WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) and CEED (Climate, Environment, Energy and Disaster Risk Reduction) Consultant, Manaus (remote), Brazil

Contract

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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, make a difference.

As part of its new country programme 2024-2028, UNICEF Brazil is currently developing its WASH programme based on the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic which highlighted serious programmatic needs in terms of access to WASH services, especially among the most vulnerable children (migrants and traditional people). Even though the Amazon Legal region holds the largest freshwater reserve in Brazil (80%), it presents the worst WASH indicators of the country. Children drink water directly from the river, families cook with water brought in buckets. However, many of the rivers in the Amazon are polluted, not only with domestic sewage, but mainly with industrial, agricultural, and mining waste - legal and illegal. The infant mortality rate caused by waterborne diseases such as viruses and acute diarrhea is still a public health challenge.

The UNICEF initiated Water, Sanitation and Hygiene - WASH Programming in 2020 to provide a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this regard UNICEF developed a policy note with important recommendations highlighting the links between WASH and COVID-19, including major WASH gaps in terms of WASH sector coordination and WASH services in health and education services.

How can you make a difference?

In this regard, and in support of the UNICEF Amazon Territory Coordinator and the head of the UNICEF office in Manaus/AM, the consultant will work closely with the other UNICEF programmatic areas in TAM and in close collaboration with state and municipal authorities, the objective of this position is to provide technical support to strengthen coordination, monitoring and advocacy in the water and sanitation sector.

As part of the response, UNICEF is implementing two major strategies:

1. Supporting WASH Sector Coordination in TAM (with particular focus on Amazonas, Maranhão, Pará states) to ensure WASH access for the most vulnerable children including migrants and indigenous communities
2. Technical Support on the implementation of SELO in 608 municipalities of the TAM region (systemic result #3) WASH in schools through training and awareness raising.

UNICEF, as highlighted in its Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action, is fully committed to support Government-led coordination efforts through provision of leadership and participation in WASH sector coordination. Moving forward, in the second semester of 2023 UNICEF is looking to continue the implementation of these strategies, while systematizing tools and lessons learned, and setting the scene for more systematic interventions to address the WASH needs including strengthening IPC in health care facilities and schools.

The consultant will prepare, organize, facilitate and report on the implementation of the toolkit in the country for TAM and support the development and prioritization of strategies for the WASH Program in the territory.

WORK ASSIGNMENTS OVERVIEW

1.1. WORK ASSIGNMENTS 1 - a proposal of contributions by UNICEF Brazil to strengthen the Amazonas State Council on Water Resources, considering the axis of water security and climate change.

1.2. TIMELINE - 01 month from the date of contract signature

1.4. ESTIMATE BUDGET – 16,6%

2.1. WORK ASSIGNMENTS 2 - a proposal with contributions in the area of water, sanitation and hygiene to support the Civil Defence of the State of Amazonas in strengthening the strategy to establish Community Centres for Protection and Civil Defence (Nupdec) in riverside communities, in order to make them resilient to extreme hydrological events intensified by climate change.

2.2. TIMELINE- 02 months from the date of contract signature

2.3. ESTIMATE BUDGET – 16,6%

3.1. WORK ASSIGNMENTS 3 - a proposal for contributions to the next edition of the UNICEF Seal (2025-2028), considering the strengthening of municipal sanitation policies.

3.2. TIMELINE - 03 month from the date of contract signature

3.3. ESTIMATE BUDGET – 16,6%

4.1. WORK ASSIGNMENTS 4 - 3 project proposals covering the three priority areas: WASH in indigenous areas, WASH in schools and for technical capacity building in the territories.

4.2. TIMELINE - 04 months from the date of contract signature

4.3. ESTIMATE BUDGET – 16,6%

5.1. WORK ASSIGNMENTS 5 - Provide technical support to the development of 1 Water Safety Plans (WSP) for indigenous communities, considering the management of sanitary risks related to water supply as a health promotion factor.

5.2. TIMELINE - 05 months from the date of contract signature

5.3. ESTIMATE BUDGET – 16,6%

6.1. WORK ASSIGNMENTS 6 - Provide technical support to evaluate the content of the Municipal Sanitation Plan of Careiro da Várzea/AM, including support in the plan revision process with a focus on the WASH and climate change agenda for reducing impacts on children and adolescents.

6.2. TIMELINE - 06 months from the date of contract signature

6.3. ESTIMATE BUDGET – 17%

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

• University degree, in a subject area relevant to the sector: water and sanitation program management, hygiene promotion, public health.
• Extensive work experience relevant to this consultancy may be considered as a replacement for formal qualifications.

• Experience of emergency humanitarian response an asset

  LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

Portuguese fluent.

DURATION OF CONTRACT

Six [6] months.

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’s Core Values

Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS)

To view our competency framework, please visit: UNICEF Values

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.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

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.

General Conditions: Procedures and Logistics

• Consultant will work from home using own equipment and stationery. UNICEF will provide office space for consultative meetings when needed.
• Consultant’s, travel costs should be included in the consultant’s fee.
• No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant and mandatory courses are completed;
• Consultants will not have any representative, certifying, or approving authority, or supervisory responsibilities or authority on UNICEF budget.
• The consultant will work remotely on a delivery basis.

Financial Proposal

• Costs indicated are estimated. Final rate shall follow “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee.
• A financial proposal including the fee for the assignment based on the deliverables and number of days must be submitted. Consultants are asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum, administrative cost, travel cost and subsistence costs, as applicable.
• The payment will be based on submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

Insurance and health coverage

• The contractor is fully responsible for arranging, at his or her own expenses, such life, health and other forms of insurance covering the term of the contract as he or she considers appropriate.
• The contractor is not eligible to participate in the life or health insurance schemes available to UNICEF and United Nations staff members.

Restrictions

• Consultants may not receive training at the expense of UNICEF. Notwithstanding, consultants must complete the applicable mandatory trainings before the signature of the contract;
• In case of government officials, the contract cannot be issued without prior written clearance by the Government​, or unless on leave without pay.

Remarks:

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

Individuals engaged under a consultancy will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants. Consultants are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.