WASH Specialist (Infection Prevention and Control in Emergencies)

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)

Job no: 558377
Contract type: Temporary Appointment, Consultant
Level: P-4
Location: Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Comoros, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, Seychelles
Categories: WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene), Emergency

Seeking external candidates only  

Contract Type: Temporary Appointment (TA) or Consultancy

Duration: 3 months to 364 days 

Location: Countries based in Eastern and Southern Africa

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, hope

Since two years, countries in the ESA region have experienced an alarming increase in the number of new, or re-emerging humanitarian emergencies, including public health (including Ebola, Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever, yellow fever, wild poliovirus, and Cholera), armed conflicts and natural disasters emergencies.

An outbreak of Sudan Ebola Virus (SDV) started in September 2022 and spread to 9 districts in Uganda, elevating the risk for cross border spread to neighboring countries (Tanzania, Rwanda, South-Sudan, Burundi, Kenya and DRCongo).

UNICEF ESAR has prioritized the critical need to support countries to rapidly scale up capacity to prevent, mitigate, and manage ongoing and anticipated emergencies as well as to enhance capacity for preparedness and response to these emergencies. 

Purpose

The purpose of this external announcement is to attract suitable WASH Specialist (Infection Prevention and Control in Emergencies) candidates interested in working in any of the countries within UNICEF’s East and Southern Africa region to respond to Ebola outbreaks for the next 36 months. The countries within each region are listed on the following website: http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/index.html.   

How can you make a difference?

Key activities & duties

Under the supervision and guidance of the WASH and Health Manager, and in close coordination with the WASH and Health specialists (emergencies) the WASH and Health in Emergencies Specialist. 

  1. Be the focal point at the assigned UNICEF Country office for UNICEF’s WASH /IPC response and preparedness plans for Ebola outbreak. 
  1. Familiarize her/himself with the current situation and context, including the extent of the current outbreak, including all SitReps and other relevant reports produced. 
  1. Attend and represent UNICEF at all relevant Ebola repose coordination meetings including internal UNICEF Ebola task force/coordination meetings, UNICFE Emergency Management Team meetings, National or District level Task Force, WASH sub-pillar, IPC sub-pillar, District Task Force and any other stakeholder/partner meetings as required 
  1. Prepare WASH/IPC supply plans in line the with UNICEF Ebola Response Plan, and in coordination with the relevant government departments at national and district level and other partners and relevant stakeholders to the Ebola response.    
  1. Plan coordinate with all relevant UNICEF Sections including Operations and Supply all necessary WASH supplies to be procured, pre-positioned and dispatched to affected districts in line with the supply plan. 
  1. In close coordination with the Zone Office, and National and District Level Task Force, and partners plan all other WASH interventions as required by the response, including the provision of water and emergency sanitation to health care facilities, ETUs and other sites as required. 
  1. Support in the preparation of donor proposals in support of the response, and donor updates and reporting as and when required. 
  1. Closely coordinate with UNICEF Emergency and Field Coordination Team.  
  1. As required, visit affected/target districts to support field coordination and monitoring of the Ebola WASH/IPC response. 
  1. Provide any other support as determined by the WASH Manager. 

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

Education-

  • Advanced university degree; Maters degree in public health, Environmental Health, Civil & Sanitary Engineering or related field.

Work Experience- 

  • At least 5- 8 years of experience in the relevant areas of water, sanitation and hygiene, water quality, public health, environmental health.  
  • Previous experience of proving emergency WASH responses in complex environments essential 
  • Previous experience in Ebola preparedness/response is strongly advised.  
  • Knowledge of Infection Prevention Control protocols (WHO, CDC) 
  • Preferably experience in controlling outbreaks of EVD and/or other VHFs 
  • Previous experience of preparing donor proposals, and reporting 
  • Previous experience of working closely with, including coordinating different stakeholders and partners including government, united nations agencies, NGOs and private sector 
  • Previous UNICEF WASH experience an advantage  

Language Requirement:- 

  • Fluency in verbal and written English or French (depending on the country office’s official language). Knowledge of another UN language 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: https://uni.cf/UNICEFValues

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

    1. Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (2)  (for NOD level only)
    1. Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2) 
    1. Works Collaboratively with others (2)  
    1. Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)  
    1. Innovates and Embraces Change (2) 
    1. Thinks and Acts Strategically (2) 
    1.  Drive to achieve impactful results (2)  
    1. Manages ambiguity and complexity (2) 

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.

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.

All selected candidates will, therefore, 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.

Remarks:

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

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). 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.

Advertised: 27 Feb 2023 E. Africa Standard Time
Deadline: 13 Mar 2023 E. Africa Standard Time


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