Improving the Rural Water and Sanitation Information Systems in Latin America and the Caribbean Region

Challenge  Improving access and sustainability of water supply and sanitation (WSS) services to the bottom 40 percent of the population in developing countries is essential to meeting the Sustainable Development Goals. WSS services lie at the root of many other development challenges, as they affect public health, education, income generating opportunities, and the environment. Today in  Latin America and the Caribbean region, 21 million of the 33 million people without access to a source of improved drinking water live in rural areas. While several studies show that rural communities have limited capacity to operate and maintain the systems they receive, often resulting in the systems’ collapse, investments continue to focus on building infrastructure and to underestimate the need for continuous support and necessary reconstruction over time. Approach The World Bank program Consolidation, Expansion, and Improvement of the Rural Water and Sanitation Information System (SIASAR) supports countries in generating evidence regarding WSS access and sustainability and in developing a supportive institutional and operational environment that will enable sustainable provision of WSS services in rural areas. SIASAR has targeted over 22,000 rural communities across eight countries for strengthened WSS provision. The objective of this initiative is to devise more informed policies and to improve sustainability and quality of service in Latin America’s rural water and sanitation sector. These goals are to be achieved by consolidating, improving, strengthening, and expanding the Rural Water and Sanitation Information System.    To this end, a Bank grant for SIASAR was designed and enacted (i) to assist countries in devising technical, conceptual, and implementation recommendations to make SIASAR more effective, based on a list of recommendations currently being agreed upon and prioritized among the participating countries; (ii) to provide the participating institutions (including regional institutions) with the capacity building needed to identify future funding opportunities and to initiate these recommendations at a later time; and (iii) to open the system to more countries, thus enhancing its credibility, viability, and usability. 

Colombia: Visiting Researcher- Land Use Analysis

Organization: International Center for Tropical Agriculture
Country: Colombia
Closing date: 28 Apr 2017

Land-use change analysis is important for understanding how environmental changes impact on ecosystem services. Detecting land-use changes in savanna environments is challenging because of environmental heterogeneity, high cloud cover and difficulty in distinguishing land covers. Our work in the savannas of eastern Colombia seeks to meet these challenges through a comprehensive remote-sensing data approach. How can we use environmental analysis and remote-sensing to detect land-use changes in the Orinoco region of Colombia?

CIAT is seeking a graduate student (MA or PhD) to work on developing land-use change maps as a support tool for better decision making in the Eastern Plains savannas biome of Colombia. The student will focus on distinguishing different land cover/land use types in the grasslands of the region, with a particular emphasis on detecting well-managed improved pastures, degraded pastures and native savanna.

This work will support a larger mapping effort by the government of Colombia (GoC) to analyze land-use change for improving the country’s greenhouse gas emissions inventory. The student will be based at CIAT Headquarters in Palmira, Colombia. He/she will use remote sensing (RS), Geographic Information System (GIS) and field analysis to analyze grassland environments of the Orinoco region of Colombia. The student’s work on grassland and pasture land covers will feed into a larger project on understanding recent land-use changes in the Orinoco region. It will support the work of a small team of GoC and CIAT scientists working to support broader goals to improve our understanding of land-use change and its impacts on greenhouse gas emissions.

The position provides research operations costs, round-trip travel to CIAT headquarters in Cali Colombia and a small stipend.

Responsibilities:

· Search available data and organize database (e.g., imagery, air photos, soil data, digital elevation models, geology and other environmental maps)

· Collect field data where necessary

· Use remote-sensing analysis to classify grasslands, with emphasis on differentiating native savanna, degraded pasture and well-managed improved pasture

· Publish the results with project team in international peer-review journal

Requirements:

· Knowledge of remote-sensing, GIS and land use analysis

· Knowledge of statistics

· Experience in R or similar statistical software package

· Good writing ability in English

This project could be a PhD chapter or Master’s thesis of the student.

How to apply:

Please send a short CV, and covering letter outlining your reasons for applying and why you think you would be a good fit. Please indicate in the SUBJECT field of the email “Student – Land Use Analysis”.

Contact

Mayesse da Silva m.a.dasilva@cgiar.org with a copy to Glenn Hyman g.hyman@cgiar.org.

We invite you to learn more about us at: http://www.ciat.cgiar.org

Colombia: Visiting Researcher- Spatial Soil Information

Organization: International Center for Tropical Agriculture
Country: Colombia
Closing date: 28 Apr 2017

Soils are the foundation for ecosystem services that support human life, healthy environments, and agricultural systems worldwide. Land use change impacts on soil ecosystem services include their effects on fertility, biodiversity and soil carbon. Understanding the dynamic variability of soils across the landscape is critical to assess the effects of agriculture and consequent land use change on ecosystem services. Digital soil mapping (DSM) provides a framework to develop accurate maps at high resolution using the most recent technologies (e.g., satellite images to determine land use and digital elevation models) associated with field data to provide high quality information and tools for adequate decision making at field and landscape level.

CIAT is seeking a student to work on developing digital soil property maps (physical and chemical) as a support tool for better decision making in the Eastern Plains savannas biome of Colombia. The student will be based at CIAT Headquarters in Palmira, Colombia for a period of 6 months. He/she will work with different tools of Geographic Information System (GIS), remote sensing (RS) and soil data (recollect legacy soil data and analyze new soil data) to develop accurate digital soil maps and their uncertainties.

Responsibilities:

· Search available data and organize database (e.g., soil data, digital elevation models, geology and soil maps)

· Conduct statistical analyses

· Develop digital soil maps (calibration, validation)

· Develop uncertainties maps of the digital soil maps developed

· Publish the results in international peer-review journal

Requirements:

· Knowledge of soils

· Knowledge of statistics

· Skills on GIS and RS

· Experience on R statistical package

· Good writing ability in English

This project could be a PhD chapter or Master’s thesis of the student.

How to apply:

Please send a short CV, and covering letter outlining your reasons for applying and why you think you would be a good fit. Please indicate in the SUBJECT field of the email “Student – Spatial Soil Information”.

Contact

Mayesse da Silva m.a.dasilva@cgiar.org with a copy to Glenn Hyman g.hyman@cgiar.org.

We invite you to learn more about us at: http://www.ciat.cgiar.org

Mexico: 2017- JPO Técnico monitoreo y proyectista

Organization: Associazione Volontari per il Servizio Internazionale
Country: Mexico
Closing date: 15 Apr 2017

Title: JPO Técnico monitoreo y proyectista

Country: Mexico

Closing Date: 15/04/2017

Duty Station: Oaxaca

Period: Uno año (renovable: duración de proyecto 4 años)

Starting Date: 15/05/2017

Main objective: Técnico para el diseño del sistema de recolección de datos de un proyecto UE, el acompañamiento, seguimiento y documentación del mismo.

Se encarga de la búsqueda de convocatorias y de la redacción de proyectos acordes con la misión de Fondazione AVSI.

Reporting to: AVSI Country Representative in Mexico

Specific duties:

  • Generar instrumentos de reporte de información
  • Organizar listados y registros de salida de medios de verificación e información procesada, garantizando la calidad de datos de las actividades del proyecto
  • Mantener actualizado el flujo de información, que permita realizar los análisis y reportes.
  • Ordenar, clasificar y revisar la documentación de actividades del proyecto.
  • Apoyar al coordinador de proyecto en preparación y revisión de reportes
  • Mantener actualizado el archivo de proyecto y otras actividades que sean asignadas.
  • Asegurar el respaldo de la información física y digital (Backup) de las actividades del proyecto
  • Generar reportes de inconsistencias y faltantes en la información recibida y subsanar la información
  • Apoyar en el desarrollo, implementación y seguimiento a acciones emprendidas por el coordinador de proyecto
  • Elaborar informes periódicos de monitoreo sobre el avance de las actividades en las que participa y en otros informes que se le solicite.

· Control de base de datos y registros de actividades.

· Visitas de campo e interacción directa con los equipos locales de intervención.

· Búsqueda de convocatorias en las cuales AVSI tiene oportunidad de participar

· Se mantiene actualizado y profundiza en el estudio de las líneas de trabajo de AVSI y de su Sede en México en colaboración con el Representante país con la finalidad de proponer acciones de intervención en las que pueda participar la Sede Local

· Gestión de la planificación del Proyecto. Elabora participativamente los documentos de planificación del Proyecto, orientados por el Marco Lógico y los documentos del donador.

  • Redactar los proyectos cumpliendo con los criterios establecidos por los donadores y apegado a la filosofía de AVSI
  • Apoyar a los coordinadores en la realización de las modificaciones necesarias a los proyectos puestos en marcha justificando la pertinencia de las desviaciones presentadas

· Definir el primer borrador de los Términos de Referencia de los Servicios a contratar en los proyectos de su competencia.

· Garantiza la confidencialidad de la información obtenida durante la ejecución de las tareas

Essential Requirement:

Estudios:

  • Estadística Aplicada, Economía
  • Profesional de las Ciencias Sociales

Experiencia y conocimientos deseables:

  • Dominio de la herramienta del Marco Lógico para el diseño y planeación de proyectos.
  • Construcción, validación y aplicación de instrumentos de monitoreo y evaluación por resultados.
  • Manejo de bases de datos y análisis de información cuantitativa y cualitativa.
  • Uso de software para el diseño, monitoreo y evaluación de proyectos por resultados.
  • Deseable la experiencia en gestión y evaluación de proyectos.
  • Habilidades en búsqueda de información en Internet.
  • Excelentes competencias de redacción.
  • Manejo competente de herramientas de computación e Internet.
  • Manejo del idioma inglés además del español.
  • Alta responsabilidad y compromiso con el trabajo

How to apply:

  • Capacidad de trabajo bajo presión

How to apply:

Send your CV by email to humanresource@avsi.org Please, specify in the subject of the mail the code of the position you are applying for. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Code: 2017-JPOMEAL-MEX

Include also:

  1. Name, position and contacts (telephone and mail) of two referees. First date of availability to take up place in the field.

Españoles sin derechos frente al hambre

A pesar de los tratados internacionales de derechos humanos suscritos, España no ha establecido un reconocimiento expreso y efectivo del derecho a la alimentación.

Boko Haram ahoga a los pescadores del Lago Chad

El cierre de las rutas comerciales con Nigeria y la llegada de desplazados aumentan la presión sobre los recursos naturales y despiertan el fantasma del hambre en la región

Spain: HIV/AIDS and TB Medical Referent

Organization: Médecins Sans Frontières
Country: Spain
Closing date: 17 Apr 2017

GENERAL CONTEXT

Médecins Sans Frontières is an international independent medical-humanitarian organization, which offers assistance to populations in distress, to victims of natural or man-made disasters and to victims of armed conflict, without discrimination and irrespective of race, religion, creed or political affiliation.

The MSF movement is built around five operational directorates supported by MSF’s 21 sections, 24 associations and other offices together worldwide. MSF OCBA is one of those directorates. The operations are implemented by field teams and the mission coordination teams; together with the organizational units based in Barcelona, Athens and decentralised in Nairobi, Dakar and Amman. The field operations are guided and supported by 4 Operational Cells, the Emergency Unit and other departments supporting operations, including the.

CONTEXT OF THE POST

Many achievements have been accomplished by MSF treating HIV and TB in resources-limited setting in the last 20 years demonstrating that providing care for PLWHA and TB is feasible and with good treatment outcomes.

In 2014 MSF movement confirmed its commitment towards HIV/TB and going beyond the so called vertical projects, proposing larger scale up of HIV/TB activities in regular programs with high priority in nutrition, paediatrics, pregnant women and unstable settings. [1]

MSF OCBA aim to ensure integration and normalization of HIV/AIDS and TB activities within health care programming not necessarily related to HIV or TB prevalence, but to patient needs including in conflict and emergency settings.

HIV/TB in unstable settings, PMTCT programming, Paediatric care and TB including DRTB care beyond HIV co-infection have been identified as aspects of HIV/AIDS and TB care that OCBA would like to expand engagement in.

The HIV/TB roadmap approved in 2015 foresees the integration of these activities in some key countries already running and that are among the lowest ART coverages in the world according to UNAIDS such as DRC, South Sudan, Guinea Bissau and Angola.

GENERAL OBJECTIVE

The HIV/ TB medical referent position is placed in the MSF OCBA Medical Department. Overall, the appointee will be required to provide leadership and strategic direction in MSF-OCBA in the areas of HIV /TB activities at MSF OCBA projects.

Placement within the Organisational Chart:

The HIV/ TB medical referent position is hierarchically accountable to the Head of Referents in the Team B in the Medical Department. S/he works closely with the correspondent Operational Cell-based Health Advisor (TESACO) when implementing work for specific missions and with the rest of the referents in the medical department involved in the HIV/TB issues.

While in the field, he/she works under the regular hierarchical and functional structures of the missions, while keeping communication with the Medical Department.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND MAIN TASKS

Ø Definition, follow-up and technical-strategic advice to the field projects:

  • S/he provides technical advice to define HIV/TBprojects/activities (his/her presence may be required at Project Committees for their approval).

  • S/he supports defining HIV/TB activities, resources to fill the identified needs, when opening a new program, or when undertaking new HIV/TB-related activities within regular project.

  • S/he participates in the follow-up of HIV/TB projects/activities in support to medical-health advisor of the corresponding Operational Cell.

  • S/he provides periodic update on HIV/TB aspects and knowledge to Operational Cell staff and to other medical personnel when needed.

  • S/he provides updated working tools to manage related activities

  • S/he conducts field visits for HIV/TB assessments and/or to provide technical support to regular projects.

  • S/he will brief and debrief field medical staff whose profiles include HIV/TB related components, medical coordination team and occasionally to members of Operational Cells and Emergency Unit.

  • Participate in the roster of Medical Guardia

  • S/he follows actively, monitor and evaluate the service provided by telemedicine.

  • S/he supports the HIV/TB Mobile Implementer Officer (MIO) on all related technical aspects.

  • S/he participates in and helps build the pool of expert responders of the MSF telemedicine platform while monitoring the relevance, pertinence as well as the quality of assistance provided through this platform in response to questions coming from OCBA’s field projects in the areas of HIV and TB care.

Ø Research and updated support for new strategic orientations for HIV/TB-related activities

· S/he participates in the production of technical working-tools in coordination with the MSF intersectional AIDS Working Group (e.g PMTCT, Integration, Paediatric Guidelines and other tools)

· S/he supports production of scientific articles or presentations within the HIV/TB framework.

· S/he participates in designing and follows up relevant operational research studies implemented at field level. Example T&T project in South Sudan.

· S/he follows the evolution of innovation evidence-based advances in HIV/TB by following-up scientific publications, participating in international events and forums.

· S/he participates in networking with external partners and stakeholders in joint research projects, when relevant, and under the request of the Medical Director.

· S/he participates in the MSF intersectional AIDS and TB Working Groups , and in other international platform or forums as needed.

Ø Training, communications-networking and representation of MSF

· S/he determines the training needs related to HIV/TB in collaboration with the Training Unit, and following the needs identified by Operations and Medical Departments.

· S/he participates as Facilitator–Trainer in sectional (OCBA) and international MSF courses that include HIV/TB components (MedCo course, Programmatic HIV/TB course, PMR training, etc.).

· S/he organizes and participates in conferences, congresses, workshops, forums, or meetings when requested by the Medical Director.

· S/he supports the Communication Department when communicating on HIV/TB-related activities (interviews with press and other media)

· S/he produces and distributes information relating to our programmes and specific issues

· S/he is in charge of the internal and external circulation of certain documents or reports concerning our programmes

· S/he participates in the roster for the medical guardia in the medical department

SELECTION CRITERIA

Education and experience

· Medical Doctor specialised in infectious diseases or similar

· Field experience with MSF, or similar organization. (at least 3 years)

· Practical field experience in the implementation of HIV & TB activities in developing countries, especially in integrated programmes and including training of personnel, experience in unstable settings is an asset.

· Infectious diseases training and experience on ABR is an asset

· Languages: Fluent in written and spoken English, high level of spoken and written French. Knowledge or willingness to learn Spanish up to good working level is required for the portfolio.

· Good computer skills (Microsoft Office).

Competencies

· Commitment to MSF’s Principles

· Cross-cultural Awareness

· Behavioural Flexibility

· Analytical Thinking

· Strategic Vision

· Results and Quality Orientation

· Service Orientation

· Initiative and Innovation

· Teamwork and Cooperation

Others

· Availability to travel frequently and flexibility in terms of working hours.

· Knowledge of HIV/TB M&E

Conditions

· Position based in Barcelona–Spain, at the Médecins Sans Frontières OCBA Headquarters.

· Full time job: 40h/weekly

· Minimum commitment with the position of 3 years

· Annual gross salary: 35,608.10 € (divided in 12 payments) + Secondary Benefits based on MSF – OCBA Reward Policy

· Starting date: Immediately

[1] MSF HIV/AIDS Strategic Framework 2014-2017 ly:Syo 1!G

How to apply:

To apply, all applicants should please send their CV and cover motivation letter under the reference “**HIV / AIDS and TB Medical Referent**” to recruitment-bcn@barcelona.msf.org.**

Please submit your CV and cover letter in ONE file and name the file with your LAST NAME.

Replies will only be sent to short-listed candidates.

Médecins Sans Frontieres, as a responsible employer, under article 38 of “Ley de Integración Social del Minusválido de 1982 (LISMI)” invite those persons with a recognized disability and with an interest in the humanitarian area to apply for the above mentioned position.

Mejor que pan para hoy: semillas para mañana

Un informe de la FAO insiste en apoyar a los ganaderos y agricultores sirios con material y recursos productivos para evitar más hambre y desplazamientos tras seis años de conflicto

El baloncesto como redención

El deporte permitió a Hamza Driouich redirigir su vida y abandonar una senda conflictiva. Ahora traslada su ejemplo a los jóvenes de Casablanca