WASH Specialist (Emergency), P-4, Nairobi Regional Office (UNICEF)

[Admin]

Purpose:

The WASH – Emergency Specialist will work under the direction and guidance of the Regional Advisor WASH, to coordinate and support Country Offices in Eastern and Southern Africa Region for formulation, design, planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluation of WASH programme and interventions and as well as to improve WASH preparedness, coordination and response for emergency situations as per the Core Commitment for children and within the Humanitarian Reform/Clusters framework. The incumbent will promote and assist countries in addressing the issue of climate change and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in order to strengthen sustainable development. She/he will support Country Offices identifying gender inequalities and in implementing programmes to eliminated inequalities.

Qualification:

Advanced university degree in relevant fields such as public health, water supply, social sciences, environmental sciences or a field relevant to international WASH related development assistance. Additional training in Health Education or Communication for Development (Programme Communication), an asset.*

Eight years of progressively responsible professional work experience in the UN or other international development organization, national government or the private sector. Field work experience. Background/familiarity with Emergency (preparedness and response) and the IASC Cluster approach.

Fluency in English and another UN language. Knowledge of the local working language of the duty station is an asset.

*A first level university degree with a relevant combination of academic qualifications and experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Key Expected Results:

Programme/project Planning, Development and Management. Enhance effective programme, sectoral or inter-sectoral, planning including DRR, development and management by leading, guiding, coordinating and supporting the timely completion of the Situational Analysis and its periodic update, addressing gender inequalities and determinants of inequalities and vulnerabilities to disasters through accurate and complete monitoring and analysis, and the timely preparation or finalization of sectoral input.
Ensure inclusion and delivery on sectoral leadership responsibilities including leadership and facilitation of the IASC WASH Cluster.

2.Knowledge Management.

Promote knowledge management by exchange of knowledge, information, situation analysis, experience, tools and lessons learned on DRR and Clusters experience; Promote knowledge sharing and technical input or recommendations on major programme directions and on introduction of new DRR initiatives in the country. Promote lessons learned in addressing inequalities and gender inequalities.

Advise the Regional Advisor on appropriate training and professional development opportunities for WASH staff.

3.Rights-Based Programme with Results-Based Approach.

Promote the quality of rights-based WASH programme and programmes through participation in the formulation of programme/project goals, strategies and approaches. Bring coherence, synergy and added value to programme management processes using a results-based management approach to planning and design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

4.Sectoral Work Plan Development, Implementation, and Monitoring.

Takes primary responsibility for the development of the sectoral work plan and technical decisions as well as for project management, implementation and monitoring of assigned project/sectoral activity, in compliance with the defined project strategies and approaches, with an emphasis on promoting approaches to reducing gender inequalities, achieving gender mainstreaming and with a DRR approach.

5.Programme Management, Delivery, Evaluation and Reporting.

Ensure programme efficiency and delivery through a rigorous and transparent approach to evaluation. Participation in major evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sector review meetings with government counterparts. Ensure the preparation of annual WASH sector status reports. Ensure adequate and transparent evaluation of disaster preparedness and response.

6.Promotion of UNICEF’s Global Goals

Promote the organization goals of UNICEF through advocacy and policy dialogue through active engagement in communication, networking and participation at every opportunity inside and outside UNICEF, leveraging the strength of UNICEF mission, goals and programmes, and with reference to the WASH Strategy.

7.UNICEF and Government Accountability.

Coordinates with Operations and Supply staff on supply and non-supply assistance activities ensuring proper and timely UNICEF and Government accountability. Certifies disbursements of funds, monitors and submits financial status reports to management in compliance with the regulations and guidelines.

Advocate for due attention and support to be given to environmental and sustainable development issues (pertaining to WASH) in all sectors and line ministries.

Ensure adequate attention is given to Disaster Risk Management, including emergency preparedness.

8.Communication, Collaboration, Networking and Partnership.

• Ensure exchange of information, experience, identify new strategies and courses of action to accelerate/improve delivery of services and achieve WASH programme requirements and objectives. Conduct field visits to monitor programmes and collect information. Conduct periodic programme reviews with Government counterparts and other partners.

• Collaborate with Communication and Programme Communication groups to ensure development of effective communication materials and strategies to support advocacy and social mobilization efforts including for DRR.

• Overall coordination with Regional Advisers and HQ Officers. Collaborate with other Project or Programme or Emergency Officers to ensure the integration of the project/sectoral programme with other sectors.

• Collaborate with the Operations and Supply Sections and Government authorities to establish and maintain sound internal controls supportive of WASH programme or sectoral planning and implementation, to coordinate financial and supply management requirements as well as to ensure accountability.

• Interact with Government and other partners, NGOs, UN and bilateral agencies in the different stages of WASH programme/project implementation to follow up on agreements and recommendations.

• Provide technical support and guidance on appropriate technical, financial and institutional capacity building measures to achieve WASH programme goals.

• Facilitate sectoral orientation on DRR and the ‘Cluster Approach,’ and ensure leadership and coordination of the IASC WASH Cluster through disaster preparedness and response, whilst simultaneously ensuring delivery on the CCCs by the UNICEF WASH programme.

Competencies:

Communicates effectively to varied audiences, including during formal public speaking.

Able to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment.

Sets high standards for quality of work and consistently achieves project goals.

Has good leadership and supervisory skills; co-ordinates group activities, ensuring that roles within the team are clear.

Translates strategic direction into plans and objectives.

Analyzes and integrates diverse and complex quantitative and qualitative data from a wide range of sources.

Quickly builds rapport with individuals and groups; maintains an effective network of individuals across organizational departments.

Identifies urgent and potentially difficult decisions and acts on them promptly; initiates and generates team- and department-wide activities.

Demonstrates, applies and shares expert technical knowledge across the organization.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation. If you want a challenging career while improving the lives of children around the world UNICEF, the leading children’s rights organization, would like to hear from you.

Visit us at www.unicef.org/about/employ to register in our new e-Recruitment system and apply to this and other vacancies, quoting E-VN-2011-001209. Applications must be received by 11 August 2011. Please note that only candidates who are under serious consideration will be contacted.

In the selection of its staff, UNICEF is committed to gender balance and diversity without distinction as to race, sex or religion, and without discrimination of persons with disabilities: well qualified candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.