WASH Officer NO-1, Mexico City, Mexico (Temp Appointment)

Contract

This is a NO-1 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. More about NO-1 contracts.

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, clean water

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, advocacy, and 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. 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.

Every child has the right to a quality education, which includes access to drinking Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) services while at school. Children spend a significant portion of their day at school where WASH services can impact student learning, health, and dignity, particularly for girls. The inclusion of WASH in schools in the Sustainable Development Goals (targets 4.a, 6.1, 6.2) represents increasing recognition of their importance as key components of a ‘safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environment’ and as part of a ‘universal’ WASH access, which emphasizes the need for WASH outside of the home.

How can you make a difference?

The WASH Officer (NO-1 - National Officer Level 1) reports to the WASH Specialist (P3 - International Professional Level 3). The WASH Officer (NO-1) will be based in Mexico City Country Office (CO) where WASH is part of the Education Area and a substantial component of the Country Programme (or CCPD).

The WASH Officer provides professional technical, operational, and administrative assistance throughout the WASH programming process, through the application of theoretical and practical technical skills in researching, collecting, analyzing, and presenting program information while learning organizational rules, regulations, and procedures to support the development, implementation, and monitoring of the WASH output results of the Country Programme. In addition, the incumbent will be expected to work within multi-functional and interdisciplinary teams.

Specifically, in UNICEF México, this technical support will serve as WASH in Schools focal point person, being responsible and leading all projects and activities regarding this action area.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities are as follows:

1. Program development and planning

• Research and analyze regional/national political, WASH, health, and social and economic development trends. Collect, analyze, verify, and synthesize information to facilitate program development, design, and preparation.
• Prepare technical reports and inputs for program preparation and documentation, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and relevance of information.
• Assist in the development/establishment of WASH-related outcomes and output results, as well as related strategies, through analysis of WASH sector needs and priorities.
• Provide technical and administrative support throughout all stages of programming processes by executing/administering a variety of technical program transactions, preparing materials/documentation, and complying with organizational processes and management systems, to support progress towards the WASH-related outcome and/or output results in the Country Programme.
• Prepare required documentation/materials to facilitate review and approval processes.

2. Program management, monitoring, and delivery of results

• Work collaboratively with colleagues and partners to collect/analyze/ share information on implementation issues, suggest solutions for routine program implementation and alert appropriate officials and stakeholders for higher-level interventions and/or decisions. Keep a record of reports and assessments for easy reference and/or to capture and institutionalize lessons learned.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, program reviews, and annual sectoral reviews with government and other counterparts and prepare minutes/reports on results for follow-up action by higher management and other stakeholders.
• Monitor and report on the use of sectoral program resources (financial, administrative, and other assets), verify compliance with approved allocations, organizational rules, regulations/procedures, donor commitments, standards of accountability, and integrity. Report on issues identified to enable timely resolution by management/stakeholders. Follow up on unresolved issues to ensure resolution.
• Prepare inputs for program and donor reporting.

3. Technical and operational support for program implementation

• 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.
• Provide technical and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners, and other country office partners/donors on the application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes, and best practices in WASH, to support program implementation.

4. Humanitarian WASH preparedness and response

• Draft inputs for the preparation of WASH emergency preparedness, including drafting the required supplies and services, long-term agreements, partnership agreements, and coordination mechanisms.
• Study and fully understand UNICEF’s procedures for responding in an emergency.
• Take up support roles in emergency response and early recovery, as and when the need arises.

5. Networking and partnership building

• Build and sustain close working partnerships with government counterparts and national stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge to facilitate program implementation and build the capacity of stakeholders to achieve WASH output results.
• Draft communication and information materials for WASH program advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships/alliances, and support fundraising for WASH.
• Participate in inter-agency meetings/events on WASH programming to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on operational planning and preparation of WASH programs/projects and to integrate and harmonize UNICEF output results and implementation strategies, development, and planning processes.
• Research information on potential donors and prepare resource mobilization materials and briefs for fundraising and partnership development purposes.

6. Innovation, knowledge management, and capacity building

• Assist in the development, implementation, monitoring, and documentation of WASH action research and innovation (technical or systems).
• Assist in the preparation of learning/knowledge products, covering innovative approaches and good practices, to support overall WASH sector development.
• Assist in creating and delivering learning opportunities for UNICEF WASH staff, in ensuring our sector capacity remains up to date with the latest developments.
• 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...

Education:

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: public health, social sciences, behavior change communication, sanitary engineering, or another relevant technical field.
• Additional training in Health Education or Communication for Development (Programme Communication) is an asset.

Experience:

• A minimum of one year of professional experience in WASH-related programs in an upper-middle income context is required.
• Work experience in WASH in emergencies is required.
• Knowledge and work experience in the implementation of “WASH in schools (WinS)” approaches are considered an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in Spanish is required.
• A proficient level in English is required, and complete fluency is preferred. However, if the person hired is not fluent, he/she will have to commit to improving their English skills in the first six/twelve months of work.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) 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 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.

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 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:

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children.

Only national candidates will be shortlisted.

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

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.