UNICEF is looking for WASH Specialist (Opened for international consultant )

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1. Background and justification

UNICEF overall global objective in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) is to contribute to the realisation of children rights to survival, growth, and development through support to programmes that increase equitable and sustainable use of safe drinking water and basic sanitation and promote improved hygiene. Within the implementation of UNICEF Strategic Plan 2018-2021, UNICEF seeks to further improve its global WASH programme through strengthening its support to governments worldwide to meet their WASH objectives. UNICEF 15 year WASH Strategy 2016-2030 focuses on meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with a focus on targets 6.1 and 6.2 (safely managed WASH), 6a and 6b (community participation and financing), and 4a (WASH facilities in schools). Among the programming approaches identified in the strategy include strengthening enabling environments, utilising evidence to promote child rights, leveraging sustainable financial resources, and building sustainable markets.

Lesotho is a small land locked country with a population of about 2 million. It is a lower middle income country. In Lesotho, most households – about 88% have access to water (improved facility within 30minutes round trip collection time); while 43.6% have at least basic sanitation (private/not-shared improved facility which separates excreta from human contact) (Census, 2016), but only 5% have access to hygiene services (Lesotho Demographic and Health Survey 2014 ). Sanitation in rural areas is mainly pit latrines and approximately 45% of the rural population is using improved latrines. However, about 19.6% of the population still practice open defecation (Census, 2016). Stunting, which is directly influenced by poor sanitation and hygiene practices, remains high at 33%. The UNICEF Lesotho 2019 2023 Country Programme will support efforts for improved WASH facilities and services including menstrual hygiene management availability in schools, health facilities and communities. Essential WASH actions, including handwashing with soap, treatment and safe storage of drinking water, and safe disposal of human faeces, have been shown to effectively reduce the prevalence of diarrhoea and other infections, a key child health issue.  UNICEF will also take steps to mitigate the impact of climate change from recurrent climate change-induced severe floods and droughts that have been predicted with support for promotion of community based water resources management (including rain water harvesting, protection /conservation of water sources) and address humanitarian conditions that may arise from the WASH programme perpective.

In this context, UNICEF Lesotho seeks to recruit an international individual contractor (WASH Specialist) to support the planning, implementation and monitoring of the WASH programme within the UNICEF CO.

 

2. Objectifs

The main objective of the consultancy /assignment is to support the UNICEF Lesotho CO and the relevant government institutions  Ministry of Water, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education and Training in the conceptualization, implementation and monitoring of key water, sanitation and hygiene programs to accelerate progress towards attainment of the related SDGs (especially goals 4.a.1  and 6.1/2). The Consultant will be expected to perform and/ or support a minimum of the following tasks areas:

• Programme development and planning
• Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results
• Humanitarian WASH preparedness and response

 

3. Key activities and deliverables

No	Major Task Area	Deliverable	Timeframe	Payment Schedule	Comment (% of work load)
1	Programme development and planning	Relevant and applicable guidelines, tools, monitoring templates, IEC materials, Advocacy kits and training materials for WASH in Communities (CLTS) and Schools (3-Star approach for SLTS) are available.	Oct – November	Reports to UNICEF with monthly fees pro-rated against  deliverables on submission of progress reports	20%
2	Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results	Monthly reports detailing technical and operational support provided to government counterparts, NGO partners on CLTS/SLTS including training and field visits for UNICEF supported WASH activities are available	Oct 2018 September 2019		60%
3	Humanitarian WASH preparedness and response	Technical reports provided for coordination and leadership for WASH emergency/humanitarian activities in case of an emergency	As required		20%

 

4. Work relation ship:

The consultant shall work with the technical teams of the Ministry of Water (Commissioner of Water, Department of Rural Water and Sanitation), Ministry of Education and Training and UNICEF;

The consultant will be supervised by UNICEF Lesotho Chief of Health and HIV.

 

5. Qualification and technical skills (individual)

The Consultant should have the following qualifications

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: public health, social sciences, behavior change communication, water/sanitary engineering or another relevant technical field.
• Additional relevant post-graduate courses that complement/supplement the main degree are a strong asset.

Experience

• a minimum of five years of professional experience in WASH-related programmes for developing countries is required.
• At least one three-month deployment mission in a humanitarian situation (with UN-Govt-INGO) is required

• Expert knowledge of at least three components and basic knowledge of at least three components below:
  • Rural water supply for low- and middle-income countries – including water safety, sustainability
  • Rural sanitation for low- and middle-income countries, incl sustainability; applying CLTS principles
  • Urban sanitation for low- and middle-income countries, incl sustainability
  • Handwashing with soap
  • WASH-in-Schools and Health Centres
  • Menstrual hygiene management
  • National government WASH policies, plans and strategies

 

6. conditions

• The selected consultant will be governed by and subject to UNICEF General Terms and Conditions for individual contracts;
• The consultancy is fully office based with provision of field monitoring visits based on needs;
• The consultant will perform the assignment using own computer;
• UNICEF will provide working space;

The consultant payment is lumpsum inclusive of travel and living allowance. The consultant will be authorized to access UNICEF LCO transport

 

How to apply:

Qualified candidates are requested to complete an application including profile to the respective advertisement on  https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/. Please indicate your ability, availability and financial proposal/quote to complete the terms of reference above. Rates must include all expenses related to the assignment (including administration and logistics).

 

Applications submitted without a fee/ rate will not be considered.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

 

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Apply here