Senior WASH Specialist (ERT)

Job no: 561281
Contract type: Fixed Term Appointment
Duty Station: Nairobi
Level: P-5
Location: United States
Categories: WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene)

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, a hope…

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.

How can you make a difference?

This Function will be based in the WASH Section in Nairobi and will report to the Senior Advisor WASH, WASH in Emergency Fragile Contexts Unit  at the HQ post location. When deployed to affected countries, the post will report to UNICEF Country Office (CO) Representative or whom-ever the Representative delegates this to at CO level. The post is office based with frequent travel to emergency affected countries with missions of up to 3 months; total travel and mission support can be expected to be for around 60%-70% of the time with extended working hours in addition to remote support to country and regional offices. The incumbent will be exposed to difficult working conditions, limited infrastructure, stressful situations and long working hours.

Purpose for the job:

Under the overall direction of WASH Senior Advisor, responsible for support to development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of UNICEF’s emergency preparedness and response activities and results related to WASH; ensuring overall efficiency, effectiveness and delivery of results in accordance with UNICEF’s (CCCs) and national and international humanitarian standards.  Emergency response types will cover the full spectrum of UNICEF humanitarian response from public health emergencies to natural disasters to forced displacement and all other manmade disasters. The incumbent may also be called on for supporting on responses linked to the climate crisis.

This includes working with Headquarters, Regional and Country offices in developing plans and activities to strengthen UNICEF’s capacity to deliver effective WASH support in emergency situations, provision of technical assistance to Regional Offices and Country Offices, both in addressing acute emergencies and in programming to mitigate the WASH impact of chronic and complex emergencies; and contributing to improved approaches and systems for emergency WASH response. The incumbent will be the WASH-Programme Team, PG, Section primary focal point for several areas including WASH components of Post Disaster or Crises Needs Assessment (PDNA/PCNA) that will need to be conducted at field level.

When deployed to affected country offices, responsible for supporting the Country team by providing guidance and direction on emergency WASH response and ensuring implementation of high impact WASH interventions in acute and chronic emergencies in countries and territories in line with UNICEF policies, procedures and guidelines (e.g. Core Commitments for Children, Emergency Procedures and Preparedness Procedure).

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Situation analysis and strengthening of WASH information systems

• Supports the CO to consolidate the WASH situation analysis based on available information
• Advice on what additional WASH related information is needed through one off data collection or strengthening of available WASH information systems to guide the WASH response.
• Undertakes field visits to emergency locations to assess WASH programme progress, to identify major problems and constraints and to propose solutions and actions.
• As required, participate in/coordinate WASH components of rapid needs assessment in collaboration with the government and other humanitarian actors.

2. Strategy and capacity development

• Collaborates with CO, RO and HQ in providing technical guidance, analysing and advising the Representative and the country team on the development of appropriate WASH policies, strategies and implementation frameworks to deliver a comprehensive package of WASH services, relevant to the WASH needs, national policies and overall emergency response. These strategies will also take into account existing country programme and long-term national priorities.
• Guides the WASH response and preparedness by coordinating inputs, preparing plans of action and work plans for implementation.
• Guide in defining and setting up monitoring mechanisms.
• Identify capacity needs for UNICEF staff and agencies engaged in the WASH response and appropriate capacity development activities and resources.
• Coordinates and directs organizational contribution to WASH Cluster so as to ensure effective response to emergencies.
• Leads and guides UNICEF’s engagement with stakeholders working in emergencies. 
• Participate in the development of joint policies and technical guidelines for appropriate provision of WASH response in emergencies, in coordination with other UN agencies, relevant NGOs and institutions through sector/cluster coordination mechanisms.

3. Identification of human and other resourcing needs

• In collaboration with CO, RO and HQ (including EMOPS Global Cluster Coordination Unit and the Global WASH Cluster) advise on the appropriate staffing (level and skills) required to deliver on UNICEF’s cluster lead agency mandate for both programme and cluster responsibilities from onset through transition from emergency (where relevant).
• Advise on immediate and ongoing supplies’ needs as well as financial needs for the emergency response in close coordination with Supply Division and contribute to resource mobilization.

4. Promotion of partnerships and networks

• Promote partnership with relevant agencies and negotiate country level MOU and LOU as appropriate.
• Effective communication and networking achieved through partnership and collaboration including assistance to sectorial leadership of the IASC WASH Cluster.
• As required represent UNICEF in donors’ engagement, engagement with government counterparts, UNCT, partners and the like.

5. Monitoring, evaluation and reporting of the emergency response

• In cooperation with the Emergency Response Team, HQ and the Regional and Country office participates in the monitoring and evaluation of the WASH component of the emergency response to ensure achievement of the organization’s objectives in this area (e.g. documentation of the response, lessons learned, good practices monitoring and evaluation frameworks).
• Liase with donors and contribute to donor/response reporting to ensure that the emergency response is adequately resourced and documented for future planning and strategy development.
• Ensure UNICEF response is meeting the needs of the most marginalized and that gender, disability and other cross-cutting issues are integrated into responses.
• Reflect Accountabilities to Affected Populations (AAP) into response strategies

6. On-going technical support

• Prepares end of mission/handover reports for submission to the CO, RO and HQ colleagues outlining required action from each level.
• Ensure regular liaison with regional offices, headquarters and partners to ensure follow-up actions at the respective levels and information needs are met.

7. Improving UNICEF’s emergency response systems and emergency preparedness

• Identifies institutional bottlenecks in delivery of the emergency response, and liaise with other Divisions and sectors within UNICEF (e.g. health, Education, Nutrition, EMOPS- in particular the GCCU- Supply Division) in order to improve UNICEF systems and standards for emergency response. 
• Works closely with the WASH Senior Advisor in the WASH Section to ensure that UNICEF’s contribution to WASH in emergencies are of the highest possible quality.
• Support the PG WASH in Emergency and fragile Contexts Team’s oversight of UNICEF contribution and engagement in Global WASH policies, standards and guidelines including the Global WASH Cluster.
• Contributes to work on comprehensive risk-informed programming.
• Works with the Senior Advisor and WASH in Emergency and Fragile Contexts Team (in engagement Humanitarian Action Focal Points and other relevant staff members in PD, DHR, Supply Division, ROs, WASH GTT etc.) to direct, ensure and improve UNICEF’s capacity to be prepared and respond to emergencies including staffing, supplies and mechanisms.
• In collaboration with HQ, RO and CO, design and conduct training for UNICEF’s staff/consultants and counterparts in emergency preparedness and response, in order to improve the quality and consistency of emergency response activities.
• Supports the development of emergency preparedness and response plans for incipient crisis countries.
• Support the documentation of lessons learnt from UNICEF WASH programmes and activities and identifies priority areas for consideration, analysis and research in emergency context.
• Support HQ technical contributions to emergency funding proposals and reporting.

Impact of Results

1. Key WASH issues and driving factors identified, and areas for improvement of WASH information systems identified
2. Emergency WASH strategies developed (support existing country programmes in their emergency response, or initiate a new programme in the crisis zone) and capacity development needs and strategies to address them identified. WASH remains a priority issue in policy and budget development.
3. Human resource requirements identified and transition strategy developed to promote continuity of support, and adequate supply and financial resources mobilised in a timely manner.
4. Standards for emergency response at country level developed and/or enhanced and relevant operational roles and responsibilities articulated with other key agencies (eg WHO, WFP, UNHCR) and partners such as ther Red Cross/Red Crescent movement and NGO/civil society partners.
5. Corrective actions taken in a timely manner and profile of WASH response adequate.
6. Continuity of technical support to the emergency response.
7. UNICEF corporate guidance and systems strengthened to promote efficient and effective emergency WASH response, and emergency preparedness enhanced

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

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: public health, Civil Engineering, Geology, Hydrology, sanitary engineering or another field relevant to international WASH related development assistance.
• A minimum of ten years of professional work experience at national and international levels in humanitarian WASH response.
• Extensive field Experience in WASH emergency preparedness and response at field level and the IASC Cluster System, preferably with UNICEF, is highly valued.
• Experience working in a developing country is considered as a strong asset.
• 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)

Please click Here to view UNICEF’s core values and Here to view our competency framework.

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

i) Core Values

• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Accountability

ii) Core Competencies (For Staff with Supervisory Responsibilities) *

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

or

Core Competencies (For Staff without Supervisory Responsibilities) *

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

*The 7 core competencies are applicable to all employees. However, the competency Nurtures, Leads and Managers people is only applicable to staff who supervise others.

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 including 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, 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 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, 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.

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 may also be 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.

“UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/”

For more information on remuneration and benefits, please visit UNICEF’s Entitlements’ page.  If you would like to find estimates for entitlements, you may use the online Salary Estimate Calculator

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

Advertised: 20 Apr 2023 Eastern Daylight Time
Deadline: 04 May 2023 Eastern Daylight Time