Senior WASH Assistant

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Batouri, Cameroon 🇨🇲

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based): D

Family Type (not applicable for home-based): Family

Staff Member / Affiliate Type: UNOPS LICA5

Target Start Date: 2023-05-01

Job Posting End Date: May 7, 2023

Terms of ReferenceThe Senior WASH Assistant contributes to providing technical guidance, working in collaboration with partners and other external stakeholders, reviewing ongoing activities and generally contributes to improving WASH service delivery to persons of concern (POC) to adequate levels at each site in accordance with the UNHCR WASH Manual, Technical Guidelines, and applicable UNHCR and/or national standards.

S/he will follow a rights-based and community-based approaches to programme design and implementation. The incumbent will follow the five principles for protection, accountability and WASH as outlined in UNHCR’s WASH Manual.

Leveraging the growing global momentum, UNHCR is working to translate the objectives of the GCR into impactful results, including through monitoring on pledges made through the 2019 Global Refugee Forum. Contributing to this global roll-out of the GCR, the Senior WASH Assistant will assist the supervisor in providing technical support to UNHCR countries and partners to advocate for and implement the ODD N° 6 by 2030:

Promote equitable and sustainable access to WASH services and the inclusion in national WASH programmes for refugees, asylum seekers, returnees, stateless and internally displaced persons.
Foster safe enabling environments that support learning.
Enable refugees and their hosts to use the skills they have acquired to build sustainable resilience and their access to livelihoods.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional, and managerial competencies and UNHCR’s core values of professionalism, integrity, and respect for diversity.

The Senior Shelter Assistant will oversee the following:

Technical guidance

– Assist in giving technical guidance and support to partners on all WASH-related issues to ensure quality, cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and environmental sound WASH interventions.
– Contribute to providing technical inputs during strategic and operational planning cycles of UNHCR within the AoR.
– Undertake field verifications, monitor development, and support the evaluation of activities and approaches adopted by partners in WASH and related sectors, reporting the results to the supervisor for sharing with other technical units.
– Monitor WASH activities in the AoR on behalf of UNHCR and make recommendations to the supervisor and the UNHCR management team. Provide data inputs for the WASH monitoring system.
– Supervise UNHCR partners’ construction and maintenance of WASH infrastructures and services in the AoR.
– Provide and share with your supervisor the WASH indicator report and accurate reports that analyze the challenges encountered in providing WASH services for beneficiaries in the AoR.
– May be called to participate in the preparation of all reports for management, boards, donors, budget reviews, program analysis, monthly, annual reports etc. in a timely manner.

Coordination
– Participate in WASH sector coordination, infrastructure coordination, camp coordination and cross-cutting sector meetings e.g., health, Shelter, site planning, environment, Protection as required by the supervisor.
– Provide technical assistance in the field of shelter, construction, and infrastructure development within the AoR to best meet the needs of PoC.
– Build and maintain relationships with other sectors, particularly site planning, Shelter, health, and Protection community-based, to assess, locate, plan, implement and monitor WASH activities.
– Liaise with implementing and operating partners and relevant governmental and non-governmental counterparts to ensure strong coordination of WASH interventions and projects within the AoR.

Collaboration
– Promote and participate in the establishment of a complaint mechanism/system to improve the WASH accountability.
– Record feedback from UNHCR camp management, field, and community services colleagues on issues with water availability, access, quality, sanitation issues, and ensure follow-up.
– Contribute to or compile documents and reports related to WASH activities and construction under the AoR.
– Actively work with Program as a member of the Multi-Functional Team and participate in multi-sectoral activities to ensure protection and assistance needs of the population are met.
– Assist in provision of WASH facilities required, including activities such as drawing, BoQs, tenders’ documents. For WASH infrastructures’ construction, and maintenance.
– Assist in the preparation of bid documents for all construction of WASH infrastructure including technical specifications, BoQs, drawings, etc.
– Assist in the technical evaluation of received bids as well as in the review/inspection of the quality of shelter and infrastructure products/works during implementation and at completion.
– Perform other related duties as required.

Standard Job Description

Senior WASH Assistant

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Senior WASH Assistant works under the supervision of a more senior WASH colleague, Technical Coordinator, Programme Officer or the Head of Office. S/he will contribute to the development, guidance and oversight of the implementation of WASH strategies for refugee settlements. The incumbent will support WASH related activities in the refugee settlements working closely with the multi-functional teams including colleagues from protection, health, settlement planning, field and others.
The Senior WASH Assistant provides technical guidance, works in collaboration with partners and other external stakeholders, reviews ongoing activities and generally contributes to improving WASH service delivery to persons of concern (POC) to adequate levels at each site in accordance with the UNHCR WASH Manual and Technical Guidelines, and applicable UNHCR and/or national standards.
S/he will follow a rights-based and community focused approach to programme design and implementation. The incumbent will follow the five principles for protection, accountability and WASH as outlined in UNHCRÂżs WASH Manual.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCRÂżs core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties

  • Assist in giving technical guidance and support to partners on all WASH-related issues to ensure quality, cost-effectiveness, sustainability and environmental sound WASH interventions.
  • Liaise with implementing and operating partners and relevant governmental and non-governmental counterparts as requested.
  • Review regularly the quantity and quality of water and sanitation services offered in the AoR (Area of Responsibility) and maintain the records of WASH performance indicators for all locations.
  • Undertake field verifications, monitor development and support the evaluation of activities and approaches adopted by partners in WASH and related sectors, reporting the results to the supervisor for sharing with other technical units.
  • Build and maintain relationships with other sectors, particularly site planning, health and community service, to locate, plan, implement and monitor WASH activities.
  • Provide requested inputs to ensure that regular and accurate reports that analyse the challenges encountered in providing WASH services for beneficiaries are prepared and circulated.
  • May be called to participate in the preparation of all reports for management, boards, donors, budget reviews, programme analysis, monthly, annual reports etc. in a timely manner.
  • Contribute to providing technical inputs during strategic and operational planning cycles of UNHCR within the AoR.
  • Participate in WASH sector, infrastructure coordination, camp coordination and cross-cutting sector meetings e.g. health, environment, as required by the supervisor.
  • Contribute to or compile documents and reports related to WASH activities and construction under the AoR.
  • Record feedback from UNHCR camp management, field and community services colleagues on issues with water availability, access, quality, sanitation issues, and ensure follow-up.
  • Support the management in provision of WASH facilities required (UNHCR managed and supported areas), including activities such as technical design, cost estimations of technical activities, development of bill of quantities for construction of all associated WASH works, and all operational and maintenance considerations.
  • Provide project management support for UNHCR WASH activities
  • Promote and participate in the establishment of a complaint mechanism/system to improve the WASH accountability.
  • Ensure existence of and follow master and detailed chronograms, reporting to the sector any issue resulting in delays or extra costs.
  • Supervise UNHCR partners’ construction and maintenance of WASH in UNHCR managed and supported areas.
  • When called upon, assist in negotiations with local authority counterparts, partners and POC.
  • Provide inputs for country operationÂżs plan and other submissions and reports as requested.
  • Monitor WASH activities in the AoR on behalf of UNHCR and make recommendations to the supervisor and the UNHCR management team.
  • Provide data inputs for the WASH monitoring system.
  • Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For G5 – 5 years relevant experience with High school diploma

Field(s) of Education
Not applicable

Certificates and/or Licenses
Agriculture Civil Engineering Environment Natural Resources Management
Hydrology Project management Public Health Community Dvpt/Social Work
Social Sciences Urban Planning Architecture Water resource development
Water/Sanit Mgmt Water Supply
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Experience in area of WASH including surveys, programme implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and coordination.

Desirable
Knowledge and understanding of water and wastewater hydraulics and physical, chemical and biological properties; solid waste management practices, vector control and hygiene promotion/awareness raising strategies.
Knowledge and understanding of relationship between water, wastewater, solid waste and vector control to public health indicators, and value of hygiene promotion/awareness raising and behaviour change methodologies.

Functional Skills
IT-Computer Literacy
IT-Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
PH- Public Health Epidemiology
SP-Vector Control Systems Management
WA-WASH Assessment: Survey planning, implementation and oversight
WA-WASH-related Technologies
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

Required Languages

French

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Desired Languages

,

Additional Qualifications

Skills

EducationBA: Water/Civil Engineering

CertificationsAgriculture – Other, Architecture – Other, Civil Engineering – Other, Community Development/Social Work – Other, Environment – Other, Hydrology – Other, Natural Resources Management – Other, Project Management – Other, Public Health – Other, Social Sciences – Other, Urban Planning – Other, Water/Sanitation Management – Other, Water Resources Development – Other, Water Supply – Other

Work ExperienceWASH

Other information

This position doesn’t require a functional clearance


POSITION TYPE

ORGANIZATION TYPE

EXPERIENCE-LEVEL

DEGREE REQUIRED

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