India nationals: UN Volunteer for Sanitation & Hygiene (UNICEF)

United Nations Volunteers (UNV)

Patna, Bihar, India 🇮🇳

General

Description of assignment title: National UN Volunteer for Sanitation & Hygiene

Assignment country: India

Expected start date: 01/12/2022

Sustainable Development Goal: 6. Clean water and sanitation

Volunteer category: National UN Volunteer Specialist

DoA reserved for persons with disabilities: No

Host entity: UNICEF

Type: Onsite

Duration: 13 months (with possibility of extension)

Number of assignments: 1

Duty stations: Patna

Details

Mission and objectives
The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, 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, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so 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, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

Context
Provision of safe sanitation is one of the major socio-developmental issues that the Government of India has focused on, especially in the last 8 years. Responding to the fact that as in 2014, over 60% of the persons without access to toilets at home in the whole world were from India, and therefore most were often practicing open defecation, i.e., over 550 million people. The India government launched the Swachh Bharat Mission- Gramin SBM (G), a national-level sanitation programme, that aimed at providing access to all 180 million rural households by 2019. In Bihar, SBM (G) is known as the Lohiya Swachh Bihar Abhiyan (LSBA).
Under the programme, by 2019, over 16.5 million new toilets were built, and this was accompanied by large-scale capacity building and communication campaigns rolled out at the state level, to ensure that people use these toilets. By October 2019, about 8400 Gram panchayats and 45000 villages declared themselves open defecation free (ODF). During the entire period of SBM (G)/LSBA programme, UNICEF Bihar Field Office supported the State government and the districts as the principal development partner, with significant success.
In addition to providing technical assistance covering multiple aspects of the sanitation programme, UNICEF also carried out a number of research studies. This is now looking at interventions focused on sustaining the gains in achieving ODF status and also implementing Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM) works in all he 8400 Gram panchayats. UNICEF Bihar has once again partnered with the government, providing technical and managerial assistance, on the various components of ODF+ programme of SBM G II, that includes the ODF Sustainability as well as the SLWM areas of work including on (i) policy advocacy and programme implementation support (ii) capacity building (iii) Technical aspects of management of solid waste like faecal sludge, plastic and biodegradable wastes as well as grey water management (iv) Social and behavior change communication (v) monitoring (vi) Knowledge management and documentation (vii) research. In this activity, UNICEF is supported by multiple financial donors including like – Domestos, Lixil Corporation etc. There are also multiple other partnerships that UNICEF has engaged in particular components of the sanitation programme. All these donor and project partnerships require significant management efforts and handholding work from UNICEF. This high requirement for support to efficiently and smoothly service these partnerships requires work force assistance in the section for the sanitation output. It is thus proposed to engage a national UNV for this activity to support the sanitation programme.

Task description
The NUNV shall support cross-cutting tasks involving engagement with sanitation programme donors and implementation partners. The NUNV will be placed in the UNICEF Bihar Field Office
(BFO) and will be directly supervised by the WASH Specialist with oversight by the Program
Manager/Chief of UNICEF Bihar Field Office. The NUNV shall work closely and provide support to the WASH Specialist, in coordinating the interaction with donors, government departments, development partners and the partner Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). The interaction with the supervisor will take place regularly, allowing continuous performance monitoring. The duties of the NUNV shall include:
i. Supporting the planning, monitoring, and reporting requirements of the donor partnerships;
support the BFO WASH Section in quality assurance of reports and data.
Coordinating, participating in discussion and review sessions, providing technical support
and quality assurance of the tasks related to meetings with different stakeholders.
iii. Coordinating, providing technical support and quality assurance of the activities related to
the interaction with UNICEF programme partners, working under the sanitation output, regarding the projects under implementation.
iv. Assist designing, development and roll out of communication and capacity building interventions strategy and action plan under the sanitation output, regarding the projects under
implementation.
v. Support field implementation of sanitation and hygiene projects under the guidance of the
BFO WASH Specialist. This may include field visits as per direction of the WASH Specialist.
vi. Support concurrent monitoring of the deliverables on various sanitation and hygiene programmes.
vii. Supporting the development of written material, presentations, and reports for the meetings,
including the review meetings with the Government, on the partnership projects under implementation by UNICEF.
viii. Supporting the BFO WASH section in organizing and preparing for regular meetings and event like GHD and WTD, including disseminating information related to the development partners platform on rural sanitation and hygiene, that is hosted by UNICEF.
ix. Work on the various data sources and data sets like NFHS V, NSSO, NAARS and analyze
them as per requirements of the section and direction of the WASH Specialist.
x. Development of written material, presentations, and reports for dissemination within UNICEF WASH network and outside UNICEF.
xi. Support in knowledge management of WASH pillar, including managing UNICEF – ECM library and ECM sites related to sanitation.
xii. Assist BFO WASH Specialist in engaging with the network on the sanitation programme,
especially on partnerships at the national and state levels.
Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:
▪ Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading
relevant UNV and external publications and taking an active part in UNV activities (for instance, in events that mark IVD).
▪ Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host
country/State.
▪ Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities.
▪ Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.
▪ Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers.
▪ Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible
Results and output:
All planning, coordination, monitoring, reporting, documentation, and data analysis tasks
under the UNICEF Bihar Field Office’s sanitation and hygiene programme, especially related to donor programming and partnership programming, for the period 2022-2023 completed, as requested by the lead focal point – BFO WASH Specialist.
▪ A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in,
and capacities developed.
▪ As an active UNICEF Bihar Field Office (BFO) 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:
▪ Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment

Eligibility criteria

Age: 27 – 80

Nationality: Candidate must be a national or legal resident of the country of assignment.

Requirements

Required experience
3 years of experience in work related to the WASH sector, preferable rural sanitation and hygiene. Familiarity with Swachh Bharat Mission is essential. Proficient computer skills (Word, Excel, Power point, database programs, etc.); familiarity with online reporting/data entry software desirable. Good understanding of quantitative methods desirable. Proven track record of organizational skills, ability to take the initiative, meet deadlines, work with minimal supervision. Knowledge/Experience of UN systems and logic framework, planning and results- based management will be an advantage.

Experience in developing sanitation and hygiene infrastructure and services moving towards SDG goals

Excellent communication skills in English: good interpersonal skills, with ability to work in a multicultural environment.

Area(s) of expertise: Development programmes, Volunteer management

Driving license:

Languages
English, Level: Fluent, Required
Hindi, Level: Fluent, Desirable

Required education level: Bachelor degree or equivalent in Social Science, Engineering, or Science.

Competencies and values
• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Accountability
Competency Areas
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships [ I]
• Demonstrates Self and Ethical Awareness [ I]
• Drive to Achieve Impactful Results [ I]
• Innovates and Embraces Changes [ I]
• Works Collaboratively with Others [ I]
• Thinks and Acts Strategically [ I]
• Manages Ambiguity and Complexity [ I]
Results focus and results-oriented delivery
• Develops an understanding of the unit’s needs and the products and services required to
support them
• Facilitates work planning, alerting those involved of potential obstacles and helping
identify suitable alternative options
• Manages time and resources efficiently
Communication
• Contributes to clear and open communication
• Presents Information using language and a sequence of ideas that is easy for recipients
to understand
• Keeps all those concerned informed on time.
Maintaining Information and database
• Collects Information, drafts reports, finalizes minutes of Results Group’s meetings and activities, maintains information/databases
• Records information in a timely, organized and accessible manner
• Actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks
• Shows willingness to learn new technology
Organizational effectiveness
• Understanding and building formal and informal networks in the organizational environment to obtain results. As a UNV volunteer, the incumbent is expected to promote volunteerism and/or engage in volunteering activities. Among other things, strengthen knowledge
and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant, UNV and other publications and taking an active part in UNV activities.
Ethics and values
• Shows willingness to work without bias and with all persons regardless of gender, nationality, religion, or culture
• Reliably delivers on promises and honors commitment holding himself/herself accountable for actions taken
Demonstrates and promotes the highest standard of integrity, impartiality, fairness, andincorruptibility in all matters affecting his/her work and status
Team working
• Accepts team role, contributes to the work of the team actively and constructively
• Works collaboratively with colleagues in the UN system to pursue common goals

Other information

Living conditions and remarks
Patna, capital of Bihar State is the largest town and headquarters of Patna district, Patna division and Bihar State. Located on the south bank of the river Ganga, it has an estimated population of more than 6.0 million people. An administrative and educational centre of Bihar, it is well connected by railway and road. Patna is an ancient city with rich cultural heritage. Its glorious past of Magadh Empire goes back to 600 BC. It has seen the reign of Samrat Ashok with flourishing Buddhism. It has been considered once a place for Persian study. Takht Sri Patna Sahib is one of the Five Takhts of Sikhism and consecrates the birthplace of the tenth Guru of the Sikhs, Gobind Singh.
Living conditions are normal with basic amenities and comfort of livelihood available. As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. National UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan.
UN Volunteer entitlements and allowances:
The purpose of the allowances and entitlements paid to the UN Volunteer is to enable UN Volunteers to sustain a secure standard of living at the duty stations in line with United Nations standards without incurring personal costs. The allowances are in no way to be understood as compensation, reward or salary in exchange for the UN Volunteer’s service. For more information on entitlements please read the Conditions of Service (https://explore.unv.org/cos ).

The candidate should be willing to move to the location.

For information specific to your assignment please see below:

Monthly Voluntary Living Allowance (VLA) : INR 47,719.16
Entry lump sum (one time payment) : USD 400
Travel ticket when moving to duty station: USD 200
Exit allowance (paid on successful completion of the assignment): INR 3976.6 for each month served
Medical and life insurance Cigna Private Insurance

Leave entitlements:
Annual leave : 2.5 days accrued per calendar month
Certified sick leave: 30 days
Uncertified sick leave: 7 days
Learning leave: 10 working days per consecutive 12 months
Maternity leave: 16 weeks
Paternity leaves: 10 days

Inclusivity statement
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

Reasonable accommodation
UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for UN Volunteers with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process and afterwards in your assignment.

Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements
In addition to duty station-specific vaccine requirements, appointments are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the appointment. It does not apply to UN Volunteers who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their contracts.


POSITION TYPE

ORGANIZATION TYPE

EXPERIENCE-LEVEL

DEGREE REQUIRED

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