WASH Specialist

Purpose

Under the overall guidance of the Chief of WASH, you will be accountable for the development, design, planning, implementation and management of new policy/es on WASH sector, including innovative and sustainable approaches for water supply and sanitation and design climate change adaptation and mitigation strategy in the context of the WASH interventions and new policy development for the next 2011-2015 country programme.

Qualifications

- Advanced university degree in water and sanitation related fields such as civil engineering or public health, with specialization in environmental sanitation, hygiene education, water supply or hydrogeology or other fields related to the work of UNICEF.
- Additional training in Public Health and/ or Programme Communication an asset.
- Five years of professional work experience at the national and international levels in the UN or other international development organization, national government or the private sector.
- Previous experience in managing innovative and cost effective solutions for water supply and sanitation, as well as in sustainability analysis and climate change mitigation and adaptation measures.
- Previous experience in policy development in particular referring to sanitation and water for all and decentralization of service delivery.
- Previous experience in the country is an asset.
- Fluency in English and another UN language is required.
- Knowledge of the local working language of the duty station is an asset.
- A first level university degree with a relevant combination of academic qualifications and experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Key expected results

1. Programme/project Planning
- Development and Management Enhance effective programme, sectoral or inter-sectoral, planning, development and management by coordinating and supporting timely completion of WASH Situational Analysis and its periodic update through accurate and complete monitoring and analysis, and the timely preparation or finalization of sectoral input in particular related to policy development in the sector, also within the global framework for action, Water and Sanitation for All, as well as the decentralization of service delivery to districts, and appropriate sustainability and climate change strategies developed.

2. Knowledge Management
- Promote knowledge management by exchange of knowledge, information, situation analysis, experience or lessons learned; promote knowledge sharing and technical input or recommendations on major programme directions and on introduction of new initiatives in the country.

3. Rights-Based Programme with Results-Based Approach
- Promote the quality of rights-based WASH programme and programmes through participation in the formulation of programme/project goals, strategies and approaches. Bring coherence, synergy and added value to programme management processes using a results-based management approach to planning and design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

4. Sectoral Work Plan Development, Implementation, and Monitoring.
- Take primary responsibility for the development of the sectoral work plan and technical decisions as well as for project management, implementation and monitoring of assigned project/sectoral activity, in compliance with the defined project strategies and approaches.

5. Programme Management, Delivery, Evaluation and Reporting.
- Ensure programme efficiency and delivery in particular referring to cost effective and innovative solutions to accelerate trend of access (including revision of hand pumps strategy, social marketing, involvement of private sector and building capacity in private sector) with analysis of potential and sector environment completed
- Participate in major evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sector review meetings with government counterparts.

6. Promotion of UNICEF’s Global Goals
- Promote the organization goals of UNICEF through advocacy and policy dialogue through active engagement in communication, networking and participation at every opportunity inside and outside UNICEF, leveraging the strength of UNICEF mission, goals and programmes, and in reference to the WASH strategy.

7. UNICEF and Government Accountability.
- Coordinate with Operations and Supply staff on supply and non-supply assistance activities ensuring proper and timely UNICEF and Government accountability.
- Certifies disbursements of funds, monitors and submits financial status reports to management in compliance with the regulations and guidelines.
- Advocate for due attention and support to be given to environmental and sustainable development issues (pertaining to WASH) in all sectors and line Ministries incorporating analysis about sector funding strategy and financial coherence mechanism

8. Communication, Collaboration, Networking and Partnership.
- Collaborate with Communication and Programme Communication groups to ensure development of effective communication materials and strategies to support advocacy, social mobilization and emergency efforts.
- Coordinate with WASH colleagues, Regional Advisers and HQ Officers. Collaborate with other Project, Programme and Emergency Officers to ensure the integration of the project/sectoral programme with other sectors.
- Collaborate with the Operations and Supply Sections and 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.
- 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.

Competencies

- Communicates effectively to varied audiences, including during formal public speaking.
- Able to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment.
- Sets high standards for quality of work and consistently achieves project goals.
- Has good leadership and supervisory skills; co-ordinates group activities, ensuring that roles within the team are clear.
- Analyzes and integrates diverse and complex quantitative and qualitative data from a wide range of sources.
- Identifies urgent and potentially difficult decisions and acts on them promptly; initiates and generates team- and department-wide activities.
- Translates strategic direction into plans and objectives.
- Quickly builds rapport with individuals and groups; maintains an effective network of individuals across organizational departments.
- Demonstrates, applies and shares expert technical knowledge across the organization.