Introduction

WaterAid’s vision is of a world where everyone has access to safe water and sanitation. Our mission is to transform lives by improving access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in the world’s poorest communities. WaterAid works with partners to maximise its impacts for policy change/influence.

WaterAid has been operating in Papua New Guinea (PNG) since 2004, working with local partners and the government to increase access to gender sensitive, socially inclusive and climate resilient water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services. WaterAid PNG’s geographic focus is on the National Capital District, and Central Province in the Southern Region and East Sepik Province.

WaterAid works through supporting local organisations and government authorities to design and demonstrate appropriate and sustainable WASH programs. WaterAid also seeks to influence policy change through government and other key sector actors to secure and protect the right of poor people to safe, affordable water and sanitation services.

Everything we do is shaped by our six values:

• Integrity
• Respect
• Collaboration
• Courage
• Accountability
• Innovation

WaterAid is a child safe organisation. We recognise that we must meet community expectations, and the trust placed in our personnel to maintain the highest standards of conduct with children. Therefore, all positions within WaterAid are required to comply with our Child Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct.

WaterAid is committed to protection from sexual exploitation and abuse in everything we do. The values and standards we uphold are highlighted in our Global Code of Conduct. All positions within WaterAid are required to comply with our Global Code of Conduct.

WaterAid passionately believes everyone in the organisation has a role to play in innovation, encourages curiosity about the world and empowering everyone to act. We recognise that both big and small changes can have positive impacts on our roles, our team and our mission.

Position Summary

The Program Officer will play a critical role in supporting the implementation of the PacFresh H2O Preparation Phase Extension. This role will focus on coordinating field activities, managing data collection processes, and ensuring effective engagement with community and government stakeholders. The Program Officer will work closely with the Program Coordinator and GEDSI Officer to ensure project activities align with established objectives and contribute to the long-term success of the initiative.

Key Performance Areas/Accountabilities

• Support target community selection in Rabaul District through participatory approaches, ensuring inclusive representation in decision-making.
• Facilitate engagement with the Rabaul District Development Authority (DDA), District WASH Committee (DWC), Local Level Government managers, and the East New Britain Provincial Health Authority (ENBPHA).
• Assist in capacity-building efforts for local stakeholders, ensuring communities understand and actively participate in project activities.
• Work with the Program Coordinator and consortium partners to refine the data collection framework, ensuring alignment with project objectives.
• Lead key informant interviews, focus group discussions, household surveys, and participatory rural appraisals to gather baseline WASH and WRM data.
• Support water resource mapping, emphasizing resilience, adaptation measures, and the integration of GEDSI principles.
• Support the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) surveys focused on freshwater resource management and climate change adaptation.
• Assist in compiling findings into a standalone KAP survey report, contributing insights that inform inclusive adaptation measures.
• Work with provincial and district authorities to ensure WASH activities contribute to climate resilience objectives within PNG’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and Medium-Term Development Plan IV (MTDP IV).
• Assist in coordinating field visits, stakeholder meetings, and training sessions, ensuring smooth execution of project activities.
• Comply with all WaterAids policies and procedures.

Qualification, Skills & Attributes

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, Environment, Community development studies, Public Health or related field.
• Prior work experience with WASH, health or community development is desirable
• Work or voluntary experience with government or NGOs is desirable.
• Confidence working with both government and non-government stakeholders.
• Proficient with the use of Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook.
• Basic project management skills.
• Punctual and reliable.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Level of contact with children

The position will be required to maintain WaterAid child safeguarding principles and

standards always.

To Apply:

Please submit an application to [email protected] by 20 June, 2025.

Applications for this position must include a resume and a cover letter addressing the above Qualification, Skills and Selection Criteria.

Applicants must have the right to work in Papua New Guinea