WASH Officer (WASH in Institutions), NOB, Temporary Appointment (364 days) Kabul, Afghanistan

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, Care

Working for UNICEF: https://youtu.be/43aiG4w2q_M?t=2 

UNICEF in Afghanistan:  https://www.unicef.org/afghanistan/

How can you make a difference?

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’s 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, nutrition, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all 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:

This WASH Officer (WASH in Institutions) level 2 GJP is to be used in a Country Office (CO) where WASH is a substantial component of the Country Programme (or CCPD). The WASH Officer reports to the Chief of WASH/Health/Nutrition/Education/ADAP/CSD (Level 4/5) or a WASH Specialist who is at Level 3 or 4.

Purpose for the job:

The WASH Officer (WASH in Institutions) reports to the Chief of WASH/Health/Nutrition/Education/CSD (Level 4/5) or a WASH Specialist who is at level 3 or 4 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.

 

Key function, accountabilities and related duties/tasks

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Programme development and planning
2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results
3. Technical and operational support for programme implementation
4. Humanitarian WASH preparedness and response
5. Networking and partnership building
6. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building
7. Programme development and planning

 

 

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, especially WASH in Schools & WASH in Health Care facilities, 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.

 

• Support management and implementation of WASH in School programme with MoE, and WASH in HCFs programme with MoPH

 

• 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. 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.

3. 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. 

 

4. 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.

 

 

5. 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 (WASH in Institutions) 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. 

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

 

Education: An advanced university degree (minimum a university degree at BSc level) in one of the following fields is required: public health, social sciences, behavior change communication, sanitary engineering or another relevant technical field.

(While advanced university degrees for WASH positions are strongly preferable, a University degree at first level will at least be required) Additional relevant post-graduate courses that complement/supplement the main degree are a strong asset

Experience: DEVELOPMENTAL:  a minimum of two years of professional work experience in WASH-related programmes for developing countries is required.

Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is 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	Basic knowledge of six of the eight components
Humanitarian WASH – preparedness Humanitarian WASH – response and recovery	Basic knowledge of one component
Humanitarian WASH – coordination of the response	Basic knowledge
Programme/project management Capacity development Knowledge management Monitoring and evaluation	Basic knowledge of all four components
Human rights and WASH Gender equality and WASH	Basic knowledge

 

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 UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

Core Values

• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Accountability

Core Competencies

ii) Core Competencies (For Staff with Supervisory Responsibilities) *

• 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)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

 

or

 

Core Competencies (For Staff without Supervisory Responsibilities) *

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

 

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

 

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.

This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either: a role with direct contact with children, works directly with child, is a safeguarding response role or has been assessed as an elevated risk role for child safeguarding. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) applies.

Remarks:

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 qualified female candidates to apply to this post and become a part of the organization.

Candidates found to be suitable but not selected for this post will be placed in the relevant group for 36 months and considered for similar employment opportunities in the future.