Senior Officer, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH)

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Job Description

Organizational context (where the job is located in the Organization)

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian network, with 191 member National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. IFRC uses the Triple R – response, resilience and respect – to deliver on Strategy 2030. IFRC responds to disasters and crises, ensuring timely, coordinated and locally led humanitarian action. IFRC supports its members in building community resilience in the areas of climate and environment, health and wellbeing, and migration and displacement. IFRC promotes respect for our fundamental principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality, including in our work on values, power and inclusion. The IFRC focuses throughout on our core mandate – our raison d’être – of strategic and operational coordination, humanitarian diplomacy, National Society development, and accountability.  

IFRC is led by its Secretary General and has its Headquarters in Geneva and five regional offices in Africa (Nairobi); the Americas (Panama); Asia Pacific (Kuala Lumpur); Europe (Budapest); and MENA (Beirut) as well as representation offices, service centres and delegations across the globe.

The IFRC has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). IFRC also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. 

The IFRC is currently present in Nepal through a Country Delegation (CD - first established in 1965 with a presence through regional representation at times), providing support to Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) programmes and National Society development (NSD) amongst as well as emergency response, other areas. The longer-term mission of the Nepal Delegation is to facilitate organisational growth, technical capacities, partnerships, and resource mobilisation that enable Nepal Red Cross Society to deliver on its humanitarian mandate in the country through the provision of technical support, advocacy, representation and coordination functions, in accordance with Strategy 2030, the IFRC Renewal and annual Operational Plans.

The Country Delegation also provides integration services to six IFRC members with a presence in Nepal. 

On 26 August 2026, a major ice-rock avalanche occurred in the upper Bhote Koshi watershed near the China–Nepal border, resulting in an historically powerful flash flood that advanced from the border down the entire length of Nepal along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli River basins, with a reported 1,399 deaths, 5,179 missing, and tens of thousands of persons affected.  This position is being hired to response to the operational requirements of the IFRC/NRCS Flash Flood Response operation, but may also support WASH response activities in other parts of Nepal.

Job purpose

Based in the joint NRCS and IFRC field office in Bidur, Nuwakot, the incumbent will lead and coordinate technical WASH advice, coordination and oversight from IFRC to the NRCS at the national and field level, reporting to the IFRC Operations Manager.  This role will take into account the lead role of NRCS as the implementer of the operation.  

Job duties and responsibilities

With NRCS in the lead in WASH planning, design and strategy, the Senior Officer will: 

Promote effective, timely and quality WASH interventions

• Provide technical advice and support as to IFRC and other quality standards in WASH 

• Support the development and updating of operational strategies, plans and proposals in light of evolving needs, in particular in WASH recovery

• Working in collaboration with other relevant NRCS and IFRC staff, facilitate a systematic approach to data collection and analysis, including from community engagement surveys, ensuring that interventions are led by accurate analysis of needs, opportunities and risks and contributing to quality reporting.   

• Collaboration with supply chain colleagues to ensure timely procurement of necessary WASH materials

Contribute to monitoring and evaluation

• Work with NRCS to monitor ongoing field WASH activities 

• Support the Operations Coordinator in activity and budget monitoring in the WASH sector, signalling any risks to timely completion

• Contribute to the preparation of terms of reference for monitoring and evaluation exercises and development of research questions and work to ensure implementation of recommendations for improvement.

• When appropriate and in line with other work priorities be available to participate as an evaluation team member.

Contribute to coordination and information flow on WASH

• Lead coordination and information flow within the IFRC network on support provided for WASH activities

• Support NRCS needed in any internal coordination needs in the area of WASH, where requested

• Support NRCS in external coordination as needed, including relevant authorities and clusters

• Monitor any potential gaps in coordination or information flow in the above areas to provide advice for corrections

Contribute to capacity building and other WASH programming

• As time allows, lead IFRC support for NRCS WASH activity planning and monitoring in other areas of Nepal

• As requested by NRC, support capacity building its WASH, including through the preparation and facilitation of related trainings, and identification of future development needs at the local and national levels

• Contribute to technical support to ensure NRCS is able to effectively incorporate WASH components/elements within each stage of the emergency cycle and along the resilience continuum

Contribute to an effective, high-quality IFRC team

• Be a proactive team member fostering a customer service-oriented culture that values proactivity, continuous improvement, innovation, high performance and cost effectiveness.

• Foster a co-creative environment with colleagues across the IFRC and with NRCS 

• Be responsible for the project management of sections of the project portfolio as required.

Click on the link below for detailed job details:

Sr. WASH Officer, IFRC Nepal JD.docx - Google Docs

In the link below:

Application Form: Senior Officer, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH)