Job ID: 85983
Job Title: WASH Specialist
Organisation: Self Help Africa
Contract Type: Full time, Fixed term 12 month contract
Hours: 37.5 per week
Location: Dowa Mponela
Reports to: Project Manager

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.

In early 2023 we launched a new five-year organisation strategy, which defines shared 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 wider organisation also includes social enterprise subsidiaries Partner Africa, which provides ethical auditing and consultancy services, and CUMO, Malawi’s largest micro-finance provider.

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.

About the Project Self Help Africa Malawi will be implementing the one-year Charity: Water funded WASH programme, called Dowa Integrated Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (DI-WASH) from January 2026 under our WASH Programme. Since January 2019, SHA has been implementing the first seven phases of DI-WASH in Dowa District primarily targeting underserved communities in five TA’s in close collaboration with relevant Government line ministries and WASH actors. The goal of the program is to reduce morbidity and mortality of rural people of Dowa, especially under five children caused by WASH related diseases. The objective is to increase access to safe water and improved sanitation and hygiene practices in target communities and selected schools and ensure sustainable operation and maintenance of WASH facilities by beneficiaries in partnership with the district councils and private sector. The project is targeting population of over 50,000 people with an annual budget of $1,200,000. Linked to DIWASH Project, SHA will also implement a Water for People’s Results based funding Project seeking to reduce down time and increase functionality of water points in one TA in Dowa.

Job purpose:

Reporting to the Project Manager, the WASH Specialist  will be the WASH Technical Lead and responsible for the project technical implementation oversight, coordinating and planning of project level activities, delivery, monitoring, and evaluation of the DIWASH and Uptime Results Based Funding Project in Dowa. S/he will work closely with the local partner in coordination with the project manager in line with quality standards and benchmarks. This shall include ensuring expenditure is in line with the budget and implementation is on track to meet expected targets, plus managing the project WASH facilitators and work very closely with local Partner’s technical team and government stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

Project implementation & oversight

• Oversee project implementation from planning to close-out in line with donor requirements and quality standards.
• Oversee and support partner-level project implementation and coordination at various levels.
• Oversee and supervise WASH facilitators at project level and work closely with local partner technical staff.
• Ensure implementation of project activities in line with SHA’s safeguarding policy and procedures, including promoting a culture of openness and transparency.
• Ensure incorporation of major cross-cutting themes such as gender, protection, disability, peace building and organisational core values.
• Work with the Project Manager and Project Accountant to track project expenditure to ensure relevance, effectiveness and efficiency.

Technical support & capacity building

• Provide specialised technical advice and skills to teams, especially related to sanitation, hygiene and water supply, including operation and maintenance, ensuring effective and efficient delivery.

Professionalizing rural water supply maintenance

• Strengthen the District Water Office capacities to collect, process and analyse data on the field situation for decision making and reporting
• Strengthen the capacity of District Water Office to manage maintenance network in order to maintain functionality rates of hand pumps
• Ensuring that we are meeting the uptime Results based KPIs and providing monthly Area Mechanics monitoring updates

Reporting & documentation

• Develop and submit consolidated weekly updates, monthly reports, and documentation reports for DIWASH and Uptime Results based Projects to the District Manager.
• Produce timely and quality technical and financial reports for the donors (Charity: water and Water for People) and internal use; review and submit reports to the Project Manager.
• Develop and submit weekly updates and monthly monitoring and documentation reports to the Project Manager.
• Work hand in hand with WASH MEAL Coordinator and National MEAL Manager to ensure compliance with project data and reporting requirements.

Stakeholder engagement

• Ensure close collaboration and networking with district partners, including government and communities, and liaise with other Self-Help Africa projects at all stages of implementation.
• Represent the project and organisation at district-level forums when delegated.

Key Relationships:

Internal:

• Project Manager
• Deputy /WASH Program Manager
• WASH Project Engineer
• WASH Filed Facilitators
• Project Accountant
• Stores and Administration Officer
• MEAL coordinator and Officer National MEAL Manager

External:

• Local Partner
• District Council

Qualification:

• At least Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental/ Public Health, Water Resources management, community development or any related field, a master’s degree will be an added advantage.

Knowledge, Experience and Other Requirements:

• At least 5 years’ relevant experience in WASH in an international NGO working as a Project Manager
• Demonstrable experience in project management and people management
• Strong character traits, ability to handle stress, cultural and gender sensitivity and integrity
• Proven experience of managing donor(s) funded projects or programs
• Good computer skills including MS Word, Excel and internet
• Knowledge and Experience in WASH infrastructure in communities, schools and health care facilities
• Knowledge and experience in Solar Powered Management System, Professionalised maintenance services, Sanitation Marketing and Systems strengthening approaches
• Demonstrable understanding of safeguarding risks and mitigating actions.
• Experience in developing and implementing monitoring and evaluation systems including monitoring
• Experience in proposal development, budget preparation and report writing
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written in English
• Has high-level coordination and supervisory skills

How to apply:

Full job description here.

Qualified and interested candidates who meet the stated requirements must submit a completed Application Form, along with an up to date Curriculum Vitae and Cover Letter here.

The closing date for applications is 5th January 2026. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Important information: 

Self Help Africa is an international development charity and is committed to the safeguarding of all those who we come into contact with or through our work. We are committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour relating to our work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and we are committed to promoting the welfare of children and the people we aim to assist with whom Self Help Africa engages. Self Help Africa expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment and uphold the values and behaviours outlined in the Code of Conduct and Child and Adult Safeguarding Policy. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us. Recruitment to all roles in Self Help Africa will include, and be subject to, a criminal records self-declaration, references, and other pre- employment checks, which may include police and qualifications checking. Self Help Africa is committed to the principles of the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme and will request information from previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse or sexual harassment during employment. By submitting an application, the applicant confirms her/his understanding of these recruitment procedures. Subsequently, working or volunteering with Self Help Africa is subject to a range of vetting checks, including criminal background checking.