Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Officer

Details

Mission and objectives

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does – in programmes, 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, and thrive, so that they develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favouritism. Every child must have an equal chance in life – in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions – and for her or his rights to be protected. The evidence is clear that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens – and by addressing inequity – will not only give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential but also leads to the sustained growth and stability of countries. As such, the focus on equity is 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 (CRC), while also supporting the equitable development of nations. UNICEF works with governments and other partners to ensure that all countries fulfil the commitments they made at the UN Convention CRC, that every child can grow and develop to reach their full potential.

Context

In the Eastern Caribbean Area (ECA), UNICEF supports 12 Countries in areas of Education, Child Protection, Social Protection and Resilience and Climate Action, strengthening National policies, systems and programmes, and empowering children and youth to engage in the achievement of the global Sustainable Development Goals.
As a region particularly susceptible to climate change and extreme weather events natural hazards, UNICEF also has strong focus on emergency preparedness and response. Recent hurricanes such as Maria in 2017 as well as the COVID-19 pandemic have significantly exacerbated the region’s vulnerabilities and highlighted weaknesses in the provision of essential social services. These events have underscored the urgent need for enhanced Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) services, a sector where the poorest and most vulnerable, especially children, face the brunt of the impact.
As co-leader of the WASH ( Water Sanitation and Hygiene) Cluster/Sector Area of Responsibility with PAHO/WHO, UNICEF ECA is committed to strengthening its emergency response and resilience-building capacities. This commitment is evident in UNICEF’s response to Hurricane Maria in Dominica, where access was facilitated to WASH facilities for 19,800 children and mitigated the risk of water-borne diseases after significant infrastructural damage. Beyond emergency response, UNICEF’s role extends to providing technical support for WASH coordination and capacity development across the region, as exemplified by our training initiatives and the establishment of WASH coordination mechanisms in Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Saint Kitts & Nevis, and Trinidad & Tobago.
The UNV WASH Officer’s role is central to these efforts. This position is not only integral to coordinating and implementing emergency preparedness and response strategies but also plays a critical role in the ongoing development of climate change programming. The UNV WASH Officer will directly contribute to enhancing sector capacity to respond effectively to emergencies, thereby reducing UNICEF’s operational workload in crisis situations. This role is pivotal in ensuring that children and families in the ECA have continued access to clean water and safe sanitation facilities, which are essential for preventing disease outbreaks and maintaining overall health.
The WASH Officer will focus on strengthening national WASH sector coordination, particularly in preparedness, to ensure resilience against future natural hazards and health emergencies. This strategic position not only addresses the immediate needs arising from crises but also contributes significantly to the long-term sustainability and resilience of WASH services in the ECA, aligning closely with UNICEF’s broader goals in the region.
This UNV assignment is part of UNICEF ECA disaster management work, closely linked to climate change and resilience programming.

Task description

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Programme Specialist for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UNV WASH Officer, will:
Support the WASH Programme Management:
• Draft updates for WASH in the situation analysis, to inform the development of WASH-related outcome and output results. Research and report on trends in WASH, for use in programme development, management, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Prepare technical reports and inputs for programme preparation and documentation, ensuring accuracy, timeliness and relevance of information.
• Contribute to the development/establishment of WASH-related outcome and output results, as well as related strategies, through analysis of WASH sector needs and priorities.
• Provide technical and administrative support throughout all stages of programming processes by executing/administering a variety of technical programme transactions, preparing materials/documentations, complying with organizational processes and management systems, to support progress towards the WASH-related outcome and/or output results in the country programme.
• Prepare required documentations/materials to facilitate review and approval processes.
Supports WASH in Schools and other child-services:
• Collect WASH information from the Caribbean Safe School Initiative (CSSI) Safe School Recognition Assessment and complement information as needed to understand WASH needs aligned with WASH standards.
• Develop a WASH in Schools Mapping that highlights WASH needs and develop a plan with local WASH, Education, Health etc. and other actors to address WASH needs.
• Support research activities to develop climate rationale for the impacts of climate change and water scarcity on WASH services in support of proposals for resource mobilisation.
• Ensure WASH is included in strategies around the CSSI Pillars and link with emergency preparedness planning around shelters/temporary spaces in emergencies.
• Support governments in ensuring climate-resilient WASH services are clearly articulated in child-sensitive National Adaptation Plans and Climate Strategies/Plans.
Supports WASH Preparedness and Response
• Support updating the Emergency Preparedness Platform (EPP) for the WASH sector focusing on scenarios, response, Minimum Preparedness Standards (MPSs and any other areas related to WASH), ensuring Accountability for Affected Populations (AAP) is integrated.
• Maintain or update WASH internal emergency preparedness and response procedures, documentation, and tools (such as RapidPro, KOBO etc).
• Map WASH conditions in shelters, in collaboration with the Emergency team and Education focal points and inter-agency partners (e.g. IOM, IFRC).
• Revise the Supply Plan and Strategy for WASH, procure additional supplies and ensure supplies are reflected in CDEMA-Logistics System.
• Undertake a WASH supplies market assessment to determine local partners for WASH supplies as well as understand WASH supplies provided by partners.
• Support the development of an AAP methodology or tool to collect feedback from recipients/beneficiaries.
• Support UNICEF and inter-agency WASH planning, reporting, monitoring and information sharing.
Supports coordination, networking and partnership building;
• Support strengthening and/or development of WASH coordination technical groups and working groups to meet the core minimum requirements.
• Collaborate with Country Coordinators to support the Leadership of the WASH Committees to monitor development/implementation of their WASH work plan.
• Identify, map, and develop potential WASH partnerships (e.g GSD, IFRC etc.).
• Support private sector engagement and collaboration through WASH working groups.
• Collaborate with other UN agencies (e.g. PAHO, OCHA, UNDP, IOM) and non-UN agencies (IFRC, IDB, CARPHA, CDEMA, CWWA, WASA (including other UNICEF WASH focal points) based on synergies to support training of WASH Coordination Groups.
• Support the revision and/or finalization of partnership documents.
Results/expected outputs:
As an active UNICEF team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNICEF and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including:
• WASH Working Groups are supported with technical guidance, ensuring they have core coordination mechanisms in place (Terms of Reference, work plan, preparedness and response plans and assessment tools).
• WASH Technical inputs provided to strengthen programme documents, (integrated) programmes and projects, and donor proposals.
• WASH coordination is supported and facilitated at the regional, sub-regional and national levels through active participation in coordination bodies and platforms.
• WASH gaps and solutions are mapped, supporting WASH programming and cross-cutting areas related to WASH in the region.
• WASH actors have access to capacity building solutions and are provided guidance to strengthen capacities and WASH coordination bodies.
• WASH working groups and partners are supported through trainings and tools.
• EPP is maintained and updated in relation to WASH.
• UNICEF has a supply and logistics strategy in place for WASH, incorporating information from other partners from the region.
• AAP strategy for WASH developed together with APP focal points.
• Monitoring and evaluation tools for WASH in emergencies are developed, tested and in place in case of an emergency together with partners.
• Partnerships are strengthened with key WASH actors in the region leading to mobilization of resources (financial and non-financial) and improved coordination in the region.
• Climate rationale for the impact of climate change and water scarcity on WASH services are developed.
• Based upon needs and gaps, concept notes and draft proposals are developed prior to an emergency and during an emergency to contribute to emergency appeals.