Re-advert: National WASH Assistant (Intern), Enabling Environment, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, 6 months, Dushanbe, Tajikistan (for Tajik nationals only) (deadline extended - 15 December 2

Contract

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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, Access to safe water, adequate sanitation, and suitable hygiene

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, education, and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfil 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.

According to WHO-UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) 2017 report, only 47.9% of people nationally in Tajikistan have access to safely managed drinking water services (improved source located at premises, available when needed, and free from microbiological and priority chemical contamination). Similarly, at national level, access to drinking water has improved from 51.2 (2001) to 81 percent (2017). For urban setting figures vary between 87 (safely managed water) to 96.2 percent (improved/basic water), with periodical upward and downward trends. Same sources report figures varying between 36 (safely managed water) and 75.6 percent (improved/basic water) for rural settlements.

There is significant gap of access to WASH in HCFs. Referring to the WHO-UNICEF JMP data available for 2020, only 24.1% of the HCFs have basic access to drinking water supply. The data is missing on access to sanitation, hygiene, waste management and cleaning environment. According to UNCEF Tajikistan, as of 2020, out of 73 maternities / maternity departments within Central District Hospitals (CDHs – secondary level HCFs), 47 facilities (65%) do not meet the required WASH standards. Most challenging situation with access to WASH is in 3,500 rural medical centers (primary health care level). Up to 80% of these facilities have limited or no access to WASH services. Consumables that are key to effective IPC such as soap, hand sanitizers and chlorine are not always available.

There has been a substantial reduction in the under-five mortality rate (U5MR), (from 107 in 1990 to 33 per 1,000 live births in 2017, and infant mortality rate (IMR) from 84 in 1990 to 27 per 1,000 live births in 20171), but children under five years of age continue to die from preventable causes. Ministry of Health and Social Protection (MoHSP) statistics state that in 2016 around 77% of deaths of children under five years of age occurred among children younger than twelve months, and 87% of neonatal death occurred during the first week of life. Many of these deaths are attributable to causes related to poor Quality of Care (QoC) and Health Care Associated Infections (HCAI) that remain largely under-reported, resulting from an unsafe environment including inadequate WASH at HCFs.

On the other hand according to the JMP data3 available for WASH in schools indicate that 79% of schools across the country have access to a functioning water supply system, 47% of schools have access to improved sanitation and only 26% of schools have water and soap available in designated handwashing areas near toilets. This means that 21% (~ 815 schools = 427,875 children) of schools still do not have access to safe water supply, 53% (2,060 schools = 1,081,500 children) of schools lack access to improved sanitation services and 74% (2,875 schools = 1,509,375 children) of schools do not operate handwashing facilities and no soap near toilets. Large disparities exist in terms of pre-school institutions as well. 48% of urban pre-school institutions have permanent centralized cold water supply against 17% of rural pre-school institutions. A functioning central sewerage system is available only in 7% of kindergartens and early childhood development centers located in rural areas, and in 41% of kindergartens/early childhood development centers in cities.

Tajikistan still facing challenges on increasing expenditures on health that has impacted negatively on the quality of health care nationwide. Problems facing the health care system include obsolete infrastructure and equipment, poor accountability at the HCF level on the application of approved standards and protocols, and inadequate capacity of health care workers to provide quality care. The issues are similar for allocation of budget for WASH in schools which creates a big challenge of operations and maintenance of WASH facilities in institutions.

How can you make a difference?

The intern is responsible for overall day to day operational and coordination support to the WASH team mainly with the management and smooth delivery of upstream policy and strategic work on WASH in Tajikistan.

This intern reports to the WASH Specialist (NoC) and provide support on the management of the WASH Enabling Environment interventions in close coordination with the Government of Tajikistan, key consultants and development partners.

DUTY STATION/DURATION:

Duration: 6 months (Dec, 2022 – May, 2023)

Duty station: Dushanbe, Tajikistan

Supervisor: WASH Specialist

Reporting to: WASH Specialist

KEY DELIVERABLES:

• Support with the organizing of meetings for consultants for consultations on Hand Hygiene roadmap development, organizing workshops, taking minutes of key meetings and working with the program associate for relevant payments

• Support the WASH Specialist with organizing and managing discussions, meetings, consultations and workshops related to the development of National Sanitation Strategy and Costing of Sanitation Development Plan

• Supporting the WASH team and consultants with the management Public Private Partnership mapping in terms of translations, coordination with stakeholders, setting up meetings, organizing workshops

• Support with organizing coordination meetings on WASH in HCF, WASH in Schools and WASH In Emergencies

• Support with preparations at Tajikistan level for the 2023 UN Water conference planned in New York in 2023.

• Generally, help to organize meetings including taking responsibility for finalization of the meeting agenda, invitations, the production and distribution of documentation, and preparation of minutes of meetings. Distribute meeting reports and information and ensure follows-up on required actions

• Provide inputs on strategic actions undertaken by UNICEF through research of best practices and latest theoretical models

• Helps in translation and editing of variety of WASH related documents

• Any other task as required.

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

• Be enrolled in a post graduate degree engineering programme or be a recent graduate in the area of Public Policy, Development Studies, Business Management, Water Resource Management, Civil or sanitary engineering and any other relevant discipline
• Be proficient in English and fluent in Russian/Tajik languages;
• Have strong academic performance as demonstrated by recent university or institution records or, if not available, a reference letter from an academic supervisor;
• Be willing to learn and genuinely interested in the field of WASH;
• Good documentation skills, judgment, initiative, high sense of responsibility, tact and discretion.
• Previous experience as volunteer, demonstrated leadership /intern in INGOs or UN is considered as advantage.
• Demonstrated cultural sensitivity and ability to establish harmonious working relations in a multicultural environment.
• Good computer skills and management of work using online platform.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE: Payment will be made on a monthly basis in Tajik somoni (TJS) based on successful completion of tasks and invoices verified by the supervisor.

Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

1. Cover letter/application/CV.

2. Proof of enrolment in degree programme in an undergraduate or graduate school or if recent graduate copy of degree/diploma.

3. University or institution records showing strong academic performance or reference letter from an academic supervisor.

4. At least two references

Applications must be received in the system by 15 December 2022 on UNICEF website.

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... (1) Builds and maintains partnerships(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness(3)Drive to achieve results for impact(4)Innovates and embraces change(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity(6)Thinks and acts strategically(7)Works collaboratively with others.

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:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

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.