Country: Myanmar
Closing date: 20 Oct 2016
Founded in 1976, GRET is an international development NGO, governed by French law, which acts from work on the ground all the way up influencing policy, with the aim of providing durable and innovative answers to the challenges of poverty and inequalities. It supports social and economic sustainable development with an approach based on partnership and action research. Active in 30 countries in 2013, GRET has 13 permanent branch offices in Asia, Africa and Latin America. GRET combines the roles of project practitioner or co-practitioner, expert, contributor to public policy and producer/distributor of development references.
Within Gret, the Basics Services and Natural Resources Department, to which this position belongs, is working on 3 topics: (i) Water, Sanitation and Solid Waste, (ii) Natural Resources and (ii) Energy. On these various topics, Gret is working as operator in the field and in expertise (feasibility, evaluation, and studies), networks moderation, research and publications.
Context
Since 1995, Gret is working in Myanmar in the fields of agriculture development, nutrition, microfinance and water & sanitation in Yangon, Chin and Rakhine States, in the Dry zone and in Ayeyarwaddy Delta. A representation office is established in Yangon to supervise actions and work in relationships with donors, authorities and partners.
The position created here falls within the actions implemented in Southern Chin State and Northern Rakhine State. GRET and its partners start a multi-sectorial project in 3 Townships of Union of Myanmar: Paletwa and Matupi in Southern Chin state and Kyauktaw in Northern Rakhine state. The project targets the improvement of the living conditions for 8,000 households and their communities.
The overall objectives (impact) aim at (i) contributing to poverty alleviation, food and nutritional security and income generation in the Northern Rakhine State and the Southern Chin State, and (ii) contributing to resilience of the vulnerable households to cope with peace opportunities and new investments in the region and to secure the natural resources access and use. The specific objective (outcome) is to increase the vulnerable households’ living conditions and resilience in Kyauktaw, Paletwa and Matupi Townships through securing livelihoods and income generation, and strengthening the endogenous mechanisms, the CBOs/CSOs’ and dialogue capacities.
The 5 intermediary outcomes (results) are as following:
Farm production, income and diversified food have sustainably increased in Kyauktaw, Paletwa and Matupi Townships through the establishment of sustainable and improved techniques, crop diversification, access to training and advisory services
The households of Paletwa and Kyauktaw Townships have improved access to sanitation and safe water and have better practices in terms of safe water use, sanitation and hygiene
Financial services to the rural communities of Matupi Township are set up and operational
The rural households and their communities located in Paletwa, Matupi, and Kyauktaw Townships (and specifically along the Kaladan River) have secured their access and improved the sustainable use of natural resources through support to information and consultative process
The households, their communities, the local CBO/CSOs and national NGOs are engaged in regular dialogue and are sensitized on peace process.
Triangle Generation Humanitaire is GRET’s co-applicant and will be responsible for the agricultural and natural resources management components in Matupi township. In Paletwa and Kyauktaw townships, GRET will be responsible to implement all project’s activities in relation with local authorities, and other partners (CSOs/CBOs/NGOs) for some specific activities (agricultural development, nutrition sensitization, water and sanitation awareness-raising activities, etc.).
Job description, duties and responsibilities
A specific team will be dedicated to the Water and Sanitation component of the project (the WATSAN team). The WATSAN team will work under the responsibility and supervision of the Project Manager (expatriate) based on the project site and of the overall Manager for the WATSAN activities in Myanmar (expatriate) based in Mandalay. The team will be led by a WATSAN Coordinator (local/national).
The Technical Assistant will be in charge of providing support to the WATSAN Coordinator for the definition of the strategies and the implementation of all WATSAN activities. The Technical Assistant will also provide direct support to the other members of the team, i.e. a Technical officer and a Marketing officer (both local).
In particular, he/she will be involved in the following activities:
Initial assessment of the situation in terms of access to water and sanitation in urban and rural areas of Kyauktaw and Paletwa townships. This assessment will include a socio-economic survey, an analysis of the existing water and sanitation private market as well as public urban water services in Kyauktaw and Paletwa towns;
Refining of priority target areas and of the strategies, methodology and tools to optimize and sustain the impacts of the project. This will consist in defining:
o The modalities to structure and enhance the water and sanitation market,
o The marketing strategy to increase the demand for latrines and water-related products,
o The priority needs in terms of investment to improve access to safe water,
o The strategy to foster improved access to sanitation for all,
o The awareness and communication strategy.
Implementation of the activities as per the proposed action plan, in close relationships with all stakeholders: public authorities, private actors, beneficiaries, local NGOs (in particular for the awareness-raising activities), etc.
Monitoring and reporting on activities related to the WATSAN component.
Security Context
The area of intervention is quite isolated, confronted to frequent natural disasters. It has been classified as red area by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs due to continued tension following serious civil unrest in 2012 and 2013 in the northern areas of Rakhine state, and a continued risk of armed conflict in both the nothern Rakhine state and the southern Chin state (occasional clashes between armed groups and the Burmese army in north Rakhine occurred since several years).
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Profile
Bachelor or master degree in engineering, public services’ management and/or economy (water, sanitation, solid waste).
Experience of at least 2 years in the water and sanitation sector in developing countries. Knowledge of Myanmar or other South East Asian countries is desirable.
Strong analytical, synthesis and writing capacities
Creativity and autonomy at work
Rigor and organizational skills
Flexibility and adaptation, openness to other cultures
Capacities to live and work in remote context
Languages: fluency in spoken and written English required, fluency in spoken and written French would be an asset to communicate with Gret HQ.
Conditions and starting date
Contract of volunteer for 24 months.
Based in Paletwa or Kyauktaw (to be defined during the inception phase) with regular trips to Sittwe, Mandalay and Yangon (meetings, seminars, etc.)
Start: November 1st, 2016, with a week of training at GRET HQ in Nogente-sur-Marne before departure.
According to GRET VSI indemnities grid (starting from 1300 euros/months).
Due to the security context, specific security rules will be set up by Gret (in discussion with the French embassy) in order to ensure the safety of the volunteer.
How to apply:
Send your CV and motivation letter before 20th October 2016 to accueil@gret.org, with the reference “TA WATSAN South Chin and North Rakhine” in the email object.
Only applicants who have been selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls, please.
To know more about Gret: www.gret.org