National expert for the analysis of proposals, implementation, and use of humanitarian aid provided to water utilities (Vodokanals), Kyiv, Ukraine, 12 months (Remote/Work from home)

Consultant Programme & Policy Medical & Health

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, hope

UNICEF Ukraine

Background:

Now in the third year of escalation, the ongoing war in Ukraine has had severe consequences for the well-being of the country’s children. Even before the escalation of the conflict, in February 2022, approximately 10 million people in Ukraine lacked access to a centralized piped water supply, and 20 million people lacked access to centralized wastewater collection and treatment facilities (GoU, 2021). The situation remains almost the same as per the Government’s 2023 figures. Poor water quality (one-third of samples fail national standards) and inadequate sewage treatment present public health risks, including disease outbreaks, such as the suspected cholera in Mariupol and the Hepatitis A outbreak in western Ukraine. Costs have risen sharply, while demand and affordability have declined drastically. Moreover, the water and sanitation facilities are overall old and decaying, and both drinking water supply and wastewater treatment depend on this heavily degraded infrastructure. As of 2021, around 40% of existing networks were in critical condition, and almost 35% of sewage treatment facilities needed upgrades (GoU 2021). Meanwhile, climate change is predicted to make natural catastrophes in Ukraine more likely and more severe by increasing temperature, altering rainfall patterns, extending heat waves, and reducing water availability.

The Ministry of Restoration (MinRestor) deals with key areas of integrated transport policy formation and effective public administration, the main directions of development. The Ministry of Infrastructure is the main body in the system of central executive authorities that ensures the formation and implementation of state policy (i) in the field of settlement improvement, housing and communal services, and household waste management; (ii) in the field of restoration of regions, territories and infrastructure affected by the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine; (iii)in the field of housing and communal services control; (iV)in the field of energy efficiency of buildings.

UNICEF, together with partners, is working to ensure that emergency access to safe water and sanitation is available to children and families across the country, including some of the priority and most affected areas, especially in the frontline, where we support vodokanals (water utilities), municipalities, hospitals, schools, and collective centers, restoring water and sanitation services and facilities, and providing equipment and essential consumables such as chemicals for water treatment, among other interventions. UNICEF is also the leading agency of the WASH Cluster in Ukraine, a coordination mechanism of over 100 implementing partners, particularly active in the frontline area. Notably, the Management Information System (MIS) Cell of the WASH cluster conducts numerous assessment visits and supports the coordination of over 100 simultaneous projects. Such efforts ensure timely and informed response efforts while avoiding risks of gaps or duplication.

Given the current demands and growing needs of the sector as a result of destruction and damage in the water and sanitation sector, humanitarian organizations play an important role in emergencies and on the way to the recovery of the WASH sector in Ukraine. The consolidated assistance provided by humanitarian and donor organizations to the most vulnerable population needs be recorded and monitored by the MinRestor for more transparent, accountable and responsible activities. Since the ongoing hostilities are causing daily damage and destruction to critical infrastructure, the assistance provided to the vodokanals (water utilities) can be technical or financial. Collecting, analyzing and publishing such reports on the assistance provided will help strengthen the sector and draw attention to weaknesses in the process of supporting water utilities.

Purpose of assignment:

UNICEF seeks to provide enhanced capacity to the MinRestor, to enhance the quality, efficiency, and transparency in the utilization of humanitarian aid received by utility companies, particularly critical infrastructure enterprises. The focus is on improving institutional capacity, clarity, and transparency in alignment with the priorities set by the MinRestor.

How can you make a difference?

Key aspects of the assignment include:

1. Clarity and Transparency: Enhance the clarity and transparency of the utilization of humanitarian aid received from donors. This involves monitoring the quantitative and cost expression of the aid and ensuring clear reporting mechanisms.

2. Compliance with Priorities: Ensure that the use of humanitarian aid aligns with the priorities outlined by the MinRestor.

3. Memorandums of Cooperation: Implement and adhere to signed memorandums of cooperation in the field of water supply and sanitation.

4. Monitoring and Reporting: Monitor the humanitarian aid received, including its quantitative and cost expression, and track the number of enterprises receiving aid across different regions. Provide comprehensive monitoring data to the MinRestor.

5. Consulting Services: Offer consulting services and support to critical infrastructure enterprises, advising on preparing analytical documents, reports, presentations, and other materials related to humanitarian aid. This includes responding to requests from stakeholders and supporting the Project Manager/Director in various matters related to meeting the needs of critical infrastructure enterprises.

6. Institutional Capacity Building: Improve the institutional capacity of utility companies, specifically critical infrastructure enterprises, to effectively utilize humanitarian aid.

The Consultant will work under the supervision of a supervisor from the UNICEF WASH Section and close coordination with the Project Manager of the Reform Support Office under the MinRestor.

Overall, the assignment aims to strengthen the overall humanitarian aid framework for critical infrastructure enterprises, ensuring effective utilization and alignment with the broader goals of the Ministry and signed agreements.

Work assignment overview:

Deliverable

Deadline

# of w/days

Inspection report, including workplan, list of deliverables and materials/timelines for the consultancy

30 Apr 2024

10

6 Analytical reports on the needs and requests of humanitarian aid recipients of critical infrastructure

31 May 2024

20

6 Analytical reports on the needs and requests of humanitarian aid recipients of critical infrastructure

30 June 2024

20

4 Analytical documents regarding the status of enterprises of critical infrastructure, in particular regarding potential risks, consequences, and proposals for their prevention and resolution

31 July 2024

20

4 Analytical documents regarding the status of enterprises of critical infrastructure, in particular regarding potential risks, consequences, and proposals for their prevention and resolution

31 Aug 2024

20

4 Analytical documents regarding the status of enterprises of critical infrastructure, in particular regarding potential risks, consequences, and proposals for their prevention and resolution

30 Sep 2024

30

10 Analytical documents regarding the consideration of donors' proposals for settlement and provision of humanitarian aid in critical infrastructure

30 Nov 2024

30

5 Reports and/or protocols regarding consultations with stakeholders and other coordination meetings

31 Dec 2024

20

8 Consulting services and assistance provided including recommendations on inputs to donors' monthly reporting.

15 Feb 2025

20

8 Consulting services and assistance provided including recommendations on inputs to donors monthly reporting to the MinRestor.

15 Mar 2025

20

Final report, including lessons learned and recommendations for future implementation and monitoring of WASH projects.

10 April 2025

10

Sub-total:

220

Please provide an all-inclusive financial proposal including travels to carry out the deliverables listed above.

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

Education: Bachelor's degree in one of the following fields is required: economics, law, business/public administration. A Master’s degree or higher in any of the mentioned areas is an advantage.

Professional experience:

• Preferably 5 years of general experience in the field of project management, public or business administration, and provision of consulting services in the relevant field.
• At least 3 years of professional experience related to the field of housing and communal services, project or change management.

Languages:

• Ukrainian: Proficient/Native [C2];
• English: ​​Advanced [C1]​.

Skills and competencies:

• Understanding of processes in housing and communal services.
• Strong planning, stakeholder coordination, and team management skills.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit 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.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

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:

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.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.

Apply now

Added 1 month ago - Updated 26 days ago - Source: unicef.org