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The WASH Specialist reports to the Chief of WASH (Level 5) for guidance and general supervision. The Specialist supports the development, preparation, management, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the WASH program within the country programme with a particular focus on safely managed sanitation; the creation and supply of demand, and the monitoring of progress towards this. The Specialist provides technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes, to facilitate the administration and achievement of the WASH-related output results in the country programme.
Summary of key functions/accountabilities:
1. Programme development, planning and advocacy
- Draft the WASH inputs for the situation analysis, paying particular attention to safely managed sanitation. Provide timely, comprehensive and current data to inform WASH policy and programme development, planning, management and implementation. Keep abreast of WASH sector development trends, for maximum efficiency and effectiveness in programme design, management and implementation.
- Participate in strategic WASH programme planning discussions. Prepare WASH donor proposals, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s Strategic Plan, UNICEF’s global WASH strategy and the country programme, as well as government plans and priorities, and the role of other external support agencies.
- Assist in the formulation of the WASH outcome and output results, related indicators, baselines, targets and means of verification. Prepare required documentation for programme reviews.
- Review key sectoral documents (strategies, policies, regulatory frameworks, plans, masterplans etc) to identify areas of strengthening and priorities.
- Assess the degree of implementation of key policies and strategies and identify bottlenecks and opportunities for more effective implementation and regulation.
- Develop a strategy for UNICEF’s Rural and Urban Sanitation programme.
- Work with colleagues, government counterparts (including City Corporations and Water and Sewerage Authorities), partners, national/international academic institutions, donors and international financing institutions, to discuss strategies and methodologies to achieve WASH output results in the country programme, paying particular attention to safely managed sanitation.
- Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes and ensure integration, coherence and harmonization of WASH with other UNICEF sectors, for the achievement of the WASH output results.
- Draft assigned sections of the annual work plan, in close cooperation with government and other counterparts.
- Prepare documentation and reports to highlight key areas of programme intervention to support advocacy efforts at national and sub-national level.
2. Programme management, monitoring, and delivery of results
- With other external support agencies, strengthen national government WASH sector monitoring systems, with a focus on WASH outcomes (behaviours), using bottleneck analysis tools available in the sector (WASH-BAT, CSOs, SDAs).
- Support the development and inclusion of key questions in national household (MICS and SRVS) surveys to facilitate the accurate calculation of progress towards safely managed sanitation and WASH SDG targets.
- Support monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sectoral reviews with government and other key stakeholders and prepare reports on results for required action/interventions at the higher level of programme management.
- Undertake follow-up monitoring visits of selected interventions at six-month, 12-month and 24-month intervals to assess the functionality of the UNICEF-supported interventions and identify and share key lessons learned.
- Prepare/assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths/weaknesses in programmes and management, identify and document lessons learned.
- Lead the sectoral identification of bottlenecks and impediments to safely managed sanitation and develop strategies and costed action plans to address these.
- Monitor and report on the use of sectoral programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets), verify compliance with approved allocations, organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, and standards of accountability and integrity. Report on issues identified to enable timely resolution by management/stakeholders.
- Prepare sectoral progress reports for management, donors and partners.
3. Technical and operational support for programme implementation:
- Actively monitor UNICEF-supported activities through field visits, surveys and exchange of information with partners, donors and communities, to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and potential problems and take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely interventions.
- 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.
- Support the delivery of WASH programme meetings to review progress with government, other sector agencies and implementation partners, donors, academia, etc involved at various stages of WASH programme implementation, with focus on sanitation, to provide expert advice and guidance.
- Support the piloting of technical and social innovations and approaches to scale-up effective, affordable low carbon, climate resilient solutions for safely managed sanitation.
- Draft policy papers, briefs and other strategic materials for use by management, donors, UNICEF regional offices and headquarters.
- Support the piloting and implementation of UNICEF’s Environmental and Social safeguards system.
4. Humanitarian WASH preparedness and response:
- Prepare requisitions for supplies, services, long-term agreements and partnership agreements to ensure UNICEF is prepared to deliver on its commitments for WASH in case of an emergency.
- Contribute to the coordination arrangement for humanitarian WASH, for instant robust coordination in case of an emergency.
- Ensure that all UNICEF WASH staff are familiar with UNICEF’s procedures for responding to an emergency.
- Take up support roles in emergency response and early recovery, as and when the need arises.
- Provide technical advice and identify opportunities to ensure the provision of low carbon, climate resilient safely managed sanitation.
5. Climate change mitigation, adaptation and engagement:
- Coordinate with government (national and sub-national), key sectoral stakeholders, UN agencies and donors to support the development and implementation of plans for mitigation and adaptation.
- Identify and support opportunities for low-carbon climate-resilient WASH programming to leverage climate finance.
- Support efforts to mobilise demand for low-carbon climate-resilient WASH services, engaging with the private sector
- Provide technical oversight of low-carbon and climate-resilient WASH programmes with a focus on sanitation programmes.
- Support and mobilise the WASH sector to develop and include a narrative for the revision of key national climate strategies and priorities including National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
6. Networking and partnership building:
- Build and sustain close working partnerships with government counterparts, key sectoral stakeholders and donors through active sharing of information and knowledge to facilitate programme implementation and build capacity of stakeholders to achieve WASH output results.
- Prepare materials for the WASH programme advocacy to establish partnerships and support resource mobilisation.
- Support the mobilisation of the entire WASH sector, multiple government entities, academia, the private sector, international financial institutions and communities to create, sustain and meet the needs for safely managed sanitation.
- Mobilise resources for safely managed sanitation, including for both low-income urban settlements and rural areas, and manage these partnerships (and associated responsibilities including reporting, financial management etc).
- Participate in inter-agency discussions, ensuring that UNICEF’s position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) development planning and agenda setting.
7. Innovation, knowledge management, and capacity building:
- Lead the development, implementation, monitoring and documentation of WASH action research and innovation (technical or systems).
- Prepare learning/knowledge products, covering innovative approaches and good practices, to support overall WASH sector development.
- Create and deliver learning opportunities for UNICEF WASH staff and the WASH sector, to ensure sector capacity remains up-to-date with latest developments.
- Contribute to the systematic assessment of WASH sector capacity gap analysis, in collaboration with government and other stakeholders, and support the design of initiative to strengthen capacities systematically.
- Participate as a resource person in capacity-building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
- An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: Engineering; Water and Environmental Sanitation; Water & Sanitation, Public Health or another relevant technical field for WASH
- Additional relevant post-graduate courses that complement/supplement the main degree (e.g. Climate Change, etc.) are a strong asset.
- DEVELOPMENTAL: a minimum of five years of professional experience in WASH-related programmes for developing countries is required.
- Experience with National WASH strategy or policy development is required. A proven track record of participation in innovative approaches and publication in peer reviewed journals as well as participation to international conferences are a strong asset.
- HUMANITARIAN: At least one three-month deployment mission in a humanitarian situation (with UN-Govt-INGO) is required.
- Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language 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
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 (8) Nurtures, leads and manages people.
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 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 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.
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.
Internal candidates who are legally permitted to work for UNICEF in Bangladesh, independently of UNICEF appointment, will also be considered.
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.
[CO/ HQ specific: visa residence requirements: i.e.: UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.]
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.
Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.