffing, coaching and supervision at the project level, in close coordination with the project's HR department and Watsan Managers, all the associated processes (recruitment, briefing, training, performance evaluation, development and internal/external communication) to ensure both that the number and the skill levels of the team is appropriate.
Serving as mentor and providing guidance to first time mission Watsan Managers in the application of Watsan activities and tools
Compiling and analysing statistical and monitoring data of Watsan activities at the project level and ensuring regular and detailed reporting of results (e.g. SitRep; quarterly, donor or local authority reports), proceedings and problematic situations.
Ensuring multidisciplinary data availability, collection and analysis of any activity impacting health status of the affected population.
MSF Section / Context Specific Accountabilities:
Since the projects of OCB are spread in different states the WATSAN technical referent will be flying between the projects (currently Maiduguri, Kebbi and Awka) in order to give first line support. He/she will base 60 to 70% in the field (shared between the projects) and 30% in Abuja.
Ensuring the implementation of EH strategy at the projects level and supporting the monitoring of the related indicators through appropriate tools.
Covering the gap of the projects’ EH managers
Leading regular project meetings with the project’s Watsan Managers to facilitate the discussion about technical challenges, promoting regular exchange of information and experiences.
Monthly and specific reporting to the EH coordinator
Supporting the EH coordinator in analysing the EH context in the country
Participating in the briefing of the newcomers (projects and coordination)
Providing the technical advice to the logistics base regarding the water and sanitation issues in the coordination office and guesthouses in a collaborative way
Participating in the annual review of the operations of the projects and the programme
Representing the EH coordinator when requested.
Minimum Required Skills and Qualifications
Education:
B.S.c / B.Eng. Degree in Civil Engineering, Hydraulics, Geology, Sanitation, Health Engineering or Public Health. Watsan in Emergencies Training within or outside MSF is strongly recommended.
Experience:
Previous experience in technical aspects of water and sanitation works;
Minimum of 3-years of hands-on field emergency WHS professional experience in a humanitarian or international development setting
Mandatory: Previous experience in cholera outbreak and wastewater management is mandatory;
Desirable: experience in or familiar with implementing and promoting the use of two or more of the following activities (water supply, excreta disposal, waste and wastewater management, vector control, and dead bodies management) in two or more different contexts (disease outbreak, conflicts, natural disasters, refugee/IDP camps, etc.)
Languages: English.
Knowledge:
Computer literacy;
Knowledge of drawing with civil engineering software or GIS are assets.