District Wash Officers

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT@ SELF HELP AFRICA

POSITION: DISTRICT WASH OFFICERS

Location: Various

https://selfhelpafrica.org/ie/district-wash-officers/

Job ID: 97907

Job Title: District WASH Officers

Company: Self Help Africa

Location: Malawi

Contract type: Fixed Term Full Time

Reports to: WASH Project Manager

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.

About the Project

This project aims to strengthen the sustainability of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services in 45 primary schools with P-Class learners across Nsanje, Dedza, and Salima districts in Malawi by piloting a contextualised Three Star Approach for WASH in Schools. Building on existing WASH infrastructure, the project will improve daily hygiene practices, establish sustainable operation and maintenance (O&M) systems, strengthen school and community ownership, and enhance district-level monitoring and accountability. Implemented by Self Help Africa Three-Starship with UNICEF, WASHTED, district authorities, and government ministries, the project will support schools to progressively achieve One Star, Two Star, and Three-Star WASH standards through supervised handwashing, improved sanitation and menstrual hygiene management, school-led O&M financing, and institutional capacity building. By embedding the approach within existing government and community structures, the project seeks to improve children’s health, attendance, and learning outcomes while generating evidence for scaling up sustainable school WASH management across Malawi.

Job Purpose:

The District WASH Officers will be responsible for promoting and implementing Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) initiatives in the targeted schools and corresponding communities, focusing on school structure mobilization, hygiene promotion, capacity building of local structures like Water Point Committees (WPCs), and coordinating with stakeholders. In addition to the above, the officers will be responsible for facilitating the development of sustainable and replicable school gardens, capacity building of key structures and putting in place processes and measures of sustaining the systems in place.

Key Responsibilities:

Mobilise and sensitize of school WASH and management structures, community members and community leadership to effectively participate in the project.

Identify and verify project participants in conjunction with relevant government structures, other SHA projects and WASH partner.

Facilitate needs assessment of schools to align with the initiative of incorporating gardens in the school.

Facilitate training needs assessment for school structures and community-based structures (e.g. Water Point Committees, School Health clubs, mother groups) and facilitating their required trainings.

Facilitate awareness raising campaigns in schools and corresponding communities to enforce adoption of good sanitation and hygiene practices.

Facilitating coordination with government extension staff, decentralized structures, and other local leadership in targeted TAs

Conduct performance review meetings involving different stakeholders such as Area Development Committees and local extension workers.

Conduct regular follow ups and strengthen the capacity of Water Point Committees to manage maintenance of hand pumps in order to maintain functionality rates of hand pumps.

Strengthen Water Monitoring Assistants capacities to collect, process and analyse data on the field situation for decision making and reporting.

Facilitate effective collaboration with other key development partners at TA level to promote synergy and ensure best use of available resources for development activities within the district.

Prepare timely weekly, monthly and quarterly reports and submission to Line Manager

Support documentation of lessons and experiences through project period.

Ensure safeguarding issues are implemented and reported during project delivery.

Key Relationships:

The role reports to the Project Manager and supports WASH MEAL Intern and National MEAL Manager to develop and implement an effective M and E system as well as working closely WASH programme and Deputy Programme Manager.

Qualification

At least bachelor’s degree public or environmental health, community development or any relevant field in line with irrigation and agriculture

At least 3 years of practical experience in facilitating WASH projects. Those with school WASH experience will have added advantage.

Computer skills especially word processing, spreadsheets, and internet.

Proactive and highly motivated individual who requires the minimum of supervision.

Should be able to ride a motorcycle and have a valid motorcycle riding license

Knowledge, Experience and Other Requirements:

Good interpersonal, communication, facilitation and report writing skills.

Creates and encourages a climate of team-work and collaboration in a diverse cultural environment.

Strong respect and empathy for rural communities; a deep personal commitment to promoting women’s rights; as well as an affinity to SHA’s mission and values of human respect, partnership, and integrity

Proven experience of/and commitment to participatory methodologies to development, especially Community Based Management.

Demonstrable understanding of safeguarding risks and mitigating actions.

How to Apply:

Full Job Description here.

Please upload your CV and Cover Letter outlining your suitability for the role here.

The Deadline for Receiving applications is Friday 28th August 2026 at 5pm

Self Help Africa is an Equal Opportunities Employer:

All candidates offered a job with Self Help Africa will be expected to sign Self Help Africa’s Safeguarding Policies and Code of Conduct as an appendix to their contract of employment and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these documents. Specific roles may require Police/DBS/ vetting.

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.

Research shows that women and those from marginalised ethnic groups are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single requirement. If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align with every criteria described, we encourage you to apply anyway, you could be exactly what we need!

Self Help Africa is an equal opportunities employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

APPLY NOW

https://selfhelpafrica.org/ie/district-wash-officers/