UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, Love

Purpose of the job:

The WASH Officer provides technical, operational and administrative assistance throughout the WASH programming process. The Officer prepares, manages and implements a variety of technical and administrative tasks, related to the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the WASH output results of the country programme, focusing primarily on reporting and budging processes.

How can you make a difference?

Key function, accountabilities and related duties

1. Programme Budget Development, Planning and Review

• Prepare and review documentation relating to the WASH programme partnership implementation plans, particularly as related to the humanitarian response. Ensure that programme strategies and plans are complemented by results-based budgeting.
• Facilitate the review and preparation of WASH Programme Work Plans and associated budgets through results-based budgeting processes.
• Lead in the preparation of a fund allocation plan for the WASH programme sector based on the resource envelope and donor conditionality and ensure timely allocation of funds.
• Coordinate with the Program staff in the planning and forecasting of budget needs (including cross-sectoral budget contribution allocation) and tracking tool to ensure that sufficient funds from the appropriate sources (and in line with donor conditions) are allocated to ensure proper and timely implementation of programmatic activities.
• Work closely and collaboratively with internal colleagues and external partners to discuss programme funding requirements and financial management strategies, to ensure the achievement of concrete and sustainable results.
• Provide technical budget management support throughout all stages of programming processes to ensure achievement of results as planned and allocated.
• Provide technical and administrative support in executing and administering technical programme transactions, preparing materials and documentations, and observing the organizational compliance systems to support programme planning, rights & result-based management, monitoring and evaluation of results.

2. Grant Management, Monitoring and Reporting

• Monitor financial execution of resources allocated to the WASH programme, with analysis disaggregated by fund source, cost center and Results Structure components for tracking within weekly and monthly section meetings.
• Coordinate within the WASH Programme on incoming funds, grants, extension and adjustments as well as reallocations, with close monitoring of grant conditionality and deviations.
• Ensuring the timely allocation of programme funds following Grant Opening processes and in line with grant conditionalities and results structures.
• Assist the WASH programme in allocation and reallocation of funding to maximize the efficiency of the programme’s fund utilization towards results. Conduct regular review and reconciliation of grants, providing analysis across key performance management indicators.
• Support in verification of completeness of partnership budget documents and provide needful technical assistance to meet office requirements.
• Generate fund utilization reports and present analysis for the optimal utilization of resources with focus on supporting full utilization of expiring grants.
• Monitor commitments and expenditures to ensure timely, accurate and appropriate grant information is provided on programme budget, allocations, commitments, expenditures and projections and with the aim to ensure delays, errors and discrepancies are detected and corrected.
• Ensure that funds are only used for the purposes agreed and in line with project proposals and donor conditions, including by tracking support for cross-cutting programs and operations.
• Keep budget owners and section colleagues informed on DCT status and utilization rates and make recommendations for corrective action as required.
• Lead the elaboration of all donor reports for the WASH Program
• Participate in the elaboration of proposals as required.

3. Capacity Building on Budget Management

• Participate as a resource person in capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of government/CSO partners and stakeholders in budget planning, execution and monitoring. Conduct short orientation/training sessions, including refresher trainings, on processes, RBM principles, fund management systems and tools, use of VISION, as necessary.
• Coordinate the preparation of the WASH programme HACT plan, monitor assurance activities as per the HACT protocol and advice colleagues in the section for compliance. Prepare training materials and conduct exercises pertaining to HACT related processes and procedures for implementing partners. Utilize the findings of micro assessments and spot checks within capacity building activities and other risk control measures.
• Contribute to identifying, capturing, synthesizing, and sharing lessons learned for knowledge development and capacity development of stakeholders.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  WASH Officer Level 2 (002)final.doc

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: A university degree in one of the following fields is required: public health, social sciences, behavior change communication, sanitary engineering, environmental sciences or another relevant technical field.
• Additional relevant post-graduate courses that complement/supplement the main degree is a strong asset.
• Work Experience: A minimum of two years of professional work experience in WASH-related programmes for developing countries is required.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.

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 [female candidates] are 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.