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, commitment.
The WASH Specialist (Emergency) reports to the Regional Adviser for general guidance and leads in the development, preparation, management, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Emergency WASH component of the Regional WASH programme.
The WASH Specialist also provides technical guidance and management support to ensure the achievement of the WASH-related output results in the regional WASH programme. In addition, the Specialist provides advisory services to country offices and sector support agencies and interacts with government at senior levels and with senior staff in the International Development Corporations and agencies.
How can you make a difference?
The WASH – Emergency Specialist will work under the direction and guidance of the Regional Advisor WASH, to coordinate and support Country Offices in Eastern and Southern Africa Region for formulation, design, planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluation of WASH humanitarian programme and interventions and as well as to improve WASH preparedness, coordination and response for emergency situations as per the Core Commitment for children and within the Humanitarian Reform/Clusters framework. The incumbent will promote and assist countries in addressing the issue of climate change and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in order to strengthen sustainable development. She/he will support Country Offices identifying gender inequalities and in implementing programmes to eliminate inequalities.
Key Functions, Accountabilities and related duties/tasks:
Within the delegated authority and under the given organizational set-up, the incumbent may be assigned the primarily, shared, or contributory accountabilities for all or part of the following areas of major duties and key end-results.
1. Programme/project Planning, Development and Management
- Enhance effective programme, sectoral or inter-sectoral, planning including DRR, development and management by leading, guiding, coordinating and supporting the timely completion of the Situational Analysis and its periodic update, addressing gender inequalities and determinants of inequalities and vulnerabilities to disasters through accurate and complete monitoring and analysis, and the timely preparation or finalization of sectoral input.
- Ensure inclusion and delivery on sectoral leadership responsibilities including leadership and facilitation of the IASC WASH Cluster.
2. Knowledge Management
- Promote knowledge management by exchange of knowledge, information, situation analysis, experience, tools and lessons learned on DRR and Clusters experience.
- Promote knowledge sharing and technical input or recommendations on major programme directions and on introduction of new DRR initiatives in the country.
- Promote lessons learned in addressing inequalities and gender inequalities.
- Advise the Regional Advisor 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.
4. Sectoral Work Plan Development, Implementation, and Monitoring
- Takes primary responsibility for the development of the sectoral work plan and technical decisions 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, achieving gender mainstreaming and with a DRR approach.
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 WASH sector status reports. Ensure adequate and transparent evaluation of disaster preparedness and response.
6. Promotion of UNICEF’s Global Goals
- Promote the organization goals of UNICEF through advocacy and policy dialogue through active engagement 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.
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.
- Ensure adequate attention is given to Disaster Risk Management, including emergency preparedness.
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 Communication and Programme Communication groups to ensure development of effective communication materials and strategies to support advocacy and social mobilization efforts including for DRR.
- Overall coordination with Regional Advisers and HQ Officers. Collaborate with other Project or Programme or Emergency Officers to ensure the integration of the project/sectoral programme with other sectors.
- 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.
- Facilitate sectoral orientation on DRR and the ‘Cluster Approach,’ and ensure leadership and coordination of the IASC WASH Cluster through disaster preparedness and response, whilst simultaneously ensuring delivery on the CCCs by the UNICEF WASH programme.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
- An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in relevant fields such as public health, water supply, social sciences, environmental sciences or a field relevant to international WASH related development assistance.
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Additional training in Health Education or Communication for Development (Programme Communication), is an asset.
- A minimum of eight of progressively responsible relevant professional experience in the UN or other international development organization, national government or the private sector.
Developing country experience required.
Background/familiarity with Emergency (preparedness and response) and the IASC Cluster approach.
- Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
- Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French and/or Portuguese is 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
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.
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.
Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
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.