WASH and Shelter Specialist Cameroon
NRC - Norwegian Refugee Council
Job description
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is recruiting a WASH and Shelter Specialist for Cameroon. Context NRC has supported people affected by displacement in Cameroon since 2017. Its response covers the Far North, Northwest, Southwest, East and Adamawa, combining legal assistance, water and sanitation, shelter and education. The programmes address urgent humanitarian needs and longer-term recovery. From 2027, the Cameroon country office will also supervise and support operations in the Central African Republic. Role purpose Provide technical oversight and strategic direction to country and area offices, strengthen the quality of WASH and Shelter programmes, support field implementation and quality assurance, build staff capacity, and help develop programme and donor strategies. Main responsibilities - Support and coach staff and partners with WASH and Shelter responsibilities, develop relevant training, and contribute to the induction of new staff. - Develop partnership-inclusive WASH and Shelter strategies, technical guidance and macro logical frameworks consistent with regional and global priorities. - Contribute to fundraising and prepare or revise proposals, budgets and donor reports. - Monitor contractual commitments, technical quality and programme synergies, in accordance with NRC policies and procedures. - Provide technical direction and implementation support to project teams. - Capture lessons from implementation and integrate them into programme and staff development. - Represent NRC in relevant coordination forums and clusters, including with national authorities and donors. - Ensure compliance with NRC policies, guidance and procedures, including those specific to the function. Professional competencies - At least three years of relevant technical experience in a humanitarian or recovery setting. - At least two years of WASH and/or Shelter expertise as a Specialist, PDM or Project Manager. - A Master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field. - Experience in complex and volatile contexts and documented results relevant to the role. - Awareness of personal leadership skills and profile. - Fluent written and spoken French and English. - Availability for field travel: 60% of the role. Context-specific skills and experience - Knowledge of Central Africa and experience strengthening team capacity. - Partnership-based WASH and Shelter programming. - Experience with different donors and funding opportunities across humanitarian, durable-solutions and development programming. - Behaviour-change approaches in humanitarian settings. - Community engagement and the integration of gender and diversity into programme design. - Cash and market-based project approaches. - Housing, land and property rights as applied to Shelter and WASH responses. - Experience managing borehole programmes is desirable. - Alternative WASH approaches in humanitarian contexts are an asset. - Understanding of SPHERE and INEE Minimum Standards is required. - Familiarity with environmental and climate tools such as NEAT+ is an asset. Behavioural competencies Handling insecure environments; strategic thinking; empowering others and building trust; influencing; initiating action and change; analytical skills. Conditions - Duty station: Yaounde, Cameroon. The official listing also identifies Kousseri and Bamenda among its locations. - Schedule: full time, with 60% travel to field offices. - Contract: 12-month resident/national contract. - Salary and benefits: grade 9 on NRC’s national salary scale. No monetary amount is published. Application Apply through the official NRC recruitment portal for vacancy 21786. Applications sent by email will not be accepted. Candidates should check their application status through their NRC application profile and consult the portal for the required application documents. Application deadline: 23 October 2026 at 20:50, as displayed on the official portal. The portal does not specify the timezone. Equal opportunities and safeguarding NRC promotes diversity, equity and inclusion without distinction based on age, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality or physical ability. Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Staff are given responsibility, opportunities to contribute ideas and support for professional growth. NRC expects all employees to treat others with respect and dignity, maintain a safe environment, never engage in exploitation, harassment, sexual exploitation, abuse or sexual harassment, and report concerns. NRC has zero tolerance for inaction on exploitation, abuse and SEAH. NORCAP is part of NRC and contributes expertise across humanitarian, development and peacebuilding responses.
Requirements
Master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field; at least three years of relevant technical experience in humanitarian/recovery contexts, including at least two years of WASH and/or Shelter expertise as a Specialist, PDM or Project Manager. Fluent French and English, written and spoken. Complex-context experience; SPHERE and INEE standards; partnership programming, capacity building, donor engagement, cash/market approaches and housing, land and property rights. Availability for 60% field travel. Borehole-programme experience is desirable; alternative WASH approaches and NEAT+ are assets.