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Merlin International Profile

Merlin is the only specialist UK charity which responds worldwide with vital health care and medical relief for vulnerable people caught up in natural disasters, conflict, disease and health system collapse. Each year, Merlin helps more than 15 million people in up to 20 countries.

Context and Background

Merlin has been present in Myanmar since responding to the December 2004 tsunami. With bases in Yangon, Chin and Saigang States and Laputta Township/District of the Ayeyarwaddy Region Merlin was able to immediately respond when Cyclone Nargis hit, particularly the latter region, in May this year. Over the past months Merlin has implemented a second humanitarian response programme in the Ayeyarwaddy region with health, livelihoods, village rehabilitation, and water, sanitation and hygiene components (WASH). The WASH component of the project focuses on the provision of potable water, improving environmental sanitation, and improved hygiene knowledge and practices. The project activities aim to build the capacity of communities to manage their water, sanitation and hygiene using, not only our Water and Sanitation (WatSan) field teams, but also our existing network of community health workers.

The vast majority of the cyclone survivors have now returned to their villages with some families being resettled in new, permanent villages. No Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDP) camps are expected to remain open after September 2008. The dispersal of the population creates new isks and requires new strategies for water, sanitation and hygiene interventions.

Access to fresh water has historically been problematic for much of the Delta’s population during the dry season (from October to June). As the dry season wears on, the rivers become increasingly saline, and people largely depend on rainwater harvesting ponds and shallow wells for fresh water. However, Cyclone Nargis has exacerbated the water supply situation in several ways: ponds and wells have been filled with seawater and salinated; people have lost water storage and transport containers; rainwater harvesting systems from roofs were lost or damaged, and the loss of resources and income mean that those normally able to buy water during the dry season might no longer be in a position to do so.

Merlin, like most organisations active in the Nargis response, has put considerable effort into cleaning drinking water ponds and debris clean up. However, much remains to be done. The dry season produces environmental conditions favourable to vectors such as mosquitoes and rats, increasing vulnerability to disease. This, combined with weakened coping mechanisms and potable water shortage, may lead to outbreaks of water-related disease in the delta during the dry season. This increased risk can be expected to continue at least through to the end of the dry season in mid-2009.

To mitigate these risks, organisations active in the WASH sector of the Nargis response should seek to ensure a supply of fresh (non-saline) water where needed, ensure the potability of water in all villages, and reduce the risk of disease transmission through vector control and improved hygiene behaviours. Longer term disaster risk reduction could include the construction of durable, communal rainwater harvesting tanks connected to roofs and gutters at schools, clinics or other facilities, the construction of hygienic latrines with hand washing facilities at schools and clinics and the continued promotion of household-level water treatment, and adaptation of behaviours, such as hygienic water transport and storage and hand-washing, aimed at breaking the cycle of transmission of water and hygiene-related disease.

Main purpose of the role

The Water and Sanitation Engineer will support the ‘scaling up’ of Merlin’s response to Cyclone Nargis in the Ayeyarwaddy delta in Myanmar. This includes supporting the Water and Sanitation Manager to coordinate and manage all related relief and recovery activities in the field including assessments, and the development and implementation of water, sanitation and hygiene strategies in coordination with other agencies and organisations and local stakeholders local government.
The Water and Sanitation Engineer will also ensure sound implementation, reporting against objectives, and ensuring that interventions are appropriate, effective, cost effective and timely.

Specific Responsibilities

Emergency response

• To respond to humanitarian emergencies under the management of the WatSan Manager, Operations Coordinator and Country Director

Operational Management

• Plan and supervise community assessments, monitor water supplies and sanitation in the affected area and recommend interventions to respond to the needs and vulnerabilities of the population
• Plan and manage Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) activities at the field level, including financial and human resources, in collaboration with other sectors and consistent with the Project Management Cycle
• Support the field in carrying out selection, design, and construction/rehabilitation of appropriate village-level water and sanitation systems including: pond cleaning, water treatment, excreta disposal, solid waste management, construction of WatSan facilities and distribution of non-food items (NFI).
• Integrate public health concepts into water, sanitation and hygiene activities and ensure close collaboration with health and other sectors, including hygiene promotion and community mobilisation
• Ensure that the project engages local stakeholders and develops local capacity for longerterm sustainability
• In collaboration with the logistics department, prepare contracts and documentation for works and oversee execution of those contracts
• In collaboration with the logistics and finance departments, ensure that materials, supplies and financial resources are available in the field for programme activities as needed
• Contribute to preparing plans, proposals, and budgets for project extensions and new projects
• Visit field sites on a regular basis to monitor and support field teams
• Ensure integration of SPHERE guidelines (key indicators, code of conduct and accountability standards) into programming
• In collaboration with the Monitoring & Evaluation Coordinator, monitor and evaluate the project activities and impact in accordance with Merlin guidelines
• Become familiar with Merlin’s documentation, methodologies and systems, and apply them to your own work and the Water and Sanitation operations
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally according to the Humanitarian Code of Conduct and in such a manner as to bring credit to Merlin and to further its humanitarian mission
• Other duties as assigned by the Water and Sanitation Manager.

Human Resources Management

• Assist with the recruitment and management of national staff and carry out appraisals as per Merlin standard requirements and procedures
• Support Merlin’s field workers and local community health workers (CHWs) in promoting behaviours and technologies aimed at preventing diseases related to water, sanitation and hygiene
• Ensure training of the community WASH committees and CHWs for the dissemination of hygiene promotion messages and for operations and maintenance of water supply and sanitation facilities
• Develop and ensure implementation of training plans for the water and sanitation team and other Merlin personnel and stakeholders

Logistics/ Finance/ Administration

• Regularly report on project status and help compile proposals for donors (including budgets) as required, and participate in planning and other meetings
• Ensure that with respect to the WASH programme, appropriate administrative, financial, and logistical systems/procedures are in place, maintained, and adhered to so that all support functions are carried out effectively and efficiently and including technical validation of WASH supply orders
• Ensure compliance with the rules and regulations of the donor, the Government of Myanmar, and Merlin
• Ensure regular communications are maintained within the programme team and between the programme area and the country office

Representation

• Coordinate at the Laputta level with the WASH Cluster lead agency (UNICEF) and facilitate the exchange of information with the cluster and with other NGOs.
• Maintain close working relationships with local authorities, INGOs, and local NGOs and associations.
• Represent Merlin’s water, sanitation and hygiene component to the Government of Myanmar and coordinate with relevant Government agencies, especially at the field level
• Coordinate with other Merlin sectors, especially health, for the design, planning and management of activities

Advisory

• Advise Logisticians, Country Director and Country Management Team as required regarding water sanitation technical and promotional activities
• Advise and advocate for increased access to potable water and sanitation hygiene promotion amongst Merlin’s donors, government officials, and partners
• Contribute to strategy and policy development, especially with regards to the WASH sector

Personnel Specifications

Essential

• A suitable qualification or substantial experience in Water and Sanitation Engineering or related subject
• Extensive practical experience managing water supply, sanitation and hygiene promotion, especially in emergency relief programmes
• Strong problem solving skills and experience of proactively identifying and addressing issues
• An ability to represent Merlin to a broad range of people including the local population, other aid organisations, senior government officials and donors
• Good leadership skills with a supportive, consultative management style
• Excellent team worker with experience of establishing strong working relationships with colleagues from different functions and cultures
• Good training/capacity building skills
• Strong organisational skills with experience managing and prioritising a high workload and multiple tasks in a fast paced environment with tight deadlines
• Strong communication skills, with excellent written and spoken English
• Confident and proficient in the use of MS Office
• An ability to live and work in a stressful environment with some degree of insecurity (housing will vary depending on the situation, but expect basic, communal accommodation)
• An understanding of and commitment to Merlin’s mission and values

Desirable

• Experience of managing budgets and of logistics
• Knowledge of South East Asia