Senior Programme Associate (WASH expert)

Job Posting Organization:
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, established to save lives in emergencies and to use food assistance as a means to build pathways to peace, stability, and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impacts of climate change. WFP operates globally, with a mission to ensure that no one is left behind, and it emphasizes diversity and inclusion in its workforce. WFP has received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020, highlighting its commitment to humanitarian efforts. The organization invests in the personal and professional development of its employees through various training and mentorship programs, and it operates in numerous countries worldwide, focusing on effective humanitarian assistance.

Job Overview:
The Senior Programme Associate (WASH expert) will be responsible for planning, coordinating, implementing, and reporting on WASH-related activities under the KOICA-funded project and other relevant WFP initiatives. This role is crucial for ensuring the effective delivery of project components related to school WASH infrastructure improvements, hygiene promotion campaigns, water quality monitoring, and institutional capacity strengthening for sustainable WASH operations in schools. The incumbent will engage strategically with the Government and partners to integrate WASH components into national school feeding and social protection systems, contributing to improved health and nutrition outcomes for children across the Kyrgyz Republic. The position requires a strong focus on enhancing access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities in schools, which is essential for the health and learning outcomes of schoolchildren.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide specialized expertise and contribute towards the development of project activities, plans, and processes within the specific technical area of work ensuring alignment with wider programme policies and guidelines.
• Provide efficient coordination and specialized project management support to a range of specific and/or defined programmes to ensure that the various activities are performed within the established targets following WFP’s policies and procedures.
• Prepare a variety of elaborated reports and substantial data analysis (e.g., food assistance needs, resource utilization, programme status, performance) and make recommendations to supervisors, ensuring deliverables adhere to corporate standards and quality control.
• Lead and ensure accurate, timely recording of data within the specific technical area of work (e.g., assistance programmes, security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security and vulnerability assessments) and consistency of information presented to stakeholders.
• Coordinate and liaise with internal counterparts on a range of complex matters to enable effective collaboration, implementation, and monitoring of ongoing project activities.
• Foster relationships and support partnership-building with local partners, agencies, NGOs, and government institutions to perform accurate food security analyses and ensure efficient delivery of food assistance.
• Support the capacity building of WFP staff, cooperating partners, and national government within a specific technical area.
• Act as an escalation point for complex query resolution on all matters within the area of responsibility.
• Manage a team of support staff, providing advice, guidance, and training, to ensure individual and team objectives are delivered to agreed standards and deadlines. 1
• Follow standard emergency preparedness practices to ensure WFP is able to quickly respond and deploy needed resources to affected areas at the onset of the crisis. 1
• Lead planning, coordination, and implementation of school WASH activities to enhance access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities. Conduct WASH needs assessments and prepare improvement plans for water points, toilets, handwashing stations, and waste systems, ensuring designs are gender-sensitive, disability-inclusive, and age-appropriate. 1
• Develop Bills of Quantities (BoQs) and technical specifications for WASH infrastructure and MHM supplies, in coordination with engineers, procurement teams, and local authorities. 1
• Plan and oversee the establishment of school WASH committees and capacity-building initiatives to ensure effective operation and maintenance of WASH facilities. 1
• Develop and deliver training materials and curricula on hygiene, sanitation, and menstrual hygiene management (MHM) for teachers, students, and community stakeholders. 1
• Conduct training of trainers (ToT) for cooperating partners and organize capacity-building workshops to strengthen the skills of WASH committees and local authorities in managing and maintaining school WASH services. 1
• Establish and apply monitoring tools to track WASH progress and ensure quality implementation through regular field visits and inspections. 1
• Compile data, lessons learned, and best practices, contributing to technical and donor reports to inform evidence-based planning and continuous improvement. 1
• Coordinate with the Ministries of Education, Health, and water authorities, as well as UN agencies, NGOs, and development partners, to ensure harmonized implementation of school WASH interventions. 1
• Advocate for the integration of school WASH into education, health, and nutrition policies and strengthen local governance mechanisms for sustainability. 2
• Support the localization and application of national WASH and SHN standards in alignment with the Home-Grown School Feeding (HGSF) Programme and WFP strategic objectives.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a minimum of seven years of progressively responsible work experience in development, government aid programs, general administrative work, or other related fields. Candidates should have participated in implementing technical programs, preferably with a focus on WASH programming, and have experience in working with donors and implementing infrastructure projects. A strong technical understanding of WASH infrastructure, facility design, and construction supervision is essential. Candidates should also possess skills in hygiene promotion, menstrual hygiene management, and disability inclusion, along with experience in organizing training sessions and community engagement.

Educational Background:
Completion of secondary school education is required, and a post-secondary certificate in public health, environmental engineering, water and sanitation, education, or a related field is desirable. Candidates should have a strong educational background that supports their understanding of the technical aspects of WASH programming and its integration into broader health and education initiatives.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of seven years of progressively responsible work experience in relevant fields, demonstrating increasing levels of responsibility and involvement in technical program implementation. Experience in WASH programming, particularly in school settings, is highly valued, as is familiarity with national WASH policies and standards.

Languages:
Fluency in both oral and written communication in English is mandatory, with proficiency in the local languages (Russian or Kyrgyz) considered an advantage. This linguistic capability is essential for effective communication with stakeholders and for the successful implementation of WASH initiatives in the Kyrgyz Republic.

Additional Notes:
The position is full-time and involves working closely with various stakeholders, including government agencies and local partners. The role may require travel within the Kyrgyz Republic to oversee project implementation and engage with communities. WFP is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. The organization emphasizes an inclusive work environment and does not charge any fees for the application process.