Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Officer

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.

In the Eastern Caribbean Area (ECA), UNICEF supports 12 Countries in areas of Education, Child Protection, Social Protection and Resilience and Climate Action, strengthening National policies, systems and programmes, and empowering children and youth to engage in the achievement of the global Sustainable Development Goals.

As a region particularly susceptible to climate change and extreme weather events natural hazards, UNICEF also has strong focus on emergency preparedness and response. Recent hurricanes such as Maria in 2017 as well as the COVID-19 pandemic have significantly exacerbated the region’s vulnerabilities and highlighted weaknesses in the provision of essential social services. These events have underscored the urgent need for enhanced Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) services, a sector where the poorest and most vulnerable, especially children, face the brunt of the impact.

As co-leader of the WASH ( Water Sanitation and Hygiene) Cluster/Sector Area of Responsibility with PAHO/WHO, UNICEF ECA is committed to strengthening its emergency response and resilience-building capacities. This commitment is evident in UNICEF’s response to Hurricane Maria in Dominica, where access was facilitated to WASH facilities for 19,800 children and mitigated the risk of water-borne diseases after significant infrastructural damage. Beyond emergency response, UNICEF’s role extends to providing technical support for WASH coordination and capacity development across the region, as exemplified by our training initiatives and the establishment of WASH coordination mechanisms in Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Saint Kitts & Nevis, and Trinidad & Tobago.

The UNV WASH Officer's role is central to these efforts. This position is not only integral to coordinating and implementing emergency preparedness and response strategies but also plays a critical role in the ongoing development of climate change programming. The UNV WASH Officer will directly contribute to enhancing sector capacity to respond effectively to emergencies, thereby reducing UNICEF's operational workload in crisis situations. This role is pivotal in ensuring that children and families in the ECA have continued access to clean water and safe sanitation facilities, which are essential for preventing disease outbreaks and maintaining overall health.

The WASH Officer will focus on strengthening national WASH sector coordination, particularly in preparedness, to ensure resilience against future natural hazards and health emergencies. This strategic position not only addresses the immediate needs arising from crises but also contributes significantly to the long-term sustainability and resilience of WASH services in the ECA, aligning closely with UNICEF's broader goals in the region.

This UNV assignment is part of UNICEF ECA disaster management work, closely linked to climate change and resilience programming.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Programme Specialist for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UNV WASH Officer, will:

Support the WASH Programme Management:

• Draft updates for WASH in the situation analysis, to inform the development of WASH-related outcome and output results. Research and report on trends in WASH, for use in programme development, management, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Prepare technical reports and inputs for programme preparation and documentation, ensuring accuracy, timeliness and relevance of information. • Contribute to the development/establishment of WASH-related outcome and output results, as well as related strategies, through analysis of WASH sector needs and priorities. • Provide technical and administrative support throughout all stages of programming processes by executing/administering a variety of technical programme transactions, preparing materials/documentations, complying with organizational processes and management systems, to support progress towards the WASH-related outcome and/or output results in the country programme. • Prepare required documentations/materials to facilitate review and approval processes.

Supports WASH in Schools and other child-services:

• Collect WASH information from the Caribbean Safe School Initiative (CSSI) Safe School Recognition Assessment and complement information as needed to understand WASH needs aligned with WASH standards. • Develop a WASH in Schools Mapping that highlights WASH needs and develop a plan with local WASH, Education, Health etc. and other actors to address WASH needs. • Support research activities to develop climate rationale for the impacts of climate change and water scarcity on WASH services in support of proposals for resource mobilisation. • Ensure WASH is included in strategies around the CSSI Pillars and link with emergency preparedness planning around shelters/temporary spaces in emergencies. • Support governments in ensuring climate-resilient WASH services are clearly articulated in child-sensitive National Adaptation Plans and Climate Strategies/Plans.

Supports WASH Preparedness and Response

• Support updating the Emergency Preparedness Platform (EPP) for the WASH sector focusing on scenarios, response, Minimum Preparedness Standards (MPSs and any other areas related to WASH), ensuring Accountability for Affected Populations (AAP) is integrated. • Maintain or update WASH internal emergency preparedness and response procedures, documentation, and tools (such as RapidPro, KOBO etc). • Map WASH conditions in shelters, in collaboration with the Emergency team and Education focal points and inter-agency partners (e.g. IOM, IFRC). • Revise the Supply Plan and Strategy for WASH, procure additional supplies and ensure supplies are reflected in CDEMA-Logistics System. • Undertake a WASH supplies market assessment to determine local partners for WASH supplies as well as understand WASH supplies provided by partners. • Support the development of an AAP methodology or tool to collect feedback from recipients/beneficiaries.

• Support UNICEF and inter-agency WASH planning, reporting, monitoring and information sharing. Supports coordination, networking and partnership building; • Support strengthening and/or development of WASH coordination technical groups and working groups to meet the core minimum requirements. • Collaborate with Country Coordinators to support the Leadership of the WASH Committees to monitor development/implementation of their WASH work plan. • Identify, map, and develop potential WASH partnerships (e.g GSD, IFRC etc.). • Support private sector engagement and collaboration through WASH working groups. • Collaborate with other UN agencies (e.g. PAHO, OCHA, UNDP, IOM) and non-UN agencies (IFRC, IDB, CARPHA, CDEMA, CWWA, WASA (including other UNICEF WASH focal points) based on synergies to support training of WASH Coordination Groups. • Support the revision and/or finalization of partnership documents.

Results/expected outputs:

As an active UNICEF team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNICEF and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including:

• WASH Working Groups are supported with technical guidance, ensuring they have core coordination mechanisms in place (Terms of Reference, work plan, preparedness and response plans and assessment tools). • WASH Technical inputs provided to strengthen programme documents, (integrated) programmes and projects, and donor proposals. • WASH coordination is supported and facilitated at the regional, sub-regional and national levels through active participation in coordination bodies and platforms. • WASH gaps and solutions are mapped, supporting WASH programming and cross-cutting areas related to WASH in the region. • WASH actors have access to capacity building solutions and are provided guidance to strengthen capacities and WASH coordination bodies. • WASH working groups and partners are supported through trainings and tools. • EPP is maintained and updated in relation to WASH. • UNICEF has a supply and logistics strategy in place for WASH, incorporating information from other partners from the region. • AAP strategy for WASH developed together with APP focal points.
• Monitoring and evaluation tools for WASH in emergencies are developed, tested and in place in case of an emergency together with partners. • Partnerships are strengthened with key WASH actors in the region leading to mobilization of resources (financial and non-financial) and improved coordination in the region. • Climate rationale for the impact of climate change and water scarcity on WASH services are developed. • Based upon needs and gaps, concept notes and draft proposals are developed prior to an emergency and during an emergency to contribute to emergency appeals.

Professionalism:

Integrity

Teamwork and respect for diversity

Commitment to continuous learning

Planning and organizing

Communication

Flexibility

Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance

Professional work experience at the national and/or international level in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), disaster management (emergency preparedness and response), climate change, resilience, disaster risk reduction, private sector engagement or other relevant programmes; experience with environmental issues is an asset, as is experience working in the UN or other international development organization.

Generally, living conditions are good in Trinidad and Tobago, however, crime and security should always be taken into account. Delays in clearing of shipments through customs may occur. TV, radio and internet services are readily available. Road conditions are reasonable but traffic congestion at peak times is an issue considering the limited road capacity for the number of vehicles circulating in the country. As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing, transportation to and from site visits and other living essentials. https://www.unv.org. As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials.

The applicable Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) is provided monthly to cover housing, utilities, and normal cost of living expenses. Life, health, and permanent disability insurance are included (health insurance for up to 3 dependents), as well as final repatriation (if applicable) and exit allowance for satisfactory service.

Specific UN Volunteer entitlements, including insurance coverage, Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA), Expertise differential, Entry / Exit lump sums, among others, are available at: https://app.unv.org/calculator

The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at: https://explore.unv.org/cos.