Chargé(e) de Programme Senior –Promotion de l’Hygiène

Job Posting Organization:
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Established to serve those in need, CRS operates in over 100 countries, focusing on saving, protecting, and transforming lives without regard to race, religion, or nationality. The organization engages in various programs including emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. CRS is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation, and it welcomes individuals from diverse faiths and secular traditions who share its values and commitment to service. The agency's policies reflect a dedication to the rights and dignity of all people, particularly those who are most vulnerable. CRS also emphasizes the importance of safeguarding program participants and community members from all forms of exploitation and abuse, ensuring that all staff adhere to a strict Code of Conduct. The organization prioritizes hiring candidates from the regions in which it operates, and it is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Job Overview:
As a Senior Program Officer for Hygiene Promotion, you will play a crucial role in the design, coordination, and implementation of community health activities, hygiene promotion, and community mobilization within a multi-sectoral humanitarian project. Your contributions will be vital in achieving project objectives by ensuring technical and operational coordination of health prevention activities, behavior change related to hygiene, water, and sanitation. You will support field teams and partners in implementing interventions effectively. Additionally, you will ensure the integration of protection and nutrition components through close coordination with relevant Project Officers, disseminating key messages, and directing identified cases to appropriate services. Your skills in coordination, community relationship management, and programmatic analysis will be essential in ensuring effective interventions that are contextually appropriate and centered on public health for affected populations.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Your key responsibilities will include coordinating the implementation of hygiene promotion activities in accordance with the detailed implementation plan, CRS quality standards, donor requirements, and humanitarian best practices. You will be responsible for planning, organizing, and monitoring community awareness activities throughout the project cycle. Identifying key health risks and risky behaviors related to water, hygiene, and sanitation will be part of your role, along with developing appropriate communication strategies. You will supervise hygiene promotion agents, community mobilizers, and volunteers assigned to the project. Coordination with WASH teams and other sectors will be necessary to ensure coherence and complementarity of interventions. You will support the establishment of community structures for health prevention, maintenance, and ownership of WASH infrastructures. Conducting or supporting assessments, KAP surveys, behavioral analyses, and other studies related to hygiene and community practices will also be part of your duties. Close collaboration with the MEAL team will be essential to ensure data quality, indicator tracking, and documentation of results. You will support accountability to affected populations by integrating complaint and feedback mechanisms. Identifying needs for hygiene items not covered by market approaches and assisting in their targeting/distribution with relevant teams will be required. Maintaining close working relationships with health authorities, community leaders, local partners, and other stakeholders is crucial. You will also support the identification of capacity-building needs for partners and contribute to technical training on hygiene promotion and community mobilization. Documenting best practices, lessons learned, and case studies will be part of your responsibilities, as well as preparing programmatic reports and project updates in accordance with CRS and donor requirements. Ensuring that project documentation is complete and properly archived is also essential.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a Bachelor's degree in public health, nursing, anthropology, social sciences, WASH, international development, or a related field. A minimum of 2 to 5 years of relevant experience in hygiene promotion, community mobilization, or SBC approaches in humanitarian or development contexts is essential. Experience working with national or international NGOs is also required. Candidates should demonstrate personal accountability, integrity, trustworthiness, and collaboration skills. They should be open to learning and possess organizational leadership skills, including change management, talent development, and strategic vision.

Educational Background:
Candidates must hold a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as public health, nursing, anthropology, social sciences, WASH, or international development. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of community health and hygiene promotion in humanitarian settings.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 2 to 5 years of relevant experience in hygiene promotion, community mobilization, or SBC approaches, particularly in humanitarian or development contexts. Experience working with NGOs, especially in emergency response or fragile contexts, is highly valued. Candidates should have a proven track record of effective program implementation and community engagement.

Languages:
Fluency in French is required, with proficiency in Swahili and relevant local languages for the project intervention area being advantageous. Strong communication skills in these languages will facilitate effective community engagement and program implementation.

Additional Notes:
The position involves significant travel, with up to 80% of time spent in project implementation areas. Candidates should be prepared for this level of mobility. The role may involve direct supervision of hygiene promotion agents, community mobilizers, and field volunteers. CRS emphasizes a commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all individuals, particularly children and vulnerable adults. The successful candidate will be expected to adhere to CRS's Code of Conduct and participate in safeguarding training. The organization prioritizes candidates who are citizens or permanent residents of the countries where CRS operates.