WASH Officer

Volunteering Crisis & Emergency Response

Overview

Support UNICEF's emergency WASH interventions for vulnerable populations.

You have:

• 3 years of general experience, including at least 1 year of professional experience in WASH-related programmes is required.
• Humanitarian prior experience in emergency response is an asset.

Contract

This is a UNV National Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Specialist contracts.

In late October 2025, Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica with devastating force, causing catastrophic flooding, landslides, and widespread damage to health, education, and WASH systems. More than 100 health facilities, 400 schools, and 300 community water systems were severely affected, disrupting essential services for hundreds of thousands and exposing deep structural vulnerabilities. Severe impacts are confirmed across Hanover, Manchester, St. Elizabeth, St. James, Trelawny and Westmoreland, including extensive flooding, landslides, collapsed roofs, hospital and school damage, and prolonged power and communication outages.

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 more 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.

Purpose of the job: The WASH Officer (UNV) is to be based in one of the hubs in the western part of the country, such as St. James or Saint Elizabeth. The WASH Officer (UNV) reports administratively to chief of the hub and technically/programmatically reports to the WASH Officer for close guidance and supervision. The WASH UN Volunteer will support the implementation and monitoring of UNICEF emergency WASH interventions and contribute to UNICEF’s leadership in coordinating the response. This includes ensuring equitable access to safe water supply, sanitation services, and hygiene promotion, with a focus on protecting vulnerable populations, including children.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. UNICEF WASH Programme Implementation and Monitoring
2. Monitoring of humanitarian WASH needs
3. Coordination and Liaison
4. Community Engagement and Behaviour Change
5. Data, Reporting, and Information Management

UNICEF WASH Programme Implementation

• Support implementation of UNICEF-supported WASH interventions through civil society and governmental implementing partners • Follow up with implementing partners to ensure timely and effective delivery of services. • Conduct monitoring missions to assess partners’ activity progress and program quality. • Prepare technical reports and inputs for programme preparation and documentation, ensuring accuracy, timeliness and relevance of information. • Support partners to prepare required documentation/materials to facilitate programmatic and financial review and approval processes. • Prepare inputs for the programme and donor proposal and reporting.

Monitoring of Humanitarian WASH Response and Needs

• Coordinate and conduct regular assessments of WASH needs in target communities, institutions, and displacement areas. • Identify gaps and propose recommendations for adaptive programming. • Undertake field visits and surveys, collect and share reports with partners/stakeholders. Report critical issues, bottlenecks and potential problems to the supervisor for timely action. • Ensure partners reporting to the WASH sector 5W (who is doing what matrix)

Coordination and Liaison

• Support UNICEF’s leadership in coordinating WASH actors at field level, working closely with the Ministry of Health, NWC, ODPEM, local governement, NGOs, and community groups. • Represent UNICEF in local WASH coordination forums and contribute to joint planning and review processes. • Facilitate synergies and information flow between partners and the national WASH Cluster.

Community Engagement and Behaviour Change • Assist in the design and rollout of hygiene promotion initiatives tailored to local contexts. • Support community-led approaches that enhance ownership, participation, and sustainability. • Engage vulnerable and marginalized groups to ensure equitable access to WASH services.

Data, Reporting, and Information Management

• Collect, analyze, and manage field data for timely reporting, including 5Ws, situation reports, and donor updates. • Document lessons learned and best practices from the WASH response. • Support UNICEF and WASH sector information management systems with accurate and updated field-level data. • Draft communication and information materials for WASH programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and support fund raising for WASH.

Impact of Results

The support provided by the level WASH Officer (UNV) will enable the Country Office to achieve the WASH-related and emergency results of the country programme. This, in turn, will contribute to the achievement of the outcome results of the Country Programme Document. When done effectively, the achievement of the outcome results will improve child survival, growth and development and reduce inequalities in the country.

i) Core Values

• Care • Respect • Integrity • Trust • Accountability • Sustainability

ii) Core Competencies

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1) • Works Collaboratively with others (1) • Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1) • Innovates and Embraces Change (1) • Thinks and Acts Strategically (1) • Drive to achieve impactful results (1) • Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

3 years of general experience, including at least 1 year of professional experience in WASH-related programmes is required.

Humanitarian prior experience in emergency response is an asset

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials.

Apply now

Potential interview questions

Added 6 months ago - Updated 5 months ago - Source: unv.org