General
Description of assignment title
Technical Officer, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
Assignment country
Congo
Duty stations
Brazzaville
Work location
On UN premises
Expected start date
01/09/2026
Duration
12 months
(with possibility of extension)Long-term benefits and allowances
Sustainable Development Goal
6. Clean water and sanitation
Host entity
WHO
Modality
Onsite
Type
International
Volunteer category
Specialist UCoS from Apr2026
Work schedule
Full-time
Number of Assignments
1
Details
Mission and objectives
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations Public Health Organization established in 1948. The objective of the World Health Organization shall be the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. World Health Organization achieves its goals by performing its essential functions: 1. Take a leadership role in key health issues and create partnerships when joint action is needed; 2. Set research priorities and encourage the acquisition, application and dissemination of useful knowledge; 3. Setting standards and criteria and encouraging and monitoring them; 4. Develop ethical and evidence-based policies 5. Provide technical support, be an agent of change and build institutional capacity in a sustainable way; 6. Monitor health status and assess health trends. WHO works in the African Region to build resilient, people-centred health systems that protect populations from environmental and climate-related health risks. Through its Climate Change, Health and Environment (CHE) programme, WHO AFRO leads regional action to reduce the health impacts of climate change and environmental hazards, advancing Universal Health Coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Context
The Climate Change, Health and Environment (CHE) programme is part of, and contributes to, the work of WHO AFRO’s Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Control (DPC) Cluster. The programme focuses on the attainment of SDG target 13.2 – integrating climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning – guided by the DPC strategic agenda. The vision of the DPC Cluster is an African Region where access to health care services at all levels is optimized to control, eliminate and eradicate targeted diseases, allowing people to thrive in healthy environments and attain the highest possible standard of health and well-being throughout the life course. Its mission is to build a Region that is resilient, agile and responsive to the needs of its diverse populations, using an integrated, multi-sectoral approach that supports Member States’ investments in disease control and prevention through equity-based, people-centred approaches. The Cluster pursues four strategic directions: generating and disseminating knowledge products to set the health agenda and guide health investments; facilitating the development, adoption and use of WHO normative tools and technical products; integrating technologies into health, including the deployment of point-of-care technologies in primary health care; and building institutional capacity to localize technical support. Within this framework, the CHE programme provides leadership and action to enable Member States in the WHO African Region to reduce the morbidity, mortality and disability associated with major environmental hazards to health – including climate change, poor air quality, unsafe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene, chemicals and toxic wastes – advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the Sustainable Development Goals. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a young and fast-growing agenda at the intersection of the health and environmental sectors. Africa holds the largest share of Member State commitments to the Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH), with 32 of the 47 countries WHO supports in the Region now engaged. WHO has recently been accredited by both the Adaptation Fund and the Green Climate Fund – becoming the first health-focused organization to hold this dual accreditation – creating significant opportunities to grow its climate-health portfolio. Climate change is the first of the six goals of WHO’s Fourteenth General Programme of Work (GPW14), making this one of the Organization’s most forward-looking programmes.
Task description
Under the direct supervision of the Team Lead, Climate Change, Health and Environment (CHE), the UN Volunteer will provide technical expertise to support the development, implementation, and monitoring of WHO AFRO’s regional and country-level water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) strategies and interventions, including climate-resilient WASH infrastructure and WASH in health care facilities, in line with the Framework for Building Climate-Resilient and Sustainable Health Systems in the WHO African Region 2024–2033. Working alongside experts at WHO headquarters, the AFRO Regional Office, and country offices, the volunteer will gain hands-on exposure to regional and global WASH and environmental health processes – including flagship monitoring platforms such as the Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking-Water (GLAAS), WASH Accounts, and Water Safety Plans – benefit from mentorship by leading specialists in the field, and build technical and professional skills in one of the most dynamic and high-priority areas of global public health. Supporting Member States to strengthen public health through improved environmental health conditions and promoting equitable access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene services, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks under the supervision of the Team Lead, Climate Change, Health and Environment (CHE): • Contribute to regional strategies, norms and guidance: participate in the design and implementation of WASH policies, guidelines, and strategies aligned with WHO regional objectives; lead the implementation of GLAAS, WASH Accounts, and Water Safety Plans/Water Safety Nets; support the development and dissemination of regional WASH strategies and technical standards; contribute to the documentation of best practices, policy lessons, and success stories; provide input to policy dialogue and decision-making processes based on evidence and field experience; and promote the integration of WASH into broader public health, environmental, and emergency response frameworks; • Support capacity building and knowledge exchange: identify national capacity gaps and propose targeted interventions; organize and contribute to workshops, trainings, and seminars for government staff and partners; assist in the development and distribution of learning materials and operational guidelines; and facilitate south-south collaboration and peer learning; • Provide technical support for data systems and monitoring: facilitate the systematic collection and collation of WASH-related data, including policies, financing, and human resources; assist in harmonizing assessment and monitoring frameworks at national and regional levels; contribute to the development of digital tools (e.g., online surveys, databases) for country and partner data submissions; and promote transparency and innovation in data visualization, interpretation, and reporting; • Promote advocacy, behavioural change, and community engagement: contribute to the design and dissemination of communication materials and information packages; support hygiene promotion and social mobilization efforts targeting behaviour change; address cultural and social norms that affect WASH uptake and service use; and collaborate with stakeholders to ensure messages are locally relevant and impactful; • Strengthen partnerships and resource mobilization: engage with donors, technical partners, and government stakeholders to promote coordinated WASH efforts; support the drafting of funding proposals and advocacy briefs aligned with regional priorities; participate in regional and national stakeholder meetings, consultations, and joint missions; and contribute to the development of WASH progress reports for advocacy and donor engagement; • Perform other related responsibilities as assigned, including replacing and backstopping for others as required.
Eligibility criteria
Age
18 – 80
Required experience
3 years
Nationality
Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.
Assignment requirements
Relevant experience
5 years
Languages
English, Level: Fluent, Required French, Level: Fluent, Required
Required education level
Master’s degree in Public Health Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Hydrology, Hydrogeology, Sanitation Engineering, Environmental Science or Management, or a related field.
Competencies and values
• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Creativity • Judgement and decision-making • Planning and organising • Professionalism • Self-management
Skills and experience
• Practical experience in processing, analysing, and interpreting water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) and health-related data, including aspects of the wider environment field, ideally in developing countries and with exposure at the international level; • Demonstrated knowledge of global WASH monitoring and accountability platforms such as Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking-Water (GLAAS), WASH Accounts, and Water Safety Plans/Water Safety Nets; • Familiarity with climate-resilient WASH systems and infrastructure, and with WASH surveillance or early warning systems for environmental and public health threats, is an asset; • Good analytical and drafting skills, with the ability to synthesize scientific and policy information; proficiency in Microsoft Office and data management tools; • Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, and reporting skills; • Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing; • 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; • Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management and office technology equipment; • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines; • Have affinity with or interest in water, sanitation and hygiene, environmental health, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the United Nations (UN ) System.
Area(s) of expertise
Water, sanitation, waste, Public health, immunisation, Climate change, environment
Driving license
–
Other information
Volunteerism is understood as a wide range of activities undertaken of free will, for the general public good, for which monetary reward is not the principal motivating factor.
Living conditions and remarks
Brazzaville is a family duty station with access to basic services, medical facilities, and international travel connections. The environment is culturally rich but requires adaptability and resilience. You can check full entitlements at the duty station at https://app.unv.org/calculator. The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos
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.
Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements
Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy
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