Unicef recruits a WASH Specialist P3 ,Maseru,Lesotho 

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.

 

Organizational Context and Purpose for the job :

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the Organization does  in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children 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 most disadvantaged citizens  addressing inequity not only will give more 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.

 

Job organizational context :

The WASH Specialist level 3 GJP is being used in  the Lesotho Country Office (LCO) where the WASH Programme is a major component of the Country Programme. The WASH Specialist reports to the Chief of Child Survival and Development at level 4.

 

Purpose of the job :

The WASH Specialist reports to the Chief of CSD for guidance and general supervision. The Specialist supports the development, preparation, management, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the WASH programme within the country programme. The Specialist provides technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes, to facilitate the administration and achievement of the WASH-related output results in the country programme.

 

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks :

Summary of key functions/accountabilities :

• Programme development and planning ;
• Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results ;
• Technical and operational support for programme implementation ;
• Humanitarian WASH (and other programmes) preparedness and response ;
• Networking and partnership building ;
• Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building .

Programme development and planning :

• Draft the WASH inputs for the situation analysis.  Provide timely, comprehensive and current data to inform WASH policy and programme development, planning, management and implementation. Keep abreast of WASH sector development trends, for maximum efficiency and effectiveness in programme design, management and implementation ;
• Participate in upstream and strategic WASH programme planning discussions. Prepare WASH donor proposals, ensuring alignment with UNICEF Strategic Plan, UNICEF global WASH strategy and the Country programme, as well as government plans and priorities, and the role of other external support agencies ;
•  Assist in the formulation of the WASH outcome and output results, related indicators, baselines, targets and means of verification. Prepare required documentation for programme reviews ;
• Work with colleagues and partners to discuss strategies and methodologies for the achievement of WASH output results in the country programme ;
• Provide both upstream and downstream technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes to accelerate integration, coherence and harmonization of WASH with other UNICEF sectors, for the achievement of the WASH output results ;
• Draft assigned sections of the annual work plan, in close cooperation with government and other counterparts.

Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results :

• With other external support agencies, strengthen national government WASH sector monitoring systems, with a focus on WASH outcomes (behaviors), using bottleneck analysis tools available in the sector (WASH-BAT, CSOs, SDAs) ;
•  In collaboration with Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation section/focal point, ensure that the WASH programme has quality indicators and information to assess progress towards expected results established in annual work plans, Country Programme documents (CPD), Regional priorities and UNICEF strategic Plan ;
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sectoral reviews with government and other counterparts and prepare reports on results for required action/interventions at the higher level of programme management ;
• Prepare/assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths/weaknesses in programmes and management, identify and document lessons learned ;
• Monitor and report on the use of sectoral programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets), verify compliance with approved allocations, organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity. Report on issues identified to enable timely resolution by management/stakeholders ;
• Prepare sectoral progress reports for management, donors and partners .

Technical and operational support for programme implementation :

• Actively monitor UNICEF-supported activities through field visits, surveys and exchange of information with partners, to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and potential problems and take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely interventions ;
• Provide both upstream and downstream technical and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and other country office partners/donors on the application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes and best practices in WASH, to support and accelerate programme implementation ;
• Plan for use of technical experts from the Regional Office and HQ, as and where appropriate in the WASH programme, through remote support and on-site visits ;
• Participate in WASH programme meetings, to review progress, with government, other sector agencies and implementation partners, involved at various stages of WASH programme implementation, to provide expert advice and guidance ;
• Draft policy papers, briefs and other strategic materials for use by management, donors, UNICEF regional offices and headquarters .

Humanitarian WASH (and other programmes) preparedness and response :

• Prepare requisitions for supplies, services, long-term agreements and partnership agreements to ensure UNICEF is prepared to deliver on its commitments for WASH (and other programmes as required) in case of an emergency ;
• Contribute to the coordination arrangement for humanitarian WASH, for instant robust coordination in case of an emergency ;
• Ensure that all UNICEF WASH staff are familiar with UNICEF’s procedures for responding in an emergency ;
• Take up support roles in an emergency response and early recovery, as and when the need arises.

Networking and partnership building :

• Build and sustain close working partnerships with government counterparts and national stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge to facilitate programme implementation and build the capacity of stakeholders to achieve WASH output results ;
•   Prepare materials for WASH programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships and support fund-raising, resource mobilization and leveraging funds with senior management and key partners ;
• Participate in inter-agency discussions, ensuring that UNICEF position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the UNDAF development planning and agenda setting.

Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building :

• Lead the development, implementation, monitoring and documentation of WASH action research and innovation (technical or systems) ;
• Prepare learning/knowledge products, covering innovative approaches and good practices, to support overall WASH sector development ;
• Create and deliver learning opportunities for UNICEF WASH staff, to ensure our sector capacity remains up-to-date with the latest developments ;
• Contribute to the systematic assessment of WASH sector capacity gap analysis, in collaboration with government and other stakeholders, and support the design of initiative to strengthen capacities systematically ;
• Participate as a resource person in capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders.

 

Competencies and level of proficiency required :

Core Values :

• Commitment ;
• Diversity and inclusion ;
• Integrity ;

Core competencies  :

• Communication ;
• Working with people ;
• Drive for results .

Functional Competencies :

• Leading and Supervising ;
• Formulating strategies and concepts ;
• Analyzing ;
• Applying technical expertise ;
• Relating and networking ;
• Deciding and Initiating action .

 

Recruitment Qualifications :

Education :

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: public health, social sciences, behaviour change communication, 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 ;
• One year of deployment in a developing country is required ;
• At least one three-month deployment mission in a humanitarian situation (with UN-Govt-INGO) is required.

Language Requirement :

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset.

 

Technical requirements :

• Rural water supply for low- and middle-income countries – including water safety, sustainability ;
• Rural sanitation for low- and middle-income countries, incl sustainability; applying CATS 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 ;
• Analysis of national budgets and expenditure for basic WASH, and related advocacy.

 

How to apply :

Interested and qualified candidates are requested to submit their application to the following link: https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=525248 by 23 August 2019.

Qualified women and men are encouraged to apply.

This vacancy announcement is opened to qualified Internationals Only.

If you have not been contacted within 2 months of the closing date please accept that your application was unsuccessful. Regret emails will be sent only to shortlisted/contacted candidates.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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

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.

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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

 

Remarks :

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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