WASH Specialist

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.

UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. The UNICEF staff and experts/Contractors should act in accordance with the UN Code of Conduct and UNICEF Mission.

In the framework of the Armenia – UNICEF Country Programme of Cooperation 2021-2025, a key expected outcome (Outcome 3) envisages that children and adolescents learn in an enabling and safe environment. To this end, UNICEF Armenia under CPD (Country Programme Document) Output 3.4 prioritizes joint efforts with the Government and other national and international partners to ensure that national policies, plans, budgets on resilience building and environmentally-sound measures in the education sector are designed based on evidence and adequately operationalized, especially in the most underserved schools and preschools.

In addition to the general needs, since the end of September 2023, more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians, including 30,000 children have sought refuge in Armenia, leaving behind their homes, schools, and everything familiar to them.

Children, adolescents, and young people bear the heaviest toll of humanitarian crises. Access to services including psychosocial support, education, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene, and child protection is critical to ensuring children can get the support they need and overcome the distress caused by displacement. This comes on top of pre-existing situations of vulnerability among children and their families, including difficulty in accessing quality and comprehensive basic social services and poverty.

Quality access to water and sanitation, hygiene is an important condition for the effective implementation of programs and the creation of dignified environments for children and adolescents in need and vulnerability. Many communities and facilities where UNICEF conducts emergency response are in need of improvement of WASH facilities. The WASH UNV will support the establishment of hygiene models in targeted schools and the coordination of the renovation of the WASH facilities in the various target communities during the emergency response phase. Also, in addition to improving the physical environment, the support will include activities aimed at developing the capacities and awareness of teachers and administrative staff, and promoting behavioral change in relation to hygiene practices.

Under the direct supervision of DRR/Climate Change Officer and in close collaboration with CBS officer and Education, Child Protection, and Communication teams the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Supporting the programme section in researching, compiling and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data and information from a variety of sources on subject matters relevant to the work of the section to facilitate programme delivery as well as preparation of reports, working papers and presentations. • To make sure that WASH-related activities are well communicated and organised with other sections and individual consultants and contractors. • Supporting the revision of existing models and standards related to WASH in schools closely collaborating with relevant state agencies and local authorities making sure all the relevant documentation and procedures are in place for WASH model establishment and renovation. • Helping conduct regular programme visits of partner’s projects to assess quality of implementation and adherence to standards • Monitoring the status and implementation of WASH facilities and tracking the efficient distribution of WASH supplies in targeted sites. • Participating in relevant meetings/events on programming to collaborate with partners/colleagues • Assisting in developing terms of reference for WASH and climate change activities as needed; • Participating in advocacy activities designed to influence Government and other stakeholders to prioritize WASH, particularly in schools and kindergartens; • Contributing to regular reporting on achievements, projects, pertinent developments and strategic needs for the DRR/Climate Change section, donors and partner agencies; • Supporting with preparations, note taking and drafting of reports for workshops, conferences and meetings i.e., mid-year and end year joint reviews with the Government, and cooperating partners.

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

(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.

relevant area / developing country. Demonstrated experience in Environmental studies, Public / Environmental health / WASH-related activities in emergency contexts.

• Experience of working in water and sanitation improvement projects in schools and kindergardens or other relevant programmes is an asset; experience with development work, construction of WASH facilities is an asset, as is experience working in the UN or other international development organization; • Knowledge and experience in environmental health, public health, climate change and inclusivity are desired. • Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, 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 Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, among others), email, and 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; • Have affinity with or interest in child wellbeing, rural development and gender and inclusivity, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN system.

As of March 2024, National UN Volunteer Specialists in Armenia receive AMD 374,248/month as their Volunteer Living Allowance. Other benefits and entitlements include:

1. Pre-assignment: Entry lump sum - USD 400 (one time payment) Relocation costs - $200 at beginning and end of assignment if duty station is outside of commuting distance (as determined by UNV)

2. During assignment: Volunteer living allowance - AMD 374,248 (as mentioned above) Learning - Access to UNV's learning and career development resources Annual leave - 2.5 days per month Insurance - Comprehensive coverage for health, life and malicious acts for the UN Volunteer and health insurance coverage for up to 3 eligible dependents . See the Conditions of Service for more details on eligibility criteria.

3. End of assignment: Exit allowance (paid on successful completion of the assignment)

Yerevan is safe city with occasional public unrest related to the current situation. The climate is continental, with hot and dry summers, cold and snowy winters. The air pollution high during winter time months. The city offers a huge variety of restaurants, cafes, clubs, and other possibilities of diversion. Usually culturally highly active, all over the year one can enjoy on-going programmes of theatre (also international), classic and modern music, ballet, concerts, at everyone 's average. Art expositions are organized quite often, and spring and autumn programmes of international cinema are shown at the National Gallery. Water and electricity are mostly available everywhere in the city, and shops offer all kind of goods (though mostly of local production). Health facilities are good though were overloaded at the time of covid-19 situation.

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials.

You can check full entitlements at the duty station at https://app.unv.org/calculator. The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is availableat https://explore.unv.org/cos.