Provincial Refugee WASH and CEED Officer (UNICEF)

United Nations Volunteers (UNV)

Mansa, Zambia 🇿🇲

General

Description of assignment title: Provincial Refugee WASH and CEED Officer

Assignment country: Zambia

Expected start date: 01/10/2023

Sustainable Development Goal: 6. Clean water and sanitation

Volunteer category: International UN Volunteer Specialist

DoA reserved for persons with disabilities: No

Host entity: UNICEF

Type: Onsite

Duration: 24 months

Number of assignments: 1

Duty stations: Mansa

Details

Mission and objectives
UNICEF helps build a world where the rights of every child are fully realized. It is our conviction that nurturing and caring for children are the cornerstones of human progress. UNICEF was created in 1946 to work with others to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease and discrimination place in a child’s path. It has global authority to influence decision-makers, and a wide variety of partners at grassroots level to turn the most innovative ideas into reality.

For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children’s survival, protection and development. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and Governments.

Context
Zambia is located in the Southern African region and has a population of approximately 19.6 million people with approximately 56% living in rural areas though rapid urbanisation is evident. A survey conducted in 2018 indicated that 15% of children under the age of 5 years in Zambia had diarrhoea within the two weeks prior to the survey and 34.6% were stunted. Global evidence shows linkages between consumption of poor-quality water , diarrhoea and waterborne diseases which may contribute to child stunting . Climate change may increase the consumption of contaminated water, especially in drought prone areas . Climate variability in the future threatens the sustainability of WASH investments. Some of the areas where UNICEF operates in Zambia have been experiencing adverse climate change effects. There are four resettlement areas in Zambia with an estimated 100,000 Persons of Concern . Approximately 18,000 Persons of Concern are living at Mantapala Refugee settlement area in Luapula Province where UNICEF is implementing WASH and drainage activities in 2023. The Provincial Refugee WASH and CEED Officer will be hosted at the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation office in Mansa, Luapula Province. UNICEF requires the services of an International UN Volunteer to support the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and Climate Change, Energy, Environment, and Disaster Risk Reduction/Response (CEED) team in Luapula Province. The incumbent will support Provincial and District Government Officers from the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation, Ministry of Green Economy, Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Education on WASH and CEED related activities. The incumbent will also work directly and daily with Government staff in their offices using locally provided government logistics and resources.

Task description
Under the direct supervision of the WASH CEED Specialist in Lusaka, the Provincial Refugee WASH and CEED Officer will perform the following tasks:

• Support refugee WASH related activities in Luapula Province. This will include working in close collaboration with UNHCR, and the Zambian Government through the Commissioner of Refugees Office, as well as relevant contractors and consultants to monitor drainage construction in Mantapala Refugee Settlement;
• Build environmental and social safeguard capacity at the Provincial, District and Town Council level among Government Officers and contractors;
• Strengthen the WASH component of ongoing Scaling Up Nutrition activities, by attending regular Village, District, and Provincial Water sanitation and hygiene commitment meetings and assisting planning and implementation activities;
• Monitor water quality treatment and private sector trials been conducted by contractors in the Province;
• Support the Commercial Utility with their mandate to include rural water systems and sanitation in their plans and budgets. This may include support in conducting economic analysis, such as identifying appropriate costs for small-piped water schemes; reviewing engineering designs; or creating behaviour change campaigns to improve payments or household sanitation construction;
• Conduct programme monitoring visits on UNICEF works vis a vis water, sanitation, and hygiene field activities;
• Prepare back to office reports on the work of UNICEF’s implementing partners’ progress and challenges;
• Document lessons learnt during implementation using UNICEF internal knowledge products or international peer-reviewed journal formats;
• Share photographs and human-interest stories with UNICEF communications teams.

Eligibility criteria

Age: 27 – 80

Additional eligibility criteria
This assignment is funded by JICA, therefore only former Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JICA-JOCV) who could get recommendation by JICA-JOCV Secretariat are eligible to apply. Please check your application eligibility on the JICA website (https://www.jica.go.jp/volunteer/obog/career_support/unv/index.html).
The assignment is planned to start October/November 2023.

Nationality
Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.

Donor priorities: .

Requirements

Required experience
3 years of experience in engineering, public health behavior change, or economics or related fields;
• Demonstrated interest in Climate, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene;
• Ability to orally communicate well in English;
• Skills in writing reports, lessons learned, or peer reviewed scientific papers;
• Flexibility and interest to work and live in a location with limited internet and difficult- to-pass roads;
• Willingness to work in a Government Office with a limited resource setup, and as an only UN personnel in a modest developed town with infrequent trips to Lusaka;
• Previous living experience in another culture (i.e., studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded; as will experience living in a rural low-income setting.

Area(s) of expertise: Energy and environment , Health

Driving license: .

Languages
English, Level: Fluent, Required

Required education level
Bachelor degree or equivalent in Economics, Climate, Environment, Civil Engineering, Water and Sanitation, International Development, Behaviour Change, Public Health, Communications, Business, or other related fields

Competencies and values
• Accountability
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Client Orientation
• Commitment and Motivation
• Communication
• Creativity
• Empowering Others
• Ethics and Values
• Integrity
• Respect for Diversity
• Self-Management
• Technological Awareness
• Vision
•Working in Teams

Other information

Living conditions and remarks
Zambia is a landlocked, middle-income country with a population estimated at 18 million. It is a resource-rich country with sparsely populated land in the centre of Southern Africa. It shares its border with eight countries (Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe) that serve as an expanded market for its goods. Lusaka became the capital city of Zambia in May 1935. Lusaka’s central position in Zambia and its pleasant climate were two of the main reasons for its selection as the capital. It is a metropolis, which provides a home to about two and half million (3.3 M) inhabitants of different nationalities. It has grown to become the seat of the Government of the Republic of Zambia and as such all diplomatic missions, international organizations, industrial and commercial entities are based there. Its political, social, economic and cultural significance has also increased through the years. Public transport is provided by private operators using minibuses and taxis. The bus routes are not mapped, and roads are often congested. Good modern housing for rent is available on the open market. The official language is English, which is widely spoken. The country is generally food secure, with sufficient local fresh fruits and vegetables available in the markets, as well as various dairy, poultry and meat products. There are several international schools using the Cambridge GCSE or IGCSE syllabi, from key stage one through to A levels. Health conditions are generally good, although malaria is endemic. Zambia is generally a safe place to live in, although not free of crime. Some prudence is required.

Mansa is the capital of the Luapula Province of Zambia, and headquarters of Mansa District. It takes its name from the local Chief Mansa and the small Mansa River which flows west to the Luapula River. During British rule the city was named Fort Rosebery. In a Province of beautiful rivers, waterfalls, lakes and wetlands, Mansa serves as administrative and commercial functions, being situated on a relatively featureless plateau between the Luapula River to the west and Lake Bangweulu to the east. It is connected to the Congo Pedicle road (and eventually the Copperbelt Province) in the south and to Luwingu and Kasama in the north-east. Fishing is the major economic activity in Luapula Province; basic services and amenities are available in the central business district (e.g., hospital, accommodation, banks, and schools) For more info, visit: http://www.zambiatourism.com

Inclusivity statement
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

Reasonable accommodation
UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for UN Volunteers with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process and afterwards in your assignment.

Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements
In addition to duty station-specific vaccine requirements, appointments are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the appointment. It does not apply to UN Volunteers who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their contracts.


POSITION TYPE

ORGANIZATION TYPE

EXPERIENCE-LEVEL

DEGREE REQUIRED

IHE Delft - MSc in Water and Sustainable Development