Title: Research Specialist(Faecal Waste Management), Project Malio

Role Description

Locality of work: Fort Dauphin, Madagascar

Supervisor: Head of Community Health and Head of Project Development (Community Health, WASH & Construction)

Timescale:To start as soon as possible, 6 month contract

Background of post

Project Malio is a 3 year initiative funded by the UK’s Big Lottery Fund. The project combines lessons learnt from the pilot as well as Azafady’s highly successful rural Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) programme and other Azafady projects including a previous urban sexual behaviour change initiative. Responding to the critical need for improvements to sanitation and hygiene in Fort Dauphin, Project Malio is engaging the whole town in a high impact and broad scale behaviour change programme that addresses traditional taboos around the subject of defecation, motivating and mobilising the local community to eradicate the practice of open defecation and supporting them to construct 800 household latrines for the most disadvantaged families and 13 school latrines for the town’s public (non-fee paying) schools.

Project Maliois now midway through its second year and is looking to expand its activities in the area of faecal waste management to support the maintenance and emptying of Azafady built latrines. Fort Dauphin has no formal faecal waste management system and latrine emptying is done on an informal, ad-hoc basis. Project Malio aims to raise awareness of the importance of safe latrine emptying, both on a household level and by those already employed in this area, ensuring that beneficiaries who have built a latrine through the project have a range of options forsafe sanitation management.

Purpose of the Post.

Azafady is seeking to recruit a Specialist Researcher to work alongside the local project implementation and international project development teams to undertake research into developing Project Malio’s strategies for town-wide faecal sludge management. The researcher will develop and conduct research methods with the support of a local Community Liaison Officer (CLO), including community interviews, to understand the traditions and taboos surrounding faecal waste management. This research will be the basis for the development of workshops for small business wanting to professionalise in the area of waste management and sessions for households wanting to empty their own latrines, as well as promotional campaigns addressing the fady(taboos) around faecal sludge management. Research outcomes will be disseminated within the community and through peer reviewed journals and other international knowledge sharing platforms.

Responsibilities:

To work with the Head of Community Health and Head of Project Development (WASH and Community Health) and the Sanitation and Hygiene Specialist to devise and conduct appropriate research techniques, including community interviews to investigate how current practices are influenced by culture.
To work with the Head of Community Health, Project Coordinator and Head of Project Development (WASH and Community Health) in using the research findings to inform project development of this and other similar Azafady initiatives.
Monitor and evaluate all research gathered, resulting in a full written report which can inform articles suitable for publication and dissemination through WASH conferences.
To complete desk based research into best practice and provide advice on different approaches to respond to problems encountered.
Provide international best practice on waste management in developing countries, including safe handling of faecal waste in consideration of limited infrastructure.
Any other tasks that the Head of Project Development (WASH and Community Health) deems necessary within the broad outline of the role.

Person Specification:

Essential

Degree in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Community Health, International Development, Public Health, or related field

Experience working/volunteering internationally in a sanitation and hygiene capacity

Experience of designing, implementing and managing an activity-based project

Experience of designing monitoring and evaluation strategies and tools

Experience of analysing spreadsheets and databases

Excellent communication skills, including a sound ability to adapt material for different audiences

A good understanding of international guidance and policy regarding urban sanitation and hygiene

Passion and motivation for the work and ability to enthuse staff and other volunteers

Ability to work both independently and as part of a multicultural and multilingual team

Experience of living and working in at least one developing country, preferably in sub-Saharan Africa

Ability to adjust to life in another culture and a foreign language, working at all times with cultural sensitivity and respect

Desirable

Experience of designing resource material in an innovative and participatory way

Knowledge of or willingness to learn French and/or Malagasy

Anyone interested in applying for this position should email a detailed CV and covering letter explaining how their skills and experience match the requirements in the job description to the Head of Project Development (Community Health, WASH and Education). Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until a suitable candidate is found and as such applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

(Please note that due to the high volume of applications anticipated we are not able to acknowledge receipt of applications unless specifically requested. We will contact you if we wish to take your application further.)

Email:

More information on the work of Azafady can be found at

Azafady is an Equal Opportunity Employer.