WASH Specialist (Operations, Reporting and Budgeting), P-3, Kabul, Afghanistan

Contract

This is a P-3 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 110,481 USD and 144,666 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

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

Afghanistan is one of the most poorly served countries in the world in terms of WASH services, with more than one-third of people without access to improved drinking water. Nearly 60 per cent of the same population lacks access to improved latrines. Studies also show contamination of water services both at source and household level is significantly high in both urban and rural areas. Safe hygiene practices, such as hand washing, are very low across the country, especially in rural areas. According to UNICEF’s Water Security for All report, 93% of children in Afghanistan (15.6 million children) live in areas of high, or extremely high, water vulnerability. Groundwater overextraction for agriculture and cash crops like poppies is exacerbating water scarcity. Even before taking into consideration the escalating security situation, and rapid collapse of the government during August, the 2021 HRP estimated that a total of about 8.8 million people would need safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities and services. Meanwhile the drought has compelled people to temporarily move their families from their places of origin to other nearby communities in order to seek access to water. Furthermore, the recent escalation in conflict with the resulting upheaval and seizing of power by the de facto authority has further exacerbated the high needs for critical WASH services in urban centers, where a significant number of people moved to in order to seek safe haven and escape possible clashes. This include the inability of the Defacto Authorities to maintain basic social services’ sectors intact and sustain service delivery including WASH. Formerly, the Government’s income was around $1 billion which was used to support several sectors including WASH.

In 2021, the former Government had planned around $124 million for the WASH Sector. This has placed increased pressure on existing WASH services and on the host communities as they accommodate new arrivals. There are early signs of a ‘brain drain’ occurring in the country, amongst trained WASH experts and officials following the takeover of power and this is already impacting the maintenance of existing WASH systems and services which collapse soon as a result leaving millions in cities, towns and rural communities without water and sanitation services.

The impact of these multifaceted issues is illustrated by the current outbreak of AWD/Cholera, which began on the 12th of September, less than one month after the regime change. These early warnings that existing WASH systems and utilities may soon collapse particularly in urban areas serving large, overcrowded populations, requires urgent action to stabilize the sector and ensure continuity of safe WASH services.

How can you make a difference?

The WASH specialist will provide technical and operational support to WASH section and is responsible for managing the WASH constructions contracts, supply core pipelines, supply chain operations, supply plan utilization and reportingtechnical support to UNICEF WASH teams, undertake scale up of WASH interventions in line with 2022 HAC. The roles include, pro-actively working with field offices and Kabul team in budgeting, constructions contracts, WASH supplies and reporting. The specialist will make close follow up, monitor and mobilize staff and third-party monitoring partners (TPMs) for quality assurance of all ongoing WASH infrastructure works as well as immediate interventions, such as water trucking and installation of emergency sanitation/hygiene facilities. In addition, s/he will work with WASH partners including attending monthly and provide periodic update on UNICEF response. S/he will collate and analyses programmatic information from the field and will prepare brief updates and reports on UNICEF’s ongoing WASH response. The specialist supports the preparation of various technical and administrative tasks, related to the development, implementation, monitoring and supervision of the WASH outputs and results of field office. The incumbent will be main focal person between WASH section and supply and PMU sections in coordinating all matters related to contracts of WASH constructions with private sectors and NGOs, WASH supplies and include planning, procurement, warehousing, in country transport and distribution, as well as monitoring of supplies, services and construction works. The incumbent shall link operations with WASH programmes team in defining supply interventions to meet programmatic needs and achieve results for children, and provides technical and advisory support to implementing partners, and other sections on supply chain management.

1. Programme development and planning

• Support WASH team in drafting WASH inputs for the situation analysis. Provide comprehensive and current data to inform WASH scale up plan planning, management and implementation. While keeping abreast with WiE response for effective deliver of 2022 HAC results.
• Work collaboratively with WASH colleagues and partners to operationalize implementation of scale up plan for WASH, national WASH priorities, resources, strategies and methodologies to ensure the most strategic use of the collective resources of external support agencies.
• Participate in strategic WASH programme planning discussions and the formulation of the WASH outcome and output results, related indicators, baselines, targets and means of verification, ensuring alignment with the UNICEF’s Strategic Plan, UNICEF’s global WASH strategy and the country programme as well as government plans and priorities, and the role of other WASH external support agencies.
• Provide inputs for WASH donor proposals, ensuring alignment with the WASH output results in the country programme.

2. Programme management, Budgeting and Reporting

• Liaison, coordinating and giving advice to the WASH managers and implementing partners to ensure effective budget preparation, an effective and efficient management of WASH funds during budget implementation and the consistent application of financial rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Serve as the focal person for donor reports, regularly review the multiple number of donor reports to ensure the accurate and timely submission of high-quality reports supervising the reports officer; coordinate with the Chief of WASH and other WASH teams to ensure timely submission of budget modifications and financial reports; closely monitor due dates for financial reports.
• Provide guidance and support in processing draft contribution contracts/ agreements, taking into consideration the changing donor environment and requirements.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, WASH programme reviews and annual sectoral reviews with implementing partners and private sectors and prepare reports for the Chief of WASH.
• Monitor, report and certify the use of WASH programme resources (financial and other assets), verify compliance with approved allocations, organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity.

3. Collaboration with programme team and implementing partners

• In collaboration with the Chief of WASH, develop close collaboration with WASH sections teams and IPs through involvement in programme design, planning, and preparation for implementation of supply components as well as monitoring and evaluation.
• Establish accountability framework with programmes, for delivery of results for children.
• In collaboration with supply and logistic officer, prepare supply documentation to facilitate input to donor dialogue, and support development of supply components of proposals to donors including budgeting and use of innovative financing mechanisms for supplies, services and construction works.
• Support assessment of and collaboration with implementing partners including civil society, establishment of Programme Cooperation Agreements (PCAs), and monitoring of supply components under Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT).
• Participate in meetings with other section like Operations that strengthen integrated WASH responses and bilateral counterparts in supply and logistics activities including harmonized and collaborative procurement.

3 Advocacy, networking and partnership building

• Build and strengthen strategic partnerships with NGOs and the private sector to stimulate coordination and collaboration with UNICEF WASH section and build capacity of stakeholders to achieve WASH output results.
• Support analysis of Country office level budgets for WASH, cost analysis and value-for-money studies, to advocate for improvements in sector efficiency.
• Provide input for production of materials for WASH programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships and support fund-raising.
• Participate in inter sectoral discussions at Country Office level, ensuring that UNICEF’s position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the planning and agenda setting.

4. Humanitarian WASH preparedness and response

• Manage all operational aspects for WASH in Emergencies (WiE) at the Country Office level.
• Ensure the coordination arrangements the operational humanitarian WASH is in place, for instant support to FO WASH team on operational aspects and liaise with Country office level.
• Ensure that all WASH team are familiar with operational UNICEF’s procedures for responding in an L3 emergency.

5. Networking and partnership building

• Build and sustain close working partnerships with provincial government counterparts and regional stakeholders and private sector through active sharing of information and knowledge to facilitate programme implementation and build capacity of stakeholders to achieve WASH output results.
• Prepare materials for WASH programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships and support fund-raising.
• Participate in inter-agency discussions at FO level, ensuring that UNICEF’s position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the planning and agenda setting.
• Provide technical and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and other partners/donors on the application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes and best practices in WASH, to support programme implementation.

6. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Contribute to pilots and support the actual roll-out of new products and services, in close collaboration with the Chief of WASH and Operations Section.
• Support initiatives for promote critical thinking, innovative approaches and good practices on supply chain management within the organization as well as with externals to ensure effective and efficient supply chains for children.
• Further to analysis of supply spend and related procurement strategies, support initiatives to ensure local market development where relevant.

7. Reporting

• The WASH Specialist will directly report to the Chief of WASH. Although the key roles are stated above but they are not exhaustive in nature, the specialist will participate and play an active role in linking WASH section with Operations Sections.

Expected Results The ability of the WASH Specialist to successfully plan, manage and oversee the effective and efficient supply chain management of goods, services and construction works for UNICEF programmes and the Government, directly impact on program goals and results for children especially for delivery of 2022 HAC. This in turn contributes to maintaining/enhancing the credibility of UNICEF as an effective and responsible manager of funds entrusted to the organization and to furthering UNICEF image as a competent organization for delivering cost effective and sustainable program results for children.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in one of the following fields is required: public health, social sciences, behavior change communication, sanitary engineering or another relevant technical field.
• A minimum of five years of relevant professional experience in WASH-related programmes for developing countries is required.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language(Dari & Pashto) is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

To view our competency framework, please visit 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.

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:

* Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

* Kindly note that this is a non-family duty station.

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

* Employment is conditional upon receipt of medical clearance, any clearance required, the grant of a visa, and completion of any other pre-employment criteria that UNICEF may establish. Candidates may not be further considered or offer of employment may be withdrawn if these conditions are unlikely to be met before the date for commencement of service.

* The successful candidate for this emergency recruitment MUST be available to commence work within 31 days of receiving an offer.