Project Assistant

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

Job Overview/Summary:

The Project Assistant will support the implementation of hygiene promotion and community mobilization activities under the Southeast WASH Program. Under the direct supervision of the Hygiene Promotion Officer, the postholder will assist in organizing and conducting hygiene promotion sessions, supporting Community Hygiene Clubs (CHCs), facilitating community engagement, conducting WASH NFI distribution and monitoring hygiene-related activities in targeted villages and IDP camps.

The position will contribute to needs assessments, program planning, monitoring, promoting positive hygiene practices, strengthening community participation, and ensuring that program activities are implemented effectively, inclusively, and in accordance with approved project plans, technical guidance, and organizational policies.

Reporting and supervision

The Project Assistant reports to the Hygiene Promotion Officer and supervises Community WASH Facilitators. At the field level, the Project Assistant coordinates closely with Senior WASH Officer (Engineer) and WASH team members based at the Southeast office, Community WASH Facilitators, and village level stakeholders.

Major Responsibilities:

Technical

• Support the Hygiene Promotion Officer in implementing hygiene promotion and social and behavior change communication (SBCC) activities in targeted villages and IDP camps.
• Conduct hygiene awareness sessions and household visits on handwashing, safe water handling and storage, sanitation, menstrual hygiene management, and other relevant hygiene practices.
• Support the establishment, functioning, and strengthening of Community Hygiene Clubs (CHCs), including organizing meetings and community-led hygiene promotion activities.
• Assist Community WASH Facilitators (CWFs), CHC members, and community volunteers in mobilizing community participation and promoting positive hygiene behaviors.
• Support the preparation and use of hygiene promotion materials, visual aids, and information, education, and communication (IEC) materials in accordance with approved program guidance.
• Assist in organizing hygiene promotion campaigns and community events, such as Global Handwashing Day, World Water Day and World Toilet Day.
• Promote inclusive participation of women, children, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable or marginalized groups in hygiene promotion activities.
• Identify gaps in community hygiene knowledge and practices and report them to the Hygiene Promotion Officer for appropriate technical follow-up.

Management

• Support the Hygiene Promotion Officer in preparing activity plans, schedules, and field implementation arrangements in line with approved project workplans.
• Supervise and manage Community WASH Facilitators (CWFs) in assigned villages and IDP camps, providing day-to-day guidance and support to ensure effective implementation of planned field activities.
• Organize assigned field activities, including community mobilization, participant arrangements, materials preparation, and logistical coordination.
• Ensure that assigned activities are implemented according to approved plans, budgets, timelines, and organizational procedures.
• Support the proper use, distribution, and tracking of WASH NFI and other program supplies assigned to the activities e.g. WASH Infrastructure Construction materials.
• Maintain orderly records of activity-related documents, attendance sheets, distribution records, and other supporting documents.
• Identify operational challenges, implementation delays, and resource requirements, and promptly inform the Hygiene Promotion Officer.
• Follow organizational procedures related to procurement, financial documentation, asset management, and resource utilization, as applicable to assigned duties.
• Perform other program related tasks assigned by the supervisor within the scope of the position.

Coordination, Monitoring, Reporting, and Documentation

• Coordinate day-to-day field activities with the Hygiene Promotion Officer, Senior WASH Officer (Engineer), WASH team members, CWFs, CHC members, WASH committees, implementing partners, and relevant community representatives.
• Support coordination with other program sectors, including Women's Protection and Empowerment (WPE), Nutrition, and Protection, as required.
• Conduct regular field visits to monitor the implementation and quality of hygiene promotion activities, WASH infrastructure construction and community participation.
• Collect, verify, compile, and maintain accurate activity data using approved monitoring tools, indicators, and reporting formats.
• Monitor CHC meetings, household visits, hygiene awareness sessions, and other assigned activities against agreed targets and workplans.
• Prepare and submit timely field visit reports, activity reports, attendance records, success stories, photographs where appropriate and consented, and other required documentation.
• Document community feedback, implementation challenges, lessons learned, and good practices, and share findings with the Hygiene Promotion Officer.
• Support the follow-up of community feedback and complaints through established accountability mechanisms, while maintaining confidentiality.
• Ensure that program records and data are accurate, complete, properly stored, and submitted within required deadlines.

General

• Comply with organizational policies, procedures, code of conduct, safeguarding requirements, prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), and child safeguarding standards.
• Promote humanitarian principles, gender equality, inclusion, accountability to affected populations, and respectful treatment of all community members.
• Maintain confidentiality and protect personal information collected during program implementation.
• Follow organizational security procedures, field movement protocols, and safety instructions when travelling to villages and IDP camps.
• Promptly report security incidents, safeguarding concerns, misconduct, and other serious risks through established reporting channels.
• Maintain professional working relationships with colleagues, community members, local stakeholders, and implementing partners.
• Participate in staff meetings, trainings, capacity-building activities, and program review sessions as required.
• Undertake other reasonable duties assigned by the supervisor in line with the position's responsibilities and program needs.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Hygiene Promotion Officer

Position directly supervises: Community WASH Facilitators

What should you have?

Education

• Diploma in any related field, first degree preferred. Work Experience:

• Minimum of 1 years of experience in Hygiene Promotion and WASH in rural and/or emergency settings.

• Minimum of 1 years of experience in working with LNGO, INGO or other humanitarian organizations.

• Experience in working with community groups and/or volunteers in humanitarian, post-conflict, and/or recovery development context.

Demonstrated Skills:

• Strong knowledge of humanitarian WASH standards and principles.
• Good understanding of Sphere Standards and public health promotion.
• Experience implementing Hygiene Behavior Change Communication (HBCC).
• Good facilitation and training skills.
• Strong community mobilization and interpersonal skills.
• Good analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Knowledge of local ethnic languages is an advantage.
• Ability to supervise and coach project staff and volunteers.
• Ability to work, travel and live in remote areas.
• Computer skills in Microsoft Office.
• Experience using Kobo Toolbox or other mobile data collection platforms is desirable.

Language Skills:

• Fluent in Myanmar (written and spoken), and communicable English Language skills.

• Professional Standards: All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

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