General
Description of assignment title
Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Specialist
Assignment country
Brazil
Expected start date
02/09/2024
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
Belem
Details
Mission and objectives
UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. UNICEF is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and strives to establish children’s rights as enduring ethical principles and international standards of behaviour towards children. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has been present in Brazil since 1950, supporting the most important changes in childhood and adolescence in the country. UNICEF participated in major immunization and breastfeeding campaigns; the mobilization that resulted in the approval of Article 227 of the Federal Constitution and the drafting of the Child and Adolescent Statute; the movement for universal access to education; programmes to combat child labour; among other great advances in guaranteeing the rights of Brazilian girls and boys. In recent decades, Brazil has promoted a strong process of inclusion of children and adolescents in public policies. However, a significant portion of the population remains excluded. Therefore, in its cooperation programme with the Brazilian Government for the period 2024-2028, UNICEF focuses its efforts on the most vulnerable and excluded girls and boys, with a special focus on children and adolescents who are victims of extreme forms of violence. These children and adolescents in situations of greater vulnerability are spread throughout Brazil, but they are more concentrated in the Amazon, in the Northeast and in large urban centers. Through the UNICEF Seal, UNICEF promotes commitments to guarantee the rights of children and adolescents in the Northeast and in the Amazon regions in Brazil. In large cities, UNICEF works with a focus on reducing intra-municipal inequalities, through the #AgendaCidadeUNICEF.
Context
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. There is growing evidence that investing in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), 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 in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations. As part of its new country programme 2024-2028, UNICEF Brazil is currently developing its WASH programme based on the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic which highlighted serious programmatic needs in terms of access to WASH services, especially among the most vulnerable children (indigenous, traditional people, rural communities and small municipalities, migrants and refugees). Even though the Amazon Legal region holds the largest freshwater reserve in Brazil (80%), it presents the worst WASH indicators of the country. Children drink water directly from the river, families cook with water brought in buckets. However, many of the rivers in the Amazon are polluted, not only with domestic sewage, but mainly with industrial, agricultural, and mining waste – legal and illegal. The infant mortality rate caused by waterborne diseases such as viruses and acute diarrhea is still a public health challenge. In terms of water and sanitation, a study carried out by the Trata Brasil Institute, for the year 2022, indicated that 6 state capitals are among the cities with the worst sanitation coverage in the countries: o Macapá (AP) – 100th place in the ranking o Porto Velho (R0) – 98th place in the ranking o Belém (PA) – 95th place in the ranking o Rio Branco (AC) – 94th place ranking o São Luís (MA) – 86th place ranking o Manaus (AM) – 83th place ranking UNICEF initiated its Water, Sanitation and Hygiene – WASH program in 2020 and has since developed a strategic approach around three central pillars: • WASH for indigenous and traditional people • WASH in schools, with strong emphasis of menstrual health and hygiene • Support to small municipalities for WASH services planning and governance • In the State of Para, UNICEF starts the implementation of three projects: • Promoting access to water, sanitation and hygiene in schools in the municipality of Barcarena (PA) through infrastructure interventions and training for school managers. • Preventing droughts impacts in the Munduruku indigeneous Territory. • Sanitation and hygiene services in schools located in the Munduruku indigeneous Territory. In order to ensure effective support an effective WASH programme, UNICEF will recruit a national UN Volunteer WASH Specialist who will be based in Belém.
Task description
Under the general guidance of the Belém Chief Field Office, and with the technical support of the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene – Climate, Environment, Energy and Disaster Risk Reduction (WASH-CEED) programme in Brasilia, the national UN Volunteer WASH Specialist will support the following WASH duties: • Provide technical support to the UNICEF office in Belém to WASH-CEED Program • Provide technical support and guidance on Wash projects implemented in Para, including a strong aspect of community engagement. • Provide technical support and guidance for the development and implementation of a training package for Education managers about access to public funding. • Ensure qualitative WASH programming and projects implementation, in support of implementing partners, local authorities and community-based organizations.
Eligibility criteria
Age
18 – 80
Nationality
Candidate must be a national or legal resident of the country of assignment.
Requirements
Required experience
3 years of experience in WASH including the specificities of migration and indigenous contexts. • Strong sense of organization, consistency, and coherence in all processes. • Experience of working in field locations. Background/familiarity with humanitarian operations considered an asset. • Experience in working with international organizations considered an important asset. • Motivated to contribute towards peace and development and to serve others. • Good interpersonal, networking and communication skills. • Willingness to contribute and work as part of a team. • Flexible and open to learning and new experiences. • Respect for diversity and adaptability to other cultures, environments and living conditions. • Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture, (i.e., studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded.
Area(s) of expertise
Community development, Crisis and emergency response, Engineering and construction
Driving license
–
Languages
Portuguese, Level: Fluent, Required English, Level: Basic, Desirable Spanish, Level: Basic, Desirable
Required education level
Bachelor degree or equivalent in public health, social sciences, biological sciences, sanitary and environmental engineering, or another relevant technical field.
Competencies and values
Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness – Self-aware of own strengths, limitations, working style and deeply held convictions and biases; Display ethical awareness through behaviors that are consistent and compliant with the standards of conduct for international civil servants; Seek feedback from multiple sources on own behaviors, including unconscious biases and potential blind spots; Recognize personal stress and seek help to maintain personal well-being; Display appropriate ethical behaviors, promoting zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment, including sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and any type of discrimination; Challenge unprofessional, unethical and unsafe behaviors; Voice opinion in a truthful and respectful manner; Apply UNICEF’s core values in personal and professional life, demonstrating consistency between words and actions. Works Collaboratively with others – Establish and maintain mutually supportive working relationships, demonstrating sensitivity to people of diverse backgrounds, respecting differences and ensuring that all can contribute and succeed; Encourage others to contribute ideas and listen without interruption; Support colleagues in achieving their goals; Earn the trust and confidence of colleagues through respectful, honest behaviours, displaying openness and tolerance. Builds and Maintains Partnerships – Build a network of external stakeholders and alliances with counterparts in order to promote and advance the work of the organization; Develop a network of formal and informal contacts through participation in professional networks; Adopt a consultative approach and solicit the support of key stakeholders at critical stages of one’s work. Innovates and Embraces Change – Adapt and respond positively to change; Review work practices, analyzing evidence-based trends to apply new methods and techniques; Respond flexibly to changing circumstances, priorities and deadlines; Display creativity, experiment with new approaches and demonstrate openness to changing existing practices. Thinks and Acts Strategically – Understand the big picture and show ability to identify potential opportunities for action and challenges; Analyze and evaluate data from a wide range of sources, assessing reliability and presenting conclusions to enable informed decision-making; Adapt workplans in response to emerging situations and new requirements; Consider the long-term impact and risks. Drive to achieve impactful results – Commit to action and assumes responsibility and ownership for own performance and the associated outcomes; Pay attention to detail, producing work of a high standard; Monitor activities on a regular basis, reviewing work plan to ensure progress and delivery; Ensure the completion of tasks, while addressing obstacles and bottlenecks; Involve key stakeholders in activities that impact them, keeping them informed of potential delays and problems. Manages ambiguity and complexity – Demonstrate resilience and composure despite challenges; Maintain performance levels in pressure, adverse and uncertain environments; Demonstrate flexibility; Identify key issues and priorities, maintaining personal effectiveness in complex situations.
Other information
Living conditions and remarks
Belém, often called Belém do Pará, is a Brazilian municipality and capital of the state of Pará. The municipality is formed by two parts: the continental area and Insular area composed of forty-two islands (which are 65% of its territory). Being part of the Eastern Amazon makes Belém one of the rainiest state capitals of Brazil. It is the most populous municipality in Pará and the second in the North region with a population over 1.5 million inhabitants. Security The UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) in Brazil advises to exercise a high degree of caution in Brazil due to the high levels of serious and violent crime, especially in major cities. Violent crimes such as assaults, armed robberies, kidnappings and sexual assault are very important. The most frequent security incidents in the region are robberies, various types of fraud and minor crimes. Slums in large cities should be avoided and in case of attack, one is advised not to resist. Demonstrations can occur at any time and can turn violent with little or no warning. All United Nations personnel must scrupulously comply with UNDSS procedures and recommendations during their assignment, both on and off duty. For missions in rural areas or indigenous reserves, special procedures may apply; United Nations personnel should consult with the local DSS office in advance. Additional means of communication can be provided. Health Basic health services are available and most of the specialized services are offered locally. Travelers are advised to carry a supply of the necessary prescription medications. The yellow fever vaccine is mandatory, and evidence of yellow fever vaccine is required (at least ten days before the trip to the area). Dengue, Zika, Chikungunya and yellow fever are transmitted by the same mosquito, Aedes Aegypti. Preventive measures are key. The mosquito feeds mainly at dusk and dawn, indoors, in shaded areas or when the weather is cloudy. Wear long-sleeved clothing, use insect repellents, place windows with screens, keep residences cool with air conditioning and use mosquito nets. Geography and climate Belém is surrounded by wetlands and igarapés. The topography is low and flat, with a maximum altitude point of 25 meters, on Mosqueiro island. A large part of the city area lies between 3 and 4 meters (10 and 15 ft), making it subject to the influence of high tides Development Classified as one of the capitals with the best quality of life in the Brazilian North region with HDI 0.746 (high), occupying the 22nd position in the HDI ranking by capital city. Housing As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging their own housing and other living essentials. The UN National Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan. Pará is a unique State and provides an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as commitment to make life comfortable. Therefore, flexibility and adaptability are essential. Information on full entitlements at the duty station is available at https://app.unv.org/calculator. The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos. https://www.unv.org/
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.
