WASH Officer, NOB, 11 months, Dhaka, Bangladesh # 573463 (For Bangladeshi Nationals only)

Contract

This is a NO-2 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-2 contracts.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, an advocate

How can you make a difference?

The WASH Officer reports to the Chief WASH (P5) for general guidance and direction. The WASH Officer leads the water supply pillar under the WASH programme and supports the Chief in managing and leading the development, preparation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of all water supply interventions under the WASH programme. The WASH Officer provides technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes to ensure the achievement of safely managed and climate-resilient water supply services in line with WASH results under the country programme. The Officer provides authoritative advisory services to government and sector support agencies and interacts with the government at senior levels and with staff of Donor Organizations and International Development Banks.

Major duties and responsibilities:

Programme development, planning and advocacy

• Conduct situation analysis to inform the development of WASH-related outcome and output results. Observe, research and report on trends, gaps and opportunities in accessing and utilizing equitable, affordable, climate-resilient, sustainable and safely managed water supply services for use in programme development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Prepare technical reports, analyses and inputs for programme preparation and documentation, ensuring information accuracy, timeliness and relevance.
• Enhance programme efficiency and effectiveness through evidence-based and equity-based approach integrating sanitation and hygiene as an integral part of water supply & water quality projects.
• Ensure UNICEF visibility in the sector through leading/ participating in national events like World Water Day, sector consultations on various emerging water-related issues.
• Prepare documentation and reports highlighting key areas of programme intervention to support accelerated access to safely managed water supply and water safety planning at national and sub-national levels.

Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

• Support the Chief of WASH in managing key donor projects and providing technical expertise in planning, implementation, reviewing progress, analysing constraints, and providing innovative strategies to accelerate WASH outcome and output results.
• Enhance programme efficiency and effectiveness through evidence-based and equity-based approaches integrating sanitation and hygiene as an integral part of water supply & water quality projects.
• Undertake routine monitoring visits of selected interventions to assess the functionality of the UNICEF-supported interventions and identify and share key lessons learned.
• Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes to achieve the WASH output results. Ensure that the development of all WASH proposals, documents and statements are based on the principles of climate-resilient WASH programming, guided by the UNICEF/GWP strategic framework. Ensure effective collaboration with other UNICEF sectors, where needed.
• Draft sectoral progress reports for management, donors, and partners.

Technical and operational support for programme implementation

• Actively oversee WASH programmes and projects undertaken in water supply services delivery at the national and sub-national levels and ensure strong technical guidance is provided to partners.
• Provide technical support and capacity building to Government and sector partners on the stepby-step scientific procedure to target the most vulnerable and unserved with appropriate climateresilient technology options, maintaining the standards of construction and water quality.
• Provide support to WASH Section, Partner agencies and the government in addressing existing water quality issues like arsenic, salt intrusion, Pseudomonas and E Coli contamination and other emerging contaminants and recommend solutions.
• 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.
• Actively collect information on key programming issues, trends and bottlenecks and propose technical solutions to address these, in collaboration with technical experts in the country office.

Humanitarian WASH preparedness and response

• Support preparedness and anticipatory action efforts through the collaboration and coordination with key stakeholders in the development and implementation of preparedness plans in advance of critical seasons (e.g. flooding, cyclones etc.) to ensure maximum and efficient preparedness and response, ensuring strong linkages to climate resilient WASH systems and supporting the nexus between humanitarian and development.
• Coordinate with key partners and WASH stakeholders on humanitarian needs and proposed programming solutions.
• Study and fully understand UNICEF’s procedures for responding to an emergency.
• Take up support roles in emergency response and early recovery as and when the need arises.

Climate change mitigation, adaptation and engagement

• Undertake research and report the impact of climate change on WASH services and the children and communities that depend on these.
• Collaborate with the country office team, government, key stakeholders, and sectoral experts to identify appropriate, reliable and affordable low-carbon solutions.
• Identify and support opportunities for low-carbon climate-resilient WASH programming to leverage climate finance.
• Support efforts to mobilise demand for low-carbon climate-resilient WASH services, engaging with the private sector
• Provide technical oversight of low-carbon and climate-resilient programmes for sustainable water resources management and climate-proofing water supply services.

Networking, partnership building and resource mobilization

• Build and sustain close and positive working partnerships with government counterparts and national/sub-national stakeholders through the active sharing of information and knowledge to facilitate programme implementation and build the capacity of stakeholders to design and achieve sustainable and climate-resilient WASH results and outcomes.
• Build and strengthen strategic partnerships with government counterparts, UN agencies, donor agencies, WASH institutions, NGOs, research institutes and the private sector to enhance coordination and collaboration.
• Produce materials for WASH programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships and support fundraising.
• Support active engagements with the private sector to create and meet the demand for climate resilient WASH services.
• Research information on potential donors and programming interventions and prepare resource mobilization materials and briefs for fundraising and partnership development purposes.

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.
• Assist in creating and delivering learning opportunities for UNICEF WASH staff, government counterparts and key WASH stakeholders to ensure 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 stakeholders.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: JD - WASH Officer NOB _TA.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: Civil Engineering, Hydrogeology, Water Resources, Climate Change or another relevant technical field. Additional relevant post-graduate courses that complement/supplement the main degree is a strong asset.

• Work Experience: DEVELOPMENTAL: A minimum of two years of professional experience in WASH-related programmes for developing countries is required

  HUMANITARIAN: At least six months of work in humanitarian situations.

• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset.

• TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS:

  Expert knowledge in the following areas:

  1. Rural water supply for low- and middle-income countries - including water safety and sustainability.

  2. Urban water supply (including low-income settlements)

  3. Water Resources Management, including early warning and early action systems

  4. Water quality monitoring and surveillance, including arsenic mitigation

  5. Water Safety Planning

  6. Programme/project management.

  7. National government WASH policies, plans, and strategies

Basic knowledge in the following areas:

1. WASH-in-Schools and Health Centres

2. Humanitarian WASH – preparedness, coordination, response and recovery

3. Capacity development

4. Knowledge management

5. Monitoring and evaluation

6. Human rights and WASH Gender equality and WASH

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2)

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (2)

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact (2)

(4) Innovates and embraces change (2)

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

(6) Thinks and acts strategically (2)

(7) Works collaboratively with others (2)

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes[KR5] , and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information. The genuine and complete vacancy announcements are published on UNICEF Careers website at https://jobs.unicef.org/en-us/listing/

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

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

Internal candidates may be given preference over external candidates. The term "Internal" refers to all staff members with fixed term, continuing or permanent appointments. Internal candidates who are legally permitted to work for UNICEF in Bangladesh, independently of UNICEF appointment, will also be considered.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions 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.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their candidate profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in the Applicant system in order to be considered. The information submitted will be used for administrative purposes, salary/step determination and conditions of employment. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be accepted for applications that have already been submitted for this position.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.