ALUBA JOSEPH
Arua,Northwestern Uganda
Summary
A dynamic and versatile WASH professional with a proven track record at Concern Worldwide and more recently at the UN Refugee Agency; adept in project management and emergency response. Successfully led initiatives improving water access for 430,000 refugees whilst showcasing strong leadership skills and teamwork. Expert in strategy development, Project Cycle Management, stakeholder collaboration, and conversant with several international donor reporting requirements including EU, USAID, UNHCR, ECHO, Charity: water, Kfw, BMZ, ADA.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
Work History
National WASH Officer
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
05.2017 - Current
- Through coordination and provision of an enabling environment supported the utility migration process that culminated into handover of 23 systems to the Northern Umbrella for Water and Sanitation, a utility under the Ministry of Water and Environment
- Mobilised financial resources through different operational partners that culminated into construction of 45 motorised piped water supply systems across two refugee settlements, resulting into phase-out of water trucking from both settlements.
- Successfully supported the Level 2 Emergency in Kisoro district in 2023 as the WASH ERT focal point following an influx of Congolese refugees to the Southwestern district triggered by renewed internal armed conflict attributed to the M23 rebel outfit.
- Planned and implemented emergency WASH activities for 3,000 Congolese asylum seekers at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic in Northwestern Uganda
- Ensured that the FDSPs across the settlements live under satisfactory conditions of hygiene and sanitation through design and implementation of hygiene and sanitation promotional initiatives targeting behavioural change
- Ensured quality of WASH activity implementation by partners through multi-functional team monitoring of all UNHCR Implementing Partners' activities in four refugee settlements covering an area of 407 square kilometres and provide necessary technical guidance when needed
- Supported development of a water supply systems' condition assessment took jointly with GIZ that culminated into an extensive condition assessment and resultant data base for 110 WSS across three refugee settlements
- Under the Letter of Understanding with UNICEF, assessed and identified 4 existing piped water systems for upgrade.
- Supported the UNHCR Uganda WASH strategy development for the periods 2021-2023 and 2024 to 2026.
- Facilitated capacity building activities for WASH Partner and utility staff including training of WASH partner staff on KOBO data collection tool; basic water quality monitoring, protection mainstreaming in WASH programming and training of Northern Umbrella utility staff on basic protection principles.
- Reviewed annual WASH partner budgets and work plans to ensure alignment with the UNHCR Uganda WASH strategies.
WASH Manager
Concern Worldwide
09.2013 - 04.2017
- Wrote, won, and implemented four project proposals: managed a total portfolio of USD 4,000,000.
- Planned and successfully facilitated at least four donor visits from Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and charity: water that preceded the development of the above project proposals
- Ensured effective project monitoring and evaluation through development and implementation of project specific Monitoring and Evaluation plans, including planning for baseline and end line KAP surveys and end of project Evaluations
- Line managed 15 project staff.
- As a Manager, I oversaw the construction of 2- solar powered piped water systems, drilling of 110 new deep boreholes (valued at USD 1,352,459); rehabilitation of 50 defective boreholes (total value USD 136,612); construction of ten blocks of 5 - stance drainable VIP latrines (total value USD 68,306) and 5 blocks of 2-stance (Value USD 13,661) drainable latrines for teachers in 5 schools
- As a result of improved water supply infrastructure, the water access indicator in the two project districts of Pader and Agago improved from 69% and 75% in 2013, to 95% respectively in both districts in 2017.
WASH Manager/Engineer
Concern Worldwide
06.2012 - 08.2013
- As a Manager/Engineer, my main role was implementation of the WASH Sustainability Strategy developed by Concern Worldwide to enhance WASH service delivery in the hitherto war-ravaged districts of Pader and Agago in Northern Uganda thereby enhancing transition from relief to recovery and development
- Enhanced capacity of Pader Hand Pump Mechanic's Association (PHPMA) to improve functionality of water sources through supporting establishment of a hand pump spare parts shop, managed by the PHPMA.
- The limited annual WASH sector conditional grants for the two project beneficiary districts supplemented through project funds
- WASH structures from village to district level rejuvenated including Village Health Teams (VHTs), Water User Committees (WUCs), Sub County WASH Committees, Hand pump Mechanic's Association and District Water Offices.
- Supported the development of the 5 - year Concern Worldwide Uganda Country Strategy 2012-2017 which focused on key sectors of livelihoods, WASH, Nutrition, Gender mainstreaming and Land rights.
Operation and Maintenance Coordinator
Concern Worldwide
04.2010 - 05.2012
- Aligned with the overall goal of the Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation Service Delivery project in Pader District, funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), I contributed to the development of a WASH sustainability strategy whose main goal was rejuvenation of WASH structures from village level to district level including the Pader District Water Office, Sub County WASH committees, Parish Sanitation Committees
- 12 Sub County WASH committees, 52 Parish Sanitation Committees formed and at least 2,000 Village Health Team members trained their hygiene and sanitation promotion roles.
- Organizational Capacity Assessment for Pader District Water Office undertaken to identify capacity gaps underpinning poor WASH service delivery in the district.
Engineering Officer - Monitoring (STTA)
The Northern Uganda Transition Initiative (NUTI), funded by USAID
02.2010 - 04.2010
- Aligned with the overall goal of the Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation Service Delivery project in Pader District, funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), I contributed to the development of a WASH sustainability strategy whose main goal was rejuvenation of WASH structures from village level to district level including the Pader District Water Office, Sub County WASH committees, Parish Sanitation Committees
- 12 Sub County WASH committees, 52 Parish Sanitation Committees formed and at least 2,000 Village Health Team members trained their hygiene and sanitation promotion roles.
- Organisational Capacity Assessment for Pader District Water Office undertaken to identify capacity gaps underpinning poor WASH service delivery in the district.
- NUTI was designed as part of the Peace, Recovery, and Development Plan (PDRP) for Northern Uganda and focused on reconstruction and renovation of social infrastructure damaged by a 20-year-old civil war in Northern Uganda that displaced thousands into internally displaced persons camps.
- My short-term technical assignment under NUTI included support to infrastructure development through preparation of tender dossiers, bid evaluation and Contract documents for the project hardware activities.
- Provided technical advice and support to the construction team in various aspects including selection of good materials for construction, planning construction sites, work programmes inter alia
- Supervised firms entrusted within the construction and rehabilitation of schools, roads, and health centres. Key outputs of the NUTI programme include construction of Amuru District Local Government Council Hall and 4 twin housing units for Amuru District Local Government staff.
- I supervised all water and sanitation construction activities by private sectors to ensure good quality and cost-effective products.
Assistant Programme Coordinator
GIZ - Formally DED
02.2008 - 02.2010
- As an Assistant Programme Coordinator, I assisted the Deputy Programme Coordinator in implementing the DED IDP Programme in Northern Uganda, providing technical oversight, managing eight project staff, coordinating with INGOs, and preparing tender dossiers and participation in subsequent related procurement processes for shelter infrastructure projects including construction of Lower Local Government Offices, Health and Education departmental offices: among others.
- Establishment of Amuru Skills Training Centre in Northern Uganda, which skilled 110 youth from five war affected districts of Northern Uganda districts in hydra form (Interlocking stabilized soil) block technology.
- The trained youth were later involved in implementation of post insurgency recovery programmes including construction of four Police Posts as part of UNHCR's IDP programme to enhance Law and Order in the villages of return, two Health Centres, and five parish headquarters using hydra - form (blocks) in return sites of the respective districts.
Pupil Engineer
Arua District Local Government Water Department
03.2007 - 05.2007
- Designed and supervised 01 Gravity Flow Schemes and drilling of 2 deep wells installed with hand pumps
- Water source identification and assessment
- Part of the team that updated the departmental Management Information System for planning of water sources
- Involved in community mobilisation for sustainable management of water and sanitation facilities.
Senior Construction/shelter Supervisor
GIZ - formally DED
01.2000 - 09.2003
- Improved access to social services through the design and supervision of construction of three 7 - classroom block Primary School Schools (two within refugee settlement and one in the host community); one Health Centre III comprising the Outpatient Department, In patient/maternity ward, staff accommodation and associated sanitation facilities; two sex segregated dormitories for boys and girls in one secondary school within neighbouring host community.
- Improved infrastructure through renovations; construction of Food Distribution Points (FDPs), opening access roads to new settlement villages, routine road maintenance including installation of culverts and culvert drift bridges.
- Improved access to water through supervision of drilling of 10 new boreholes and routine rehabilitation of 27 existing ones.
- Improved fleet management through the design and supervision of construction of a 10 - car capacity parking shed and vehicle service bay and pit at the base camp.
Construction Supervisor
GIZ- formally DED
01.1997 - 12.1999
- Supervised contractor's personnel on site, providing technical guidance when needed while monitoring their work performance.
- Ensured compliance of contractor's activities to standards and specifications.
- Ensured Occupational Health and Safety mechanisms are implemented during all stages of construction works.
- Defined and monitored personnel and project schedules to ensure timely project completion.
- Scheduled material deliveries ensuring timely completion of projects within budget thresholds.
Education
Pre - Master's Post Graduate Diploma - Water and Sanitation
Uganda Christian University
Mukono, Uganda07.2017
Bachelor of Science - Civil Engineering (Hons)
Makerere University
Kampala, Uganda09.2007
Ordinary Diploma - Building and Civil Engineering
Uganda Technical College, Kichwamba
Fort Portal, Mid-Western Uganda06.1996
Skills
- Emergency response
- Project Budget development and management
- Mobilization and coordination of partnerships in emergency preparedness and response
- Organizational Capacity Assessment
- CASH based programming
- Legible report writing
- Budget and Finance Management
- Review and analysis of budget proposals
- Cluster Technical Working Group Management
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Integration of WASH sector activities into national systems
- Multitasking
- Strategy development
- Team leadership
- Training and development
- Organizational skills
- WORD
- EXCEL
- ACCESS
- POWERPOINT
- PROJECT
- GOOGLE EARTH
- AUTOCAD
- EPANET
- ARCGIS
Papers
"From camps to communities: a review of 10 years of WASH Programming by Concern Worldwide in Northern Uganda", J. Aluba, E. Lenia & B. T. Harris, 2017, 40th WEDC International Conference, Loughborough, UK, https://admin.concern.net/sites/default/files/media/migrated/a_review_of_10_years_of_watersanitation_and_hygiene_programmes_in_uganda.pdf
Personal Information
Title: Water and Sanitation, Civil Engineering, Public Health engineering
Cell Phones
- +256-777032582
- +256-771460284
Training
- Finance Training for Non-Finance Manager, Concern Kampala, 08/13
- Concern Worldwide Pathways Management Training, Lilongwe, Malawi, 09/14
- Learning visit to Concern Worldwide project in Ngara District, Northwestern Tanzania, 2014
- Concern Worldwide Engineering and DRR workshop, Baguio City, Philippines, 10/10
- Workshop on Solar water scheme design, 08/08/20 to 09/30/20
- Training in and piloting the Internet of Things (IoTs) concept of remote monitoring of water trucking, 01/19
Timeline
National WASH Officer
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
05.2017 - Current
WASH Manager
Concern Worldwide
09.2013 - 04.2017
WASH Manager/Engineer
Concern Worldwide
06.2012 - 08.2013
Operation and Maintenance Coordinator
Concern Worldwide
04.2010 - 05.2012
Engineering Officer - Monitoring (STTA)
The Northern Uganda Transition Initiative (NUTI), funded by USAID
02.2010 - 04.2010
Assistant Programme Coordinator
GIZ - Formally DED
02.2008 - 02.2010
Pupil Engineer
Arua District Local Government Water Department
03.2007 - 05.2007
Senior Construction/shelter Supervisor
GIZ - formally DED
01.2000 - 09.2003
Construction Supervisor
GIZ- formally DED
01.1997 - 12.1999
Pre - Master's Post Graduate Diploma - Water and Sanitation
Uganda Christian University
Bachelor of Science - Civil Engineering (Hons)
Makerere University
Ordinary Diploma - Building and Civil Engineering
Uganda Technical College, Kichwamba
Similar Profiles
EFRON AARON MBEMBELAEFRON AARON MBEMBELA
Filing Assistant at United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)Filing Assistant at United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Nize JusticeNize Justice
Caregiver at United Nations High Commissioner For Refugees, UnhcrCaregiver at United Nations High Commissioner For Refugees, Unhcr
Anshdeep KaurAnshdeep Kaur
Senior Protection Assistant at United Nations High Commissioner for RefugeesSenior Protection Assistant at United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Muhammad AshrafMuhammad Ashraf
Medical Microbiologist at Manchester Metropolitan UniversityMedical Microbiologist at Manchester Metropolitan University
EVANS SIMPEMBAEVANS SIMPEMBA
Shift Supervisor - Flotation Operations at First Quantum MineralsShift Supervisor - Flotation Operations at First Quantum Minerals