WASH Specialist (P-3), Fixed Term Position, Bujumbura, Burundi - ESAR

Support the development, management, and evaluation of WASH programmes.

This opening expired 1 month ago. Do not try to apply for this job.

UNICEF - United Nations Children's Fund

Open positions at UNICEF
Logo of UNICEF

Application deadline 1 month ago: Wednesday 5 Aug 2026 at 21:55 UTC

Open application form

Overview

Support the development, management, and evaluation of WASH programmes.

You have:

  • Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in public health, social science, communications, behavior change communication, sanitary engineering, civil engineering, environmental engineering, or another relevant technical field.
  • A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in WASH-related programmes for developing countries is required.
  • One year of deployment in a developing country is required.
  • At least one three-month deployment mission in a humanitarian situation (with UN-Govt-INGO) is required.
  • Advanced knowledge of WASH programme management, water supply, sanitation and hygiene promotion, emergency WASH response, representation in technical working groups and sector forums, Government engagement and policy support, advocacy for WASH policies and standards, project management.
  • Fluency in French and English is required.

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 106,599 USD and 139,583 USD.

Salary for a P-3 contract in Bujumbura

The international rate of 74,649 USD, with an additional 42.8% (post adjustment) at this the location, applies. Please note that depending on the location, a higher post adjustment might still result in a lower purchasing power.

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.

More about P-3 contracts and their salaries.

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 for as long as we are needed. 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 professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

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

For every child, the right to a Champion

In Burundi, UNICEF has a very diverse portfolio of responsibilities but all with the same objective which is to assist the Government and other stakeholders to fulfill children’s economic, social, cultural, political, and civil rights. The UNICEF country program in Burundi aims to improve the lives of children and women in the following key areas: Child and maternal health, Nutrition, Education, Child Protection, Water, sanitation and hygiene, Social Policy and Advocacy, Adolescent empowerment and community resilience, and Humanitarian response.

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF Burundi is seeking qualified candidates to support the development, preparation, management, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the WASH programme within the country programme. The Specialist provides technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes, to facilitate the administration and achievement of the WASH-related output results in the country programme.

Key functions, accountabilities, and related duties

The new team member will enable the country office to achieve the WASH-related output results of the country programme.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Programme development and planning

2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

3. Technical and operational support for programme implementation

4. Humanitarian WASH preparedness and response

5. Networking and partnership building

6. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: JD WASH Specialist Level P3.pdf

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

Minimum requirements

  • Education: Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in public health, social science, communications, behavior change communication, sanitary engineering, civil engineering, environmental engineering, or another relevant technical field.
  • Work Experience: A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in WASH-related programmes for developing countries is required. One year of deployment in a developing country is required. At least one three-month deployment mission in a humanitarian situation (with UN-Govt-INGO) is required.
  • Skills: Advanced knowledge of WASH programme management; water supply, sanitation and hygiene promotion; emergency WASH response; representation in technical working groups and sector forums; Government engagement and policy support; advocacy for WASH policies and standards; project management; strategic planning; WASH in institutions (schools, healthcare facilities, nutrition centres); Operation and maintenance of water and sanitation infrastructure; stakeholder coordination, and partnership development and capacity building; strong communication and negotiation; Data analysis; donor reporting.
  • Language Requirements: Fluency in French and English is required.

Desirables

  • Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish) or a local language,

  • Additional relevant post-graduate courses that complement/supplement the main degree,

  • Coordination leadership, Government Partnership, INGO Collaboration, Stakeholder Engagement,

  • Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

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

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(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 (8) Nurtures, leads and manages people

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

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 are conditional on the selected candidates willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel. Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service.

Remarks:

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 is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates and people with disability are encouraged to apply.

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.

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.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

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.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

Potential interview questions

Describe your experience with WASH programme management in developing countries. How did you handle challenges? This question assesses your experience and ability to manage WASH projects effectively. Provide specific examples of your past work, focusing on challenges you faced and how you overcame them.
Can you give an example of your role in a humanitarian WASH response? The interviewer wants to understand your experience in emergency situations. Pro members can see the explanation.
How have you built partnerships in previous roles? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What strategies do you employ for advocacy in WASH policy and standards? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you approach training and capacity building for local partners? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What innovative solutions have you implemented in past projects? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Explain your experience with donor reporting. What challenges have you faced? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you ensure the sustainability of WASH projects? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Added 1 month ago - Updated 1 month ago - Source: unicef.org