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Self Help Africa – hiring LGA Technical Officer

Mr HausaLoaded1 day ago

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Transport Officer at Self Help Africa (SHA)

Self Help Africa, established in 1984, is an international development organisation that works through agriculture and agri-enterprise development to address hunger, poverty, social inequality and the impacts of climate change. We believe that equitable economic development is key to lifting communities out of long-term poverty, empowering them to take control of their futures and improving their quality of life.

In early 2023 we launched a new five-year organisation strategy, which defines shared mission as the alleviation of hunger, poverty, social inequality and the impact of climate change through community-led, market-based and enterprise- focused approaches, so that people can have access to nutritious food, clean water, decent employment and incomes, while sustaining natural resources. Our wider organisation also includes social enterprise subsidiaries Partner Africa, which provides ethical auditing and consultancy services, and CUMO, Malawi’s largest micro-finance provider.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: LGA Technical Officer

Location: Kura and Garun Malam LGAs – Kano (No relocation support provided)
Contract type: Fixed term contract, full-time (local recruitment) 18 months
Reports to: Programme Coordinator

Programme Description

Self Help Africa is implementing an 18-month programme, “Improving and sustaining safe water access and water security in Kano”, Nigeria, with funding from The Coca-Cola Foundation. The programme seeks improve sustainable access to safe, reliable drinking water for communities in the Kano River minor basin while strengthening rural water service delivery systems in Kano State.
Self Help Africa is implementing an 18-month programme, “Improving and sustaining safe water access and water security in Kano”, Nigeria, with funding from The Coca-Cola Foundation. The programme seeks improve sustainable access to safe, reliable drinking water for communities in the Kano River minor basin while strengthening rural water service delivery systems in Kano State chlorination, and introduce a professionalised, performance-based maintenance model for rural water services.
The project will pilot a results-based financing model covering selected water facilities in Garun Malam LGA, including hand pumps and piped schemes. Local Area Mechanics will be trained and contracted to provide preventive maintenance, emergency repairs and regular functionality inspections against agreed performance indicators.
The project will also contribute to water replenishment and improved water security and volumetric water benefits within the Kano River minor basin by increasing safe water production and improving the reliability of existing water systems. Monitoring of water production and distribution will support tracking these benefits throughout the programme. The initiative will also strengthen LGA WASH Departments and RUWASSA, use digital tools such as mWater to track functionality and service performance, establish stronger supply chains for spare parts and water treatment inputs, and generate evidence and learning to inform wider adoption of sustainable rural water service delivery and financing models.

The core objectives of the project are:

Improve access to safe drinking water and service levels in target communities within the Kano River minor basin through rehabilitation and water quality improvements.
Improve the reliability and sustainability of rural water services through the adoption of a professionalized, performance-based maintenance model.
Promote the adoption of a scalable rural water service delivery and financing model within Kano State and nationally.

Job Purpose

Self Help Africa is looking for a committed and technically skilled WASH professional to serve as Local Government Area (LGA) Technical Officer (LTO) for the Sustainable Access to Safe Water programme in Kano State, based in the target LGAs of Kura and Garun Malam.
The LGA Technical Officer will provide day-to-day technical support and field-level coordination for the implementation of programme activities at LGA and community level, including water facility assessments, rehabilitation and upgrading, inline chlorination, water quality monitoring and the professionalised, performance-based maintenance model. The post holder will work closely with LGA WASH Departments, RUWASSA, Local Area Mechanics and community structures to strengthen local capacity for the sustainable management of rural water services. The LGA Technical Officer will report to the Project Coordinator and work closely with the MEAL Officer and other project staff to ensure that field activities are delivered to agreed technical standards, on time, within scope and budget, and in compliance with SHA and donor requirements.

Key Responsibilities
Technical Implementation and Field Delivery:

Support the implementation of programme activities across Kura and Garun Malam LGAs in line with the approved work plan, budget and technical standards.
Conduct technical assessments of water facilities, including boreholes, hand pumps and solar-powered motorised piped schemes, and prepare rehabilitation and upgrading plans, bills of quantities and technical specifications.
Supervise rehabilitation and upgrading works by contractors and Local Area Mechanics, ensuring quality of workmanship, adherence to specifications, safety requirements and timely completion.
Support the installation, commissioning and routine operation of inline chlorination systems, meters and related water treatment equipment, and ensure availability of chlorination inputs and spare parts at facility level.
Ensure that water quality testing, including chlorine residual checks and laboratory sampling, is carried out regularly in line with agreed technical standards, and follow up on corrective actions where results fall short.
Support the piloting of the results-based financing model in Garun Malam LGA, including the verification of functionality, downtime and maintenance response against agreed performance indicators.
Prepare technical reports and field notes on facility status, works progress, water quality and service performance, and flag technical risks and bottlenecks promptly to the Project Coordinator.

Capacity Strengthening of Local Area Mechanics and Community Structures:

Support the identification, orientation, training and mentoring of Local Area Mechanics in preventive maintenance, emergency repairs, functionality inspections and reporting.
Monitor the performance of Local Area Mechanics against service contracts and agreed KPIs, and provide on-the-job technical support and feedback.
Support Water Point Committees/WASHCOMs, caretakers and other community structures to improve routine operation and maintenance, tariff management, record-keeping, accountability and service sustainability.
Support the strengthening of spare parts and water treatment input supply chains, linking Local Area Mechanics and communities to reliable suppliers.

LGA and State Government Engagement:

Work closely with LGA WASH Departments and Kano State RUWASSA to embed programme approaches within government systems, and provide technical support to LGA WASH staff in monitoring, data use and reporting.
Participate in and support LGA and state-level WASH coordination meetings, joint monitoring visits, performance reviews and learning events.
Support the development and implementation of MoUs, service contracts and community commitments required for clear roles, accountability and continuity of services.
Engage traditional leaders, community leaders and other local stakeholders to promote ownership and support for programme activities.

Monitoring, Data Use and Reporting:

Use mWater and other programme monitoring tools to collect, update and verify data on functionality, downtime, maintenance response, water quality and chlorine availability, working closely with the MEAL Officer.
Support baseline and endline data collection, cost modelling inputs and documentation of implementation experience and lessons learned.
Contribute technical inputs to weekly, monthly and donor reports, and prepare timely and accurate activity reports.
Support community feedback and complaints mechanisms and ensure that community perspectives inform implementation decisions.

Compliance, Logistics and Field Support:

Support the timely procurement and delivery of rehabilitation materials, chlorination supplies, spare parts and testing equipment, working with the Procurement team.
Maintain accurate records and supporting documentation for field activities and expenditure, and support timely liquidation of advances in line with SHA and donor requirements.
Ensure compliance with SHA policies and procedures, including health, safety and security protocols during field travel and works supervision.
Undertake any other duties as may be reasonably assigned by the Project Coordinator or Head of WASH Programmes.

Transparency, Compliance and safeguarding:

Employ the highest standards of openness, transparency and accountability to ensure good financial management in line with SHA’s zero-tolerance approach to fraud, bribery and corruption.
Demonstrate commitment to safeguarding, protection, gender mainstreaming and inclusion of vulnerable population including people with disabilities
Provide support to established feedback, complaints and response mechanism across implementation communities to ensure programmatic and operational decisions are informed by local perspectives and priorities, and contribute to the protection of program participants at the LGA level.

Accountability:
In line with Self Help Africa’s commitments under the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS), the job holder will:

Actively promote meaningful community participation and consultation at all stages of the project cycle (planning, implementation, M&E).
Work withrelevantcolleaguestoensure that the Community Feedback and Response Mechanism (CFRM) is functionaland accessible, that feedback and complaints are welcomed and addressed.
Work withrelevantcolleaguestoensure thatinformation aboutCFRM, safeguarding and expected staff behaviouris disseminatedamong programme participants and communities.

Key Relationships:

Internal: Programmes (including DiSuRWIN and OPTIC), Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning, Finance & Admin, Procurement, HR & Admin, Security and Communications teams.
External: Kano State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), LGA WASH Departments in Bunkure, Kura and Garun Malam, LGA Chairmen and other relevant local government authorities, traditional and community leadership structures.
Partners and service providers: Local Area Mechanics, Water Point Committees/WASHCOMs, Water Facility Caretakers, contractors and suppliers, Community Health Extension Workers, Environmental Health Workers, laboratories and other technical service providers.
Other stakeholders: Relevant state and national WASH coordination and learning platforms, development partners and other sector actors as appropriate:

Education and Experience

Membership of a relevant professional body (e.g. COREN, NSE or equivalent) is an advantage.
Bachelor’s degree or Higher National Diploma (HND) in Civil/Water Engineering, Water Resources, Environmental Health, Public Health or a related technical field.
At least 3 years of relevant experience in rural water supply and sanitation (WASH) implementation, preferably with an INGO/NGO or government WASH agency.
Practical experience in the assessment, rehabilitation, supervision and maintenance of rural water facilities such as boreholes, hand pumps and solar-powered piped schemes.
Working knowledge of water quality testing, chlorination and water safety practices.
Experience working with State and Local Government WASH structures (such as RUWASSA and LGA WASH Departments) and engaging communities and local service providers.
Experience supervising contractors, artisans or local mechanics and ensuring quality of works.
Experience in field data collection, monitoring and reporting, including digital tools such as mWater, KoBoToolbox or similar platforms, is an advantage.
Experience with performance-based approaches, service contracts, results-based financing or professionalised maintenance models is an advantage.

Skills:

Strong technical skills in water supply systems, rehabilitation works and quality assurance
Ability to train, coach and mentor artisans, mechanics and community structures
Good stakeholder engagement, communication and facilitation skills
Sound planning, organisational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work independently in field settings
Data collection, analysis and reporting skills
Good computer literacy and proficiency in MS Office
Commitment to safeguarding, including child protection, PSEA, GBV prevention and response.

Desirable:

Knowledge of the Kano State WASH context and rural water service delivery environment.
Experience in systems strengthening in WASH.
Relevant local language competency, particularly Hausa.
Willingness and ability to travel regularly to project locations and communities.
Positive outlook and team spirit.
Adaptable and responsive disposition relative to the demands of the project.
Willingness and ability to resume immediately

Language Requirements: