Urban WASH Specialist, P-4, Kabul, Afghanistan

Contract

This is a P-4 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 7 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 134,636 USD and 173,585 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

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, Safe Water

Afghanistan is one of the most poorly served countries in the world in terms of WASH services, with more than one-third of people without access to improved drinking water. Nearly 60 per cent of the same population lacks access to improved latrines. Studies also show contamination of water services both at source and household level is significantly high in both urban and rural areas. Safe hygiene practices, such as hand washing, are very low across the country, especially in rural areas. According to UNICEF’s Water Security for All report, 93% of children in Afghanistan (15.6 million children) live in areas of high, or extremely high, water vulnerability. Groundwater overextraction for agriculture and cash crops like poppies is exacerbating water scarcity. Even before taking into consideration the escalating security situation, and rapid collapse of the government during August, the 2021 HRP estimated that a total of about 8.8 million people would need safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities and services. Meanwhile the drought has compelled people to temporarily move their families from their places of origin to other nearby communities to seek access to water. Furthermore, the recent escalation in conflict with the resulting upheaval and seizing of power by the de facto authority has further exacerbated the high needs for critical WASH services in urban centres, where a significant number of people moved to seek a safe haven and escape possible clashes. This has placed increased pressure on existing WASH services and on the host communities as they accommodate new arrivals. There are early signs of a ‘brain drain’ occurring in the country, amongst trained WASH experts and officials following the takeover of power and this is already impacting the maintenance of existing WASH systems and services which collapse soon as a result leaving millions in cities, towns and rural communities without water and sanitation services.

The impact of these multifaceted issues is illustrated by the current outbreak of AWD/Cholera, which began in September 2021, less than one month after the regime change. These early warnings that existing WASH systems and utilities may soon collapse particularly in urban areas serving large, overcrowded populations, requires urgent action to stabilize the sector and ensure continuity of safe WASH services. Meanwhile hard to reach areas, which have already been underserved for many years, are now accessible and because of drought, returnees and malnutrition there is a significant potential that AWD/Cholera and other communicable disease outbreaks will occur. At the same time, it is critical that existing health facilities and schools do not become point sources of infection for communicable diseases given the high vulnerability of the population at this time and improving their WASH infrastructure and providing IPC training and materials are critical to mitigate communicable disease outbreaks.

How can you make a difference?

The Urban WASH Specialist will lead the planning, development, and execution of new initiatives in the water supply, sanitation, hygiene and urban WASH infrastructure development and management, along with relevant sector governance strengthening across different urban utilities and other counterparts in Afghanistan. Lead, formulate, and engage in dialogue with the governments and stakeholders concerning water supply and sanitation, hygiene and provision of urban WASH infrastructure development and management including solid waste management with long-term cost recovery options and private sector involvement. Work closely with different stakeholders in the urban WASH sector in Afghanistan to use the different overseas development funds effectively for the urban WASH development. Work within UNICEF policies, principles, and goals, working directly with the WASH Manager (Water Supply) and WASH Team to ensure that urban WASH services effectively reach to other sectors of child survival and development.

The role of urban WASH manager will be critical not only to build and rehabilitate the urban WASH facilities but also to ensure that they are able to sustain new population load, their changing service demand and also look into long-term sustainability of the urban WASH infrastructure and institutional strengthening; there is a greater need for public-private partnership and entrepreneurship building for greater cost recovery, increased professionalism and long-term sustainability of the urban WASH facilities. The urban WASH manager also needs to involve closely with other stakeholders in Afghanistan to explore and develop a market driven approach to urban WASH facilities; and closely work with sector stakeholders, especially urban utilities, to develop a strong policy and legal solutions for sustenance of urban structures. Urban WASH manager specific tasks would comprise of the following key components:

The Urban WASH Specialist will lead the planning, development, and execution of new initiatives in the water supply, sanitation, hygiene and urban WASH infrastructure development and management, along with relevant sector governance strengthening across different urban utilities and other counterparts in Afghanistan. Lead, formulate, and engage in dialogue with the governments and stakeholders concerning water supply and sanitation, hygiene and provision of urban WASH infrastructure development and management including solid waste management with long-term cost recovery options and private sector involvement. Work closely with different stakeholders in the urban WASH sector in Afghanistan to use the different overseas development funds effectively for the urban WASH development. Work within UNICEF policies, principles, and goals, working directly with the WASH Manager (Water Supply) and WASH Team to ensure that urban WASH services effectively reach to other sectors of child survival and development.

The role of urban WASH manager will be critical not only to build and rehabilitate the urban WASH facilities but also to ensure that they are able to sustain new population load, their changing service demand and also look into long-term sustainability of the urban WASH infrastructure and institutional strengthening; there is a greater need for public-private partnership and entrepreneurship building for greater cost recovery, increased professionalism and long-term sustainability of the urban WASH facilities. The urban WASH manager also needs to involve closely with other stakeholders in Afghanistan to explore and develop a market driven approach to urban WASH facilities; and closely work with sector stakeholders, especially urban utilities, to develop a strong policy and legal solutions for sustenance of urban structures. Urban WASH manager specific tasks would comprise of the following key components:

1. Work closely with Afghanistan Urban Water, Sanitation and Sewerage Corporations/utilities (AUWSSC) and other WASH stakeholders to assess the current situation of the urban water, sanitation and hygiene scenario in the key towns in Afghanistan and develop an action plan based on UNICEF urban WASH strategy.

• Facilitate detailed assessment of urban water supply systems in urban areas, including peri-urban and informal settlements, and provide technical recommendations for rehabilitation and upgrading of the systems.
• Provide appropriate technical, managerial and O&M system solutions for improving the urban WASH conditions in the selected towns of Afghanistan
• Undertake long term assessment with technical support from professional agencies in terms of formalising system design and bid documents. Prepare contract documents, designs and technical specifications for upgrading/rehabilitating urban water supply systems, including recruitment and supervision of specialized services.
• Work closely with other stakeholders namely urban WASH donors, AUWSSC, sector departments and NGO partners to develop sustainable operations and maintenance solutions based on effective cost recovery measures.

2. Regarding UNICEF urban WASH strategy, the urban WASH manager will work closely with other sections and stakeholders to implement the strategies in Afghanistan a strong focus on sustainability.

• Facilitate detailed assessment of urban water supply, urban sanitation, hygiene conditions and solid waste management in critical towns in Afghanistan and propose intervention plans to improve the conditions further.
• Based on UNICEF comparative advantages and overall strategies for the WASH programme in Afghanistan work with different stakeholders to implement programs in the intervening urban towns.
• Institutional strengthening: there is a greater need for public-private partnership and women entrepreneurship building for greater cost recovery, increased professionalism and long-term sustainability of the urban WASH facilities.
• Work closely with other sections to ensure that urban WASH facilities reach the schools, key institutions in urban towns to ensure that child protection and development is ensured.

3. Undertake policy dialogue with governments and other donor organizations on water supply and sanitation areas, including in the urban development thematic areas, and promote efficient use of resources and encourage participatory approaches to development planning, financing and sustainability with market driven approach involving public-private partnership. Lead in conducting thematic work around the areas of water supply, sanitation, and hygiene in the context of sustainable inclusive economic development and poverty reduction and child development. Provide advice on climate change vulnerability and disaster risk assessments and mitigation for urban areas in relation to water supply and sanitation.
4. Focus on the improving the urban sanitation especially in peri-urban areas in the key towns of Afghanistan by developing inter-linkages with government counterparts and NGO partners and private players to formulate market driven sanitation solutions based on community approach to total sanitation.

• Work with key stakeholders and private entities especially women entrepreneur to develop low-cost appropriate sanitation solutions which are safe, hygienic, and sustainable.
• Develop key messaging and participatory/child hygiene and sanitation transformation as tools along with other partners to create behaviour change within urban communities in peri-urban areas of town.
• Develop appropriate cost-effective long-term solutions in densely populated urban areas, including informal settlements, along with sustainable sludge management techniques.
• Work in close cooperation with government counterparts and private players to reduce cost of sanitation materials, produce locally and provide hardware subsidy or soft loans within women groups to develop their household sanitation.

5. Develop and maintain a suitable network in the WASH sector to keep abreast of the latest developments and issues regarding new innovations and technologies and disseminate the same within the WASH counterparts and partners. Substantially contribute to activities for advocacy, dissemination and knowledge building around water supply, sanitation issues and hygiene using market-driven public-private entrepreneurship. Develop and maintain a knowledge database on the water sector covering (i) the overall structure of the service, the decentralization process, the role of municipal entities, a list of key service providers and financiers, investment needs over the short, medium and long term, investment trends and key enabling conditions to increase investments in the sector; and (ii) information on best industry practice including the type of technical and operational due diligence needed for project preparation.
6. Capacity building and system strengthening of AUWSSC, private sector and other NGO partners in terms of O&M of the existing structures and make way for new structures.

• The capacity building will be done along three board sections, technical section which will involve operations and maintenance of water facilities and water distribution (WD); the financial section which will deal with investment and cost recovery and the management section which will deal with monitoring, evaluation and benchmarking of different operations.
• Support and train AUWSSC and UNICEF NGO partners on operation and maintenance and management of urban water supply systems.
• Support key counterparts establishing sustainable management of urban water supply system including public private partnerships.

7. Work closely with fund-raising, communications and advocacy section within UNICEF to raise the required funds for the urban WASH programme and also develop key advocacy and communication material for wider dissemination.

• Meet the key donors in Afghanistan on regular basis and brief them about UNICEF programme and seek their feedback and seek opportunities for future co-operations.
• In close collaborations with donors and strategic NGO partners and sector department counterparts develop appropriate communication material for wider dissemination around policies, practices, and behaviour changes like user tariff, safe use of WASH facilities, customer care services for water/sanitation services etc.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Management support to the WASH Manager (Water Supply Unit)

• Advise the WASH Manager (Water Supply Unit) in establishing the detailed plan for Urban WASH interventions as set-out under WASH Annual Work Plan (AWP) including outputs, activities, and developmental priorities of WASH section staff, determining priorities and performance measurements. Monitor the WASH AWP implementation, to ensure that WASH output results, with a focus on Urban WASH outputs, are achieved to schedule and performance standards. Report critical issues to the WASH Manager (Water Supply Unit) for timely action.
• Provide technical advice to WASH section staff on all aspects of Urban WASH programming and implementation.
• Perform the full duties of the WASH Manager (Water Supply Unit) in his/her absence.

2. Programme development and planning

• Conduct detailed assessment of urban water supply systems in different towns of Afghanistan along with other stakeholders and provide technical recommendations for rehabilitation and upgrading of the systems.
• In collaboration with the WASH Manager (Sanitation Unit) develop a strategy paper on urban sanitation especially in peri-urban areas through linkages with government counterparts and NGO partners and private players to formulate market driven sanitation solutions based on community approach to total sanitation. Monitor progress against that urban sanitation strategy.
• In collaboration with other sector stakeholders develop and implement an institutional strengthening plan of AUWSSC and other government counterparts around urban sanitation.
• Draft the inputs on Urban WASH for the situation analysis. Provide comprehensive and current data to inform WASH policy and programme development, planning, management and implementation. Keep abreast of WASH sector developments, for maximum efficiency and effectiveness in WASH programme design, management and implementation.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues and partners to discuss national WASH priorities, resources, strategies and methodologies to ensure the most strategic use of the collective resources of external support agencies.
• Participate in strategic WASH programme planning discussions and the formulation of the WASH outcome and output results, related indicators, baselines, targets and means of verification, ensuring alignment with the UNICEF’s Strategic Plan, UNICEF’s global WASH strategy and the country programme as well as national plans and priorities, and the role of other WASH external support agencies.
• Prepare WASH donor proposals, ensuring alignment with the WASH output results in line with the 2022 WASH AWP for Afghanistan.

3. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

• Provide periodic reports as required on the progress made against the urban WASH strategy including the discussions with different stakeholders and partners.
• Provide regular updates on construction progress, quality parameters and efforts around sustainability and cost-recovery
• Develop and disseminate succinct communication material and donor discussion report on the progress of urban WASH interventions
• Draft documentation for programme reviews and analytical statements on progress and constraints of WASH outcome and output results.
• Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes for the achievement of the WASH output results, with a focus on Urban WASH. Ensure effective collaboration with other UNICEF sectors, where needed.
• With other external support agencies, analyze national government WASH sector programmes and projects, with a focus on WASH outcomes (behaviors), using bottleneck analysis tools available in the sector (WASH-BAT, CSOs, SDAs).
• Develop and participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sectoral reviews with all key stakeholders and partners and prepare reports for the WASH Section and CO management.
• Monitor, report and certify 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 issues to the WASH Manager (Water Supply Unit), or Chief of WASH as OIC for Water Supply Unit for timely resolution.
• Prepare sectoral progress reports for management, donors, and partners.

4. Advisory services and technical support

• Participate in strategic discussions to influence national WASH policies and strategies, including the reduction of inequalities, contributing global sector learning.
• Advise senior officials in local authorities, NGOs, UN agencies and WASH sector donor agencies on WASH policies, strategies, and best practices.
• Draft policy papers, briefs and other strategic materials for use by management, donors, UNICEF regional offices and headquarters.
• Plan for the use of technical experts from the Regional Office and HQ, as and where appropriate in the WASH programme, through remote support and on-site visits.

5. Advocacy, networking and partnership building

• Build and strengthen strategic partnerships with government counterparts, UN agencies, donor agencies, WASH institutions, NGOs, research institutes and the private sector to stimulate coordination and collaboration.
• Support analysis of national budgets for WASH, cost analysis and value-for-money studies, to advocate for improvements in sector efficiency.
• Produce materials for WASH 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 planning and agenda setting.
• Interact with global and regional initiatives and partnerships for WASH.

6. Humanitarian WASH preparedness and response

• Provide support to the WASH Section as required and directed by the WASH Manager (Water Supply Unit), to input into UNICEF’s preparedness for WASH in Emergencies (WiE) under the declared L3 Emergency in Afghanistan.

7. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Manage the implementation, monitoring and documentation of WASH action research and innovation (technical or systems), ensuring rigorous monitoring and wide sharing of results.
• Prepare learning/knowledge products, covering innovative approaches and good practices, to support overall WASH sector development.
• Support the professional development of UNICEF WASH staff, to ensure our sector capacity remains up-to-date with latest developments.
• Initiate and contribute to the systematic assessment of WASH sector capacity gap analysis, in collaboration with government and other stakeholders, and support the design of initiatives 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 or higher) in water supply and engineering related technical fields.
• A minimum of eight years of relevant professional experience in WASH-related programmes for developing countries is required.
• Experience in Urban water supply and infrastructure projects in developing countries, with proven field experience.
• Knowledge of designing and technical specifications of urban water supply system equipment.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Knowledge and experience on establishing urban water supply management systems in developing countries and public private partnerships.
• Experience in UNICEF WASH programming environments will have an added value.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

To view our competency framework, please visit 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.

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:

* Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

* Kindly note that this is a non-family duty station.

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

* Employment is conditional upon receipt of medical clearance, any clearance required, the grant of a visa, and completion of any other pre-employment criteria that UNICEF may establish. Candidates may not be further considered or offer of employment may be withdrawn if these conditions are unlikely to be met before the date for commencement of service.

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