Emergency WASH Associate

Volunteering Communications & PR Crisis & Emergency Response

Overview

Support UNICEF's emergency response programme in WASH.

You have:

• A minimum of 3 years of professional experience in WASH-related programmes planning and management is required.
• Relevant experience in programme management in WASH-related areas in a UN agency is considered an asset.
• Demonstrated interest in and/or knowledge of water, sanitation and hygiene development issues, policies, social programme strategies, international development cooperation in the WASH sector.
• Advanced level classes in data gathering, analysis and research or WASH related school or volunteer work.
• Computer skills (i.e., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, GIS, basic mapping, social media, and others).
• Good interpersonal, networking and communication (verbal and written) skills.
• Planning and organizing skills.

Contract

This is a UNV contract. More about UNV contracts.

The UNV assignment is part of UNICEF’s emergency response programme in Sri Lanka, focusing on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) to protect children and their families in flood and cyclone-affected areas. This emergency response is implemented in close collaboration with the Government of Sri Lanka, relevant line ministries, and other humanitarian partners, with a strong emphasis on providing immediate relief and supporting short- and medium-term recovery interventions. As the WASH Cluster lead, UNICEF coordinates emergency activities through regular WASH sector meetings with line ministries and partners to ensure effective information sharing, gap analysis, and alignment of interventions.

The UN Volunteer will support UNICEF’s WASH section in implementing these activities, providing technical and coordination support to field teams, government counterparts, and implementing partners, while contributing to monitoring, reporting, and the documentation of emergency interventions.

Under the direct supervision of the assigned UNICEF Officer, the UNV Specialist - Emergency WASH will undertake the following tasks during the 3-month emergency assignment:

Coordination • Coordinate with relevant authorities to ascertain and assess WASH requirements and secure agreements and approvals. Including other sector representatives, line ministries, and government partners at national and sub-national level. • Coordinate with implementing partners to ensure smooth execution of project activities and timely response to requests. • Liaise with UNICEF field staff members and provide technical guidance when required to support program implementation. • Liaise with supplies colleagues in facilitating the timely procurement of materials required for programmes and align resources and logistics with field requirements • Coordinate between authorities, partners and respective agencies as required in the implementation of the programme Monitoring • Monitor and record the procurement and delivery of all supplies • Monitor ongoing activities and follow up on requests from project implementing partners to ensure compliance and timely delivery. • Monitor beneficiary engagement and track funding utilization to ensure accountability and transparency. • Follow up on government requests, monitor response progress, and support timely resolution of pending actions. • Monitor the quality of work undertaken by implementing partners, • Monitor the changes reflected on the 5W database and flag discrepancies. Reporting • Conduct regular monitoring to review project activities and prepare project progress reports as required. • Compile reports on materials ordered and supplied to beneficiaries on a regular basis. • Compile reports on activities undertaken by respective partners for monitoring purposes

Other • Support communication efforts, including drafting case studies, success stories, and other relevant documentation for program visibility. • Perform any other duties as may be required and assigned to ensure effective emergency response.

• Builds and maintains partnerships: • Demonstrated self-awareness and ethical awareness: • Drive to achieve results for impact: • Innovates and embraces change: • Manages ambiguity and complexity: • Thinks and acts strategically: • Works collaboratively with others

• A minimum of 3 years of professional experience in WASH-related programmes planning and management is required. • Relevant experience in programme management in WASH-related areas in a UN agency is considered an asset. • Demonstrated interest in and/or knowledge of water, sanitation and hygiene development issues, policies, social programme strategies, international development cooperation in the WASH sector, field of development and volunteerism, capacity development, equity and inclusion and/or WASH in • schools, WASH in healthcare facilities, WASH linkages to nutrition and local government, WASH and climate change, and commercial water utility experience would be an added asset. • Advanced level classes in data gathering, analysis and research or WASH related school or volunteer work. • Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture, • (i.e., studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded. • Computer skills (i.e., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, GIS, basic mapping, social media, and others). • Good interpersonal, networking and communication (verbal and written) skills. • Planning and organizing skills.

Sri Lanka is an island nation located off the south coast of India. An estimated population of around 21 million people is sheltered in this multi-ethnic, multi- cultural and multi- religious country. Colombo is situated in the Western Province of Sri Lanka and is the commercial capital of the country. The city is located on the west coast of the island, adjacent to the administrative capital, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte. Bandaranaike International Airport is located 35km from Colombo and is served by the main international airlines. Sri Lanka is a tropical country with moderate temperature and high humidity all throughout the year.

Average temperature in Colombo ranges between 27 and 30 degrees Celsius. The island experiences two main monsoon seasons, where heavy rainfalls occur, from May to August and October to January. Rice and curry comprise the main dishes. Sri Lankan cuisine tends to be quite spicy. There are hotels and other types of accommodation options available in Colombo. Supermarkets, banking, and medical facilities are present within the city.

The support provided by the UN Volunteer supporting UNICEF under this initiative is a Special Programme Initiative (SPI) by UNV. SPIs respond to volunteer-specific needs of the United Nations system and donor entities. They are established by specific policy documents that address the desired programmatic aims and broader SDG outcomes in line with UNV guiding principles. UN Volunteers for serving under this SPI are governed by the particular conditions set out in their offers and contracts.

In addition to the specific requirements set out above, candidates for these volunteer assignments will be subject to background checks, confirmation and clearance provided by the United Nations Department for Safety and Security (UNDSS). Candidates who do not pass this security clearance are prohibited from serving as a UN Volunteer for UNICEF in Sri Lanka.

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Potential interview questions

Added 3 months ago - Updated 3 months ago - Source: unv.org