WASH Specialist – UNICEF

By Osama Elsheikh Last updated Aug 23, 2021

Job Description

WASH Specialist, NO- C, Fixed Term, Nyala, Sudan, post # 104767 – Open for Sudanese Nationals only

Job no:	543867
Contract type:	Temporary Appointment
Level:	NO-3
Location:	Sudan
Categories:	WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene)
Advertised:	22/08/2021 E.Africa Standard Time
Deadline:	04/09/2021 E.Africa Standard Time

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, Hope

Sudan is surrounded by the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Libya and South Sudan. Positioned next to East, West, and North Africa, it is surrounded by complex conflicts in an unpredictable, volatile and rapidly evolving region. Sudan is by size the third biggest country in Africa, with a diverse population of around 42 million people. Sudan’s children make up half of the total population, and the past two decades have seen their lives significantly improve: fewer girls and boys are dying before their fifth birthday, primary school attendance is increasing, immunization coverage is high, and the country remains polio free. Still, millions of children continue to suffer from protracted conflict in Darfur, the Kordofans, and Blue Nile, from seasonal natural disasters, malnutrition and disease outbreaks, and from under-investment in basic social services. More than three million of Sudan’s school aged children are not in the classroom. UNICEF has been in Sudan since 1952 and continues with a presence in 12 of Sudan’s 18 states.

How can you make a difference?

The WASH Specialist reports to the Chief of field Office for guidance and general supervision, with technical direction and sector specific guidance from WASH Section, Khartoum. The Specialist supports the development, preparation, management, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the WASH programme within the country programme.

Key Accountabilities and Duties:

1. Programme development and planning

Enhance effective programme, sectoral or inter-sectoral, planning, development and management by leading, guiding, coordinating and supporting the timely completion of the Situational Analysis and its periodic update through accurate and complete monitoring and analysis, and the timely preparation or finalization of sectoral input
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 strategic WASH programme planning discussions. Prepare WASH donor proposals, ensuring alignment with the UNICEF’s Strategic Plan, UNICEF’s 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
Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes and ensure 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.

2. 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
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 program 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.
Promote improved monitoring and reporting on sanitation and hygiene at state level through the development of applicable monitoring systems and frameworks. Coordinate UNICEF sanitation and hygiene research, impact assessment and evaluation efforts and ensure results are synthesized and disseminated.

3. 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 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 programme implementation.
Enhance UNICEF support for Sanitation and Hygiene, through the development, revision and application of policies, strategies, guidelines and partnerships to support the two states for scaling up sanitation and hygiene programmes
Provide technical advice and support to government authorities, at the State level to plan and organize capacity building programmes for sanitation and hygiene promotion, and behavioral change interventions for government staff and WASH sector members, in various aspects of sanitation including Community Approaches to Total Sanitation (CATs) and CLTs
Promote the understanding, acceptance and implementation of participatory Water Safety Planning aimed at tackling the issue of contamination of drinking water, and support strengthening of the water quality testing framework and capacity in the state including the establishment of a feedback protocol.
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.

4. Humanitarian WASH preparedness and response

Prepare requisitions for supplies, services, and partnership agreements to ensure UNICEF is prepared to deliver on its commitments for WASH 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.

5. 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 capacity of stakeholders to achieve WASH output results.
Engage, in coordination with the Health section, the concerned government agencies, in furthering the UNICEF interventions promoting analysis of gaps of WASH facilities in Health Centres, and assists the government interventions meant to bridge such gaps, contributing to convergent water sanitation and hygiene programming with health and nutrition programmes.
Interact with Government and other partners, NGOs, UN and bilateral agencies in the different stages of WASH programme/project implementation to follow up on agreements and recommendations. Provide technical support and guidance on appropriate technical, financial and institutional capacity building measures to achieve WASH programme goals, including humanitarian response.
Regularly collaborate with programme colleagues from other Sections to ensure strong intersectoral linkages within office and among partners between WASH and concerned programmes such as Health and Nutrition and Education, M&E, UN agencies and I/NGOs. Assist in development of appropriate communication and information strategy to support and/or advocate programme development especially for sanitation and hygiene promotion
Participate in inter-agency discussions, ensuring that UNICEF’s position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in development planning and agenda setting.
Collaborate with the Government authorities to establish and maintain sound internal controls supportive of WASH programme or sectoral planning and implementation, to coordinate financial and supply management requirements as well as to ensure accountability
Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building
Lead the development, implementation, monitoring and documentation of WASH action research and innovation (technical or systems).
Assist in the development and/or introduction of new approaches (including gender-responsiveness of technologies and interventions), methods and practices in project management and evaluation especially of the sanitation and hygiene promotion component.
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.
Keep abreast of research and developments in the sector and provide advice on implications for policy development, capacity building and support to the states in the field of Sanitation and Hygiene, in particular in the areas of sanitation marketing, sustainable sanitation and hygiene promotion

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

An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Civil Engineering, Water Supply and Sanitation Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Water Resources Management, Public Health or other specialist field related to WASH is required.

*A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.

A minimum of Five years of relevant professional experience of progressively responsible professional work experience in the UN or other international development organization, national government or the private sector. Background/familiarity with Emergency (preparedness and response) and the IASC Cluster approach. Experience in both development programme and humanitarian response an advantage.
Demonstrated progressive experience with increasing responsibility focused on community led behavior change and infrastructure development/maintenance approaches such as Community Led Total Sanitation, Rural Water Self Supply, public health concepts, etc. in camps, rural and peri urban areas reducing health risks at household and community levels for affected populations in the areas of WASH.

Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
Fluency in Arabic and English is required.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The core and functional competencies required for this post are:

i) Core Competencies

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)
Drives to achieve impactful results (2)
Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

ii) Functional Competencies

Persuading and Influencing (2)
Applying Technical Expertise (2)
Planning and Organizing (1)

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 be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.

Remarks:

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

** Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

*** Candidates found suitable in this process but not appointed for this post may be retained in the relevant talent group and contacted for similar future career opportunities with UNICEF Sudan over the next 36 months.

No Fee

UNICEF DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). UNICEF DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

Advertised: 22 Aug 2021 E. Africa Standard Time
Deadline: 04 Sep 2021 E. Africa Standard Time

About UNICEF

UNICEF, also known as the United Nations Children’s Fund, is a United Nations agency responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide. The agency is among the most widespread and recognizable social welfare organizations in the world, with a presence in 192 countries and territories.

Headquarters: New York, NY

What does UNICEF do in the United Kingdom?

UNICEF keeps children safe by providing vaccines against deadly diseases, distributing mosquito nets and by promoting safe hygiene in communities around the world. We are the world’s largest supplier of emergency life-saving food for children. And we campaign tirelessly to end violence against children.

For jobs from UNICEF visit: UNICEF Jobs Page

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