Urban WASH Specialist P-4 Temporary Appointment (9 months with possibility of extension) Juba, South Sudan (Open to non-South Sudanese)

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, Our furture

BACKGROUND

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

PURPOSE
Under the general guidance of the Chief of WASH Section, supports the development, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of WASH interventions under the country programme. The post will lead the Urban Pillar in providing leadership on development / emergency nexus with focus on resilience programming, youth engagement, and WASH GBV programming in urban settings.

The post will ensure programming with nutrition, protection, education and health to accelerate WASH services to urban communities, with a focus on sustainable service provision through professional modalities for operations and maintenance of urban WASH systems to contribute towards reduction of stunting, improved health and safety and increased resilience of the targeted communities.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Overall

• Timely sectoral analysis, input, support and collaboration to the Situation Analysis and its periodic update made for effective programme planning, development and management.
• Knowledge management effectively promoted through drafting/finalizing key WASH sectoral programme documents and reports, sharing good practice, lessons learned, and knowledge/information exchange.
• Quality of rights-based WASH programmes effectively promoted, and coherence, synergy and value added to programme management process through results-based management.
• Sectoral work plan and activities formulated, implemented and monitored, ensuring alignment with the defined programme strategies and approaches, with special attention to gender/sex disaggregation of relevant indicators.
• Programme delivery, evaluation and reporting carried out efficiently, rigorously and transparently in compliance with the established guidelines and procedures.
• UNICEF’s global goals effectively promoted through advocacy and policy dialogue in the WASH sector.
• Proper and timely UNICEF and Government accountability ensured regarding supply, non-supply and emergency assistance as well as disbursement of programme funds for the WASH sector.
• Effective communication and networking achieved through partnership and collaboration, including assistance to sectoral leadership of the IASC WASH Cluster.

1. Programme/project Planning, Development and Management
Enhance effective programme, sectoral or inter-sectoral, planning, development and management by leading and guiding the Urban WASH pillar, addressing gender inequalities and determinants of inequalities through accurate and complete monitoring and analysis, and the timely preparation or finalization of sectoral input. Ensure implementation of environmental and social safegaurds, urban sustainability checks and sanitation service delivery model(s) as appropriate.

Prepare WASH donor proposals, ensuring alignment with the WASH output results in the country programme. Provide technical assistance to integrate climate change, energy, environment and DRR into UNICEF core programmes and advocacy platforms including project proposal development and renewable energy and greening of programmes.

Ensure inclusion and delivery on sectoral leadership responsibilities including urban WASH policy development.

2. Knowledge Management

Promote knowledge management by exchange of knowledge, information, situation analysis, experience or lessons learned; promote knowledge sharing and technical input or recommendations on major programme directions and on introduction of new initiatives in the country.

Promote strategies and policies for urban WASH sectoral guidance to promote sustainable service provision in South Sudan.

Keep up to date on climate, energy and environment development trends, for maximum efficiency and effectiveness in programme design, management and implementation. Provide technical advice to UNICEF Education section in the inclusion of Climate Change in school curriculum.

Advise the Chief of section on appropriate training and professional development opportunities for WASH staff.

3. Rights-Based Programme with Results-Based Approach

Promote the quality of rights-based WASH programme and programmes through participation in the formulation of programme/project goals, strategies and approaches. Bring coherence, synergy and added value to programme management processes using a results-based management approach to planning and design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

In collaboration with relevant partners and sections, promote the integration of conflict sensitive approach and ensure principles of accountability to affected populations are main streamed.

4. Sectoral Work Plan Development, Implementation, and Monitoring.

Takes primary responsibility for the development of the sectoral work plan and technical decisions for the Urban Pillar as well as for project management, implementation and monitoring of assigned project/sectoral activity, in compliance with the defined project strategies and approaches, with an emphasis on promoting approaches to reducing gender inequalities and gender-based violence and achieving gender mainstreaming.

Where appropriate, collaborate or take lead on developing programme monitoring framework for specific programmes that covers WASH indicators as well as cross cutting indicators focusing on resilience, conflict sensitivity and gender.

5. Programme Management, Delivery, Evaluation and Reporting.

Ensure programme efficiency and delivery through a rigorous and transparent approach to evaluation. Participation in major evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sector review meetings with government counterparts. Ensure the preparation of annual Urban WASH Pillar status reports.

Provide technical and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and other country office partners/donors on the application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes and best practices in WASH, to support programme implementation.

Lead multi-year urban WASH programmes including monitoring program expenditures, progress, and challenges for Urban Pillar programmes. Prepare donor progress presentations and reports. Review progress reports for implementing partners, with travel to program locations to monitor and confirm achievements reported.

6. Promotion of UNICEF’s Global Goals

Promote the organization goals of UNICEF through advocacy and policy dialogue through active engagement with relevant national ministries in communication, networking and participation at every opportunity inside and outside UNICEF, leveraging the strength of UNICEF mission, goals and programmes, and with reference to the WASH Strategy and a particular focus on urban water sector policies.

7. UNICEF and Government Accountability

Coordinates with Operations and Supply staff on supply and non-supply assistance activities ensuring proper and timely UNICEF and government accountability. Certifies disbursements of funds, monitors and submits financial status reports to management in compliance with the regulations and guidelines.

Advocate for due attention and support to be given to environmental and sustainable development issues (pertaining to WASH) in all sectors and line ministries.

8. Communication, Collaboration, Networking and Partnership

Ensure exchange of information, experience, identify new strategies and courses of action to accelerate/improve delivery of services and achieve WASH programme requirements and objectives. Conduct field visits to monitor programmes and collect information. Conduct periodic programme reviews with Government counterparts and other partners.

Collaborate with the Communications Section to ensure development of effective communication materials and strategies to support advocacy and social mobilization efforts.

Collaborate with the Operations and Supply Sections and Government authorities to establish and maintain sound internal controls supportive of WASH programme or sectoral planning and implementation, to coordinate financial and supply management requirements as well as to ensure accountability.

Interact with Government and other partners, NGOs, UN and bilateral agencies in the different stages of WASH programme/project implementation to follow up on agreements and recommendations.

Provide technical support and guidance on appropriate technical, financial and institutional capacity building measures to achieve WASH programme goals. Support UNICEF Communications section for the engagement of youth in climate advocacy and other climate change awareness activities.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES

1. Education
Advanced university degree in one of the disciplines relevant to the following areas: Public Health, Civil Engineering, Geology, Hydrology, Sanitation Engineering, Urban Planning or a field relevant to international WASH related development assistance. Additional training in Health Education or Communication for Development (Programme Communication), an asset.

2. Work Experience
Eight years of progressively responsible professional work experience in urban WASH programming in the UN or other international development organization, national government or the private sector. Field work experience specific to urban water and sanitation service provision. Experience working with urban water utilities considered an asset.

3. Language Proficiency
Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset.

4. Technical Knowledge

a) Specific Technical Knowledge Required

Advanced technical knowledge of the theories, principles and methods in the following areas:

• Urban water and sanitation for low- and middle-income countries, including sustainability and renewable energy
• WASH-in-schools and health centres
• National government WASH policies, plans and strategies
• Analysis of national budgets and expenditure for basic WASH, and related advocacy
• Appropriate water supply and quality technologies including the use of renewable energy
• Operation and maintenance for urban WASH service provision, including business planning and utility management modalities
• Private sector modalities and management for WASH CapEx and OpEx for urban WASH programmes
• Approaches for strengthening nexus between emergency and development for sustaining WASH
• Gender and diversity awareness and mainstreaming in WASH
• Risk informed programming including climate resilient WASH programmes
• Monitoring and evaluation

b) Common Technical Knowledge Required
Knowledge of the latest theories, technology and practices in:
• Integrated water resource management
General knowledge of:
• Methodology of programme/project management
• Programmatic goals, visions, positions, policies and strategies for sectoral programmes
• Knowledge of global human rights and gender issues, specifically relating to children and women, and the current UNCEF position and approaches.
• Knowledge of global environmental issues that pertain to sustainable development and specifically relating to children and women, and the current UNICEF position and approaches.
• UNICEF policies and strategy to address WASH issues, including those relating to conflicts, natural disasters, recovery, disaster risk reduction and environment.
• UNICEF financial, supply and administrative rules and regulations.
• Rights-based and Results-based approach and programming in UNICEF.
• UNICEF programme policy, procedures and guidelines in the Supply Manual.
• Mid-Term Strategic Plan
• UNICEF Board endorsed policy papers and agency-wide programmes impacting on WASH results.
• Knowledge and proficiency in the use of corporate office computer system applications and software, including LAN, email, word processing, spreadsheet, database, telecommunications.
• UNICEF policies and strategies promoting gender equality and equity.

c) Technical Knowledge to be Acquired/Enhanced (for the Job)
• Government development plans and policies
• Knowledge of local conditions and country legislation relevant to UNICEF programmes
• UN policies and strategy to address international humanitarian issues, preparedness and the responses, including the IASC Cluster approach.
• UN common approaches to programmatic issues and UNICEF positions
• UN security operations and guidelines.
• Children’s rights and gender in the context of urban WASH, climate change and environment.
• Gender equality principles and gender sensitive programming.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

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 benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
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 promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. 

Remarks:

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

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also 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 cancelled.

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.

Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government 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.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Eligible UNICEF International Professional (IP) Staff Members on fixed-term, continuing or permanent contracts applying to a Temporary Appointment, which is dedicated to L3 (or L2) Response, may be able to retain a lien and their fixed-term entitlements. The conditions of the temporary assignment will vary depending on the status of their post and their current tour of duty, and relocation entitlements may be limited as per the relevant policies.