Job Description

About the Tamil Nadu Urban Sanitation Support Programme (TNUSSP)


The TNUSSP was launched in November 2015, as the Techncial Support Unit (TSU) for the Government of Tamil Nadu (GoTN) to make improvements in fecal sludge and septage management (FSSM) along the full cycle of sanitation (FCS) across Tamil Nadu. A consortium of organisations, the programme is led by the Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS) to make clean water and sanitation accessible.



For more information on TNUSSP, please see https://tnussp.co.in/




The social inclusion specialist will be responsible for mobilizing and engaging communities, especially women and youth, in WASH services; promoting behaviour change and working towards the welfare and well-being of urban poor and sanitation workers. S/he should have strong communication skills in Tamil with cultural sensitivity and a commitment to community-driven development.



This is a project-based contractual position for a duration of 9 months.

Activities and Tasks


This position will be responsible for overall monitoring of the operations and maintenance of public and community toilets and revenue generation activities implemented by the vendors. Activities and tasks will include, but not limited to, the following:



Community Engagement and Mobilisation:

• Building and maintaining strong relationships with community members, leaders, and stakeholders;
• Conducting community needs assessments to identify WASH-related issues and priorities;
• Facilitating community meetings and workshops to raise awareness and gather input for project planning;
• Engaging women and youth in WASH services, encouraging their active participation and leadership;
• Advocating for and supporting the occupational health and safety of sanitation workers;
• Developing and implementing initiatives to improve the working conditions and overall well-being of sanitation workers;



Project Implementation and Monitoring:

• Assisting in the planning, coordination, and execution of WASH activities in target communities;
• Promoting the adoption of hygiene practices through education and behaviour change campaigns;
• Organising and conducting training sessions for community members on WASH-related topics;
• Empowering local leaders and volunteers to take ownership of WASH initiatives;
• Collecting and analysing data to assess the impact of WASH activities on community health and well-being;
• Preparing regular progress reports and sharing findings with the project team and stakeholders;
• Identifying challenges and providing recommendations for improving project effectiveness;
• Preparing detailed reports on project activities, outcomes, and impacts;
• Developing presentations to communicate project progress and findings to various audiences;
• Ensuring accurate and timely documentation of all project activities;



General:

• Coordinating with local government agencies, NGOs, and other partners to align efforts and resources;
• Ensuring timely completion of project activities according to the weekly and monthly plans;
• Working with other teams internal to the organization to ensure effective implementation of the programmes;
• Providing support to other IIHS activities including academics, research, practice, training, operations and others;
• Participating in all activities of institution-building at IIHS; carrying out tasks as assigned by IIHS; and traveling on IIHS work within or outside the country as and when needed.

Structure and Reporting

The specialist will be an External Consultant coordinating with the Team Leader - TNUSSP or with any other person designated by the Team Leader, and will be required to collaborate effectively with a diverse group of internal teams and external individuals/organizations, and students.

Person Specification


The ideal candidate should have:

• A Bachelor's degree in community development, public health, social sciences, or a related field, coupled with a minimum of 3 - 4 years of experience in community development, preferably within the WASH sector;
• Alternatively, a Master's degree in a relevant field with at least 1 - 2 years of experience in the same domain;
• A robust understanding of WASH principles, practices, and challenges;
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, alongside the ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a team;
• Proficiency in Tamil and English, including reading and writing competence in both languages;
• Experience of working in multi-disciplinary teams, good people management and facilitation skills, and significant competency in documentation, coordination and proficiency in MS Office.



This is a project-based contractual position for 9 months. This offer is on an exclusive basis, which implies that other professional assignments (whether compensated or not) that bear a potential conflict of interest with IIHS cannot be undertaken.



The search will remain open until the position is filled.

Location


This position is based in Chennai with regular travelling to the project locations in Chennai and sometimes to other locations within the state or country.

Review and Assessment


The role and performance of the incumbent shall be subject to normal review and assessment systems at IIHS.

Diversity Policy

IIHS is an equal opportunity employer that encourages women, people with disabilities and those from economically and socially excluded communities with the requisite skills and qualifications to apply for positions.