Shelter, WASH and Infrastructure (SWI) Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is an international humanitarian organization founded in Denmark in 195

• It assists refugees and internally displaced persons globally by providing emergency aid, advocating for their rights, and enhancing their opportunities for a better future. The organization operates in conflict-affected areas, along displacement routes, and in host countries, working closely with local communities to promote responsible and sustainable solutions. DRC has grown to employ over 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers, with a vision of ensuring a dignified life for all displaced individuals. The organization's efforts are guided by core values such as humanity, respect, independence, neutrality, participation, honesty, and transparency.

Job Overview:
The Shelter, WASH and Infrastructure (SWI) Specialist is responsible for ensuring the technical quality and strategic coherence of Shelter, WASH, and Infrastructure programming across DRC Afghanistan. This role involves supporting the design, standardization, integration, and quality assurance of sector interventions, with a particular emphasis on climate-resilient and climate-adaptive approaches. The SWI Specialist will work closely with both Area Office and Country Office teams, providing technical guidance and support on Shelter, WASH, and infrastructure-related interventions. The position also focuses on capacity building for technical staff and promoting integrated programming approaches across sectors. The Specialist will ensure that all designs and implementation strategies are environmentally sustainable and aligned with resilience and adaptation principles, thereby contributing to the overall mission of DRC in Afghanistan.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The SWI Specialist will be tasked with several key responsibilities, including: contributing to the development and periodic revision of the SWI sector strategy based on context analysis and community needs; integrating climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction into program design and implementation; supporting the development and rollout of standard operating procedures (SOPs), technical guidelines, and tools; providing structured technical support to field teams; ensuring compliance with Cluster standards and national guidelines; conducting field visits for technical oversight; reviewing technical drawings and methodologies; supporting the development of technical staff structures; participating in recruitment and evaluation processes; identifying capacity gaps and developing training plans; designing and delivering training on climate-resilient practices; supporting program development and integration; monitoring sector-level spending; and engaging with donors and technical working groups.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a minimum of 5 years of professional experience in Shelter, WASH, and Infrastructure programming, with at least 2 years dedicated to climate change adaptation and climate-resilient infrastructure. They should have demonstrated experience in integrating climate adaptation and environmental sustainability into relevant projects, along with strong technical experience in program design and implementation. Experience in engaging with clusters and technical coordination mechanisms, as well as working in rapidly changing humanitarian contexts, is essential. Candidates should also have a proven track record in technical capacity building and remote support, as well as experience in developing SOPs and technical guidelines. Strong proposal development and technical report writing skills are also required, with multi-sectoral approaches being highly desirable.

Educational Background:
A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, structural engineering, water engineering, or a related field is required for this position. Relevant certifications or licenses associated with these areas of work are also beneficial.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of professional experience in Shelter, WASH, and Infrastructure programming, with a specific focus on climate change adaptation and climate-resilient infrastructure for at least 2 years. Candidates should have strong technical experience in program design and implementation, particularly in humanitarian and fragile contexts, and should demonstrate experience in technical capacity building and remote support.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required, along with full working proficiency in Pashto and Dari. These language skills are essential for effective communication and collaboration within the team and with stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The salary and conditions for this position will be in accordance with the DRC salary scale. The application process requires interested candidates to submit a cover letter and an updated CV, both in the same language and not exceeding four pages. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.