General
Description of assignment title
UNV WASH Officer
Assignment country
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Expected start date
15/12/2025
Sustainable Development Goal
11. Sustainable cities and communities
Volunteer category
National UN Volunteer Specialist
Host entity
UNICEF
Type
Onsite
Duration
12 months
Number of assignments
1
Duty stations
Kalemie
Details
Mission and objectives
UNICEF’s fundamental mission is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, through all its work programs, advocacy, and operations. The equity strategy, which focuses on the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment into action. For UNICEF, equity means ensuring that every child could survive, develop, and reach their full potential, free from discrimination, bias, or favouritism. When a child faces unequal opportunities in life be it socially, politically, economically, civically, or culturally their rights are violated. Growing evidence shows that investing in the health, education, and protection of the most disadvantaged members of society tackling inequalities will not only give more children the opportunity to reach their potential but will also lead to sustainable growth and stability for nations. This focus on equity is therefore critical. It accelerates progress toward realizing the human rights of all children, which is UNICEF’s universal mandate as outlined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while supporting equitable national development.
Context
In this context, the UNICEF office in Kalemie is seeking a WASH Officer (UNV) to strengthen its capacity to intervene in the areas of water, sanitation, and hygiene. This role is vital for supporting the implementation of WASH projects in the province, as part of the organization’s response to the Humanitarian-Development Nexus, the regular program, and emergency interventions. The National Volunteer will provide technical, operational, and administrative assistance throughout the WASH programming process. This includes supporting the preparation and execution of various technical and administrative tasks related to the development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of program outcomes in water, sanitation, and hygiene.
Task description
Under the direct supervision of the WASH Officer, this position is to support the WASH Unit in Tanganyika. The incumbent is to contribute to the qualitative, efficient, and effective implementation of the WASH programme as well as monitoring. The UN Volunteer WASH Officer will undertake the following tasks: 12.1. Programme Development and Planning · Contribute to drafting updates for the WASH program within the situation analysis to inform the development of WASH-related outputs and results. Conduct research and write reports on water, sanitation, and hygiene trends to support program development, management, monitoring, and evaluation. · Prepare technical reports and contributions for program preparation and documentation, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and relevance of information. · Assist in the development/establishment of WASH sector outcomes and outputs, as well as related strategies, by analysing WASH sector needs and priorities. · Provide technical and administrative support at all stages of the programming process by carrying out/administering various technical program transactions, preparing documents, and adhering to organizational processes and management systems to facilitate progress towards WASH sector outcomes and/or outputs within the country program. · Prepare required documents to facilitate review and approval processes. 12.2. Program Management, Monitoring, and Achieving Results · Collaborate with colleagues and partners to collect, analyze, and share information on implementation issues, propose solutions to address challenges in program implementation, and alert officials and stakeholders for higher-level interventions and decisions. Maintain records and evaluations for easy reference and/or to capture and institutionalize lessons learned. · Participate in program monitoring and evaluation, program reviews, and annual sector reviews with the government and other counterparts, and prepare reports on outcomes for higher-level program management actions/interventions. · Contribute to the preparation of sectoral progress reports for the office, donors, and partners. 12.3. Technical and Operational Support for Program Implementation · Conduct field visits and surveys, collect and share reports with partners/stakeholders. Report critical issues, bottlenecks, and potential problems to the supervisor for prompt action. · Provide technical and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners, and other stakeholders/donors at the country office regarding the application and understanding of UNICEF’s WASH policies, strategies, processes, and best practices to support program implementation. · Support alliances with the media to regularly cover project achievements and promote program visibility (e.g., brochures, briefing notes, TV spots, radio spots). · Document the processes, progress, and best practices of projects implemented in North Kivu to support evidence-based advocacy and learning (e.g., documentaries, human interest stories, case studies). · Support the DPS (Provincial Health Division), ONHR, and other institutions in strengthening community capacities to develop and implement water quality control and monitoring systems, hand hygiene promotion, and sanitation initiatives. · Assist in developing program documents and tenders/contracts for appropriate WASH activities to be implemented in the province. · Prepare periodic project reports, including updates on the logical framework and results matrix at the provincial level. 12.4. WASH Emergency Preparedness and Response · Contribute to drafting supply requests for inputs, services, long-term agreements, and partnership agreements to ensure UNICEF’s readiness to meet WASH commitments in emergencies. · Study and fully understand UNICEF’s procedures for emergency response. · Provide support roles in emergency and resilience responses as needed. · Provide technical assistance for planning, implementation, monitoring, and supervision of agreed project work plans, with a focus on quality construction in line with specifications and standards. · Strengthen the capacity of WASH partners and communities to respond to emergencies. · Identify critical gaps in WASH emergency response within displaced persons camps and host communities. · Contribute to project proposal documentation for inter-agency appeals and targeted donor submissions, as well as reporting documents, including SitRep updates and the overall WASH response situation. · Support host communities and displaced persons in establishing and operationalizing WASH committees to ensure sustainable WASH services.
Eligibility criteria
Age
18 – 80
Required experience
3 – 15 years
Nationality
Candidate must be a national or legal resident of the country of assignment.
Assignment requirements
Relevant experience
3 years
Languages
French, Level: Fluent, Required English, Level: Working knowledge, Desirable
Required education level
Bachelor degree or equivalent in A university degree at the Engineer level in one of the following disciplines: hydrology, sanitation engineering, rural development, sanitary engineering, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, or any other relevant field related to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programs.
Competencies and values
· Diversity and inclusion: Treats all people with dignity and respect; shows respect and sensitivity towards gender, cultural and religious differences; challenges prejudice, biases and intolerance in the workplace; encourages diversity wherever possible. · Integrity: Maintains high ethical standards; takes clear ethical stands; keeps promises; immediately addresses untrustworthy or dishonest behaviour; resists pressure in decision-making from internal and external sources; does not abuse power or authority. · Commitment: Demonstrates commitment to UNICEF’s mission and to the wider UN system; demonstrates the values of UNICEF in daily activities and behaviours; seeks out new challenges, assignments, and responsibilities; promotes UNICEF’s cause. · Communication: Speaks fluently; expresses opinions, information, and key points of an argument clearly; presents information with skill and confidence; responds quickly to the needs of an audience and to their reactions and feedback; projects credibility; structures information to meet the needs and understanding of the intended audience; presents information in a well-structured and logical way. · Working with people: Shows respect for the views and contributions of other team members; shows empathy; listens, supports and cares for others; consults others and shares information and expertise with them; builds team spirit and reconciles conflict; adapts to the team and fits in well. · Drive for results: Sets high standards for quality of work; monitors and maintains quality of work; works in a systematic, methodical, and orderly way; consistently achieves project goals; focuses on the needs and satisfaction of internal and external partners; accepts and tackles demanding goals with enthusiasm. UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse, and on any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
Skills and experience
14. Qualifications/requirements: – Professional experience in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programs within the United Nations system, another international development organization, a national government, or the private sector. – The incumbent must be a dynamic, multi-functional person, who supports UNICEF with professionalism, dedication, and client orientation, and who must be willing both to work on programmatic/substantive aspects and to provide operational/logistical services. The following qualifications are required: – Excellent writing skills in French and proven experience in writing for different target audiences. – Ability to work under tight deadlines, multi-task and work effectively under pressure and in a proactive manner. – Ability to work in an international and multicultural environment. – Ability to build and maintain partnerships with UNICEF’s partners (government, implementing partners, private sector, other UN agencies, etc) and excellent working relationships with colleagues across all UNICEF’s sections in the DRC. – Willingness to travel within Tanganyika province, often in uncomfortable conditions.
Area(s) of expertise
Energy and environment , Procurement and contracting, Social work
Driving license
–
Other information
Living conditions and remarks
The UNICEF office in Kalemie has a staff of about 53 people, including permanent, fixed terms, temporary staff, consultants, and volunteers. The office is in the province of Tanganyika and ensures the programmatic coordination of the province. The office environment is friendly and promotes multicultural integration and learning. The DRC is a complex and challenging country. It provides for an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential. Tanganyika road infrastructure is poor and therefore air travel is necessary to get to many of the sites where UNICEF’s implementing partners operate. Mobile phones and cellular service are widely available. Internet is limited, but available in all UNICEF’s offices. Travel to field sites will be required where living conditions are basic. There are several health services available with several evacuation options for serious illnesses. There is reasonable access to most consumer goods.
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.
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