LGA Technical Officer

Self Help Africa Inc.; New York (NY); On-site; USD 1,900 - 3,400; Full time

Job summary

Self Help Africa is seeking an LGA Technical Officer for the Sustainable Access to Safe Water programme in Kano State, based in Kura and Garun Malam LGAs. You will provide day-to-day technical support, conduct facility assessments, supervise rehabilitation works and ensure water quality monitoring in line with SHA and donor requirements.

The post reports to the Project Coordinator and collaborates with LGA WASH, RUWASSA, Local Area Mechanics and community structures to strengthen local capacity

Job description

Job ID:100117
Job Title: LGA Technical Officer
Company: Self Help Africa
Location: Kano State – Kura and Garun Malam LGAs (No relocation support provided)
Contract type: Fixed term contract, full-time (local recruitment) 18 months
Reports to: Programme Coordinator

Organisation Overview:

About Self Help Africa:

Established in 1984, Self Help Africa is an international development organisation that works through agriculture and agri-enterprise development to address hunger, poverty, social inequality and the impacts of climate change.

We believe that equitable economic development is key to lifting communities out of long-term poverty, empowering them to take control of their futures and improving their quality of life.

Our current five-year organisation strategy, defines our mission as the alleviation of hunger, poverty, social inequality and the impact of climate change through community led, market-based and enterprise-focused approaches, so that people can have access to nutritious food, clean water, decent employment and incomes, while sustaining natural resources.

Our three core values are:

• Impact: We are accountable, ambitious and committed to systemic change.
• Innovation: We are agile, creative and enterprising in an ever-changing World.
• Community: We are inclusive, honest and have integrity in our relationships.

Self Help Africa is implementing an 18-month programme, “Improving and sustaining safe water access and water security in Kano”, Nigeria, with funding from The Coca-Cola Foundation. The programme seeks improve sustainable access to safe, reliable drinking water for communities in the Kano River minor basin while strengthening rural water service delivery systems in Kano State.

Self Help Africa is implementing an 18-month programme, “Improving and sustaining safe water access and water security in Kano”, Nigeria, with funding from The Coca-Cola Foundation. The programme seeks improve sustainable access to safe, reliable drinking water for communities in the Kano River minor basin while strengthening rural water service delivery systems in Kano State chlorination, and introduce a professionalised, performance-based maintenance model for rural water services.

The project will pilot a results-based financing model covering selected water facilities in Garun Malam LGA, including hand pumps and piped schemes. Local Area Mechanics will be trained and contracted to provide preventive maintenance, emergency repairs and regular functionality inspections against agreed performance indicators.

The project will also contribute to water replenishment and improved water security and volumetric water benefits within the Kano River minor basin by increasing safe water production and improving the reliability of existing water systems. Monitoring of water production and distribution will support tracking these benefits throughout the programme. The initiative will also strengthen LGA WASH Departments and RUWASSA, use digital tools such as mWater to track functionality and service performance, establish stronger supply chains for spare parts and water treatment inputs, and generate evidence and learning to inform wider adoption of sustainable rural water service delivery and financing models.

The core objectives of the project are:

• Improve access to safe drinking water and service levels in target communities within the Kano River minor basin through rehabilitation and water quality improvements.
• Improve the reliability and sustainability of rural water services through the adoption of a professionalized, performance-based maintenance model.
• Promote the adoption of a scalable rural water service delivery and financing model within Kano State and nationally.

Job Purpose:

Self Help Africa is looking for a committed and technically skilled WASH professional to serve as Local Government Area (LGA) Technical Officer (LTO) for the Sustainable Access to Safe Water programme in Kano State, based in the target LGAs of Kura and Garun Malam.

The LGA Technical Officer will provide day-to-day technical support and field-level coordination for the implementation of programme activities at LGA and community level, including water facility assessments, rehabilitation and upgrading, inline chlorination, water quality monitoring and the professionalised, performance-based maintenance model. The post holder will work closely with LGA WASH Departments, RUWASSA, Local Area Mechanics and community structures to strengthen local capacity for the sustainable management of rural water services. The LGA Technical Officer will report to the Project Coordinator and work closely with the MEAL Officer and other project staff to ensure that field activities are delivered to agreed technical standards, on time, within scope and budget, and in compliance with SHA and donor requirements.

Key Responsibilities:

Technical Implementation and Field Delivery

• Support the implementation of programme activities across Kura and Garun Malam LGAs in line with the approved work plan, budget and technical standards.
• Conduct technical assessments of water facilities, including boreholes, hand pumps and solar-powered motorised piped schemes, and prepare rehabilitation and upgrading plans, bills of quantities and technical specifications.
• Supervise rehabilitation and upgrading works by contractors and Local Area Mechanics, ensuring quality of workmanship, adherence to specifications, safety requirements and timely completion.
• Support the installation, commissioning and routine operation of inline chlorination systems, meters and related water treatment equipment, and ensure availability of chlorination inputs and spare parts at facility level.
• Ensure that water quality testing, including chlorine residual checks and laboratory sampling, is carried out regularly in line with agreed technical standards, and follow up on corrective actions where results fall short.
• Support the piloting of the results-based financing model in Garun Malam LGA, including the verification of functionality, downtime and maintenance response against agreed performance indicators.
• Prepare technical reports and field notes on facility status, works progress, water quality and service performance, and flag technical risks and bottlenecks promptly to the Project Coordinator.

Capacity Strengthening of Local Area Mechanics and Community Structures

• Support the identification, orientation, training and mentoring of Local Area Mechanics in preventive maintenance, emergency repairs, functionality inspections and reporting.
• Monitor the performance of Local Area Mechanics against service contracts and agreed KPIs, and provide on-the-job technical support and feedback.
• Support Water Point Committees/WASHCOMs, caretakers and other community structures to improve routine operation and maintenance, tariff management, record-keeping, accountability and service sustainability.
• Support the strengthening of spare parts and water treatment input supply chains, linking Local Area Mechanics and communities to reliable suppliers.

LGA and State Government Engagement

• Work closely with LGA WASH Departments and Kano State RUWASSA to embed programme approaches within government systems, and provide technical support to LGA WASH staff in monitoring, data use and reporting.
• Participate in and support LGA and state-level WASH coordination meetings, joint monitoring visits, performance reviews and learning events.
• Support the development and implementation of MoUs, service contracts and community commitments required for clear roles, accountability and continuity of services.
• Engage traditional leaders, community leaders and other local stakeholders to promote ownership and support for programme activities.

Monitoring, Data Use and Reporting

• Use mWater and other programme monitoring tools to collect, update and verify data on functionality, downtime, maintenance response, water quality and chlorine availability, working closely with the MEAL Officer.
• Support baseline and endline data collection, cost modelling inputs and documentation of implementation experience and lessons learned.
• Contribute technical inputs to weekly, monthly and donor reports, and prepare timely and accurate activity reports.
• Support community feedback and complaints mechanisms and ensure that community perspectives inform implementation decisions.

Compliance, Logistics and Field Support

• Support the timely procurement and delivery of rehabilitation materials, chlorination supplies, spare parts and testing equipment, working with the Procurement team.
• Maintain accurate records and supporting documentation for field activities and expenditure, and support timely liquidation of advances in line with SHA and donor requirements.
• Ensure compliance with SHA policies and procedures, including health, safety and security protocols during field travel and works supervision.
• Undertake any other duties as may be reasonably assigned by the Project Coordinator or Head of WASH Programmes.

Transparency, Compliance and safeguarding

• Employ the highest standards of openness, transparency and accountability to ensure good financial management in line with SHA’s zero-tolerance approach to fraud, bribery and corruption.
• Demonstrate commitment to safeguarding, protection, gender mainstreaming and inclusion of vulnerable population including people with disabilities
• Provide support to established feedback, complaints and response mechanism across implementation communities to ensure programmatic and operational decisions are informed by local perspectives and priorities, and contribute to the protection of program participants at the LGA level.

Accountability

In line with Self Help Africa’s commitments under the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS), the job holder will: