It’s hard to believe that today millions of people across the world still don’t have safe water and decent sanitation, resulting in immense suffering, disease and loss of productivity. WaterAid’s vision is of a world where everyone has access to safe water and sanitation. By 2030, we want everyone everywhere to have clean water, sanitation and hygiene. We believe that sustainable development cannot be achieved without the attainment of rights to water, sanitation and hygiene for all.

Do you want to be part of the team that will make this change happen?
WaterAid is looking for an experienced individual to play a vital role in contributing towards our mission to transform lives with safe water, sanitation, and hygiene in poor and unserved communities. There is an opening for a Public Health Advisor role to be stationed in Lusaka, with frequent travel to districts in Zambia as well as periodic international travel.

Reporting to the Head of Programmes, this position is responsible for providing technical and strategic support to WaterAid Zambia’s WASH for Public Health Programme as part of delivering the Country Strategy for 2023-2028. The role also develops key partnerships and coordination with internal teams and partners, including government entities, private sector and donors for the delivery of WASH and Health programming. Additionally, the position will focus on developing an interface between WASH and Health programming and strengthening health systems and policy, in the context of ensuring public healthcare facilities have sustainable and safe WASH services to improve public health outcomes, integrating inclusive and effective hygiene behaviour change interventions into core public health programmes, and ensuring WASH is prioritised in national health development policies, strategies, budgets and plans.

Specifically, the Public Health Advisor will be responsible for the following amongst others:

Support to programme development and planning

• Support new funding opportunities in developing innovative and context-specific concepts and proposals on WASH and Public Health.
• Support the development of challenging and innovative projects based on a compelling, contextualized theory of change and for transformational change at scale.
• Provide in-depth thought leadership and strategic advice on WASH programming in health settings, framed within a Systems Strengthening approach.
• Identify and support the delivery of relevant research initiatives for WASH and Public Health.
• Contribute to strategic planning processes for developing and reviewing programme plans and the country strategy.

Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

• Lead in operationalizing evidence-based, innovative behaviour change approaches including the assessment, design, implementation, monitoring, and adaptation of hygiene programmes.
• Lead in operationalising evidence-based models of water, sanitation, hygiene, environmental and healthcare waste management in HCF (WASH in HCF), including WASH links to infection prevention and control
• Provide technical advice and guidance while developing impactful and innovative Health and WASH programme interventions.
• Provide and coordinate targeted technical support and advice in line with WaterAid’s Quality Programme Standards when required.
• Responsible for providing technical input and support to relevant teams to ensure effective integration and monitoring of WASH in Public Health programmes working closely with the PMER team.
• Actively monitor programmes/projects through field visits, surveys and/or exchange of information with partners/stakeholders to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and potential problems and take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant stakeholders for timely resolution.
• Support WaterAid Zambia in developing the capacity of the relevant staff and partners on Health and its links with WASH.
• Lead innovations and adapt to required context to ensure reflective and meaningful Health and WASH programming.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sectoral reviews with government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine required action/interventions to achieve results.
• Prepare regular/mandated programme/project reports for management, donors, and partners to keep them informed of WAZ’s WASH and Public Health programme progress.

Programme Learning and Influencing

• Ensure the capture and documentation of WASH and Health initiatives and learning from programme/ project interventions.
• Support programme and policy teams to identify opportunities for policy influencing and ensure WASH is prioritised in national health development policies, strategies, budgets, and plans.
• Support programme teams to strengthen health systems and ensure integration of sustainable and safe WASH services in all public healthcare facilities that are also gender responsive and meet or exceed national targets.
• Remain abreast of the global, regional, and national situation, processes, policies and plans related to Public Health/Health and their links with WASH.
• Commission research and studies for deepening WaterAid and Health sector partners’ knowledge and understanding of the linkages between Health and WASH.
• Provide technical input and programmatic insights to support the development and implementation of the Women’s Health Global Advocacy Campaign and the WASH in Public Health advocacy campaigns at national and provincial levels, together with sector partners and stakeholders.
• With support from the PMER team, document the qualitative and quantitative outcomes and impacts of WaterAid and partners’ work on Health and WASH, to ensure successful implementation and adaptation in line with our theory of change.

Sector engagement, partnerships and networking

• As delegated by the Head of Programmes, represent WaterAid in relevant national CSO, donor, and government forums related to Health and WASH to influence the thinking of other stakeholders, persuasively advocate for WaterAid’s Health and WASH change agenda, and build/strengthen WaterAid’s reputation as a sector leader.
• Represent WaterAid in regional and global processes and debates on Health and WASH.
• Develop and strengthen effective partnerships, networks, and alliances with sector stakeholders (especially the UN), government counterparts, research institutes and think tanks, private sector and NGOs involved in Health issues, to foster mutual learning and to identify innovations that would increase the impact, efficiency and effectiveness of sector performance (Health and WASH sectors).
• Cultivate and maintain functional relationships and networks with relevant stakeholders including government and civil society to influence integration of WASH in the health sector.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sectoral reviews with government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine required action/interventions to achieve results.
• Contribute to key policy initiatives on WASH in health in close collaboration with the Partnerships and Advocacy team
• Collaborate with other members of the country programme team to help ensure Health and hygiene behaviour change is integrated into all areas of our work.
• Ensure high quality performance management of consultants supporting the implementation of WASH and public health work.

To be successful, you’ll need:

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Development studies, Water Resource Management from a recognized University, or professional qualifications in civil engineering, water and sanitation and environmental management.
• Minimum of five (5) years of managerial-level experience in programme planning, development, and management.
• Demonstrated experience in implementing WASH services and management models tailored for communities and institutions.
• Comprehensive understanding of government procedures, including budgeting and fiscal decentralization specific to WASH, and ways of working.
• Proven track record in conducting participatory context analyses and WASH system assessments at national and sub-national levels to inform programme and project designs. This includes expertise in political economy analysis, WASH system building block analysis, stakeholder mapping, WASH context analysis, asset inventories, and institutional and service provider capacity gap assessments.
• Familiarity with key principles such as systems strengthening and human rights, and their application in advancing sustainable and inclusive WASH initiatives in targeted geographic/administrative areas.

If you are interested in the position and have the right skills and attributes, send your updated CV and letter of interest by 17:00PM on Thursday 17th October 2024, to [email protected] using Public Health Advisor as the subject of the email.

Our People Promise
We’re looking for people who share a commitment to our vision. We’re looking for people with an appreciation and respect for different people and ideas, and the energy and expertise to help tackle the most important challenges. In return, you can expect to get inspiration from the change you help make happen, a sense of belonging and the feeling of being part of a global community. You will also experience stimulation and fulfilment, the chance to grow, and space to be yourself at your best. This is our pledge to you.

WaterAid is committed to ensuring that wherever we work in the world there is no tolerance for the abuse of power, privilege or trust. WaterAid reinforces a culture of zero tolerance towards any form of inappropriate behaviour, abuse, harassment, or exploitation of any kind. The safeguarding of our beneficiaries, staff, volunteers and anyone working on our behalf is our top priority, and we take our responsibilities extremely seriously. All staff and volunteers are required to share in this commitment through our Global Code of Conduct. We will conduct the most appropriate preemployment references and checks to ensure high standards are maintained.

WaterAid is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity. We particularly encourage applications from women who are underrepresented at this level in the organisation.