National WASH Yanomami alerts Consultant, Boa Vista, Brazil, 150 days (remote)

Provide technical support to WASH initiatives in Yanomami Territory.

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Application deadline 10 months ago: Tuesday 26 Aug 2025 at 02:55 UTC

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Overview

Provide technical support to WASH initiatives in Yanomami Territory.

You have:

  • Bachelor's Degree in civil, environmental or sanitary engineering; or another relevant technical field
  • Two years of relevant experience with WASH in humanitarian or indigenous context could be considered in place of a bachelor's or technical degree
  • Strong communication skills
  • Fluency in Portuguese

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

Although Brazil has advanced in implementing the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), gaps remain. The Yanomami and Ye’kuana crisis—marked by water contamination, disease, deforestation, and illegal mining—continues to seriously affect the survival and development of children, threatening their access to water, food, and health.

UNICEF contributes to the Yanomami Alert System, a community-based initiative that enables trained indigenous monitors to report alerts related to health, WASH, environment, and territorial threats using mobile devices in local languages, even without internet access. These alerts are verified and shared with relevant authorities to support timely and coordinated responses.

To support this initiative, the consultant will assist the response of WASH alerts, in close collaboration with local and national health and sanitation services. The consultant will work closely with the UNICEF Boa Vista team to strengthen WASH monitoring, response mechanisms, and the engagement of indigenous sanitation agents in the Yanomami Territory.

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UNICEF Brazil Country Office is looking for a WASH consultant to provide technical support to the WASH component of the Yanomami Alert System, a community-based initiative implemented in partnership with indigenous organizations and public authorities.

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Chief WASH/CEED and in close collaboration with the Chief Field Office and Boa Vista team, the selected consultant will contribute to UNICEF’s WASH work by:

  • Supporting the analysis and response to WASH-related alerts generated through the Yanomami Alert System, including:
    • Definition of adequate water supply solutions for prioritized alerts (e.g., Maturacá region);
    • Preparation of materials lists and basic design plans aligned with national standards and indigenous context;
  • Accompanying the implementation of water supply solutions on-site in partnership with DSEI-YY and relevant institutions, ensuring quality, functionality, and sustainability.
  • Organizing one practical workshop with AISANs, AIS, and local leaderships on WASH topics and the operation and maintenance of newly installed systems.

DELIVERABLES

Deliverable 1:

  • Definition of the water supply solutions for the alert in Maturacá region, including technical specifications and material list.
  • Provide an implementation plan for the proposed solutions .
  • Technical note summarizing the proposed solution and response strategy

Duration: 45 days from the contract signature date

Payment: 30% of the total amount of the contract

Deliverable 2.

  • Field mission conducted to monitor and provide technical support to the implementation of the water solutions in Maturacá region, conducted by the public authorities.
  • Final technical verification report of the system installed

Duration: 90 days from the contract signature date

Payment: 40% of the total amount of the contract

Deliverable 3:

  • One WASH training session or workshop conducted with AISANs, AIS, and indigenous leaderships.
  • Summary of the training sessions or workshop conducted in partnership with public authorities

Duration: 150 days from the contract signature date

Payment: 30% of the total amount of the contract

DURATION OF CONTRACT:

150 days

TRAVEL PLAN

This assignment includes a 20-day field mission to the Yanomami Territory to provide technical support for the implementation of water systems and to conduct training sessions with AISAN and the community. Flights from Boa Vista to the Yanomami Territory will be arranged to be provided by DSEI-YY.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENT

  • Bachelor's Degree in civil, environmental or sanitary engineer; or another relevant technical field
  • Two years of relevant experience with WASH in humanitarian or indigenous context could be considered in place of a bachelor`s or technical degree
  • Strong communication skills.
  • Fluency in Portuguese.

LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

Fluency in Portuguese

FINANCIAL PROPOSAL

  • A financial proposal including the fee for the assignment based on the deliverables and number of days must be submitted. Consultants are asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum, administrative cost, travel cost and subsistence costs, as applicable.

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

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REMARKS:

Individuals engaged under a consultancy 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. Consultants 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.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

Potential interview questions

Can you describe your experience with WASH initiatives in indigenous communities? This question assesses the candidate's relevant experience and understanding of community-specific needs. Discuss your previous projects and outcomes in similar contexts.
How would you approach defining water supply solutions in a community with limited resources? This question evaluates problem-solving skills and adaptability. Pro members can see the explanation.
What strategies would you use to engage local communities in WASH programs? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Describe a challenge you've faced in a previous project and how you overcame it. Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
How would you ensure the sustainability of the water supply systems implemented? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Can you explain the importance of monitoring and evaluation in WASH initiatives? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What training methods would you use for local leaders and AISANs regarding WASH systems? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you incorporate local knowledge and cultural practices into WASH solutions? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Added 10 months ago - Updated 10 months ago - Source: unicef.org