WASH Officer, NO-1, TA, Gran Caracas FO. Caracas -Venezuela, LACR. (364 days)

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, an advocate

www.unicef.org/venezuela

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF is the United Nations Children's Fund. Its work is governed by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and aims to make the rights of children and adolescents a reality in Venezuela and the world. The fundamental strategy is to achieve equity, emphasizing the most vulnerable and excluded populations, translating the commitment to children's rights into action.

Under the supervision of the Gran Caracas Chief Field Office, the WASH Officer provides professional technical, operational and administrative assistance throughout the WASH programming process by applying theoretical and practical technical skills in the research, collection, analysis and presentation of program information, while learning the organization's rules, regulations and procedures to support the development, implementation and monitoring of the results of the Country Program's WASH outputs.

Key functions/accountabilities:

1. Programme 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 programme development, design and preparation and impact.
• Prepare technical reports and inputs for programme preparation and documentation, ensuring accuracy, timeliness and relevance of information.
• Assist in the development/establishment of WASH-related outcome 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 programme transactions, preparing materials/documentations, 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 documentations/materials to facilitate review and approval processes.
• Planning of supplies and services needs to implement the WASH program, in close coordination with Supply Team and Field Offices.

2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

• Work collaboratively with colleagues and partners to collect/analyze/ share information on implementation issues, suggest solutions on routine programme implementation and alert appropriate officials and stakeholders for higher-level interventions and/or decision. Keep record of reports and assessments for easy reference and/or to capture and institutionalize lessons learned.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises (with the adequate analysis of the collected data), programme reviews and annual sectoral reviews with government and other counterparts and prepare minutes/reports on results for follow up action by FO, higher management and other stakeholders.
• Monitor and report on 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 on issues identified to enable timely resolution by management/stakeholders. Follow up on unresolved issues to ensure resolution.
• Prepare inputs for programme and donor reporting.
• Management and coordination of the implementation of WASH supply and services planning, including emergency preparedness, and including coordination and planning with other sections.
• Management and supervision of UNVs, consultants and staff under his/her responsibility ensuring adequate planning of their tasks, supervision and delivery of quality results within a RBM approach.
• Ensure coordination with Supply Team in UNICEF at national and subnational level.
• Coordination with WASH local authorities, advocacy and technical assistance.

3. Technical and operational support for programme implementation

• Undertake field visits and surveys, collect and share reports with partners/stakeholders. Report critical issues, bottlenecks and potential problems to 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 programme implementation focusing on NEXUS, sustainability and Climate, Energy, Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction (CEED).
• Provide specific technical assistance and operational leadership in the utilization of WASH supplies and services, including quality assurance of field level supply plans, TOR, etc.
• Provide specific technical assistance and leadership in the construction of boreholes, water supply systems & sanitation in health care facilities, schools and communities and other specific thematic priorities, in common agreement with the Chief WASH.

4. Humanitarian WASH preparedness and response

• Draft inputs for the preparation of WASH emergency preparedness, including the drafting of required supplies and services, long-term agreements, partnership agreements, coordination mechanisms and exit strategies.
• Study and fully understand UNICEF’s procedures for responding in an emergency.

• Take up support roles in an 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 programme implementation and build capacity of stakeholders to achieve WASH output results and ensure adequate hand-over.

• Draft communication and information materials for WASH programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and support fund raising for WASH.
• Participate in inter-agency meetings/events on WASH programming to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on UNDAF operational planning and preparation of WASH programmes/projects and to integrate and harmonize UNICEF output results and implementation strategies with UNDAF development and planning processes.
• Research information on potential donors and prepare resource mobilization materials and briefs for fund raising and partnership development purposes.
• Develop and support the implementation of a plan to build a result-based capacity building for private sector, to contribute to best value for money approach.

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, to ensure our sector capacity remains up-to-date with latest developments.
• Participate as a resource person in capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders and experience sharing among them.
• Compile analyze data related to WASH procurement and processes; and stablish a plan of action of improvement.
• Support the implementation of innovation plan related to the use of supplies for the scaling-up of the WASH program

The support provided by the level 1 WASH officer will enable the Country Office to achieve the WASH-related output 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.

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

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: water, sanitary engineering or another relevant technical field. Additional relevant post-graduate courses that complement/supplement the main degree are a strong asset.
• A minimum of 2 years of relevant professional experience in WASH-related programmes in Venezuela is required.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.

• Fluency in Spanish required. Working knowledge of English is considered an asset.

• Technical requirements

  • Basic knowledge of four of the eight components
  • Rural and urban water supply for low- and middle-income countries - including water safety, sustainability
  • Rural sanitation for low- and middle-income countries, including sustainability; applying CATS principles
  • Urban sanitation for low- and middle-income countries, including sustainability
  • Handwashing with soap
  • WASH-in-Schools and Health Centres
  • Menstrual hygiene management
  • National government WASH policies, plans and strategies
  • Analysis of national budgets and expenditure for basic WASH, and related advocacy
  • Borehole constructions
  • Design and technical evaluation of water pumping systems.
  • Community participation knowledge and experience
  • Basic knowledge in 1 of the two components
  • Humanitarian WASH - preparedness
  • Humanitarian WASH - response and recovery
  • Basic knowledge of two of the four components
  • Programme/project management
  • Capacity development
  • Knowledge management
  • Monitoring and evaluation
  • Basic knowledge
  • Human rights and WASH
  • Gender equality and WASH

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…

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)

Functional Competencies

• Analyzing (2)
• Applying technical expertise (2)
• Learning and researching (2)
• Planning and organizing (2)

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:

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.