District Coordinator via DevNetJobsIndia

AGA KHAN FOUNDATION (INDIA)

POSITION DESCRIPTION

ABOUT THE AGA KHAN FOUNDATION (INDIA)

The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) brings together human, financial and technical resources to address some of the challenges faced by the poorest and most marginalized communities in the world. Special emphasis is placed on investing in human potential, expanding opportunity and improving the overall quality of life, especially for women and girls. The Foundation primarily works across seven thematic areas – agriculture and food security, climate resilience, education, early childhood development, work and enterprise, health, nutrition and WASH, and the strengthening of community institutions to lead development interventions. AKF is a member of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), a group of 11 development agencies addressing the needs of poor and marginalized communities in more than thirty countries where it operates.

AKF started its operations in India in 1978, and today implements programs in both rural and urban areas across six states (Bihar, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, and Delhi).

PROGRAMME DETAILS

Recognised by the Ministry of Jal Shakti as a Key Sector Partner, AKF has been supporting the government with the implementation of the flagship drinking water scheme of Jal Jeevan mission since 2021. Most recently, with the formation of the Rural WASH Partners’ Forum (RWFP) – a platform through which development partners and CSOs lend their technical expertise to the Ministry on JJM and SBM phase II, AKF has been requested to contribute as the Thematic Lead for Source Sustainability and has also been selected as a Lead Partner for accomplishing the JJM objectives in the 3 states of Bihar, UP and Telangana.

Responding to the above call of the national government, AKF is proposing to support JJM and SBM-II in the 3 selected states of Bihar, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh to help strengthen implementation mechanisms at the state and district levels. Towards this goal, AKF will lend technical support at state and district levels, while also strengthening community level processes around O&M, water quality, source sustainability measures, SLWM and toilet retrofitting.

Position Summary

AKF seeks to recruit an enterprising, and enthusiastic District Coordinator to support the implementation of the proposed WASH Initiative in the districts of Lucknow and Patna. S/he will be responsible for planning, implementation and ensuring the timely delivery of a high-quality training and capacity building activities s envisaged under the JJM and SBM-II schemes and work closely with the state WASH team.

Key Responsibilities

Programme Planning and Implementation

• Support the state WASH team in the planning and implementation of the proposed programme in the chosen districtwith the goal of meeting the policy priorities of the government as outlined under the JJM and SBM-II schemes through the preparation of district implementation plans
• Support with the development of appropriate IEC material on JJM and SBM-II and ensure its uptake by the district governments
• Extend necessary support with the organisation of district-level behaviour change campaigns around WASH to ensure community engagement in close coordination with the state WASH team
• Support with the conduct of demonstrations of various source sustainability and nature-based solutions including water quality testing, grey water management rejuvenation of ponds through floating wet lands and rainwater harvesting to community and government stakeholders for buy-in and scale up
• Conduct/support baseline mapping, district profiling, resource mapping, assessment of existing challenges faced by the community related to drinking water access and sanitation. These assessments will be undertaken in consultation with district level officials and community and PRI members
• Generate awareness on various aspects and significance of safe drinking water, source sustainability, grey water management, sanitation and SLWM amongst various stakeholders
• Develop and maintain relationships and work closely with local WASH actors in the state, including government, private sector, community, development partners, WASH networks, academic institutions etc. whose objectives are in alignment with the programme and the government schemes of JJM and SBM -II

Govt. Liaising & Institutional linkages

• Identify opportunities for strengthening AKF’s support to the district government on JJM and SBM-II by integrating components of AKF’s proposed drinking water initiative within the government’s programme strategy
• Capacitate district government officials and other resource groups/master trainers on JJM and SBM-II policy objectives through the organisation of trainings and capacity building programmes
• Regularly participate in district level government meetings workshops and share information on AKF’s work in the area
• Identify opportunities to leverage government funding for JJM and SBM-II in AKF’s WASH geographies in Uttar Pradesh/Bihar
• Provide support to the state level programme implementation team wherever needed

Documentation & Reporting

• Prepare monthly, quarterly progress report along with success stories and facilitate the dissemination of emerging learnings
• Support the state WASH team in the identification and documentation of best practices and case studies across the project
• Undertake any other additional duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the organisation from time to time
• Qualifications and Skills Required
• Post-graduate in Social Sciences, Agriculture, Rural Management, Rural Development, or a related field
• Knowledge and understanding of the Jal Jeevan Mission and SBM-II, including the current situation of the established water supply schemes and sanitation infrastructure in rural areas of Uttar Pradesh/Bihar is required
• Minimum 3-4 years of relevant experience in the field of rural development. Preference will be given to candidates having experience of working with the government. Experience of working at district/block level on water sanitation and hygiene and in the implementation of JJM and SBM-II will be an added advantage
• Ability to establish strong linkages and liaison with government and other stakeholders
• Strong IPC and community mobilization skills and stakeholder management
• Excellent communication skills and ability to prepare reports/documents in English
• Solution-oriented, creative problem-solver, who can be versatile and is willing to work around obstacles.
• Excellent computer skills in MS Office especially in MS-Word and PowerPoint alongwith database management

To apply

Please submit your updated CV, accompanied by a cover letter stating the reasons for your interest in the position to AKF (India) at the given link by 15th March 2023

https://forms.gle/rN5DySYDzWr7uwch8

The Aga Khan Development Network is an international group of private, non-denominational development agencies and institutions that seek to empower communities and individuals, often in disadvantaged circumstances, to improve living conditions and opportunities. Visit us at www.akdn.org

The Aga Khan Foundation is committed to the principles of equal opportunity and will strive to ensure that all job applicants, staff and volunteers, do not suffer negative discrimination on the basis of their religion, race, caste, color, nationality, social class, sex, place of birth, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, HIV status, age etc. or any combination of these.