India nationals: UNV - WASH-CCES Program Officer (UNICEF)

General

Description of assignment title: National UNV – WASH-CCES Program Officer

Assignment country: India

Expected start date: 01/03/2024

Sustainable Development Goal: 6. Clean water and sanitation

Volunteer category: National UN Volunteer Specialist

Host entity: UNICEF

Type: Onsite

Duration: 12 months (with possibility of extension)

Number of assignments: 1

Duty stations: Bhubaneshwar

Details

Mission and objectives
The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, 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 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.

UNICEF has 14 state offices (excluding the Delhi office) with high burdens of populations without access to necessary WASH and other health services. These UNICEF offices have been active in supporting relevant state departments in achieving the targets established by the Prime Minister, and in the process, have been key partners in generating relevant knowledge products; everything from information, education and communication (IEC) tools to publications to research and evaluation. Given the rate of knowledge generation and production and the subsequent documentation, it was deemed that installing a systematic procedure for knowledge management would be fruitful in aggregating the products developed by the State. In addition, while the State has been proficient at documenting success stories, policies, and guidelines, there is a noticeable gap in demonstrating how processes have been put in place, i.e., process documentation is often lacking. There would be greater potential for advocacy and publicity at the national level for SDG-aligned priorities, such as partnership building, sustainable development, etc.

Odisha has experienced a nearly seven-fold increase in extreme flood events, affecting over 12.6 million people annually, especially in districts like Cuttack, Gajapati, Jajpur, Khurda, and Rayagada. There has been a four-fold increase in droughts in the last ten years, with extreme drought hotspots including Angul, Gajapati, Kandhamal, and Sundergarh. Odisha has faced contrasting extreme weather conditions, from heat waves to cyclones and from droughts to floods, which have become more frequent and have hit areas previously not considered vulnerable. Agriculture, a vital sector for the state’s economy, is the worst affected due to changes in micro-climate and natural calamities.
The state has built shelter homes capable of withstanding high-velocity winds, and there is a need to climate-proof other critical infrastructure to ensure faster recovery and protect citizens.

Context
Government of Odisha is implementing the WASH related programs of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) / BASUDHA and Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM). SBM has been implemented as a nationwide campaign of the Govt. of India (GoI) to eliminate open defecation through mass-scale behaviour change, construction of household-owned and community-owned toilets, and by establishing an accountability mechanism for monitoring toilet use. Having achieved the outcomes of ODF, in SBM Phase II was launched and now focuses on sustaining ODF behaviors and solid and liquid waste management. These activities will be monitored based on output-outcome indicators such as the number of villages covered with solid waste management, the number of villages incorporating grey water management, the number of blocks having a Plastic Waste Management Unit, the number of districts covered with Faecal Sludge Management (FSM), the number of IHHLs (Individual Household Latrine) built etc.
Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) was launched by the Min. of Jal Shakti in partnership with states, to enable every household in villages to have a Functional Household Tap Connection. Odisha has planned to provide 70 litres per capita per day to all HHs, institutions, and public places specified scheme named BASUDHA. It is envisaged that with FHTC, each household will have a potable water supply in an adequate quantity of prescribed quality on a regular and long-term basis.

UNICEF is supporting the GOI policy in Odisha by implementing key policies through the Swachh Bharat Swachh Vidyalaya (SBSV), a complementary initiative promoting access to functional toilets and hygiene practices for boys and girls in all schools. In addition to SBSV, UNICEF’s support for WASH in institutions will extend to community centres that double as preschool areas, called Anganwadis, and will aim to cover nutrition and WASH interventions targeting mothers and young children. The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation has recently reprioritized the provision and use of safely managed drinking water in rural areas. This prioritization, in turn, requires the revision of national guidelines on rural drinking water security and safety. In addition, to the continuous programming work plans, COVID-19 has introduced new challenges and opportunities for the WASH program to expand its purview and help state and national governments prioritize WASH-relevant practices and interventions that mitigate the risk of spreading the illness further. This additional emergency response has become a priority, and while many less urgent programming efforts have been deprioritized, it still has manifested a surplus of communication, guidance, and training material.
The Govt of Odisha is committed to combat climate change and promote environmental sustainability. Climate change is also a focus of UNICEF’s support in Odisha through the Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability (CCES) component of the programme. Odisha is one of the first states in India to recognize the vulnerability of its people to climate change and has developed a sector-wise action plan to address its impacts. The state has prepared a comprehensive Odisha Climate Change Action Plan (OCCAP), which outlines strategies across various sectors such as agriculture, energy, fisheries, forests, health, and water resources. A significant initiative is the Climate Budget, where Odisha presented a climate budget to assess and allocate funds for climate change-related activities.

Task description
The main purposes of this position would be to support UNICEF’s WASH-CCES programme to become more WASH compliant and environmentally resilient, in a strategic way that factors current capacity and specific added value of UNICEF in India. These actions fall in alignment with UNICEF’s global Strategic Plan for 2022-2025, under which Goal Area 4 states that UNICEF will work to ensure that ‘every child, including adolescents, has access to safe, resilient water, sanitation and hygiene services and lives in a safe and sustainable climate and environment’.

The National UN Volunteer shall support cross-cutting tasks involving engagement with water, sanitation, WASH in institutions and SBCC programme donors and implementation partners.

Under the direct supervision of the WASH Specialist, Bhubaneswar and the overall guidance of the Chief of UNICEF Odisha Field Office, the National UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Supporting the planning, monitoring, and reporting requirements of the donor partnerships; support the Bhubaneswar Field Office WASH-CCES Section in quality assurance of reports and data.
• Coordinating, participating in discussion and review sessions, and providing technical support and quality assurance of the tasks related to meetings with different stake-holders.
• Coordinating, providing technical support and quality assurance of the activities related to the interaction with UNICEF programme partners, working under the water, sanitation, WASH-CCES in institutions and SBCC output, regarding the projects under implementation.
• Assist in designing, developing and roll-out communication and capacity building interventions strategy and action plan under the water, sanitation, WASH-CCES in institutions and SBCC output, regarding the projects under implementation.
• Support field implementation of sanitation and hygiene projects under the guidance of the Bhubaneswar Field Office WASH-CCES Specialist. This may include field visits as per the direction of the WASH-CCES Specialist.
• Support concurrent monitoring of the deliverables on various water, sanitation, WASH-CCES in institutions and SBCC programmes.
• Supporting the development of written material, presentations, and reports for the meetings, including the review meetings with the Government, on the partnership pro-jects under implementation by UNICEF.
• Supporting the Bhubaneswar Field Office WASH-CCES section in organising and preparing for regular meetings and events like GHD (Global Handwashing Day) and WTD (World Toilet Day) under the Youth4Water Plus campaign, including disseminating in-formation related to the development partners’ platform that is hosted by UNICEF.
• Work on the various data sources and datasets like NFHS V, NSSO, and NAARS and analyze them as per requirements of the section and direction of the WASH-CCES Specialist.
• Development of written material, presentations, and reports for dissemination within the UNICEF WASH-CCES network and outside UNICEF.
• Support in knowledge management of the WASH-CCES pillar, including managing UNICEF – ECM library and ECM sites related to water, sanitation, WASH-CCES in schools, AWCs, HCFs, MHM and SBCC.
• Assist Bhubaneswar Field Office WASH Specialist in engaging with the network on the water, sanitation, WASH-CCES in institutions and SBCC programme, especially on partnerships at the national and state levels.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the United Nations Volunteer programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and taking active part in UNV activities (for in-stance in events that mark International Volunteer Day);
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;
• Provide annual and end-of-assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;
• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteer(s);
• Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible. Results/expected outputs
• As an active UNICEF ICO team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNICEF and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including:
• The efficiency and efficacy of support provided by the National UN Volunteer to programme preparation, planning and implementation, contributes to the achievement of sustainable results to create a protective environment for children against harm and all forms of violence and ensures their survival, development and well-being in society. Success in child protection programmes and projects in turn contributes to maintaining and enhancing the credibility and ability of UNICEF to provide programme services for mothers and children that promote greater social equality in the country.
• A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.
• Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.

Eligibility criteria

Age: 27 – 80

Nationality: Candidate must be a national or legal resident of the country of assignment.

Requirements

Required experience
3 years of experience in work related to the development sector, preferably in WASH rural and urban settings.

• Proficient computer skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, database programs, etc.); familiarity with online reporting/data entry software desirable.
• A good understanding of quantitative methods is desirable.
• Proven track record of organizational skills, ability to take the initiative, work with Government systems, meet deadlines, and work with minimal supervision.
• Knowledge/Experience of UN systems and logic framework, planning and results-based management will be an advantage.
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines
• Excellent communication skills in English and Hindi: good interpersonal skills, with the ability to work in a multi-cultural environment.
• Ability to conceptualize, plan, develop, implement, monitor evaluate and report on pro-grammes in the areas indicated above, and to transfer knowledge and skills.
• Ability to develop partnerships and to network in the areas of WASH.
• Analytical, negotiating, communication and advocacy skills, excellent writing skills.
• Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, and reporting skills;
• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development;
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel;

Area(s) of expertise: Community development, Development programmes, Social work

Driving license: .

Languages
English, Level: Working knowledge, Required
Oriya, Level: Basic, Desirable

Required education level
Master degree or equivalent in
Social science, science or relevant field

Competencies and values

• Professionalism • Integrity • Teamwork and respect for diversity • Commitment to continuous learning • Planning and organizing • Communication • Flexibility • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement

Other information

Living conditions and remarks
Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha State is the largest town and headquarters of Khordha district and Odisha State. Located in the eastern coastal plains, along the axis of the Eastern Ghats mountains, the city has an average altitude of 45 m (148 ft) above sea level. It lies southwest of the Mahanadi River which forms the northern boundary of the Bhubaneswar metropolitan area, within its delta. It has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million people. Bhubaneswar is supposed to have had over one thousand temples, earning the tag of the ‘Temple City of India’. An administrative and educational centre of Odisha, it is well connected by railway and road. Bhubaneswar is an ancient city with a rich cultural heritage. Although the modern city of Bhubaneswar was formally established in 1948, the history of the areas in and around the present-day city can be traced to the 7th century BCE and earlier. It is a confluence of Hindu, Buddhist and Jain heritage and includes several Kalingan temples, many of them from the 6th–13th century CE. With Puri and Konark it forms the ‘Swarna Tribhuja’ (“Golden Triangle”), one of Eastern India’s most visited destinations. The living cost in Bhubaneshwar is equal to that in Kolkata or Hyderabad. The weather is moderate. Summer nights tend to get pleasant and not remain hot. It is well connected by flights from major international airports in the country. Medical facilities, banking facilities, communications and infrastructure are good.

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. This position is based in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. National UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan. National UN Volunteers are expected to be culturally sensitive and adjust to the prevailing culture and traditions.

Conditions of Service for national UN Volunteers

The contract lasts for the period indicated above with possibility of extensions subject to availability of funding, operational necessity and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment.

The applicable Volunteer Living Allowance is provided monthly to cover housing, utilities and normal cost of living expenses. Life, health and permanent disability insurance are included (health insurance for up to 3 dependents – except for UN Community Volunteers), as well as final repatriation (if applicable). You can check full entitlements at https://app.unv.org/calculator.

For information specific to your assignment please see below:

• Monthly Voluntary Living Allowance (VLA) : INR INR 50,604.24
• Entry lump sum (one-time payment) : USD 400
• Travel ticket if/when moving to duty station: USD 200
• Exit allowance (paid on successful completion of the assignment): 1 VLA/12 Months
• Medical and life insurance Cigna Private Insurance

Leave entitlements:

• Annual leave : 2.5 days accrued per calendar month
• Certified sick leave: 30 days
• Uncertified sick leave: 7 days
• Learning leave: 10 working days per consecutive 12 months
• Maternity leave: 16 weeks
• Paternity leaves: 10 days

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.