Unicef is Currently Recruiting in Zambia


WASH Specialist_NO-3 Fixed Term Appointment_Lusaka, Zambia Post # 108906 for Zambian Nationals Only

Job no: 519102
Position type: Fixed Term Staff
Location: Zambia
Division/Equivalent: Nairobi Regn’l(ESARO)
School/Unit: Zambia
Department/Office: Lusaka, Zambia
Categories: WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene), NO-3

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child,

The UNICEF Programme of Cooperation with the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) is designed to address and mitigate the threat of poverty the country’s children face, while responding to the needs with interventions addressing the multiple causative factors.

In response to the combination, these threats involve the Programme supports national efforts to improve service delivery in the key areas of: child health and nutrition and HIV and AIDS, quality basic education, water, sanitation and hygiene education, child protection and social policy, advocacy and communication.

To find out more about UNICEF’s work in Zambia, please visit https://www.unicef.org/zambia/.

How can you make a difference?

The WASH Specialist reports to the Chief of WASH (Level 4) for guidance and general supervision. The Specialist supports the development, preparation, management, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the WASH programme within the country programme. The Specialist provides technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes, to facilitate the administration and achievement of the WASH-related output results in the country programme.

Key Functions, Accountabilities and Related Duties/Tasks

1. Programme development and planning

  • Draft the WASH inputs for the situation analysis. Provide timely, comprehensive and current data to inform WASH policy and programme development, planning, management and implementation. Keep abreast of WASH sector development trends, for maximum efficiency and effectiveness in programme design, management and implementation.
  • Participate in strategic WASH programme planning discussions. Prepare WASH donor proposals, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s Strategic Plan, UNICEF’s global WASH strategy and the Country programme, as well as government plans and priorities, and the role of other external support agencies.
  • Assist in the formulation of the WASH outcome and output results, related indicators, baselines, targets and means of verification. Prepare required documentation for programme reviews.
  • Work with colleagues and partners to discuss strategies and methodologies for the achievement of WASH output results in the country programme.
  • Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes and ensure integration, coherence and harmonization of 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.

2 Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

  • With other external support agencies, strengthen national government WASH sector monitoring systems, with a focus on WASH outcomes (behaviors), using bottleneck analysis tools available in the sector (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.
  • Prepare sectoral progress reports for management, donors and partners.

3 Technical and operational support for programme implementation

  • Actively monitor UNICEF-supported activities through field visits, surveys 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.
  • Plan for use of technical experts from the Regional Office and HQ, as and where appropriate in the WASH programme, through remote support and on-site visits.
  • Participate in WASH programme meetings, to review progress, with government, other sector agencies and implementation partners, involved at various stages of WASH programme implementation, to provide expert advice and guidance.
  • Draft policy papers, briefs and other strategic materials for use by management, donors, UNICEF regional offices and headquarters.

4 Humanitarian WASH preparedness and response

  • 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.
  • Contribute to the coordination arrangement for humanitarian WASH, for instant robust coordination in case of an emergency.
  • 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 and early recovery, as and when the need arises.

5 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 WASH output results.
  • Prepare materials for 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 UNDAF development planning and agenda setting.
  • Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building
  • Lead the development, implementation, monitoring and documentation of WASH action research and innovation (technical or systems).
  • Prepare learning/knowledge products, covering innovative approaches and good practices, to support overall WASH sector development.
  • Create and deliver learning opportunities for UNICEF WASH staff, to ensure our sector capacity remains up-to-date with latest developments.
  • Contribute to the systematic assessment of WASH sector capacity gap analysis, in collaboration with government and other stakeholders, and support the design of initiative to strengthen capacities systematically.
  • Participate as a resource person in capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders.

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

Education

  • An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required:  Public Policy, Social Sciences, Economics, Political Science or another relevant technical field

Experience

  • A minimum of five years of professional experience in WASH-related programmes for developing countries is required.  Experience in emergency response is an asset

Language Requirement

  • Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language  or a local language of the duty station is considered as an asset.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Application close: Jan 23 2019 South Africa Standard Time

Click here to apply