Applications are invited from suitably qualified local candidates for the following positions in the Ministry of Water:
DEPARTMENT : RURAL WATER SUPPLY
JOB TITLE : COMMUNITY LIAISON OFFICER
GRADE
NO OF POSITIONS : TWO (2) DISTRICT LEVEL
RESPONSIBLE TO : PRINCIPAL SOCIOLOGIST DISTRICT ENGINEER
JOB SUMMARY
The Community Liaison Officer serves the Department of Rural Water Supply (DRWS) at district level with responsibility for the social side and community-based activities of the DRWS business of providing/building water schemes to the rural population of Lesotho.
1.0 MAIN DUTIES
1.1. Participates in the frequent upgrading of the district plans by identifying (with the District Engineer) the targeted villages for
coverage within a district planning period.
1.2. Identifies the targeted villages to verify their existence and locating them on the district coverage map.
1.3. Conducts social surveys such as needs assessment surveys, collects and report demographic and other information about the targeted communities and employs results of these surveys as a useful basis for district coverage planning and project implementation planning.
1.4. Conducts social survey such as, population counts etc. needs identification for targeted villages and documents, the findings of these in preparation for development of needs based and adequately focused plans.
1.5. Mobilizes communities through Pitsos and other mass media approaches so as to insure their full participation in the building of water schemes.
1.6. The Community Liaison Officer is responsible for training/skill development and overall capacity building and empowerment of community members throughout the stage of the DRWS projects.
1.7. Disseminates to communities, information relating to policy and interprets DRWS policies (within the broad Natural Policies).
1.8. Helps define for communities DRWS approaches, procedures and methodologies in the areas of demand drive, accepted practices, ownership and authority over water systems, and required service levels in the relation to types of systems that DRWS constructs and their maintenance.
1.9. Facilitates processes for rural communities to set up viable leadership structures which are necessary to take responsibility for effecting Rural Water Supply projects through appropriate Operation and Maintenance (O+M) plans.
1.10. Coordinates community based DRWS water related activities with those of other Government Departments, NGO’s and the Private Sectors in order to develop an integrated holistic approach to rural water supplies.
1.11. Provides support to communities by clarifying DRWS expectations of them and vice versa and to facilitate resolution of conflicts around water schemes with the aim to achieve viable projects.
2.0 KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
2.1. EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Diploma in Adult Education with a minimum experience of two (2) years working in Community Development
2.2. OTHER RELEVANT KNOWLEDGE
To ensure the district team is identifying and locating new villages to be covered, the Community Liaison Officer needs basic skills in map reading. The regular interaction with communities and leading Pitsos requires the Community Liaison Officer to be comfortable in public speaking.
To reach remote villages, the Community Liaison Officer will have to use alternative modes of transport, therefore it is important that the candidate is well acquainted with horse riding or walking long distances.
3.0 RESPONSIBILITY
3.1 FOR THE WORK OF OTHERS
The Community Liaison Officer is expected to fit well as a member of the district team and facilitate at community level activities of:
• The District Engineer (DE)
• Project Officer (PO)
• Accountants
• Maintenance Personnel
• Village leadership structures
• Private Contractors/Consultants
• Others in the field of rural development/extension services
3.2 FOR GOVERNMENT FUNDS AND PROPERTY
The Community Liaison Officer does not have direct responsibility or control over government property assigned to him/her for use in performing his/her functions, he/she in collaboration with others (district team) is accountable for such property. The incumbent is also responsible for overseeing the use of government property by community members and the private contractors and to liaise accordingly with the DRWS
(district office).
3.3 EFFECT OF ERRORS
The Community Liaison Officer has no liability for any effects of error with financial implications. However, the incumbent may carry responsibility for any adverse social consequences in specific aspects of a project.
3.4 EFFECT OF SAFETY OF OTHERS
Not applicable
4.0. COMPLEXITY
4.1. Authority for decision making
4.2. Problem solving
4.3. Supervision received
The Community Liaison Officer is under direct supervision of the Principal Technical officer. He/she meets on a weekly basis with the other team members.
5.0 EFFORT
5.1. MENTAL EFFORT
The work of the Community Liaison Officer requires high levels of mental effort and strong social skills, since a good part of this job requires close interaction with people at different levels of mental capacity. The Community Liaison Officer therefore, has to have an adaptable mental effort in order to be able to help others to adapt to various circumstances of his/their setting.
5.2 PHYSICAL EFFORT
The Community Liaison Officer works in situations/places, which are relatively remote and isolated. Some of these might require of his/her ability to exert himself/herself beyond his/her normal limits. The incumbent therefore has to be fit to take up the challenges.
5.3 EMOTIONAL EFFORT
In order to yield positive results the Community Liaison Officer has to be process oriented. This can be emotionally and socially demanding as the Community Liaison Officer attempts to keep up with the expectations of the various groups he/she gets in contact with. It is his/her responsibility therefore to facilitate for these groups, (within DRWS and outside) appreciation of the unusual circumstances of his work and help them tone down these expectations to realistic and acceptable levels.
6.0 WORKING CONDITIONS
6.1 UNFAVOURABLE CONDITIONS
Should be prepared to work at the district level. The Community Liaison Officer spends little time in the office a big part of his/her time in the settings of rural communities. Circumstances in these settings are sometimes challenging and will demand of the
Community Liaison Officer a great degree of ingenuity, empathy, compromise and ability to improvise.
Applications on relevant forms, G.P. 104 (serving officers) and G.P. 103 (for job seekers) with certified copies of education certificates and certified IDs should be submitted to:
Human Resource Manager
Ministry of Water
Christie House Orpen RD
Maseru 100 Lesotho
NOT LATER THAN 12TH NOVEMBER 2021