Salad Diba

Senior WASH, Climate Resilience and Livelihoods Specialist with over 10 years of progressive experience leading complex humanitarian, resilience and development programmes across Kenya's Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs). Demonstrated expertise in designing and implementing large-scale WASH, climate adaptation, natural resource management, public health, livelihoods, governance and institutional strengthening programmes funded by USAID, BMZ, KOICA and international development partners. Recognized for successfully delivering integrated WASH and resilience interventions benefiting more than 50,000 vulnerable people, while strengthening community institutions, government systems, and evidence-based planning.

Extensive experience conducting feasibility studies, baseline assessments, mixed-methods research, programme evaluations, water system assessments, climate vulnerability analyses, and institutional capacity assessments. Proven ability to manage multidisciplinary teams, coordinate governments, UN agencies, NGOs and private-sector partners, and translate technical evidence into practical programme designs, donor proposals and policy recommendations. Experienced in applying OECD-DAC evaluation criteria, Theory of Change, Results-Based Management (RBM), Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL), and adaptive programme management.

WASH Consultant-Research and Technical Associate at Centric Africa Ltd (2024-10 – Present)

• Lead multi-county feasibility studies, technical assessments and programme evaluations supporting governments, NGOs and development partners in designing climate-resilient WASH systems.
• Directed comprehensive WASH assessments covering water infrastructure, sanitation systems, governance, institutional capacity and public health, informing investments benefiting 20,000+ people.
• Designed digital monitoring systems, Kobo-based data collection platforms and reporting dashboards that improved data quality, programme performance tracking and decision-making.
• Conducted water system functionality assessments identifying operational bottlenecks that contributed to approximately 30% improvement in system performance following implementation of recommendations.
• Developed Water Quality Assurance Plans (WQAPs), operation and maintenance frameworks and water safety management protocols for institutional and community-managed water schemes.
• Led Training Needs Assessments for 77 rural water projects, identifying governance, financial management and technical capacity gaps.
• Developed three comprehensive capacity-building manuals covering governance, operation & maintenance, financial management, climate resilience and water safety planning.
• Trained 25 School Water Management Committees, 15 Health Facility Water Management Committees, and 47 Water Users Associations across Marsabit County.
• Produced technical reports, donor reports, concept notes and feasibility study documentation aligned with USAID, BMZ and international donor requirements.
• Coordinated county governments, NGOs, development partners and community institutions to improve sector coordination and harmonize WASH programming.

WASH Specialist at ACDI/VOCA (USAID LMS Activity) (2023-01 – 2024-09)

• Managed integrated climate-resilient WASH programmes improving safe water access, sanitation and hygiene services for 20,000+ beneficiaries across drought-prone ASAL communities.
• Led technical assessments for rural water infrastructure including boreholes, pipelines, water kiosks and solar-powered systems, improving infrastructure functionality and service reliability.
• Coordinated WASH governance initiatives involving county governments, Water Users Associations, schools, health facilities and community institutions.
• Designed monitoring systems and reporting frameworks that strengthened programme accountability and donor reporting.
• Developed governance training manuals and facilitated institutional strengthening for community-managed water systems.
• Conducted water quality monitoring, sanitary inspections and risk assessments supporting implementation of Water Safety Planning.
• Supervised rehabilitation of rural water supply infrastructure and promoted climate-smart water management approaches.
• Facilitated county WASH coordination forums bringing together government departments, NGOs, UN agencies and development partners to strengthen sector planning.
• Strengthened gender-responsive and inclusive WASH governance through community participation and institutional capacity building.

Technical Project Officer – WASH and Community Health at World Vision Kenya (2022-02 – 2022-12)

• Led implementation of integrated WASH, BabyWASH, Community Health and climate resilience programmes reaching 15,000+ vulnerable women, children and households across project areas.
• Managed WASH components under P&G Children's Safe Drinking Water and BabyWASH grants, ensuring timely delivery, compliance and quality implementation.
• Spearheaded Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) interventions that contributed to improved sanitation coverage and accelerated progress towards Open Defecation Free (ODF) communities.
• Strengthened operation and maintenance of community and institutional water systems through technical supervision, preventive maintenance planning and water quality monitoring.
• Integrated WASH with maternal, newborn and child health, nutrition and Early Childhood Development (ECD), improving hygiene behaviours during the critical first 1,000 days of life.
• Built the capacity of Community Health Volunteers (CHVs), health workers, school management committees and local leaders on hygiene promotion, infection prevention and environmental health.
• Conducted routine monitoring, supportive supervision and quality assurance visits, improving programme performance, accountability and donor compliance.
• Coordinated implementation with county government departments, Ministry of Health, schools, community institutions and development partners to strengthen sustainability.
• Produced high-quality donor reports, annual work plans, budgets and technical documentation that supported evidence-based programme management.

Project Officer – Hygiene, Sanitation & Climate Resilience at PACIDA Kenya (2016-01 – 2020-10)

• Managed integrated humanitarian and development programmes combining WASH, climate resilience, sustainable livelihoods, natural resource management and community health across pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in Northern Kenya.
• Delivered multi-sector resilience interventions benefiting 20,000+ pastoralists, improving access to safe water, sanitation services, livestock health, food security and climate adaptation.
• Conducted rapid community training needs assessments that informed the design and implementation of capacity-building programmes on natural resource governance, water management and sustainable livelihoods.
• Trained Water Management Committees, Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs), livestock guides, agro-vets and community leaders on sustainable rangeland management, watershed conservation, livestock production, water quality management, hygiene promotion and sanitation.
• Facilitated community adoption of climate-smart approaches.

Master of Science in Sanitation | IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, The Netherlands | 2020 – 2021

Specialized in Sanitation Systems, Sanitation Safety Planning (SSP), Faecal Sludge Management (FSM), Urban Sanitation, Environmental Health, Public Health Risk Assessment and Water Governance.

Master's Research

Gender-Based Violence and Sanitation in Patongo Town Council, Uganda

• Conducted mixed-methods research examining the relationship between sanitation access and gender-based violence.
• Applied qualitative and quantitative research methods including household surveys, Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs).
• Produced evidence-based recommendations informing inclusive sanitation programming.

Bachelor of Science in Environmental Health | Kenyatta University, Kenya | 2010 – 2015