Internal/External Vacancy Announcement: WASH Specialist (WASH in Institutions/School), NOC, Maputo, Mozambique (Open to nationals of Mozambique only)

Contract

This is a NO-3 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-3 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, clean water

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, 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, 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. This is why 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.

The Country Programme of Cooperation between the Government of Mozambique and UNICEF (CPD) for 2022-2026 aims to support Mozambique to accelerate efforts towards achieving the targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and meeting its commitment to respect, protect and fulfil the rights of children, in line with the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action. It derives from the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), 2022–2026 and aligns with the Government Five-Year Plan 2020–2024, the National Development Strategy 2015–2035 and relevant sector policies and programmes.

For more information about UNICEF Mozambique's work please follow this link.

You can also access and explore all new UNICEF vacancies via the UNICEF Mozambique website link herein.

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF Mozambique WASH programme works at national and decentralized level, with a variety of interventions covering both Enabling Environment, Field Implementation, Emergency preparedness and response, with a strong focus in supporting the Government of Mozambique to deliver WASH services according to national strategies and goals (service delivery through capacity building). Within the last CPD, the WASH in institutions component has increasing in focus and scope, requiring dedicated capacity to lead its implementation. The WASH Specialist level NO3 – WASH in Institutions (focus on schools) will manage the implementation of the WASH in Schools component of the UNICEF Mozambique WASH programme, reports to the WASH Specialist (Sanitation) P4.

The WASH Specialist (WASH in Institutions-focus on schools) supports the development, preparation, management, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the WASH programme within the country programme, especially the WASH in Schools component. 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.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Programme development and planning
2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results
3. Technical and operational support for programme implementation
4. Humanitarian WASH preparedness and response
5. Networking and partnership building
6. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

Programme development and planning

• Draft the WASH inputs for the situation analysis, especially on WASH in Schools. Provide timely, comprehensive, and current data to inform WASH policy and programme development, planning, management and implementation, including liaison with Education section for the corresponding action within the Education sector. Keep abreast of WASH, Education and Health sectors development trends, for maximum efficiency and effectiveness in programme design, management and implementation in regard to WASH in Institutions.
• Participate in strategic WASH programme planning discussions, especially on WASH in Institutions – with focus on schools. The WASH Specialist will act as a liaison and lead the coordination between WASH and Education and Health sectors within UNICEF programme and among partners. Prepare WASH in institutions donor proposals, including support to Education and Health sectors for inclusion of WASH component in their specific proposals as needed, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s Strategic Plan, UNICEF’s global WASH, Education and Health strategies 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, especially the Output related to WASH in Institutions. Prepare required documentation for programme reviews.
• Work with colleagues and partners to discuss strategies and methodologies for the achievement of WASH in Institutions 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, especially Education and Health Sectors, for the achievement of the WASH in Institutions output results.
• Draft assigned sections of the annual work plan, in close cooperation with government and other counterparts.

Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

• With other external support agencies, strengthen national government WASH, Education and Health sectors 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.

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.
• In coordination with Provincial Field Offices, Education sector and other members of the WASH team, monitor the programmatic and financial implementation of UNICEF supported implementation agreements for WASH in schools related activities, including providing technical support to Field Offices and implementing partners to ensure timely implementation and achievement of results of field activities.
• 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 in Institutions, to support programme implementation.
• Plan for use of technical experts from the Regional Office and HQ, as and where appropriate in the WASH and Education programmes, through remote support and on-site visits.
• Participate in WASH, Health and Education programme meetings, to review progress, with government, other sector agencies and implementation partners, involved at various stages of WASH, Education and Health 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.

Humanitarian WASH preparedness and response

• Support Government and partners at national and decentralized level in the identification and analysis if risks, and their impact over WASH in institutions – with focus on schools - and continuity of Education and Health activities and put in place preparedness and contingency mechanisms to ensure UNICEF is prepared to deliver on its commitments for WASH, Education and Health in case of an emergency.
• Contribute to the coordination arrangement for humanitarian WASH, Education and Health, for instant robust coordination in case of an emergency.
• Take up support roles in a WASH and Education emergency response and early recovery, including Infection Prevention and Control related activities, as and when the need arises.

Networking and partnership building

• Provide technical and managerial support to Government for the establishment and operation of intersectoral coordination mechanisms, for the development of strategies, plans and overall coordination of WASH in Institutions related interventions, and their incorporation within Education and Health sectors related strategies and plans.
• 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 in Institutions output results.
• In close collaboration with the Education and Health sections within UNICEF and external sectors counterparts, prepare materials for WASH in Institutions (focus on schools) 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 in Institutions action research and innovation (technical or systems).
• Prepare learning/knowledge products, covering innovative approaches and good practices, to support overall WASH in Institutions sector development.
• Contribute to the systematic assessment of WASH in Institutions 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…

• An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or higher) in one of the following fields is required: public health, social sciences, behavior change communication, water and sanitation engineering or another relevant technical field. Additional relevant post-graduate courses that complement/supplement the main degree are a strong asset.
• A minimum of five years of professional experience in WASH-related programmes for developing countries is required, especially in WASH in Institutions with focus on schools.
• HUMANITARIAN: Experience in planning and implementation of emergency response within the WASH or specifically for WASH in schools is an asset.
• Meet UNICEF’s core values and competency areas.
• Language Fluency in English and Portuguese is required.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, Sustainability (CRITAS) and core competencies in the following:

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

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 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.

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 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.

Remarks:

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

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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments may also be 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 visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.