Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Officer

Organization Overview

Jhpiego, linked to Johns Hopkins University, is a global nonprofit devoted to health improvements by innovatively enhancing healthcare workers' capacity and health service delivery. Active in Malawi since 1999, Jhpiego partners with government and stakeholders to advance maternal, newborn, child health, family planning, and HIV/AIDS prevention and care.

Role Summary

The WASH Officer, based in Chikwawa district, Malawi, reports to the Public Private Partnerships WASH Advisor and collaborates with district officials, healthcare personnel, traditional leaders, private partners, sanitation entrepreneurs, community groups, and households to drive field-level execution, community engagement, coordination, data gathering, monitoring, and reporting for water, sanitation, and hygiene initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Mobilize and involve diverse local stakeholders—including communities, traditional leaders, women, youth, persons with disabilities—in planning, implementing, and monitoring WASH activities.
• Organize community entry meetings, awareness campaigns, household visits, CLTS follow-ups, hygiene demonstrations, and feedback sessions using participatory techniques.
• Strengthen and establish WASH committees, natural leader networks, sanitation committees, and accountability structures within communities.
• Facilitate inclusive action plans defining responsibilities, timelines, contributions, and follow-up steps.
• Promote hygiene practices such as handwashing with soap, safe water handling, household water treatment, food hygiene, safe child feces management, and prevention of cholera and waterborne diseases.
• Document community feedback, handle complaints, and escalate technical or safeguarding issues appropriately.
• Collaborate with Village Savings and Loan (VSL) groups to encourage savings and loans for sanitation improvements, integrate WASH goals with financial literacy and budgeting, and ensure transparent financial arrangements without managing funds directly.
• Connect VSL members to sanitation service providers, artisans, suppliers, and district bodies; monitor and record WASH-related investments and repayment processes.
• Support routine monitoring and maintenance of water supply infrastructure, coordinating with Scheme Management Committees, water user groups, area mechanics, private operators, and district water offices for upkeep and problem resolution.
• Educate communities on service standards, fee structures, revenue transparency, and complaint procedures regarding water services.
• Collect and analyze data on water system functionality, repair times, water quality, and operational challenges, and advocate for water protection from vandalism and contamination.
• Maintain ongoing coordination with district government and civil actors, participate in relevant coordination meetings, conduct stakeholder mapping, prepare field documentation, and track follow-up actions.
• Collect, verify, and report quantitative and qualitative data on WASH activities using approved monitoring tools; keep accurate records and prepare updates, success stories, and contributions for reports.
• Promptly report delays, data issues, safeguarding concerns, and risks to the WASH Advisor.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Water Resources Management, Environmental Health, Public Health, Community Development, Development Studies, Environmental Science, Social Sciences, or related fields.
• Minimum 5 years delivering community WASH programs.
• Experience in sanitation marketing, market-based sanitation, local enterprise development, or household sanitation financing.
• Preferably experienced with VSL groups, microfinance linkages, community savings, or financial literacy efforts.
• Practical knowledge of rural water supply, water-point management, operations, maintenance, and community water governance.
• Familiarity working with government bodies, traditional leadership, civil society, and private sector actors.
• Strong skills in data collection, verification, analysis, and reporting using standard monitoring tools.
• Proficient verbal and written communication in English and Chichewa.

Preferred Attributes

• Knowledgeable of Malawi’s WASH policies, district setups, and rural sanitation context.
• Experienced in community facilitation, conflict resolution, mentoring, and interpersonal relations.
• Ability to convey technical WASH concepts into accessible practical messages for communities and providers.
• Capable of autonomous field work with close team communication.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, documentation, and follow-up abilities.
• Committed to inclusion, safeguarding, accountability, and respectful partnerships with communities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and experience with digital data-collection platforms is advantageous.
• Willingness and ability to frequently travel within project districts and other project locations as needed.
• Experience with US Government-funded projects is a plus.

General Expectations for All Staff

• Embody Jhpiego's mission and core values in all activities.
• Engage in business development initiatives when requested.
• Contribute to organizational learning and skill sharing.
• Make responsible, accountable decisions regarding time and cost efficiency.
• Foster collaboration and maintain professional relationships with colleagues, partners, and community members.

Additional Information

Jhpiego provides competitive salaries and comprehensive employee benefits. The recruitment closing date is 25th August 2026. Applicants must submit a single file containing a cover letter, CV, and references. Candidates will undergo a pre-employment background check. Jhpiego follows strict child safeguarding standards and maintains affirmative action policies promoting equal opportunity regardless of protected characteristics. The organization is vigilant against recruitment scams: it does not charge fees, all official job posts appear on its website, and official communications come from @jhpiego.org email addresses.