Generic Vacancy Announcement - WASH Cluster Coordinator, NOB, Afghanistan, Multiple Locations (for Afghan nationals only)

Contract

This is a NO-2 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. More about NO-2 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, Commitment!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbkJiMmvKqk

How can you make a difference?

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic, and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, nutrition, education, and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. Therefore, the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations. UNICEF is the WASH Cluster Lead Agency in collaboration with the Country Co-Coordination agency (DACAAR) in Afghanistan.

Job organizational context:

The situation in Afghanistan remains exceptionally complex, with a protracted emergency, characterized by recurrent natural disasters, an increased number of people living in poverty, continued internal displacement, unprecedented levels of food insecurity, further compounded by prolonged drought. This complexity has greatly impacted the situation of children and women in the country. The withdrawal of United States military forces from Afghanistan in August 2021 and the establishment of a de-facto government by the Taliban has exacerbated the complexity and uncertainty of the situation. UNICEF is required to rapidly adapt is ways of working to address the multiple operational constraints present in the highly volatile and unpredictable context.

The current WASH needs in Afghanistan, and related scale up plan for increased coverage and quality of WASH services, underscore the relevance of a reliable, at-scale, informed coordination mechanisms to ensure adequate and effective reach to the most vulnerable. Coordination of WASH partners at national level involves the main cluster forum, as well as subgroups, such as the Strategic Advisory Group (SAG) and major thematic Technical Working Groups. At subnational level, efforts have been imparted to establishing regional level coordination, in connection with the Provincial Humanitarian Response Teams and the PRRDs.

However, with time and rise in needs, and evolving coordination challenges, the need for leadership strengthening at subnational level, and establishment of strong connection between the various levels have risen as central elements for improved coordination. At sub-national level, there are cluster focal points (UNICEF) in each of the five zones (Central, Northern, Eastern, Western, and Southern), who oversee programmatic implementation while at the same time ‘double-hatting’ for sub-national cluster coordination. Given the current needs, the demand for programme implementation outweighs their sub-national cluster coordination efforts. A dedicated subnational cluster coordinator is needed for the fulfillment of the cluster functions, in collaboration with the cluster partners and relevant government stakeholders present at provincial level.

Purpose for the job

Under the supervision of the WASH Cluster Coordinator, with support from WASH Specialist at the region, the post holder will provide leadership and facilitate the processes that will ensure a well-coordinated, strategic, adequate, coherent and effective response by partners in the sub national WASH cluster.

The post holder will facilitate communication and information sharing through coordination architecture at the regional level in liaison with WASH partners, Provincial Disaster Management Committee (PDMC), OCHA led Coordination forum (HRT), National WASH cluster, Directorate of Refugees & Returnees (DoRR) and Provincial Rural Rehabilitation & Development (PRRD).

The incumbent will guide partners in delivering appropriate WASH services to vulnerable people through strengthening the humanitarian preparedness and response to emergencies, incorporating Disaster Risk Reductions (DoRR) as well and where possible, linking humanitarian-development nexus through planning and coordination.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

To support service delivery

• Ensure regional coordination meetings are routinely organized to take stock of the emergency preparedness and response situation. Frequency of the meeting to be determined and decided at the regional level.
• Ensure effective coordination with other clusters[1] at regional level (with OCHA HRT support).
• Work with core pipeline stock managers (UNICEF, DACAAR, IOM and National WASH Cluster coordination team) to monitor Core Pipeline levels, facilitate partner requests for supplies, and assess if Core Pipeline quantities meet existing and expected needs of the region.
• Represent the regional cluster partners at the Provincial Disaster Management Committee (PDMC) meetings.
• Point of contact for national cluster, promote the use of the WASH Cluster website and keep the national cluster updated (by sharing minutes, sitreps etc.) on progress, needs, and issues/challenges related to WASH in Emergencies (WinE) in the Region.
• Proactively follow up referrals from AWAAZ directly or indirectly to ensure such referrals are assessed, addressed, tracked and feedback shared with concerned/relevant entities.
• Maintain a repertoire of active WASH cluster partners contacts (emails, telephone etc.) for focal persons as well as for alternative focal point persons.
• Ensure effective coordination, Communication and information sharing with PRRD at regional level.
• Ensure that, for quality service delivery, MRRD technical standards are considered in WASH project implementation especially for durable water supply projects.
• Support and consultatively address handing over process of WASH projects/systems to the project participants through DoRR, RRD, and or with WASH cluster members.
• Maintain flexibility within the sub cluster to respond to changes in the operating environment, evolving requirements, capacities, and participation.
• In AWD/Cholera outbreak situation, support the establishment of a multi-sectorial taskforce to coordinate response and operationalize response plan, follow up and ensure timely sharing of information including line listing, hot spots, surveillance and epidemiological reports among others.

To inform the HC/HCT’s strategic decision-making through the WASH Cluster platform

• Through partnership with cluster members/ regional humanitarian forum, initiate and or support needs assessment of affected population and exchange information[1] and reports, highlighting urgent WASH-related needs and gaps to avoid duplication and support effective decision making.
• Coordinate and support the regional mapping and identification of vulnerable groups among the conflict and disaster affected populations prioritizing WASH needs and emergency response.
• Support and encourage integration of priority cross-cutting issues in WASH needs/gaps assessment(s), analysis, planning, monitoring and response (e.g. age, diversity, environment, gender and protection).

Plan and implement cluster strategies

• Adapt existing in-country information management approaches for collecting, analyzing and reporting Cluster activities and resources, and identifying information gaps in consultation with the WASH Cluster IM.
• Disseminate national strategies, guidelines and standards among the regional partners and support their implementation.
• With support from the National WASH Cluster IMO, ensure the 3/4 Ws are updated and appropriately represent partners’ presence and response capacity in the region, provide inputs where necessary on key national cluster documents/planning and strategy documents such as cluster HRP, contingency/preparedness plans, advocacy papers etc.
• Adequately participate/support NWC in the AHF – standard/Reserve allocation activities prioritization, geographical coverage, and partners’ response capacity.

Monitor and evaluate performance

• With support from the IMO, maintain up to date information on partners’ presence and capacity within the sector in the given region, using a 3/4 W tool/matrix that is periodically updated.
• Provide feedback to the National WASH Cluster coordination team on progress of the regional WASH cluster, including successes, challenges, best practices, and human-interest stories.
• Where practical work closely with OCHA and Partners implementing AHF-Standard or Reserve allocation to ensure WASH response(s) meet acceptable cluster standards and provide quality services to the planned beneficiaries.
• Conduct joint monitoring of WASH AHF projects with OCHA.
• Suport national WASH Cluster by ensuring partners participate and contribute towards annual WASH cluster performance monitoring through Cluster Coordination and Performance Monitoring (CCPM).

• Assist National WASH Cluster to promote and support training and capacity building of WASH humanitarian partners, based on the mapping and understanding of available capacities.

  To support robust advocacy

• Support advocacy campaigns, especially facing WASH gaps related to conflict, natural disasters (e.g. drought, floods, famine etc.), public health issues (malnutrition, outbreaks such AWD, COVID-19 etc.) and protection issues (toward Gender Based Violence (GBV) risks, Persons with Disability/ies (PwD), elders etc.).

• Lead and support cross-sector advocacy issues (such as humanitarian space and access, need based assistance, impartiality, and neutrality of humanitarian response) and special events (such as World Water Day, Global Hand Washing and World Toilet Day).

Accountability to Affected Population (AAP) / putting communities at the center

• Ensure WASH programs are designed to provide equitable access and reduce incidences of gender-based violence in accessing and utilizing WASH services through separate consultation of boys, girls, women and men including older people and those with disabilities.
• Support and monitor WASH partners to ensure that girls, boys, women and men including older people and those with disabilities have access to appropriate and safe WASH services.
• In coordination with WASH implementing partners, ensure that girls, boys, women and men including older people and those with disabilities have access to feedback & complaint mechanism (or any culturally appropriate two-way communication mechanism) so that corrective actions can address their protection and assistance needs.
• Monitor and evaluate safe and equitable access and use of WASH services in WASH projects.
• Work with partners to ensure and enforce the Do No Harm approach for WASH assistance.
• Liaise and work closely with gender and protection focal point persons at National level to ensure partners at regional level incorporate and operationalize the joint WASH Cluster & GBV Sub-cluster “WASH GBV checklist” in their response/projects.

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

• A university degree in one of the WASH disciplines or Public Health.
• At least 2 (two) years’ experience working in complex and volatile humanitarian contexts.
• Documented results related to the position’s responsibilities.
• Knowledge about own leadership skills/profile.
• Technical competence in the Cluster systems, procedures, and governance structures and humanitarian response systems.
• Capacity to maintain good relationships with all relevant stakeholder and work with diverse teams to develop consensus.
• Proven ability to take into consideration the interests of NGOs (international and national) while advocating or lobbying for the localization agenda. The cluster is guided by the principles of neutrality, impartiality and advocacy for all.
• Fluency in English and a local language is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: https://uni.cf/UNICEFValues

UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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 is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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.

Remarks:

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF only considers educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/

* The successful candidate for this emergency recruitment MUST be available to commence work within 31 days of receiving an offer.