Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Officer

Volunteering Environment Engineering Medical & Health

Overview

Support implementation of WASH interventions in Eastern Province.

You have:

• Professional experience in WASH.
• Experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered an asset.
• Computer skills including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and social media; ability to create maps is helpful.
• Demonstrated dedication to rural development, equity, and inclusion.
• Experience in system strengthening for WASH services including coordination and capacity building.
• Demonstrated ability to collect, analyse and interpret data.
• Good interpersonal, networking, and communication skills.
• Fluency in spoken and written English is required.

Contract

This is a UNV contract. More about UNV contracts.

UNICEF is implementing a 36-month Nexus Energy and Water Programme for Zambia (NEWZA). The programme is co-financed by the EU, German Government and UNICEF, and implemented by KfW, UNICEF and GIZ. NEWZA programme covers six provinces, including Eastern Province, and focuses on four strategic interventions:

• Create reliable, cost-effective, and climate-resilient urban water supply by reducing non-revenue water, improving digitization, and introducing renewable energy and energy efficiency components (Implemented by KfW). • Increase adequate and resilient access to water supply in low-income peri-urban and rural areas, especially for vulnerable groups including women, girls, and persons with disabilities, through the introduction of renewable energy components (implemented by KfW). • Increase access to basic sanitation and hygiene and improve institutional WASH in low-income urban, peri-urban, and rural areas in close coordination with Commercial Utilities (CUs), especially for vulnerable groups including women, girls, and persons with disabilities (implemented by UNICEF). • Enhance organizational, networking, and financial capacities of water utilities and national institutions to supply urban, peri-urban, and rural water and sanitation services in a cost-effective, transparent, and inclusive manner (implemented by GIZ).

The UNICEF component of the NEWZA programme has three outcome areas. • District, provincial, and national Government demonstrate improved implementation of WASH policies and regulations and make evidence-based decisions. • People, public, and private entities use the new/improved water-sanitation-hygiene facilities provided with EU support. • Authorities and youth are prepared for and respond to WASH emergencies and climate change.

UNICEF also supports WASH interventions in Eastern Province with other funding, either as part of the NEWZA programme or separately. UNICEF seeks to coordinate efforts across various sectors and collaborate closely with Government and other partners and stakeholders in planning and implementation of WASH interventions.

The UN Volunteer is expected to integrate the UNV mandate into her/his assignment and promote volunteerism through her/his actions and engagement with communities, partners and colleagues. As part of this assignment, the UN Volunteer will dedicate part of their time to strengthening awareness and practice of volunteerism by engaging with local forms of volunteer action, participating in UNV activities (including International Volunteer Day), contributing to UNV knowledge products, and promoting online volunteering where feasible.

Under the overall supervision of the UNICEF WASH Specialist or WASH Officer, the UNV will undertake the following tasks in support of implementation of WASH interventions in Eastern Province and coordination of youth engagement activities in WASH Section.

• Support assessments, planning, implementation, monitoring and review of UNICEF WASH programmes at sub-national level, with a focus on equitable, inclusive, climate-resilient and sustainable WASH services. • Support the engagement of children and young people in WASH-related action and advocacy, including on climate change, environmental sustainability and resilience, in collaboration with relevant UNICEF sections, including Communication, Advocacy and Partnerships (CAP). • Support the mainstreaming of UNICEF principles and policies across all WASH activities, including Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), gender equality, disability inclusion, environmental sustainability, climate change adaptation and mitigation, accountability to affected populations, and child and youth participation. • Assist in identification and coordination of the key WASH stakeholders at provincial and district levels, including Government institutions, commercial utilities, UN agencies, civil society organizations, private sector entities, academic institutions and community structures. • Support promotion of Government leadership and ownership of UNICEF-supported WASH interventions, including by providing regular updates to authorities on progress and flagging implementation challenges. • Assist to facilitate collaboration and inclusive planning among partners and stakeholders for WASH interventions, prioritizing the needs of the most vulnerable populations. • Support the establishment and management of partnerships for the implementation of UNICEF WASH interventions, including follow-up on timely requests and liquidation of funds, activity reporting, escalation of challenges and identification of potential risks. • Support in promotion of private sector engagement in provision of WASH services.
• Assist in providing technical support to partners and stakeholders, under the guidance of UNICEF, in areas such as WASH coordination, capacity strengthening, hygiene and sanitation behaviour change, menstrual health and hygiene management, WASH in institutions, humanitarian preparedness and response, disaster risk reduction, climate-resilient WASH service delivery, sustainability of services, youth engagement, and engagement with commercial water utilities. • Support contract management processes, including coordination between UNICEF, contractors, consultants and partners, organization of contract management meetings, follow-up actions and provision of technical inputs as required. • Assist in supervision and programme monitoring of UNICEF-supported WASH activities implemented by partners and contractors; document progress, identify bottlenecks and support evidence-based decision-making. • Support in maintaining and regular update of UNICEF WASH databases and programme tracking tools, including NEWZA and other relevant monitoring systems. • Assist in drafting meeting minutes, monitoring reports, end-user documentation, and inputs to internal and external reports. • Support UNICEF WASH communication, advocacy and visibility activities at sub-national level. • Contribute to knowledge management and innovation by synthesizing data into user-friendly formats (e.g. maps, charts, infographics), mapping intervention locations, supporting WASH mapping applications, maintaining programme documentation on SharePoint, and drafting learning products and human-interest stories.

• Builds and maintains partnerships • Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness • Drive to achieve results for impact • Innovates and embraces change • Manages ambiguity and complexity • Thinks and acts strategically • Works collaboratively with others • Commitment to volunteerism and UN values, including solidarity, compassion, reciprocity, self-reliance, care, respect, integrity, trust and accountability.

professional experience in WASH. Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered an asset. In the cover letter, candidates should clearly state their years of experience in WASH and include examples of work they have done monitoring WASH, engaging with government ministries, coordinating WASH stakeholders, facilitating planning, liaising with contractors/partners, and leading knowledge management activities.

• Computer skills (i.e., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Microsoft Calendar, social media, and others). Ability to create maps in google earth, mWater, or GIS is helpful.
• Demonstrated dedication to rural development, equity, and inclusion.
• Experience in system strengthening for WASH services including areas such as coordination, evidence-based planning, capacity building, household hygiene and sanitation services, menstrual health and hygiene management, WASH services in institutions, WASH humanitarian preparedness and response, WASH and climate change, sustainability of WASH services, Youth engagement, and commercial water utility experience. • Demonstrated ability to collect, analyse and interpret data, and contribute to research, monitoring and reporting. • Professionalism and ability to work with partner organizations including government at provincial and district levels. • Motivated to contribute towards peace and development and to serve others. • Good interpersonal, networking, and communication (verbal and written) skills.
• Planning and organizing skills. • Willingness to contribute and work as part of a team. • Flexible and open to learning and new experiences.
• Ability to gather and analyze data and conduct research. • Respect for diversity and adaptability to other cultures, environments, and living conditions. • Fluency in spoken and written English language is required.
• Demonstration of high-quality written English, such as published papers is an advantage. • Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture, (i.e., studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded. • The WASH Officer must be between 27 and 80 years for the whole duration of their assignment and a national of Zambia.

Zambia is a land-linked, resource-rich country with sparsely populated land in the centre of Southern Africa. It shares its border with eight countries (Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe) that serve as an expanded market for its goods.

Lusaka is the capital of the Republic of Zambia. The climate is sunny and temperate, but it can be very cold during few months, with freezing temperature at times especially during the night. It is therefore advisable to bring warm clothing and foresee using heaters and other heating options when necessary. As the commercial and cultural centre of Zambia, Lusaka has seen rapid development in recent decades, with reasonable transportation connections and widely spoken English making the city highly attractive to vacationers and experts alike. Unemployment and poverty are issues in the city, and beyond. Key industries for the region and Zambia as a whole, include mining, agriculture, and tourism. Like most Southern African cities, life in Lusaka will require some adjustments for a person moving from outside the region, but the potential rewards and opportunities for experiences are well worth the effort.

Lusaka hosts several international organisation and embassies/diplomatic missions, therefore there is a very large community of expatriates from around the world. Housing is most of the time readily available and of good standard options are available. Most foodstuffs, beverages, household goods, furniture, and clothing, mostly imported from South Africa, Europe, and China while some ranges of local brands are available at a competitive price to imports. Meat, fish, fresh fruits, and vegetables are reasonably priced and abundantly available.

The basic infrastructures roads, utilities, and telecommunications are of reasonable standard, although the city experiences power outages from time to time. Medical facilities are still largely inadequate, although several private clinics and hospitals provide reasonably good routine care. Several restaurants around the city serve local or international cuisine and there are numerous social and sports facilities (fitness, tennis, swimming, riding, golf, etc.) in the major hotels or in different establishments around the city. There are no major or special security concerns within Lusaka city limits. For more information, please visit http://zambiatourism.com.

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Potential interview questions

Added 4 months ago - Updated 4 months ago - Source: unv.org