Global WASH Adviser

Job Posting Organization:
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organization established to assist people forced to flee their homes due to conflict and disaster. With a workforce of approximately 15,000 employees, NRC operates in 40 countries worldwide, providing life-saving assistance and long-term support to millions of individuals each year. The organization is committed to upholding the rights of refugees and internally displaced persons, ensuring that they receive the necessary aid and support to rebuild their lives. NRC's mission is to promote and protect the rights of displaced people, and it strives to deliver high-quality humanitarian assistance while advocating for durable solutions to displacement.

Job Overview:
The Global WASH Adviser position at NRC Central & West Africa (CWA) is a pivotal role aimed at enhancing WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) programming across the region. The adviser will be responsible for providing strategic advice, technical oversight, and capacity building to Country Offices and Regional teams. This role involves ensuring that effective strategies, systems, and tools are in place to deliver high-quality WASH responses. The adviser will also play a crucial role in supporting proposal development, identifying funding opportunities, and ensuring compliance with donor requirements. This position offers a unique opportunity to blend technical leadership with hands-on support, thereby driving impactful change at country, regional, and global levels. The ideal candidate will possess fluency in both English and French, enabling effective communication and collaboration across diverse teams and stakeholders.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Global WASH Adviser will undertake a variety of responsibilities, including but not limited to: ensuring compliance with NRC policies and procedures related to WASH; contributing to the development of innovative policies, strategies, and tools; supporting the development of country and regional core competence strategies; providing technical supervision and capacity building to Country and Regional Office Specialists; leading the institutionalization and roll-out of sector-specific Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) tools; promoting and documenting learning activities; and maintaining relationships with relevant stakeholders such as donors, UN agencies, and NGOs. The adviser will also be responsible for gathering and analyzing evidence from country offices to inform the global learning agenda for WASH, ensuring the application of safety standards, and supporting the development of capacity-building plans focused on WASH competencies.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in a similar humanitarian role, demonstrating in-depth knowledge of NRC’s specialized areas of expertise. Proven experience in program quality and strategic approaches to program development is essential, along with the ability to develop practical tools and resources. Candidates should have experience in program quality assessments, program development and delivery, and delivering learning and development initiatives as part of quality improvement and capacity building. Experience working in complex and volatile contexts across multiple countries is also required, along with a willingness to travel to high-risk country offices and maintain HEAT training validity.

Educational Background:
While the specific educational background is not explicitly stated, candidates are generally expected to have a relevant degree in fields such as international development, humanitarian studies, public health, or a related discipline. Advanced degrees may be preferred, particularly for roles that require strategic oversight and technical expertise in WASH programming.

Experience:
The position requires extensive experience in programming within the humanitarian sector, particularly in WASH. Candidates should have a proven track record of working in diverse and challenging environments, demonstrating adaptability and resilience. Experience in capacity building and training is also crucial, as the adviser will be responsible for enhancing the skills and knowledge of Country Office staff.

Languages:
Fluency in both English and French is mandatory for this position, as effective communication with diverse teams and stakeholders is essential. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset, enhancing the candidate's ability to engage with various communities and partners.

Additional Notes:
The duty station for this position is Dakar, Senegal, with a contract duration of 2 years. The role involves significant travel, with up to 40% of the time spent in the field, including deployments of up to 30 days at a time. The salary is classified as grade 9 on NRC’s salary mobile scale, accompanied by terms and conditions that reflect the organization's commitment to equitable compensation. NRC is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to fostering diversity and inclusion within its workforce. The organization encourages innovative thinking and empowers employees at all levels to contribute ideas and take responsibility.