What does Max Foundation do?

Max Foundation is an ambitious and fast-growing Dutch based non-profit organization (€4,5M annual programs, 3,0M beneficiaries reached, 58 FTE) founded by Steven and Joke Le Poole to let something positive come from the death of their son Max. Max Foundation believes that no child should die from easily preventable diseases and aims to provide a healthy future for as many children as possible in the most effective and sustainable way.  We have programs in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Nepal. 

To maximise the impact of our funds, we focus on (social) returns and efficiency with a business approach: the maximum value for money spent. When it comes to determining how we work and what we do, we ask ourselves: what is the most efficient and effective way? Max Foundation seeks to increase impact directly and inspire other parties in the field to apply our learnings.

The organisation is growing fast, last year we doubled our income and team and in 2020 we started our operating in Ethiopia. Over the years we developed our unique integrated Healthy Village approach in which we combine the thematic areas of WASH, nutrition and health. We strongly believe in partnerships, as a lever of our work and ideas.

It is an exciting time to join Max Foundation, while the organization is preparing to take ambitious steps forward. To successfully implement its programs in Ethiopia, represent Max Foundation Ethiopia, provide leadership to the team and to creating new innovative programs and partnerships, Max Foundation is currently looking for a dynamic Country Director in Ethiopia.

Max Foundation is active in Ethiopia since 2019 and currently has a team of 14 FTE. The local office will be part of the Max Foundation international organization with headquarters in the Netherlands, with a common vision, mission and strategy.

Max Foundation Ethiopia has currently two large programs running: The Healthy Village program and the Right2Grow program. Max Foundation is in the lead for the Healthy Village program (2020 – 2025, €14,5 M). In partnership with Plan International we implement an innovative five-year integrated Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), food & nutrition security programme called the ‘Healthy Village’, to reduce stunting and water- and faecal-borne diseases for children under five in a sustainable manner, jointly developed and implemented with the Government of Ethiopia. Through learning, evidencing and engagement the Healthy Village Programme is an innovative ‘speedboat’ that supports ongoing and emerging ‘tanker’ programmes, e.g. large-scale government programmes. This program builds on our previous experience of successful integrated programs in Bangladesh, adapted and contextualized to the Ethiopian context.

The Right2Grow program envisions a world where all children under five are well-nourished, so that every child is able to reach their full potential. The Right2Grow program in Ethiopia (2020-2025) is implemented by the consortium of World Vision (lead in Ethiopia), Action Against Hunger and CEGAA. The role of Max Foundation in the consortium is Healthy Village scaling and national advocacy on reducing undernutrition.

Role

The primary responsibility of this position will be to support the coordination, development and preparation of the WASH programme. He/she is responsible for managing, implementing, monitoring, evaluating, and reporting the programme progress. The WASH Specialist also provides technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes to facilitate the administration and achievement of concrete and sustainable results in the HV program

Core responsibilities/accountabilities

Support to HV program development and planning

• Coordinate the development and updating of the WASH programming guidance and technical approach for use by Healthy Village program

• Ensure that HV WASH program is in line with MF and Government policies and guidelines.

• Recommend areas for operational research and support WASH operational research

• Contribute to and support the preparation, design and updating of the situation analysis for the WASH sector(s) to ensure comprehensive and current data is available to guide policy development

Program management, monitoring and delivery of results

•  Ensure that all requirements of the HV partnership and donors are met pertaining to HV WASH program

• Advocate for inclusion of WASH issues in all stages of HV program

• Ensure adequate and high-quality monitoring, supervision and evaluation of WASH programs, linkage and alignment with other programs

• Stay closely informed on development trends to enhance HV program management, efficiency and delivery

• Actively monitor HV program and projects through field visits, surveys and/or exchange of information with partners and stakeholders to assess progress.

• Identify bottlenecks and potential problems and take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely resolution

Technical and operational support to program implementation

• Provide technical WASH expertise in HV programming

• Compile regular technical status reports on HV program, including documentation of best practice and knowledge management

• Provide technical WASH support to implementation and monitoring of operational research that are to do with HV program

Networking and partnership building

• Support and provide support to HV partners from WASH perspectives

• Participate in sector dialogue and forums related to WASH

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with WASH sector government counterparts, national stakeholders and global partners

• Prepare communication and information materials for HV program advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and support fund raising

• Participate and/or represent MF Ethiopia in appropriate inter-agency discussions and planning on WASH and related issues to collaborate

Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Introduce innovative approaches and good practice to build the capacity of partners and stakeholders and to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable HV program results

• Contribute to the development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable HV program

• Organize and implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of stakeholders to promote sustainable results on HV program

• Document, share and implement best practices and knowledge learned of HV program in relation to WASH management and information systems.

Job Requirements

Education and year of experience:

•  MSC/Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health with environmental health background, water supply engineering or another relevant technical field. Master’s degree in a related field of study is a plus

• Four or above years of technical expertise in the areas of WASH in a similar role

• Experience with NGO is of an advantage

• Donor grant experience with program implementation, funding acquisition and reporting

Knowledge, skills, and abilities

•  Excellent skills required in program design, reporting and documentation and monitoring and evaluation.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Amharic.

• Computer skills

• Familiar with water and sanitation programs

• A self-starter and can work with minimum supervision

• Open and eager to learn new ideas and concepts

• Willing to work with strict deadlines

Competencies

• The WASH Specialist should demonstrate competence in some or all the following:

• Drive Results- Demonstrate ownership, responsibility and a positive optimistic “can do approach” in delivering excellence.

• Team plays- Cooperate with and support colleagues work towards a common goal, work across functional/departmental boundaries.

• Interpersonal Effectiveness/Managing relationship- Communicate openly and clearly, is sensitive the way a message received interacts with other with sensitivity and respect.

• Change orientation- Anticipate problems and focuses on seeking solutions and is willing to be challenged and challenge others.   

How to Apply

Interested and qualified applicants can apply through THISLINK