Consultant-Emergency WASH - 2 months, Lesvos, Greece

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

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, [results]

On 9 September 2020, several fires broke out at the Moria Reception and Identification Center (RIC) located on the Greek island of Lesvos. The center, home to approximately 12,000 refugees, migrants and asylum seekers, 4,200 of whom children including over 400 unaccompanied minors, was severely damaged forcing people to flee for safety.

To address the immediate needs of displaced migrants, a new temporary site has been established in the vicinity of Kara Tepe. Currently 7,488 migrants (out of which 2,559 are children)1 are registered and sheltered in approximately 1,100 tents and eight Rubb halls. Various humanitarian actors immediately engaged in setting up emergency WASH infrastructure and provision of WASH services at the new site.

To date2, SDC has installed eight emergency water points (comprising of bladders and tap stands) with total storage capacity of 95,000 L, and in cooperation with the Ministry of Migration and Asylum provides 190,000 L of water (25.4 L/p/d) daily. Additionally, migrants receive 3 L of bottled water each day, as part of the daily food distribution by the National Guard supported by NGOs. Although the overall quantity of water at this stage is meeting the basic drinking water needs, location of water points, limited number and positioning of tap stands lead to a lengthy walking times for some residents. Additionally, ineffective drainage and poor performance of constructed soak pits cause flooding in areas adjacent to water points. The vast majority of people collect and store water in 1.5 L plastic bottles, undermining safe storage and handling procedures.

Due to urgent needs and the specific nature of the land (archaeological site), chemical toilets have been deemed the most appropriate for the first stage of the response. Various WASH actors have already provided and installed 342 chemical toilets (ratio 22 person per toilet)3. Each agency is responsible for cleaning, disinfecting and desludging of their installed toilets, however, some of these services are irregular and renders toilets unusable for prolonged periods of time. Toilets are clustered in several locations and for some areas access is compromised due to long walking distances.

Due to various factors, including limited availability of physical spaces, so far, no showers or laundry facilities have been installed and people resort to bathing outdoors or in the sea.

Solid waste is collected daily and other forms of waste, primarily plastic bottles are collected by a team of cleaners engaged by the local authorities. Although the camp, except for toilet areas, looks fairly clean there is a need for additional garbage bins, potential segregation of plastic bottles (including a solution for environmentally friendly disposal), and sensitization on proper solid waste disposal.

Hygiene promotion is ongoing and is done by the international and local NGOs. However, there are currently no IEC materials on good hygiene practices, hand washing, safe storage of drinking water and Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures are visible at the camp.

Currently no drainage system exists for any of the camp areas. Poor water absorption at water points, subsequent localized puddles and the need for manual removal of stagnant water raise strong concerns, especially with seasonal autumn/winter rains on the horizon.

How can you make a difference?

The key objectives of the assignment include:

• Provision safe and equitable access to water – both in quantity and quality - for drinking and domestic needs;

• Provision an access to appropriate and safely managed sanitation facilities;

• Establishment appropriate solid waste management facilities and services;

• Support Operation and Maintenance (O&M) of WASH facilities in the camp through development of relevant protocols and monitoring systems;

• Provision an access to culturally appropriate, gender- and age-sensitive information, services and supplies related to hygiene promotion and adoption of safe hygiene practices;

• Development and implementation of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) protocol and standards including awareness campaigns;

• Provision safe access to, and use of, appropriate WASH services in health, learning and recreational facilities.

• Coordination support to WASH sector and Technical Working Groups.

SCOPE

The Incumbent will work closely with the local authorities of the Reception and Identification Center (RIC) and agencies providing WASH services in Mavrovouni camp. S/he will provide technical support in planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of specific activities in WASH response to the migrant crisis in Lesvos.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Incumbent under the supervision of the UNICEF Emergency WASH Coordinator will undertake the key assignments listed below:

• Contribute to coordination between WASH humanitarian partners (UN agencies, national and international NGOs, the International Federation of Red Cross/Red Crescent, CBOs, etc.), through establishment/maintenance of WASH sector working groups for the complementarity of different WASH humanitarian actors' actions and linkage with other sector working groups;

Contribute to preparation of adequate WASH related contingency planning and preparedness for potential transition from emergency response to longer-term sustainable WASH interventions;

• Facilitate identification of gaps in WASH services provision, draft/recommend update WASH response, transition strategies and action plans based on lessons learned from WASH response activities and advocate for addressing the sectoral needs and critical gaps;

• Ensure that sector actors are aware of relevant policy guidelines, technical standards and assist WASH agencies and sector working groups to ensure that WASH responses are in line with existing policy guidance and technical standards;

• Facilitate monitoring of WASH interventions and progress against implementation plans with disaggregated indicators for adequacy of WASH services in terms of quantity, quality, coverage, etc. and access of disadvantaged and marginalized groups;

• Facilitate timely information sharing on WASH activities with WASH partners;

• Facilitate/assist tracking of WASH supplies and the monitoring of the end-use of donated supplies;

• Facilitate the integration of agreed priority cross-cutting issues in WASH emergency assessments, analysis, planning, monitoring and response (e.g. children and women, gender, age, diversity, environment, COVID and human rights);

TIMEFRAME

The Incumbent will be placed for a two month period (mid-December 2020 – mid- February 2021). Within this period, he/she is expected to provide a monthly progress reports on implemented activities, progress made, lessons learnt and recommendations for improvement.

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

• University degree in water and sanitation management, water supply engineering, sanitation, water operations, Public Health Engineering or other related technical fields;

  • Minimum of five years WASH programming experience with a minimum of 3 years’ experience of responding to an emergency;

  • Previous experience in assessment/survey of water, sanitation and hygiene situation in camps, communities, schools and/or other institutions;

  • Experience in management of WASH interventions in camps and host communities;

  • Knowledge/experience of data collection, analysis and interpretation tools and programmes;

  • Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships with government partners, communities and WASH actors;

  • Previous work experience with the UN and/or NGO will be an advantage;

  • Familiarity with UNICEF processes and procedures, as well as operational and implementation modalities will be an advantage;

  • Excellent writing skills, fluency in written and spoken English.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The functional competencies required for this post are...

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

The consultant is expected to organize their own travel. All travel expenses will be reimbursed by UNICEF. The consultant will travel by the most direct and economical route in economy class. UNICEF will pay the daily subsistence allowance as per UN-approved rate. The individual contractor must be fit to travel, be in a possession of the valid UN BSafe certificate, obligatory inoculation(s) and have a valid own travel/medical insurance and an immunization/vaccination card.

Remuneration and Payment Schedule

Payment schedule: Payment will be made based on agreed deliverables and a submission of monthly progress reports to UNICEF by the consultant, upon approval by the direct supervisor. Monthly progress reports will be brief, produced in English and summarize key activities, achievements and challenges faced during the reporting period, priorities for the next reporting period, highlighting any support needs from or recommendations for UNICEF.

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs is incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines. All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNICEF and UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future.

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 be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

HOW TO APPLY

Applicants are invited to:

1. Complete their UNICEF profile
2. Attach CV and Motivation Letter Your motivation letter should indicate your availability.
3. Monthly Fee

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.