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, WASH.
Organizational Context and Purpose for the job :
Job organizational context :
CAR remains one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world, after Yemen and Syria, in terms of the proportion of the population in need of humanitarian assistance. While a Peace Agreement was signed between the Government and 14 armed groups in February 2019, one in four Central Africans has been forcibly displaced by violence. Half of the CAR population remains in need of humanitarian assistance and protection, more than half of whom are children. CAR ranks 188th out of 189 countries in the United Nations Human Development Index. CAR has the second-highest newborn death rate in the world, and malnutrition is intensifying.
The coverage for water and sanitation services is extremely low. Those conditions increase the public health risk, especially for children under five, and the spread of waterborne diseases. In 2019, several episodes of bloody diarrhea and an outbreak of hepatitis E were recorded. In addition, this situation is increasing cross-border contagion risks of the Ebola virus disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and cholera in Cameroon.
Despite persistent insecurity and funding gap, UNICEF is providing emergency water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services and household supplies to the most vulnerable children and families. In 2019, UNICEF and partners provided 255,000 crisis-affected people with access to clean water, and 32,000 with sanitation facilities.
In addition, the COVID 19 global Covid19 pandemic has not spared the Central African Republic. A Coronavirus Response Plan has been developed and adopted by the CAR government. The plan is articulated into 7 pillars which are: surveillance and laboratory, Logistics, Case management, Communication, Community mobilization, Population movement and Scientific research. UNICEF is actively involved in supporting the government on coordination, logistics, infection prevention and control, communication and community engagement.
In order to support UNICEF WASH programmes, and more specifically CLTS, WASH in school and Behavior Change programmes with a strong focus on accountability and gender approaches, UNICEF CAR is seeking to recruit a passionate and committed WASH officer.
Purpose for the job :
The WASH Officer reports to the WASH Specialist for supervision. The WASH Officer provides technical, operational and administrative assistance throughout the WASH programming process. The Officer prepares, manages and implements a variety of technical and administrative tasks, related to the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the WASH output results of the country programme.
This post will specifically support :
- Strengthening national policies and strategies, planning and coordination of the sanitation sub-sector ;
- Definition and implementation of a post-ODF strategy at the national and regional prefecture levels ;
- Development, updating, use and dissemination of CLTS data information ;
- Revision of training modules on CLTS ;
- Training / retraining / capacity building of UNICEF partners in CLTS ;
- Plan, coordinate and monitor UNICEF activities in the field of community-led total sanitation (CLTS) ;
- Plan, coordinate and monitor UNICEF activities in the area of WASH IN SCHOOL the ongoing emergency response activities of WASH (on COVID-19, flood, conflict displacement, cholera and Ebola risk reduction) as well as support the WASH team.
Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks :
Summary of key functions/accountabilities :
1. Programme development and planning :
- Draft updates for WASH in the situation analysis, to inform the development of WASH-related outcome and output results. Research and report on trends in WASH, for use in programme development, management, monitoring, and evaluation ;
- Prepare technical reports and inputs for programme preparation and documentation, ensuring accuracy, timeliness and relevance of information ;
- Contribute to the development/establishment of WASH-related outcome and output results, as well as related strategies, through analysis of WASH sector needs and priorities ;
- Provide technical and administrative support throughout all stages of programming processes by executing/administering a variety of technical programme transactions, preparing materials/documentations, complying with organizational processes and management systems, to support progress towards the WASH-related outcome and/or output results in the country programme ;
- Prepare required documentations/materials to facilitate review and approval processes.
2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results :
- Work collaboratively with colleagues and partners to collect/analyze/ share information on implementation issues, provide solutions on routine programme implementation and alert appropriate officials and stakeholders for higher-level interventions and/or decisions. Keep records of reports and assessments for easy reference and/or to capture and institutionalize lessons learned ;
- 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 ;
- 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.
3. Technical and operational support for programme implementation
- Undertake field visits and surveys, collect and share reports with partners/stakeholders. Report critical issues, bottlenecks and potential problems to supervisor, for timely action;
- 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.
4. Humanitarian WASH preparedness and response :
- Draft requisitions for supplies, services, long-term agreements and partnership agreements to ensure UNICEF is prepared to deliver on its commitments for WASH in case of an emergency ;
- Study and fully understand 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 ;
- Draft communication and information materials for WASH programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and support fund-raising for WASH ;
- Participate in inter-agency meetings on UNDAF planning, to integrate and harmonize UNICEF output results and implementation strategies with UNDAF development and planning processes ;
- Research information on potential donors and prepare resource mobilization materials and briefs for fund raising and partnership development purposes.
6. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building :
- Assist in the development, implementation, monitoring and documentation of WASH action research and innovation (technical or systems) ;
- Assist in the preparation of learning/knowledge products, covering innovative approaches and good practices, to support overall WASH sector development ;
- Assist in creating and delivering learning opportunities for UNICEF WASH staff, to ensure our sector capacity remains up-to-date with latest developments ;
- Participate as a resource person in capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders.
Impact of Results :
The support provided by the WASH officer will enable the country office to achieve the WASH-related output results of the country programme. This, in turn, will contribute to the achievement of the outcome results of the country programme document. When done effectively, the achievement of the outcome results will improve child survival, growth and development, and reduce inequalities in the country.
How can you make a difference ?
Recruitment Qualifications :
Education : An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: public health, social sciences, behavior change communication, sanitary engineering or another relevant technical field ;
Additional relevant post-graduate courses that complement/supplement the main degree are a strong asset ;
*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.
Experience :
DEVELOPMENTAL : a minimum of two years of professional work experience in WASH-related programmes for developing countries is required with strong focus on CLTS, WASH in schools and Behavior Change programmes as well as accountability and gender approaches.
HUMANITARIAN : a minimum of 2 years professional experience in WASH emergency programming is required.
Language Requirements : Fluency in French is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset
Other Skills and Competencies :
A – Basic knowledge of six of the eight components :
- 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.
B – Basic knowledge of one component :
- Humanitarian WASH – preparedness ;
- Humanitarian WASH – response and recovery.
C – Basic knowledge :
Humanitarian WASH – coordination of the response
D – Basic knowledge of all four components :
- Programme/project management ;
- Capacity development ;
- Knowledge management ;
- Monitoring and evaluation.
E – Basic knowledge :
- Human rights and WASH ;
- Gender equality and WASH.
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.
View our competency framework at : UNICEF_Competencies.pdf
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.