Job Description
Purpose of the job:
The WASH Specialist reports to the Chief of WASH (Level 5) 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.
Under the guidance of the Chief, the WASH Specialist will be responsible for developing a coherent strategy to ensure demand creation is at the core of all UNICEF WASH programming and for providing guidance to the UNICEF WASH team on demand approaches.
The WASH Specialist is also responsible for leading the WASH in Institutions (especially schools and health care facilities) programming for the team.
Duties and Responsibilities
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 strategic WASH programme planning discussions. Prepare WASH donor proposals, ensuring alignment with 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.
Work with colleagues and partners to discuss strategies and methodologies for the achievement of WASH output results in the country programme.
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 (WASH-BAT, CSOs, SDAs).
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, administrativeand 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
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.
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.
4 Humanitarian WASH 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 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.
Prepare materials for WASH programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships and support fund-raising.
Participate in inter-agency discussions, ensuring that UNICEF’s position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the UNDAF development planning and agenda setting.
6 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 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.
Qualifications and Experience
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 minimum of five years of professional experience in WASH related programmes for developing countries is required, particularly on creating demand for accountable WASH services and healthy behaviors.
Expert knowledge on rural sanitation for low- and middle-income countries, incl sustainability; applying CATS principles; handwashing with soap; WASH-in-Schools and Health Centres and menstrual hygiene management is required.
Expert knowledge on WASH programme/project management, capacity development and knowledge management is required.
