The Millennium Villages Project, supported by Millennium Promise Alliance and the Earth Institute at Columbia University, is a bottom-up approach to lift developing country villages out of the poverty trap that afflicts more than a billion people worldwide. The Millennium Villages’ team of experts in Agriculture, Nutrition and Health, Economics, Energy, Water, Agribusiness, Environment and Information Technology are working with local communities and governments to apply a proven holistic package of interventions to help villages get out of extreme poverty and meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). With support from Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) and funding from the Department for International Development (DFID) of the United Kingdom, a SADA Millennium Village has been established in parts of the West Mamprusi, Mamprugu Moaduri and Builsa Districts of the Northern and Upper East Regions of Ghana. The project area covers a cluster of contiguous rural communities with an estimated population of 25,000 people.

Description Of Job

JOB SUMMARY:
The Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Facilitator will work with members of the Health, Education, Infrastructure, Water and Sanitation, and Community Development teams to ensure that appropriate WASH interventions are well planned and implemented at village levels within cluster. The overall goal of the position is to assist the cluster local communities in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The main emphasis will be on WASH behavior change interventions in areas such as sanitation demand creation, household-level water treatment, hygiene and sanitation education, and local capacity building.

Duties and Responsibilities:

•  Conduct an assessment of local beliefs, attitudes and practices related to water, sanitation and hygiene. Identify local constraints and barriers to adoption of safe WASH practices, including public health risks that will facilitate the appropriate design of locally-tailored interventions based on a solid understanding of the existing situation within communities in the cluster.
•  Based on a thorough needs assessment and input from community members and district officials, develop plans for WASH interventions that are appropriate and relevant to the needs on the ground.
•  Utilize an appropriate methodology to generate demand for sanitation and improve sanitation conditions in local communities at the household level.
•  In collaboration with the education team and local stakeholders, develop WASH educational materials for educators and health workers to use in promoting safe hygiene, sanitation, and water treatment practices.
•  Build capacity of key stakeholders, including educators, health workers, district officials, parents and community members, to deliver behavior change communication related to hygiene and sanitation.
•  Partner with local government offices, WASH networks, schools, implementing agencies, and other relevant parties to organize Global Hand washing Day commemorations each year. Mobilize community members to participate in WASH activities and strengthen sanitation and hygiene conditions in the villages.
•  Work with teachers and school administrators to establish or strengthen school health/hygiene clubs. Ensure that schools have a sound maintenance and operation plan for water points, latrines and hand washing facilities.
•  Conduct extensive outreach and community engagement activities.
•  Contribute to the monitoring and evaluation effort related to improved water, hygiene and sanitation, including report writing and interpretation of survey results.
•  Carry out any other relevant duties that may be assigned by the supervisor.

Terms of offer:
MVP offers a competitive salary with an excellent benefits package. The employment contract is for a period of one year with the possibility of renewal.MVP prides itself on its collegial, supportive and gender sensitive working environment and believes that staff diversity promotes excellence. Women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Qualification Required & Experience

Education and professional qualifications:

•  A diploma or bachelor’s degree in water, sanitation and hygiene or related degree (e.g., public health, environmental science, community development).
•  At least 4 years of experience implementing WASH interventions in rural settings.
•  Familiarity with behavior change communication and current WASH interventions and participatory methodologies.
•  Proven skills in community mobilization and facilitation from a gender perspective and practical knowledge and application of community dynamics in an integrated community project.
•  Strong problem solving and organizational skills; flexibility and calm under pressure.
•  Team player with good interpersonal and communication skills.
•  Knowledge of the Local Languages is an added advantage

How To Apply For The Job

Applications
Applicants should apply by email, sending a cover letter summarizing their relevance to this position, a full C.V. and names and contact information of three referees knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience to: SADA.MVP@millenniumpromise.org with copies to employment@mdgwca.org and jacob.ubindam@millenniumpromise.org. “Application for SADA Water & Sanitation Facilitator” should be clearly marked on the subject line of the email message.

Closing Date: 26th November, 2012

Only short-listed applicants meeting the above requirements will be contacted.

We invite you to learn more about us at:

www.millenniumvillages.org,
www.millenniumpromise.org,
www.unmillenniumproject.org,
www.mdgcentre.org