Shelter and settlement (WASI) Officer

WHO ARE WE?

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfillment of the wish to return home. The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956, and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced. All of our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

ABOUT THE JOB

He/she works in close cooperation with other field staff for planning of Watersheds activities. The WASI officer-watershed engineer is expected to maintain close cooperation with the targeted line departments, local communities & project counterparts for site selection, The project aims to strengthen sustainable management of water and land resources through the planning, design, implementation, and monitoring of watershed management interventions. The interventions are expected to contribute to improved water availability, groundwater recharge, erosion control, flood risk reduction, land rehabilitation, and increased resilience of communities and critical infrastructure to climate-related risks.

Under the supervision of the WASI Team Leader, the WASI Officer (Watershed Engineer) is responsible for ensuring that watershed interventions are technically sound, environmentally appropriate, cost-effective, and implemented in accordance with approved designs, engineering standards, and project requirements. The incumbent will ensure that DRC Afghanistan’s watershed activities are implemented in line with established technical standards, community needs, approved methodologies, and relevant DRC and donor policies and guidelines within the assigned area of responsibility.

The WASI Officer (Watershed Engineer) will work closely with DRC’s Economic Recovery, HDP, and Protection teams, as well as with local authorities and communities, to ensure effective coordination and integrated programming. In addition, the position is responsible for timely reporting and, when required, engaged with MEAL activities to assess project performance and promote continuous improvement.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct field assessments, baseline surveys, and technical measurements (Catchment characteristics and drainage patterns, Topography and terrain conditions, Soil type, erosion patterns, and sediment transport, Existing water sources and water infrastructure, Groundwater recharge potential, Flood-prone areas and natural drainage channels, Land degradation and vegetation cover, Existing community water-management practices; and Environmental and climate-related risks) to support the planning and implementation of watershed management activities.
• Support identification and prioritization of suitable watershed interventions based on technical feasibility, environmental sustainability, community requirements, cost-effectiveness, and expected impact.
• Carry out or review hydrological and hydraulic calculations required for watershed interventions, including (catchment delineation, rainfall-runoff assessment, estimation of peak discharge and design flood, drainage capacity assessment, groundwater recharge assessment and hydraulic sizing of proposed structures).
• Prepare, review, or validate engineering designs for watershed management interventions, which may include (check dams, gabion structures, retaining structures, Flood protection works, recharge structures, infiltration trenches, percolation ponds, Recharge pits, small water retention structures, Contour trenches and bunds, Gully stabilization structures, erosion-control structures and small irrigation structures.
• Prepare and/or review technical documentation, including (site assessment reports, feasibility studies, topographical and engineering survey information, design calculations, drawings and bills of quantities).
• Should develop the watershed master plan and its implementation.
• Review material submittals, Requests for Information, method statements, shop drawings, laboratory test results, inspection requests, and other technical submissions.
• Provide technical guidance and on-site support to contractors, skilled laborers, and community groups.
• Ensure proper use of materials, tools, and resources at field level.
• Conduct regular monitoring visits and identify technical challenges and recommend solutions.
• Support community awareness and capacity-building activities related to watershed management and natural resource protection.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, safeguarding, and organizational policies during field activities.
• Support preparation of field level MOUs with the support of WASI TL, handover, and other agreements for WASI components infrastructures.
• Contribute to assessments, data collection and coordination for development of new proposal on request of WASI program.
• Monitor physical progress, quality, and technical performance of watershed interventions.
• Ensure accountability, inclusion, environmental protection, protection mainstreaming and gender principles are effectively integrated into project implementation.
• Coordinate with communities, contractors, and project teams.
• Support development of practical operation and maintenance requirements for completed watershed structures and provide technical orientation to community representatives as required.
• Assist in the planning, design, and implementation of soil and water conservation measures and watershed rehabilitation interventions in accordance with approved technical standards.
• Ensure field activities adhere to humanitarian principles and the “do no harm” approach.
• Carry out other duties as assigned by the WASI Team Leader to support program objectives.

ABOUT YOU

To be successful in this role you must have:

Experience and technical competencies: 

• Minimum of three years of relevant professional engineering experience in watershed management, water resources, hydraulic structures, irrigation, flood protection, erosion control, or related infrastructure projects preferably with INGO's, NGOs.
• Demonstrated experience in hydrological and hydraulic assessment and engineering design.
• Experience in design and/or supervision of check dams, gabions, retaining structures, recharge structures, drainage, erosion-control works, or similar watershed infrastructure.
• Ability to collect and analyse the data to direct program implementation priorities.
• Experience from working within technical expertise area in a humanitarian/recovery context.
• Previous experience working in challenging or remote field environments is an asset.
• Experience in capacity building and training of staff/community.
• Computer literacy in MS Office, AutoCAD, and Water gem or Water CAD.
• Ready to work, stay overnight and travel in an intricate and strenuous environment.
• WASI specific technical responsibility for tracking of financial expenditures for technical activities.
• Willing to stay in field locations and travel in all DRC coverage areas.

Education/qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering

Languages:

• English (intermediate)
• Pashto (fluent)
• Dari (fluent)

We Offer:

• Salary and conditions will be in accordance with DRC salary scale

Application process:

Application process: Interested? Then apply for this position by clicking on the below link. All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages). Both must be in the same language.

Note. only applications ( CV) will not be considered.

 

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