Self Help Africa (SHA) is an international development organisation headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, dedicated to the vision of 'sustainable livelihoods and healthy lives for all in a changing climate.' With nearly 50 years of experience in Africa, including 25 years in Nigeria, SHA works to alleviate hunger, poverty, social inequality, and the impact of climate change through community-led, market-based, and enterprise-focused approaches. In 2021, SHA merged with United Purpose (UP), doubling in size and expanding to 17 countries.
We are recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Title: Project Coordinator
Locations: Kura, Garun Malam - Kano Employment Type: Contract Contract type: Fixed term contract, full-time (local recruitment) 18 months Reports to: Head of WASH Programmes
Programme Description
Self Help Africa is implementing an 18-month programme, Improving and sustaining safe water access and water security in Kano, Nigeria, with funding from The Coca-Cola Foundation.
The programme seeks improve sustainable access to safe, reliable drinking water for communities in the Kano River minor basin while strengthening rural water service delivery systems in Kano State.
The intervention will directly benefit approximately 217,500 people in 195 communities across Kura and Garun Malam LGAs. It will rehabilitate non-functional water schemes, improve water quality through inline chlorination, and introduce a professionalised, performance-based maintenance model for rural water services.
The project will pilot a results-based financing model covering selected water facilities in Garun Malam LGA, including hand pumps and piped schemes.
Local Area Mechanics will be trained and contracted to provide preventive maintenance, emergency repairs and regular functionality inspections against agreed performance indicators.
The project will also contribute to water replenishment and improved water security and volumetric water benefits within the Kano River minor basin by increasing safe water production and improving the reliability of existing water systems.
Monitoring of water production and distribution will support tracking these benefits throughout the programme.
The initiative will also strengthen LGA WASH Departments and RUWASSA, use digital tools such as mWater to track functionality and service performance, establish stronger supply chains for spare parts and water treatment inputs, and generate evidence and learning to inform wider adoption of sustainable rural water service delivery and financing models.
The core objectives of the project are:
Improve access to safe drinking water and service levels in target communities within the Kano River minor basin through rehabilitation and water quality improvements.
Improve the reliability and sustainability of rural water services through the adoption of a professionalized, performance-based maintenance model.
Promote the adoption of a scalable rural water service delivery and financing model within Kano State and nationally
Job Purpose:
Self Help Africa is looking for a dynamic WASH professional with strong programme management, rural water service delivery and systems strengthening experience to coordinate the implementation of the Sustainable Access to Safe Water programme in Kano State.
The Project Coordinator will provide overall operational, technical and strategic coordination for the programme, ensuring that activities are delivered effectively, on time, within scope and budget, and in compliance with SHA and donor requirements.
The post holder will coordinate the project team, work closely with government and community stakeholders, oversee implementation across the target LGAs, and ensure that programme learning and evidence are documented and used to strengthen the model.
The Project Coordinator will manage staff, partners, resources, and interface with stakeholders at the state level to achieve the programme’s targets, and objectives on time, within scope and budget in compliance with donor requirements.
Key Responsibilities Strategic Coordination and Programme Management:
Lead overall day-to-day implementation of the Sustainable Access to Safe Water programme in line with the approved proposal, work plan, budget and donor requirements.
Coordinate the Project team, including the MEAL Officer and LGA Technical Officer, ensuring clear work planning, task allocation, follow-up and delivery against agreed targets.
Develop and regularly review detailed implementation plans, procurement plans, activity schedules and delivery priorities across Bunkure, Kura and Garun Malam LGAs.
Ensure effective sequencing and coordination of water facility assessments, rehabilitation, inline chlorination, Local Area Mechanic engagement, service contracting, preventive maintenance and results-based payments.
Oversee the introduction and implementation of the Uptime’ type results-based financing model, ensuring that service delivery arrangements, KPIs, verification processes and performance reviews are clearly understood and consistently applied.
Coordinate with existing SHA programmes, including DiSuRWIN and OPTIC, to maximise technical synergies, avoid duplication and share tools, training, monitoring and learning opportunities where appropriate.
Monitor implementation progress, identify bottlenecks and risks, and take timely corrective action in consultation with the Head of WASH Programmes and relevant SHA teams.
Technical Implementation and Quality Assurance:
Provide overall coordination and quality assurance for technical assessments, rehabilitation and upgrading of water facilities, including boreholes, solar-powered motorised piped schemes, meters, chlorination systems and related works.
Ensure that water quality testing, commissioning, chlorination, monitoring and reporting are carried out in accordance with agreed technical standards and programme requirements.
Support the strengthening of Local Area Mechanics, Water Point Committees/WASHCOMs and LGA WASH structures to improve routine maintenance, reporting, tariff management, accountability and service sustainability.
Ensure that mWater and other programme monitoring tools are used effectively to track functionality, downtime, maintenance response, water quality, chlorine availability and service performance.
Stakeholder Engagement, Coordination and Representation:
Maintain effective working relationships with Kano State RUWASSA, LGA WASH Departments, relevant state and local government authorities, traditional leaders, community structures, Local Area Mechanics and other programme stakeholders.
Coordinate stakeholder engagement, inception meetings, technical reviews, performance review meetings, community consultations and learning events required for effective programme delivery.
Represent SHA and the programme at relevant state and LGA WASH coordination platforms and other technical meetings as delegated.
Facilitate formalisation and implementation of relevant MoUs, service contracts, community commitments and other agreements required for clear roles, accountability and continuity of services.
Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Reporting:
Work closely with the MEAL Officer to ensure timely collection, verification, analysis and use of programme data for decision-making and adaptive management.
Ensure regular monitoring of programme outputs, outcomes and performance indicators, including functionality, downtime, water quality, service provider performance and results-based payments.
Coordinate baseline/endline activities, cost modelling inputs, documentation of implementation experience and other evidence-generation activities required to assess the performance and scalability of the model.
Ensure timely preparation and submission of high-quality donor reports, internal progress reports, activity reports, learning products and other programme documentation.
Facilitate documentation and dissemination of lessons, challenges and evidence through state and national WASH learning and coordination platforms.
Finance, Compliance and Resource Management:
Work with Finance and Operations teams to ensure sound financial management, appropriate expenditure and timely liquidation of project advances in line with SHA and donor requirements.
Monitor project expenditure against approved budgets and work plans and promptly flag variances, risks and required budget adjustments.
Coordinate with Procurement to ensure timely procurement and availability of rehabilitation materials, chlorination supplies, spare parts, testing equipment and other project inputs.
Ensure compliance with SHA policies and procedures, donor requirements, contractual obligations and applicable safeguarding and risk management standards.
Team Management and Safeguarding:
Provide effective leadership, coaching and support to project team members and promote a collaborative, accountable and results-oriented working environment.
Manage the performance of direct reports through clear objectives, regular check-ins, feedback and performance development processes.
Transparency, Compliance and safeguarding:
Employ the highest standards of openness, transparency and accountability to ensure good financial management in line with SHA’s zero-tolerance approach to fraud, bribery and corruption.
Demonstrate commitment to safeguarding, protection, gender mainstreaming and inclusion of vulnerable population including people with disabilities
Provide support to established feedback, complaints and response mechanism across implementation communities to ensure programmatic and operational decisions are informed by local perspectives and priorities, and contribute to the protection of program participants at the LGA level.
Accountability: In line with Self Help Africa’s commitments under the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS), the job holder will:
Actively promote meaningful community participation and consultation at all stages of the project cycle (planning, implementation, M&E).
Work withrelevantcolleaguestoensure that the Community Feedback and Response Mechanism (CFRM) is functionaland accessible, that feedback and complaints are welcomed and addressed.
Work withrelevantcolleaguestoensure thatinformation aboutCFRM, safeguarding and expected staff behaviouris disseminatedamong programme participants and communities.
Key Relationships:
Internal: Head of WASH Programmes, MEAL, Finance & Compliance, Procurement, Operations, Security, Programme and Global WASH teams.
External: Kano State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), LGA WASH Departments in Bunkure, Kura and Garun Malam, relevant State and Local Government authorities, traditional and community leadership structures.
Partners and service providers: Local Area Mechanics, Water Point Committees/WASHCOMs, Water Facility Caretakers, Community Health Extension Workers, Environmental Health Workers, laboratories and other technical service providers.
Other stakeholders: Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, relevant WASH coordination and learning platforms, development partners and other sector actors as appropriate.
Knowledge, Experience and Other Requirements: Education and Experience:
University Degree in Civil/Water Engineering, Public Health, Social Sciences, Development Studies or a related field.
At least 7 years of relevant programme/project management experience with an INGO/NGO, preferably in the WASH sector.
Demonstrated experience coordinating and managing complex WASH programmes involving multiple stakeholders, implementation locations and technical activities.
Strong understanding of rural water service delivery, water facility functionality, preventive maintenance, water quality and/or professionalised maintenance service models.
Experience working with government institutions, particularly State and Local Government WASH structures, and experience engaging communities and local service providers.
Experience coordinating field teams and service providers and managing implementation across multiple LGAs or geographically dispersed locations.
Experience with performance-based approaches, results-based financing, service contracts, key performance indicators and/or professionalised maintenance models is an advantage.
Experience in programme monitoring, data use, reporting, learning and adaptive management.
Experience managing project budgets, working with Finance and Procurement teams, and ensuring donor and organisational compliance.
Experience developing quality donor reports, learning products, presentations and other programme documentation.
Experience with digital monitoring tools such as mWater or similar platforms is an advantage.
Experience working with Local Area Mechanics or similar rural water service providers is an advantage.
Skills:
Project management and implementation
Excellent coordination, planning, prioritisation and organisational skills
Strong leadership, communication, problem solving and decision-making skills
Stakeholder engagement, networking, facilitation and negotiation
Monitoring, evaluation, learning and use of data for decision-making
Budget monitoring, financial accountability and compliance
Reporting and documentation
Strong computer literacy and proficiency in MS Office
Commitment to safeguarding, including child protection, PSEA, GBV prevention and response.
Desirable:
Experience in systems strengthening in WASH.
Knowledge of the Kano State WASH context and rural water service delivery environment.
Relevant local language competency, particularly Hausa.
Positive outlook and team spirit.
Adaptable and responsive disposition relative to the demands of the project.
Language Requirements:
Excellent written and oral proficiency in English and Hausa language is required.