WASH Officer – Water, Sanitation & Hygiene

About the role

Action Against Hunger is seeking a dedicated WASH Officer to lead water, sanitation and hygiene interventions across its programmes. The role will support health facilities and communities in Zambia, ensuring safe water supply, proper sanitation, infection prevention and effective waste management.

Key responsibilities

• Rehabilitate and upgrade water supply systems in health facilities, ensuring continuous running water in OPD, maternity, pediatric, laboratory and immunisation areas.
• Support solarisation of water systems, expand pipe networks and install water storage reservoirs.
• Conduct water quality testing, treatment and establish water point management committees.
• Construct gender‑segregated, disability‑inclusive latrines and improve sanitation facilities in health centres.
• Promote safe latrine use at household level and address open defecation through community interventions.
• Ensure functional hand‑washing stations, provide soap and alcohol‑based hand rubs, and strengthen IPC compliance in health facilities.
• Establish healthcare waste management systems, including segregation, storage, transport, disposal, incinerators and sharps pits.
• Develop SOPs, provide PPE and colour‑coded bins for waste handling.
• Conduct KAP surveys, develop IEC materials and deliver hygiene promotion sessions.
• Train health staff, community volunteers and volunteers on WASH, IPC and waste management, providing mentorship and supervision.
• Coordinate with ministries of health and partner organisations, and apply environmental screening tools to ensure compliance.

Required profile

• Proven experience in water supply, sanitation and hygiene programmes, preferably in humanitarian or health settings.
• Strong knowledge of infection prevention and control (IPC) standards and healthcare waste management.
• Experience working with community structures and gender‑inclusive approaches.
• Ability to train, mentor and supervise staff and volunteers.
• Excellent coordination skills with ministries, NGOs and other partners.

Required skills

• Water quality testing and treatment
• Solar‑powered water system installation
• Construction of gender‑segregated and disability‑inclusive latrines
• Healthcare waste segregation, storage and disposal
• Infection prevention and control (IPC) implementation
• KAP survey design and execution
• IEC material development
• Training and capacity‑building for WASH staff and volunteers