Project Support Officer – Local Government Level 310 views4 applications

United Purpose (UP) is an international development organisation that works to sustainably reduce poverty and improve the lives of some of the world’s poorest communities. Established in 1976, the organisation has nine country programmes in Africa, Asia & South America.

In Nigeria, UP has been working for almost two decades with local partners and rural communities in the country’s South East. We implement projects funded by major international donors that aim to address gender inequalities and rights abuses, improve sanitation and access to water, foster accountability, preserve vital ecosystems and develop sustainable livelihoods.

Project Support Officer – Local Government Level

Location: Designated LGAs in Cross River State (with regular travel to Calabar)
Reporting to: Project Support Officer – State Government Level

Purpose

• The purpose of this post is to support implementation of the Rural Sanitation & Hygiene Promotion in Nigeria (RUSHPIN) Programme funded by the UN/WSSCC Global Sanitation Fund (GSF) and the Nigerian Government. United Purpose is the Executing Agency for the Programme that aims to significantly increase sanitation coverage and sustained hygiene behavioural change in Cross River and Benue States, and to serve as a model towards state-wide sanitation coverage that can be replicated in other states.
• The post-holder will lead Programme activities in a designated LGA in Cross River State by supporting partner staff at the Local Government level to achieve LGA-wide Open Defecation Free (ODF) status using the Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach. This involves providing direct support at the community level to staff of LGAs and CSOs through extensive travel to field locations, coordination of activities in line with detailed implementation plans, communicating effectively with partners and other stakeholders, identifying and sharing project impacts, and liaising closely with UP’s Offices in Calabar.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Liaise/coordinate with and between all entities involved in the Programme at the LGA level, particularly LGA WASH Unit, LGA Tasks Group on Sanitation (LTGS) and Civil Society Organisations, and ensure effective implementation of Programme activities for the delivery of intended outputs and outcomes.
• Actively participate in regular meetings with key stakeholders at the LGA level, ensuring there is common understanding of Programme objectives.
• Specifically, you are responsible for ensuring compliance with Programme commitments, including: Providing feedback to partners and programme team on performance; building capacity of CSOs; developing human stories for publication; support planning and review processes; support the LGA M&E team in report writing, documentation and data collection; ensure that the LGA finance team adhere to UP’s finance management procedures; support partners in improving learning & sharing
• Work closely with other Project Support Officers at the LGA level to identify and address capacity gaps in the WASH structures at the LGA level in order to achieve effective CLTS delivery and ODF in all communities. This includes identifying the support required from RUWASSA to assist LGA WASH Units for effective community mobilisation, establishment and training of tasks groups on sanitation, and conduct advocacy and participatory planning activities.
• Support the Programme Manager to review the LGA Level WASH sector plans and budgets and assist in the formulation of strategies, plans and budgets to achieve Total Sanitation and the subsequent deployment of resources (funds and human resource) in the programme targeted LGA
• Ensure that annual budget preparations at LGA level include budget lines for Total Sanitation.
• Provide technical inputs in the preparation and design of surveys and studies, and play an active role in the dissemination of survey results and study findings under the programme among stakeholders; as part of increasing their understanding of sector issues and emerging approaches, and thereby facilitate scaling up of successful approaches to other LGAs.
• Provide regular supportive supervision and monitoring of programme activities of the LGA WASH Unit, LTGS, and CSOs on the basis of agreed plans, targets, and technical design, specifications and standards
• Carry out field visits to monitor progress and quality of implementation of sanitation facilities (latrines, urinals, hand-washing stations etc.) constructed by community participants. Facilitate/support the quality control (by third party/state verification team) of completed facilities
• Support LGA authorities to implement monitoring systems for improved decision-making based on the Programme M&E framework, and maintain a regular flow of information to relevant stakeholders.
• Assist in efforts to build a resource pool of trained personnel in CLTS triggering, hygiene promotion, appropriate technology support, and monitoring & evaluation. This includes by networking with other implementing agencies in the target LGAs in order to maximize synergies in the health and education sectors for opportunities for replication and of scaling up CLTS and WASH more widely.
• Provide weekly updates and monthly reports in approved formats summarising progress made in implementation of activities, lessons learnt and recommendations for improvement including ad hoc reports and human-interest stories that may be needed. In addition, contribute to updating the results-based framework in-line with programme indicators on a quarterly basis with more detailed inputs provided towards the preparation of semi-annual and annual reports.
• Undertake other responsibilities that may be assigned from time to time contributing to the overall organisations’ objective.

Person Specification
Required:

• University Degree in Public Health, Sanitation Engineering, Sociology, Rural Development or a field related to WASH development assistance
• 2-3 years professional experience in a similar position
• Experience of leading capacity building and training for local institutions and communities
• Knowledge of and experience in Community-led Total Sanitation (CLTS) programming
• Good planning, co-ordination and prioritisation skills, with ability to maintain quality on multiple tasks
• Good communication and facilitation skills
• Ability to work under pressure with little supervision to meet deadlines and manage multiple priorities
• Working knowledge of basic computer software (Word, Excel, E-mail operations)
• Gender and intercultural sensitivity
• Fluency in English and pidgin languages

Desirable:

• Masters Degree in a relevant discipline
• Experience in managing donor-funded projects, including grant management and reporting
• Solid knowledge and understanding of community-based approaches to development
• Solid knowledge and understanding of community-based approaches to development
• Experience of team leadership and clear examples of supervisory skills and line-management
• Knowledge of participatory research methods, results-based monitoring and action learning
• Positive outlook and proactive problem solving skills
• Experience and skills of using audio/visual equipment to capture development impacts
• Knowledge and experience of best practice approaches to gender and disability issues
• Knowledge and understanding of contextual diversity of Cross River State and its major languages

What we offer 
This position offers the right candidate the opportunity to gain senior-level experience with an international NGO. We provide a competitive remuneration, high-quality training and support, and, above all, a respectful and empowering working environment and the opportunity to make a real impact.

Remuneration
Commensurate with position and experience

Method of Application

Interested and qualified candidates should send a CV and a Cover Letter to: [email protected] In the cover letter, please ensure to explain the following:

• Why you are applying for the position
• How your skills and experience meet the person specification
• When you would be able to take up the position if it were offered to you

Note

• You are recommended to apply early, as applications will be assessed as they are received. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• United Purpose is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against applicants on the basis of gender, religion, ethnicity, age, disability, religion or sexual orientation. United Purpose also has a Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults Policy, which reflects our commitment to protecting the people with whom we work. All candidates will be expected to comply with this policy and its procedures.