WASH Officer

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)

Caracas, , VE

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, SAFE WATER.

 

How can you make a difference?

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, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give more 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.

Purpose of the job: The WASH Officer reports to the WASH Specialist. The WASH Officer provides technical, operational and administrative assistance throughout the WASH programming and humanitarian response processes. The Officer prepares, manages and implements a variety of technical and administrative and technical tasks, related to the development and planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the WASH output results of the country programme.

Key function, accountabilities and related duties/tasks

Programme and Response planning

  • Draft updates for WASH in the situation analysis, to inform the development of WASH-related response. Research and report on trends in WASH, for use in programme planning, 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.

Programme and Response 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, assessment and evaluation exercises, programme and response 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 WASH progress reports for management, donors and partners.

Technical and operational support for programme and Response implementation

  • Undertake field visits and surveys, programmatic visits and 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.

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.

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.
  • Research information on potential donors and prepare resource mobilization materials and briefs for fund raising and partnership development purposes.

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.

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

  • An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in one of the following fields is required: public health, social sciences, behavior change communication, sanitary engineering or another relevant technical field.
    • A first University Degree in a relevant  field combined with 5 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
  • Additional relevant post-graduate courses that complement/supplement the main degree are a strong asset.
  • A minimum of two years of relevant professional experience in WASH-related humanitarian response is required.
  • Humanitarian WASH Response experience in Venezuela will be an asset.
  • Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
  • Fluency in Spanish and English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French or Russian) is considered an asset.

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 functional competencies required for this post are 

  • Communication (II)
  • Working with people (I)
  • Drive for results (I)
  • Formulating strategies and concepts (I)
  • Analyzing (II)
  • Applying technical expertise (II)
  • Learning and researching (II)
  • Planning and organizing (II)

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/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.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.


Opening Date Tue Feb 18 2020 16:00:00 GMT+0300 (Arabian Standard Time) Venezuela Standard Time
Closing Date Tue Feb 25 2020 06:55:00 GMT+0300 (Arabian Standard Time


POSITION TYPE

ORGANIZATION TYPE

EXPERIENCE-LEVEL

DEGREE REQUIRED

LANGUAGE REQUIRED

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