WASH Graduate Trainee/Volunteer

• PositionWASH Graduate Trainee/Volunteer
• CompanyAction Against Hunger
• LocationKasese, Uganda
• Job TypeInternship
• CategoryNGO, Engineering, Internships Jobs in Uganda
• IndustryHumanitarian aid and international development
• DepartmentWASH (reports to the WASH Officer)
• DeadlineMonday, 16 November 2026
• Not in the advertPay and benefits

Action Against Hunger is an international humanitarian organisation working to end hunger. It says it reaches about 24 million people each year through hunger prevention and treatment programmes, with around 8,300 staff working across some 50 countries.

Action Against Hunger USA, part of the Action Against Hunger International network, manages operations in eight countries, including Uganda, Kenya, South Sudan, Somalia, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Zambia and Haiti. Its work addresses root causes of hunger such as climate change, conflict, inequity and emergencies.

In Uganda, the organisation runs nutrition, health, water, sanitation and hygiene, protection and cash programmes with refugees, host communities and crisis-affected districts, including Karamoja and the south-west refugee settlements.

The WASH Graduate Trainee supports community engagement and participation in both hardware and software WASH work. Seventy per cent of the role is programme implementation: handwashing, tippy tap and safe water demonstrations, emergency works, formation of water and sanitation committees, and coordination with NGOs, UNHCR, OPM and district local governments in the project sites.

A quarter of the time goes to monitoring and evaluation: surveys and assessments, field visits, weekly or monthly progress reports and checking that contracted service providers deliver quality work. Trainees work with VHTs, water user committees and local leaders, ride or travel to the field regularly, and must be ready to work outside normal hours when needed. Fluency in English and the local languages of the selected districts is required.

In plain terms, this job splits into 4 areas of work. Each list below restates the employer’s duties in shorter words; the advert linked under How To Apply is the final word.

WASH delivery and demonstrations

The trainee supports project activities, community structures, hygiene demonstrations and emergency works under programme standards.

• Help deliver WASH interventions against project commitments.
• Coordinate and guide community structures involved in WASH work.
• Show households and communities how to wash hands, build tippy taps and handle or treat water safely.
• Assist with emergency work under cluster WASH rules and Action Against Hunger guidance, involving participating households.

Community capacity and coordination

The role helps strengthen WASH committees and coordinates with NGOs, communities, agencies and partners.

• Help form and build the capacity of WASH management committees.
• Coordinate activities with NGOs, community representatives, beneficiaries and WASH agencies.
• Attend partner coordination and feedback sessions alongside UNHCR, OPM/DLG and others.

Assessment and reporting

The trainee visits sites, supports assessments, documents experience and provides progress updates to the WASH Officer.

• Join WASH needs studies and other surveys.
• Conduct site checks, take part in joint monitoring and brief the WASH Officer on progress.
• Prepare weekly or monthly progress reports.
• Document experiences, project reports and success stories.

Service quality

The role checks contracted partner delivery, shares concerns with the WASH Officer and completes other assigned tasks.

• Check that ACF-contracted partners and providers meet agreed service quality and report feedback to the WASH Officer.
• Complete other duties assigned by the supervisor.

Required Education

• A minimum of a Diploma in Engineering (water resources, civil, environmental) or Public Health, Environmental Science, Water Resources Management, Social Sciences or another WASH-relevant discipline.

Work Experience

• 1-2 years of relevant work experience in WASH, disaster management and refugee programming.
• Must have graduated from 2024 to date.
• Previous experience in water supply, water treatment, sanitation and behaviour change.

Additional Requirements

• Must be willing to reside within the project district.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and local languages of the selected districts.
• A valid motorcycle riding permit, including a learner's permit, is an added advantage.

Technical Skills

• Computer skills: Proficiency in AutoCAD, Google Earth and MS Office.
• WASH practice: Water supply, water treatment, sanitation and behaviour change experience.

Soft Skills

• Willingness to learn: High willingness to learn and adapt.
• Communication: Excellent communication and representation skills.
• Judgement: Ability to make sound decisions independently.
• Resilience: Flexible and able to cope with stressful situations; culturally sensitive.

Pay and benefits are not listed for this WASH Graduate Trainee post, so raise them only after an offer. To judge an offer, check a gross figure with the Uganda take-home pay calculator (PAYE and NSSF) and compare it with our guide to NGO salaries in Uganda.

• A graduate trainee route for 2024-onwards diploma and degree holders.
• Placements in five districts across Rwenzori, Isingiro and Kisoro.
• Hands-on hygiene promotion and water and sanitation construction work.
• Work alongside UNHCR, OPM and district local governments.
• Build AutoCAD and Google Earth skills in real projects.
• Start a WASH career with an international humanitarian organisation.

Apply online through the Action Against Hunger application page, which holds the full job description and application form. Applications close on Monday, 16 November 2026.

• Checked on 12 November 2026 against Action Against Hunger's official advert.
• Closing date confirmed as 16 November 2026. NextRoleHub closes the listing at 23:59 Kampala time that day.
• The application link goes to the employer's own page or email. Applying is free; report anyone who asks for money.
• Before you apply, read our guide: How to find jobs in Uganda without experience. Work out your pay with the take-home pay calculator.