WASH Officer Climate Resilience

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Description

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The WASH officer reports to the WASH specialist for guidance and general supervision. The WASH Officer (Climate Resilience) under output 2, will support the objectives of the UNICEF country programme 2024-2028 in improving government capacity to develop, adopt and increase access to safely managed climate resilient (CR) WASH services. Under the supervision of the WASH Specialist and in coordination with relevant CR WASH, climate and environment advisors of UNICEF EAPRO and HQ offices, the WASH Officer (Climate Resilience) will specifically support UNICEF engagement on upstream work with government counterparts, CSOs, private sector and UN agencies on CR WASH programme goals in development and humanitarian contexts. The main responsibilities are to support the design, planning, and implementation of all climate resilient WASH upstream work at national level and specific provinces. This post will support national government to mainstream and transition to a Climate Resilient WASH strategy and develop work plans to address the imminent risks to children in disadvantage communities in the areas of sanitation, water and hygiene. The work will address policy development, increase access to and use of safely managed WASH services, support to regional governments and provide support in the event of a humanitarian response.

The WASH Officer (CR) will have the following Tasks and responsibilities:

 Programme development and planning:

• Provide timely, comprehensive and current data to inform CR WASH policy reviews and programme development, planning, management and implementation. Keep abreast of CR WASH sector development trends, for maximum efficiency and effectiveness in programme design, management and implementation.
• Participate in strategic CR WASH programme planning discussions. Prepare/support CR WASH donor proposals, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s Strategic Plan, UNICEF’s global CR WASH strategy (Area Goal 4) and the country programme, as well as government plans and priorities, UNSFC outcome 3, and the role of other external support agencies.
•  Work with colleagues and partners to discuss and develop strategies and methodologies for the achievement of CR WASH output results in the country programme and UNICEF’s CR social sectors.
• Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes and ensure integration, coherence and harmonization of CR WASH with other UNICEF sectors, for the achievement of the WASH output results.
•  Draft assigned sections of the annual work plan, in close cooperation with government and other counterparts.
•  Lead in the preparation of annual construction work plan for the CER and other sections with related construction activities in the work plan

Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results:

•  With other external support agencies, strengthen national government WASH sector monitoring systems, with a focus on CR WASH outcomes (access and behaviors), using bottleneck analysis tools available in the sector (CR WASH-BAT, CSOs, SDAs).
•  Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sectoral reviews with government and other counterparts and prepare reports on results for required action/interventions at the higher level of programme management.
• Prepare/assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths/weaknesses in programmes and management, identify and document lessons learned.
• Monitor and report on the use of sectoral programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets), verify compliance with approved allocations, organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity. Report on issues identified to enable timely resolution by management/stakeholders.
• Provide close monitoring on construction activities by undertaking regular site visits and conducting regular technical meetings including joint monitoring with relevant Government technical services; follow up progress for each activity per milestones and review site supervision reports to ensure work compliance with norms, standards, and timeline; verify quality and precautions on health and safety standards on ground.
• Provide assistance to UNICEF Contract Administrator on contract management, amendments, variations, duration extensions, applying liquidated damages, etc., compile and archive project documents, minutes, correspondence, instructions, etc.
• Attend technical cooperation meetings; prepare presentations on projects’ progress; undertake follow-up actions in relation to project implementation and monitoring.
• Undertake appropriate actions to overcome technical challenges in construction-related activities.
•  Prepare sectoral progress reports for management, donors and partners. Both in development and Humanitarian context.

Technical and operational support for programme implementation:

• Actively monitor UNICEF-supported activities through field visits, surveys, meetings and exchange of information with partners, to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and potential problems and take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely interventions.
• Provide technical and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and other country office partners/donors on the application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes and best practices in WASH, to support programme implementation.
• Participate in CR WASH programme meetings, to review progress, with government, other sector agencies and implementation partners, involved at various stages of CR WASH programme implementation, to provide expert advice and guidance.
• Draft briefs, concept notes and other strategic materials for use by management, donors, UNICEF regional offices and headquarters.
• Conduct capacity assessments of CSO partners and ensure special conditions for construction are followed.
• Assist Supply section in preparation of LPA requests and CRC submissions with supporting documents related to construction activities.
• Update regularly the LTA for construction and engineering services available in the local market.
• Prepare tender documents in relation to construction works and engineering services; attend bidders’ conference and present the technical components of the tender; draft answers on technical questions raised by the bidders during the tendering.
• Support Supply section in organizing bidders’ conference and site visits; participate in the evaluation of technical proposals received and draft technical recommendation; if needed, provide support to Supply section on the analysis of financial proposals.

Humanitarian WASH preparedness, response and resilience:

• Prepare requisitions for supplies, services, long-term agreements and partnership agreements to ensure UNICEF is prepared to deliver on its commitments for WASH in case of an emergency.
• Support the coordination arrangement of the humanitarian WASH cluster (UNICEF as co- lead), for timely robust coordination in case of an emergency response.
• In coordination the WASH specialist, the emergency specialist and the EPP, ensure that all UNICEF WASH staff are familiar with UNICEF’s procedures for responding in an emergency.
• Take up support roles in an emergency response, early recovery, and resilience building as and when the need arises.

Networking and partnership building:

• Build and sustain close working partnerships with government counterparts and national stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge to facilitate programme implementation and build capacity of stakeholders to achieve CR WASH output results
• Prepare materials for CR WASH programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships and support fund-raising.
• Participate in inter-agency discussions, ensuring that UNICEF’s position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the UNSCF development planning and agenda setting for outcome 3.
• Build and sustain close working relationships with the relevant government departments and private sector to achieve results for CR WASH, Climate change, green economy and sustainable systems.

Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building:

• Actively support the development, implementation, monitoring and documentation of CR WASH action research and innovation (technical or systems).
• Prepare learning/knowledge products, covering innovative approaches and good practices, to support overall WASH sector development.
• Participate as a resource person in capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients and stakeholders

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

Education: 

• A university degree in Civil engineering, architecture, or another relevant technical field.
• Additional relevant post-graduate courses or training on WASH, climate change, environment, WASH in schools, WASH in healthcare facilities, behaviour change, and/or emergency preparedness and response that complement/supplement the main degree are a strong asset.

Work Experience: 

• A minimum of two (2) years of professional experience in WASH-related programmes for developing countries is required.
• One year of deployment in a developing country is required.
• A minimum of two (2) years of relevant experience, at the national level, in project monitoring, site supervision, quality assurance and/or other directly related technical fields is required.
• UN experience is an advantage.
• At least one three-month deployment mission in a humanitarian situation (with UN-Govt-INGO) is an advantage.

Skills:

• Adept with programme development and planning using available data and ensuring alignment with organizational goals and external stakeholder priorities.
• Strong project management skills, including use of monitoring and evaluation tools, and particularly, in construction monitoring and contract management.
• Ability to provide technical support and guidance on climate resilient WASH and address technical challenges in construction and engineering activities.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to build and sustain partnerships, and foster collaboration across various stakeholders.
• Proficiency in capacity development approaches for stakeholders and partners on climate resilient WASH, including construction and engineering activities.
• Proficiency in humanitarian WASH preparedness and response, including supply requisition, partner coordination, and implementing emergency protocols, with experience in resilience-building, early recovery efforts, and cluster coordination.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English (verbal and written) and Filipino. Good written and spoken skills in the language of the humanitarian operation and knowledge of another UN language an asset.

Source: https://jobs.unicef.org/cw/en-us/job/578306

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