JOB 0091448 1
The NDC and IOM are working together in the areas of disaster risk reduction, disaster risk management, disaster prevention and preparedness, emergency response, durable solutions and community stabilisation and development. IOM has been operating in PNG since 2001, working on complex emergencies, providing humanitarian relief and building government capacity. In conjunction with government, UN and civil society, IOM is reaching displaced populations in remote communities, assisting stranded migrants and safeguarding the rights of vulnerable groups. IOM s programmes focus on disaster management, emergency preparedness, counter trafficking in persons, migration and border management. The volunteer role will replace the current WASH adviser who completes his one year placement in June 2016. You are responsible for building Lae s provincial disaster management team and you will also work alongside members of the volunteer team when reacting to a natural disaster. VSO is a leading independent international development organisation that works through volunteers. We are unique in the way we bring people together to volunteer their knowledge, experience and skills to fight poverty. VSO currently works through 1,048 local organisations in over 30 countries. We always work in partnership supporting and bringing together diverse partners (government departments, community based organisations, NGOs and the private sector) who are strategically placed to advance pro-poor policies and programmes. We have been working in PNG since 1960, placing over 2,100 international volunteers to support local partners and government in 15 provinces, strengthening capacity to improve the quality, delivery and access of services in education, health, HIV, gender and governance. There are currently over 40 volunteers living and working in PNG. The friendly office team is made up of 36 staff members. The standard work day begins at 8.10am and finishes at 4pm. VSO will provide you with a return economy class airfare from your closest airport to the project location. Well-equipped, safe accommodation in a secure compound with high security standards, the required visa for the location and duration of the project, a monthly allowance that will support the basic cost of living in PNG (this is not designed for regularly eating out, travelling in country), as well as full insurance and medical cover. In the majority of locations internet connectivity is fair and just requires patience and mobile connectivity is good but costly for calling most countries. When you arrive to PNG you will be met at the airport and given a country induction to ensure that you are prepared with all the tools that you need to have a productive placement. 2
As the WASH adviser, you will build the institutional and individual capacity of IOM disaster management and development staff, PNG NDC staff and relevant provincial administration staff in water, sanitation and hygiene good practices. We are looking for a professional volunteer who is able to: - Conduct technical WASH community profiling, vulnerability and capacity assessments, hazard mapping, and community knowledge analyses. - Lead the integration of WASH components in all disaster risk reduction (DRR) activities and community-based disaster risk management (CBDRM) planning. - Be responsible for the implementation of activities for the WASH sector of the Disaster Management and Development Programme (DMD) through community approaches and interpretation of data, as appropriate in the DRR and humanitarian emergency context. - Develop plans of action to ensure timely, efficient coordination, according to IOM standard operating procedures, focusing - Volunteers demonstrate strong team approach. - WASH components integrated into the Disaster Management and Development project. - WASH IEC materials developed. - WASH manual and installation of water systems developed. - Regular progress and monitoring and evaluation reports completed as per agreed deadlines. - WASH community profiles, capacity assessments and hazard maps completed. - Evidence of increased capacity of WASH good practices demonstrated by IOM, NDC and provincial staff. Building and sustaining working relationships The social skills to build and actively maintain working relationships that foster teamwork and collaboration with lecturers and VSO volunteers for the benefit of a common goal. Open minded and respectful A non-judgemental approach that values other people and culture. Seeking and sharing knowledge Recognition that learning is a two-way and continuous process. Facilitating positive change The ability to analyse problems and develop lasting solutions and local ownership in line with VSO approaches. Adaptability A flexible approach and the ability to adapt behaviour to different situations. Resilience The self-confidence to work with a variety of situations, diverse people and ambiguity. Linguistic competence: - Excellent written and spoken English with the ability to simplify communication for second language speakers. Working experience: - Post graduate degree in water engineering, public health, environmental studies, social sciences or another relevant discipline. - At least five years experience in WASH, DRR, emergency and/or post crisis programming. Qualities: - Proven experience in WASH activities and development issues. - Excellent project management skills including planning, implementation and reporting. - Highly-developed interpersonal skills. - Demonstrated experience in providing on-thejob or classroom based training, coaching and mentoring. - Highly developed time management, resource management and report-writing skills. Desirable: - Experience working in a developing country. 3
on disaster affected and displaced populations. - Develop information and education communication (IEC) material for WASH - Develop WASH manual and installation of water systems in the community - Develop sustainable WASH hardware for PNG. - Liaise and ensure coordination with key stakeholders, including central governmental institutions, provincial and local authorities, UN, and NGOs, and the Shelter and NFIs cluster. - Draft and review reports/presentations for the Disaster Management Team, Shelter/NFIs cluster, IOM, UN, donors and other partners. - Assist the operation of the IOM Lae (Morobe Province) field office - Travel regularly to the field to implement and monitor WASH activities. - Assist the Emergencies and Disaster Management (EDM) coordinator to develop and follow up on a resource mobilisation action plan for the DMD portfolio. - Perform such other duties as may be assigned. Responsible to: Emergencies and disaster management coordinator 4
In addition to the job description, the following information should be used when considering whether a placement is suitable for you. As a VSO volunteer, your medical needs are taken very seriously to ensure that you are fit and healthy before departure and remain so during your placement. If you have a significant current or past medical condition and/or you have general concerns about staying healthy as a volunteer, please use this information to assess whether this placement will be suitable for you. All volunteers require medical clearance from a VSO medical adviser before they are able to take up a placement with VSO. Occasionally, VSO may consider that this placement is too great a risk for you in terms of your personal health and you may be advised to consider a different role. For further guidance about medical assessment and volunteering with a medical condition please see the frequently asked questions on the VSO website. The standard and quality of local medical care and support available at this placement depend on its location within the country. Health facilities are likely to be more poorly resourced in rural areas in terms of medical expertise, equipment, infrastructure and regular supplies of medication. However, this may not be the case in the capital city or in a larger town, where in some countries there may be a reasonable standard of medical care. There are regular flights between major towns and onwards to Australia so getting you to the best care, if required, is possible. If you wish to discuss your personal circumstances or health concerns in confidence with VSO s medical team before you apply for this placement please contact medical@vsoint.org. If you have a partner or children who are planning to accompany you to your placement, please use this section to assess whether this placement will be suitable for you. You will be based in Lae. Partners are welcome to accompany volunteers but they should be aware that we will only be able to organise an accompanying partner s visa which means that they cannot work or volunteer. If your partner finds suitable employment or voluntary work, they will need to organise their own visa which will mean leaving PNG whilst the new visa is processed. Travel in and out of Lae from Port Moresby can be costly. 5
We appreciate that security is a major factor when considering a placement in PNG. VSO PNG takes volunteer safety extremely seriously and there is clear, mandatory guidance and a continual focus on keeping volunteers safe, as such there have been no serious incidents in the past 16 years. We realise that there is a wealth of negative information out there about PNG that may be making you apprehensive but please be reassured that VSO simply wouldn t be working in PNG if it was too dangerous and most volunteers have an amazing experience and often extend their placements. Living and working in PNG is quite different to other parts of the world but with some flexibility it can be a most enjoyable place to be based. Although you may not have the freedom of movement that you may be used to, the community environment that you will experience is unrivalled and the opportunity to explore a little travelled, stunningly diverse country is bountiful. Location The volunteer will be based in Lae which is PNG s second largest city. Similarly to Port Moresby, the capital, living and working in Lae comes with both challenges and benefits. Security is a major consideration. Walking on the streets in the most part is not possible but travelling on public motor vehicles is possible if caution is taken. Occasionally groups can walk in certain locations but security restrictions for women are much greater. As organisational capacity building expert you will get to travel to other locations in PNG where security is less restrictive giving some respite and an opportunity to experience life in other provinces. Volunteers live in a secure compound so there is the option to be part of a nice community. Our accommodation is well equipped with backup power, water and a well-maintained infrastructure. Being in the city means that there is much better access to amenities including nightlife and restaurants which are not available in other placement locations. There is a large expat community with plenty of activities available but they do rely on transportation and can be costly. Our country office is based in Madang which is a busy market and port town that in the most part is safe to walk around. During the daytime volunteers are usually able to walk around freely, and are generally met with friendly greetings by many passers-by. Provided you make an effort to integrate into the community, and take the time to talk to people, colleagues will be very supportive. It s important that women and men dress modestly. Further information on VSO s work in Papua New Guinea can be found on the VSO website. For any further questions regarding living in PNG or the role, please feel free to email: dawn.hoyle@vsoint.org. 6