Program Officer (Sub-national Cluster Coordinator), WASH Cluster, Temporary Appointment (364 days), NO-2, Kharkiv, #130058 – Open for Ukraine Nationals Only

The Program Officer (Sub-national Cluster Coordinator) will work impartially, serving the needs of all members of the WASH Cluster and should work closely with the WASH Regional Coordinator (East/South) and/or the Chief of Field Office (in their absence), OCHA focal points, and Local Government counterparts as appropriate.
The objective of the sub-national WASH Cluster is to facilitate and support operational coordination of humanitarian/early recovery actions and plans amongst all local WASH stakeholders at the oblast / region level.

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For every child, peace

UNICEF Ukraine

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Background:

In 2022, the conflict ongoing in Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts since 2014 spilled into a broader invasion affecting multiple oblasts, and causing the displacement of millions of people.

The need to establish sub-national clusters to support coherent, harmonized and coordinated responses at the hub level was necessary given the scaling of presence of organizations, and the establishment of decentralized coordination centers by OCHA.

Definition of a sub-national cluster

A sub-national cluster is part of the coordination architecture of the national cluster and its objective is to: ensure operational links between different clusters at the subnational level; ensure operational links between the subnational and the national Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) clusters, and; act as a focal point for humanitarian actors on WASH issues to ensure timely, efficient, and effective assistance that saves lives.

It is characterized by its geographical coverage (scope of the coordination area), and its opening criteria, described below:

• The existence of significant humanitarian WASH needs in the geographic area covered by the sub-national cluster.
• The presence of an organization willing, motivated and with the technical capacity to lead the sub-national cluster, and uphold the humanitarian principles and codes of conduct.
• The presence of multiple organizations and actors, active in WASH, and willing to coordinate their activities and collaborate.

Specific Objectives/Purpose

The Program Officer (Sub-national Cluster Coordinator) will work impartially, serving the needs of all members of the WASH Cluster and should work closely with the WASH Regional Coordinator (East/South) and/or the Chief of Field Office (in their absence), OCHA focal points, and Local Government counterparts as appropriate.

The objective of the sub-national WASH Cluster is to facilitate and support operational coordination of humanitarian/early recovery actions and plans amongst all local WASH stakeholders at the oblast / region level.

To this end, tasks will include a mixture of the following or other similar processes:

• Establish and maintain a local coordination platform: to integrate local actors (local organizations and authorities, other key sectors, etc.) and ensure regular and predictable meetings and communication channels.
• Support operational coordination: to support the effectiveness of the response through the coordination of activities, intra- and inter-sectoral technical exchanges and identification of local best practices, and through the promotion of national level strategies related to WASH, intersectoral integration and/or the integration of cross-cutting themes.
• Situation monitoring: to establish mechanisms that allow regular and reliable monitoring of needs in the geographic area covered, and to highlight gaps and emerging issues to the national level.
• Monitoring the quality of interventions: to establish mechanisms to track whether the response is meeting established standards and technical guidelines, and to identify contextualized lessons and best practices (in a collaborative and collective manner) to address problematic areas/activities of intervention.
• Support the strengthening of technical response capacities at the local level: to identify technical weaknesses/strengths among subnational members, encourage mutual support between members, and propose (longer-term) solutions to key sectoral gaps in collaboration with local actors/authorities and the national level.
• Prepare contingency plans at the local level: to establish communication protocols (with authorities, other clusters, other) and technical guidance for the key risks identified in the geographical area covered, and support advocacy to increase existing capacities if necessary.
• Contribute to national processes: to facilitate local level inputs into national levels strategies, initiatives and processes to ensure that the contributions, priorities and perceptions of stakeholders in the geographical area covered are represented at the national level.

Key Accountabilities/Deliverables: 

• Facilitate regular operational coordination meetings, ensure minutes of meetings, and follow up of action points.
• Establish contacts with relevant authorities, local civil society, and other relevant actors or structures at the regional/local level
• Ensure linkages with other sub-national cluster focal points (notably Health, CCCM/Shelter, Education) to support them in tracking and communicating WASH-related gaps in institutions, and establish ways of working to refer WASH-related gaps amongst WASH actors.
• In collaboration with the national coordination team, ensure regular analysis of needs and response data, to identify geographic gaps, activity gaps, and/or emerging technical issues.

• Ensure that needs and response gaps are identified, and that cluster activities address them while preventing overlap and duplication.
• Coordinate with and secure commitments from humanitarian actors to respond to WASH emergencies.
• Ensure that information is shared amongst cluster members and between sectors/clusters in order to improve planning, cross-cluster integration and implementation.
• Provide regular regional information and status reports to the WASH Regional Coordinator (East/South) as needed, in order to facilitate appropriate advocacy and for support
• Contribute to strategic documents, work plans and UNICEF and OCHA reporting, taking into account any cross-cutting issues.
• As and when required, take an active part in OCHA coordination meetings.
• Ensure regular, clear and effective communication occurs between sub-national and national cluster teams.

• Disseminate updates and information received from national level (WASH Cluster Coordinator or OCHA) to partners to ensure that members are aware of inter-cluster initiatives and funding opportunities.
• Support regional contingency planning and WASH sector emergency preparedness plans.
• Identify and support capacity building needs of WASH Cluster members.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

Education: 

• A University Degree in any technical/applied science, natural sciences, social sciences, or medical field.

Work Experience: 

• At least two years of experience within the WASH sector

Language Requirements: 

• Fluency in Ukrainian and English

Desirables:

• A degree in Public Health/Environmental/Water Resources or a related field is an asset.
• At least one year of engagement in cluster coordination (as a partner/collaborator), engagement with WASH coordination structures is an asset.
• Humanitarian WASH experience is an asset.
• Experience and/or an interest in response region is desirable.
• Experience working with water utility/municipality structures is desirable.
• Experience working in an NGO, international organization or civil society organization is desirable.
• Experience or training in Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP) processes is an asset. Experience of coordination and chairing of meetings is desirable.
• Knowledge of another official UN language or the local language is considered an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable womenare encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Eligible staff members on fixed-term, continuing or permanent contracts applying to IP TA positions in a duty station designated as L2/L3, may be able to retain a lien and their fixed-term entitlements, subject to approval by their Head of Office. The conditions of the temporary assignment will vary depending on the status of their post and relocation entitlements may be limited as per the relevant policies.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

This position is based in Kharkiv, and the incumbent will be expected be work on-site. However, depending on the security conditions and advisory, s/he will be required to relocate within Ukraine.