WASH Officer

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.

Although 80.92% of households in Indonesia already have access to improved sanitation, only 10.16% of those households’ access are identified as safely managed sanitation. Moreover, around 6% of households or around 13 million people still practice open defecation (SUSENAS, 2022). All the while, Indonesia has committed to ambitious safely managed access targets; 15% in 2024 and 30% in 2030.

Aside from the government’s targets, poor sanitation has proven to have significant impact to family and children’s health. Inadequate sanitation facilities cause fecal matter containing pathogens leak into the ground, contaminating the groundwater. Especially in densely populated areas that rely majorly on groundwater as their drinking water source. A study conducted in 2020 by the Ministry of Health found that 70% of the households drinking water are contaminated with E. coli. Consuming contaminated water can lead to various diseases such as diarrhea. Indonesia’s Central Bureau of Statistics’ data shows that prevalence of diarrhea to under-five is 11% in 2018; meanwhile diarrhea remains a major contributor to child mortality, accounting for an estimated 31% of deaths among children aged one year and 25% of deaths among children aged 1 to 4 years. Even worse, successive diarrheal incidence can irreversible impede physical and intellectual development of children (called as stunting).

Meanwhile, current climate condition threatens access to sanitation facilities which provide greater risks to target achievements. Action research in collaboration between UI, ISF-UTS, and UNICEF in 2020, provided enough evidence that climate change greatly impacts the access to adequate sanitation and may even cause people to return to open defecation practices. Furthermore, climate change

The UNICEF WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) program in Indonesia supports the acceleration of the Government WASH program. UNICEF WASH also advocates for safely managed sanitation and climate resilient WASH at the national and sub-national level to the Government in order to achieve government targets and Sustainable Development Goals (i.e. universal WASH access).

The overall scope of work of the WASH Officer is to contribute to the objective of the Country Programme of cooperation for 2021-2025 of supporting the Government capacity ensure safe WASH access for all children in Indonesia. The WASH Officer will join a dynamic WASH Section of 8 national staffs and 4 field staffs, structured in five output areas, responsible for Safely Managed Sanitation, Open Defecation Free, Safely Managed Water, Climate Resilient WASH, and WASH in Emergencies.

The UN Volunteer is expected to support the implementation of the key activities related to safely managed sanitation and climate resilient WASH as stipulated in the Annual Workplans under Output 2.1. Safely Managed Sanitation and Output 2.4. Climate Resilient WASH, working in coordination with the UNICEF programme sections and key stakeholders.

Under overall guidance of the Chief of WASH and direct supervision of the WASH Specialist, the National UN Volunteer will work with a team of experts to address challenges in achieving WASH universal access through the following tasks:

1. Evidence-based advocacy, evidence generation and programme monitoring efforts with the following focus (but not limited to); • Review, draft and support compilation of UNICEF WASH initiatives, including best practices or lessons learned at sub-national (at both provincial and districts) levels, public campaign materials, especially in the area of sanitation; • Support the development of human interest stories or voices from the field in coordination with WASH field officers; • Support the WASH Specialist in coordinating with BAPPENAS, the Ministry of Public Works, and the Ministry of Health the planning, implementation and monitoring of the GOI-UNICEF AWP.

2. National level coordinator forums, national events, and key initiatives; • Support the organization of national coordination forum, not limited to taking notes of meetings, preparing a database of ongoing sanitation programs in the country, and maintaining a repository of key studies and surveys on sanitation for the wider benefit of WASH sector stake-holders; • Support the WASH Specialist in the areas of WASH financing and public private partnership models in the sector, including strengthening one-stop-shop sanitation ecosystem; • Support the WASH Specialist in coordination activities in the area of innovation to ensure available innovative solutions through providing inputs to the on-going research on technology saniation options and co-lead the implementation of WASH Innovation Hub (INCUBITS); • Support the WASH Specialist in following up actions towards scaling-up of onsite sanitation inspection tool into current government monitoring mechanism.
   • Support UNICEF’s contribution to the Bappenas Led National Sanitation and Water Conference (KSAN) 2024 by taking role as liaison officer and participating in the preparation meetings as required.

3. Finalizing SDG-6 plan with specific contributions to the launching and roll-out of safely managed sanitation roadmap: • Support the WASH Specialist in coordinating and preparing materials for the BAPPENAS led launching of the safely managed sanitation roadmap; • Support the WASH Specialist in rolling out the safely managed sanitation roadmap at the subnational level; • Participate in the BAPPENAS led new RPJMN planning meetings. This includes, in collaboration with Bappenas to conduct series of discussions with relevant ministries and stakeholders, to receive inputs on specific topics as required.

4. Contribute to the Climate Resilient WASH Framework dissemination and implementation, with the following focus (but not limited to): • Support the WASH Specialist in the dissemination of the Climate Resilient WASH Framework at the national level and follow up based on the result of the dissemination; • Support the WASH Specialist in initiatives to mainstream WASH Climate Resiliency into national and subnational plannings, regulations, strategies, activities, etc; • In coordination with assigned consultant and implementing partner, support the implementation of climate resilience framework in select provinces/districts with guidance from the WASH specialist and in collaboration with FO WASH staff.

Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

• Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNICEF; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNICEF procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented; • Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNICEF in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority; • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues; • Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment. • Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities; • Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; • Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary; • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNICEF’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

• University degree in one of the disciplines relevant to the following areas: environment sanitation of a field relevant to international WASH related development assistance, public health, development studies. Master of higher qualification is preferable. • Knowledge and experience in the following areas is preferred: sanitation, climate change, governance, multistakeholder partnership building, developing communication strategies, developing technical guidance notes, lesioning with the government on technical issues. • Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, and reporting skills; • Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing; • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development; • Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel; • Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment; • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines; • Sound security awareness; • The individual should be proactive with strong motivation to engage with stakeholders, lead discussions, follow up on action points and achieve high quality results.

• The position will be based in the capital Jakarta, where basic living needs, including accommodation, banking facilities, medical facilities and telecommunications/internet services are readily available. All staple foods can be found in the markets. Many imported goods are available in Jakarta and other places throughout Indonesia. Jakarta has many good restaurants with good health standards and most guesthouses provide food. In Indonesia, the most used means of transportation are taxi or local bus. Mobile phone is the most dependable tool to be in-touch with colleagues and friends. Internet service is readily available and affordable at most apartment complexes. ATMs are everywhere in Indonesia and western cards can usually be used to withdraw Indonesian Rupiah. • As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. National UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan.