WASH Specialist

Contract

This is a LICA Specialist-10 contract. This kind of contract is known as Local Individual Contractor Agreements. It is normally only for nationals. It's an external contract. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education. More about LICA Specialist-10 contracts.

Background Information - UNOPS

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.

Background Information - Pakistan

UNOPS Pakistan (Project Office) is part of the Bangladesh Multi Country Office in the Asia Region. UNOPS commenced operations in Pakistan in 1999 and significantly up-scaled activities from 2005 onwards to support populations affected by and vulnerable to earthquakes. In 2010, UNOPS opened a permanent office in Islamabad to support the Government of Pakistan and other partners to undertake humanitarian and reconstruction services, following the most devastating flood in the nation’s history.

UNOPS Pakistan has been implementing projects in the areas of early recovery and reconstruction of community infrastructure, project management, monitoring and evaluation, community development, fund management, human resources management, procurement and infrastructure design and implementation.

Supported strategically by a regional operational hub and UNOPS headquarters in Copenhagen and within the overarching framework of the ONE UN Programme, UNOPS Pakistan continues to deliver projects across the country under its core delivery practices of sustainable infrastructure, sustainable procurement, and sustainable project management.

With a steady growth of the project portfolio in recent years and a new strategic direction, UUNOPS in Pakistan is currently implementing projects in the following thematic areas: Green and Clean energy; Rule of Law; Health Procurement; and HR services.

Background Information - Job-specific

The WASH KP and Sindh project Funded by USAID, the project “Improved Access to Water and Sanitation Services in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh” was initiated in September 2021. The project aims at improving access to clean and safe water, hygiene and sanitation and increasing the resilience of communities affected by floods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh provinces. It is expected to last 5 years, until December 2026.

The project is articulated around three main components:

• Improve quality and reach of water supply services and increase access to community and household sanitation (Infrastructure);
• Provide more effective, gender-responsive and transparent WASH services through enhanced capacity of government and communities (Capacity Building);
• Reduce waterborne diseases and improve resilience of communities through improved community and household hygiene practices (Behavioral Change).

The project will start with a participatory needs assessment phase in coordination with all its stakeholders in view of identifying priorities and precising the specific outputs under each of the three components of the project.

Among the first positions to be hired, WASH Specialist, based in Peshawar with frequent travels to Karachi, will be part of the backbone of the new project team.

Functional Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Project Manager or her/his Deputy, the WASH Specialist will perform the following tasks:

1.Liaison and relationship building with WASH stakeholders - Increase UNOPS profile in the sector of WASH in Pakistan; - Represent UNOPS in relevant WASH meetings and events, including UN coordination mechanisms; - Liaise with WASH government and donor counterparts; - Advise Country Manager and partnerships team on strategic direction and government priorities in the WASH sector.

2.Assessment of WASH needs - Prepare, conduct, analyze and report on assessments of WASH needs for all three components of the project (infrastructure, capacity building and behavioral change).

Prepare needs assessments: - Conduct secondary research. - Conduct stakeholders mapping and analysis. - Coordinate with all stakeholders to collect available data. - Review and report on the data available (type, reliability, representativity, etc). - Propose assessments’ goals, target, scope, methodology and tools. - Prepare the assessments procedures and data collection protocols. - Prepare the assessment tools (forms, interviews, questionnaires, etc.). - Set up the assessment tools (data collection software). - Support the procurement of data collection services (draft of TOR, evaluation of bids, etc.).

Conduct needs assessments: - Train Data Collectors. - Liaise with authorities and all relevant stakeholders to facilitate data collection. - Supervise work of Data Collectors in the field. - Conduct personally complex technical assessments of existing water and sanitation infrastructures. - Identify and troubleshoot issues in the data collection. - Perform quality control to ensure high accuracy during data collection.

Analyze data collected: - Clean raw data collected. - Organize, cluster, merge or separate data as necessary. - Perform data analysis by applying analytical and statistical techniques. - Develop dashboards, tables, graphs and charts for data representation. - Perform quality control to ensure high accuracy during data analysis.

Report on findings: - Draft structured, concise and comprehensive reports on assessments findings. - Suggest possible courses of action for WASH interventions.

3. Conception and planning of WASH interventions - Guide the conception and planning of the WASH interventions for all three components of the project (infrastructure, capacity building and behavioral change).

Conceptualize and plan interventions: - Prepare log frames of WASH interventions (inputs, outputs, outcomes, impact). - Plan the interventions (including draft of proposals, design briefs, etc.). - Prepare realistic and detailed interventions’ schedules. - Advise on necessary resources and contribute to budget preparation.

Provide guidance on the applicable regulatory framework - Research and summarize the national legal and regulatory framework applicable to the planned interventions (on water and sanitation, environment, construction, etc.). - Record, organize and disseminate this information to all concerned stakeholders (Engineers, International Consultants, Design Firms, etc.).

4. Development of WASH infrastructure interventions

Advise the engineering team in the design of the infrastructure interventions: - Develop conceptual design and prepare design briefs related to water and sanitation works centered on the end-user’s needs and which meet stakeholders requirements, UNOPS quality standards, project’s objectives and budget constraints. - Take into account the specific needs of users based on gender, age, disabilities, socio-cultural norms, etc. Maintain a strong focus on economies of resources and sustainability. - Consider all stages of an infrastructure life cycle (design and planning, raw material acquisition, materials processing, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, decommissioning, recycling) and optimize the value for money of the infrastructure proposed.

5.Development of WASH capacity building interventions - Prepare detailed tailored capacity building plans based on the gaps identified in the needs assessment. - Analyze partners policies and processes and propose modifications in view of improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the WASH services delivered. - Conduct participatory workshops with partners to refine the understanding of the service gaps’ causes, their capacity building needs and their expectations. - Develop/review capacity building methods and material (courses, seminars, workshops, etc.). - Identify potential trainers and relevant service providers. Prepare TORs for training providers.

6. Development of WASH community engagement interventions - Prepare detailed tailored community engagement plans based on the gaps identified in the needs assessment. - Analyze the community practices and dynamics and propose interventions in view of improving the management/maintenance of water supply/water sanitation facilities (e.g. improve access, ownership, operation & maintenance, revenue generation and funding of maintenance, etc.), hygiene practices and resilience of the communities in terms of access to safe water and sanitation. - Conduct participatory workshops with communities to refine the understanding of the issues they face, better understand their needs and their expectations. - Advise on community engagement methods and material (activities, mobilization or creation of community groups, mass media campaigns, etc.). - Prepare a call for proposals for NGOs.

7.Participation in WASH procurement processes - Participate in the preparation of WASH services/works tender documents, advising the PM and other team members on the best selection criteria, and drafting documents in UNOPS e-sourcing procurement system. - Participate in tender processes, including but not limited to conducting pre-bid meetings, providing clarifications to bidders, leading site visits, participating in bids opening, etc. (acting in full compliance with the provision of the Procurement Manual). - Participate in the evaluation of bids, conducting detailed and substantiated technical evaluations and verification/assessment of the references submitted by the bidders (acting in full compliance with the provision of the Procurement Manual).

8. Monitoring, quality assurance and reporting on WASH interventions - Contribute to set up and manage remote supervision systems, including but not limited to the setup of remote monitoring systems based on the “UNOPS Sites” application, the design of implementation dashboards (in collaboration with Data Analysts and ICT Specialists), and the review and acceptance/rejection of completed WASH interventions). - Conduct regular field visits of WASH interventions under all three components of the project, assess the quality of the interventions and coordinate with other UNOPS and partners personnel (Lead Engineers, Site Engineers, Community Mobilizers, Trainers, Government Officials, Community Leaders, etc.) to address any potential issue. - Perform quality assurance and quality control for all WASH interventions. - Report timely and qualitatively on the progress of the WASH interventions, with a focus on impact, quality, risks and issues and lessons learned.

9. Business development - Keep track of government and donor WASH priorities. - Assist the Partnership team in developing new WASH project proposals.

Impact of Results The WASH Specialist ensures that the project prioritizes the WASH interventions that are the most needed by the communities, that those interventions are conducted with the highest quality, in the most efficient way (maximizing their value for money), and with careful consideration for their inclusiveness (gender, age, disabilities, social status, etc.) and sustainability (long term maintenance, resilience, etc.), thereby making a decisive contribution to the quality of the project’s outputs. The WASH Specialist also assists with raising the profile of UNOPS in the WASH sector and securing further funding for increased programmes, projects and interventions.

Competencies

Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organization. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organization. Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.

Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others.Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles. Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role). Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries. Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements. Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving. Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education:

• Master Degree in Water Engineering; Water, Waste & Environmental Engineering; Water, Sanitation & Waste Engineering; Hydrology & Water Management or equivalent.
• A Bachelor’s Degree in Water Engineering; Water, Waste & Environmental Engineering; Water, Sanitation & Waste Engineering; Hydrology & Water Management or equivalent plus two additional years of relevant experience in lieu of a master's degree.

Experience: - A minimum of 5 years of relevant and progressive professional experience in the field of Water Engineering or Water Management. - Demonstrated experience in all three components of the project (WASH infrastructure, capacity building and behavioural change) is an asset. - Experience with NGOs or governmental agencies active in the WASH sector in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or Sindh province is an asset

Language Requirements: - Full professional knowledge of English is essential. - Fluency in Urdu and one or more Pakistan regional languages (in particular Pashto or Sindhi) is an advantage.

Contract type, level and duration

• Contract type: Individual Contract Agreement Agreement (ICA)
• Contract level: Local ICA Specialist (L-ICA 10)
• Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link: https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx

Additional Considerations

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.

*It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

Mobility: The position will be based in Peshawar with frequent travels to Karachi and occasional travels to Islamabad. Candidates are also expected to travel regularly across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh provinces for extended field trips.

Cover Letter:

Applicants are required to submit a Cover Letter with their applications. Applications without Cover Letter shall be discarded.

Gender mainstreaming:

In line with UNOPS’ global gender parity strategy, female candidates are especially encouraged to apply.*