Generic Vacancy Announcement: Roster of WASH Consultant for Nepal Country Office: Call for Expression of Interest

UNICEF Nepal Country Office invites qualified and experienced professionals to express their interest in being included in the Consultant Roster to support various technical areas across our programmes. Selected candidates will be placed on a consultant roster for rapid deployment, including emergency response needs.

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The WASH Section aims to maintain a roster of qualified emergency consultants who can be rapidly deployed to support WASH responses during major shocks such as floods, landslides, earthquakes, and disease outbreaks. These emergencies create urgent needs for safe water, sanitation, and hygiene services, especially for vulnerable populations.

During crises, ensuring access to safe water, culturally appropriate sanitation facilities, and essential hygiene supplies is critical to protect health and dignity. Poor WASH conditions increase the risk of waterborne diseases like cholera, typhoid, and dengue, making effective WASH interventions essential.

How can you make a difference? 

To strengthen UNICEF Nepal’s emergency WASH preparedness and response, this roster will establish a pool of experts who can be rapidly deployed during crises to provide technical support in service delivery, outbreak response, information management, and cluster coordination, ensuring timely and effective delivery of life-saving interventions across Nepal.

The purpose of establishing Consultant’s Roster of experts is to ensure that appropriate and pre-qualified experienced professionals with relevant technical expertise are rapidly deployed as individual consultants to meet programmatic requirements.

1. Humanitarian WASH Response Consultant

The Humanitarian WASH Response Consultant will support rapid damage and needs assessments, analysis, coordination, and communication efforts to enable evidence-based decision-making during crises, especially those involving public health risks.

Specific tasks: 

• Conduct WASH damage and needs assessments in affected areas
• Support the development of WASH response and recovery plans based on assessment findings.
• Coordinate with local authorities, stakeholders, and partners to ensure timely, high-quality WASH response.
• Design and support the implementation of safe and adequate water, sanitation, and hygiene services.
• Assist with hygiene promotion, including training frontline workers and managing WASH supplies and IEC distribution.
• Help develop context-specific IEC materials on hygiene and outbreak prevention.
• Ensure timely and efficient WASH supply distribution based on assessed needs.
• Monitor field activities to assess quality, inclusiveness, and progress of WASH interventions.
• Prepare situation reports, donor updates, and key documentation.
• Plan and supervise WASH interventions, coordinating with other sectors to reduce disease risks, especially for children.

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

Minimum requirements:

Education:

• University degree (Bachelor's minimum) in Civil/Environmental Engineering, Environmental Management, Public Health Engineering, or a closely related technical field. Advanced university degree, an asset or is desirable.

Work Experience:

• Minimum of three (3) years of professional experience in humanitarian response, WASH programming, Information Management (IM), or public health/outbreak response.
• Demonstrated experience in supporting rapid needs assessments and damage assessments of WASH facilities during emergencies.
• Proven experience working closely with local stakeholders, including government and community actors, to relay critical information or hygiene promotion messages.
• Familiarity with local context and experience working with local governments (LGUs) is highly desired.

Special Skills/Knowledge Required:

• Strong understanding of humanitarian WASH interventions, including water supply, sanitation, and hygiene promotion in emergency and recovery contexts. Ability to design, implement, and monitor WASH response activities such as emergency water trucking, rehabilitation of water systems, temporary sanitation facilities, and hygiene behavior change campaigns.
• Knowledge of WASH cluster coordination mechanisms, Sphere standards, and national WASH in Emergencies guidelines is essential.
• Knowledge of the link between poor WASH facilities/services and the risk of waterborne disease outbreaks (such as cholera or dengue).
• Ability to support proper outbreak analysis and assessment in coordination with the health sector to identify the root cause of the outbreak.
• Demonstrated ability to support the development and dissemination of hygiene promotion messages and Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials tailored for the local context and outbreak prevention.
• Proven ability to conduct and analyze rapid damage and needs assessments, manage field data, and coordinate with local authorities and humanitarian partners for timely decision-making.
• Familiarity with emergency response planning, outbreak preparedness, and the operational use of tools such as the 4W matrix and Disaster Information Management Systems (DIMS).

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in Nepali and English (written and spoken) is required.
• High proficiency in Nepali (written and spoken) is essential for effective community, government, and partner engagement.

1. Humanitarian WASH Information Management Consultant

The Humanitarian WASH Information Management Officer will manage, analyse, and visualise WASH to maintain  the 4W/5W matrix, and produce dashboards, maps, and reports to support coordination, identify gaps, and guide evidence-based decision-making within the WASH Cluster.

Specific tasks:

Support the WASH team in conducting rapid needs and damage assessments.
• Lead the compilation, validation, and regular updating of the 4W/5W matrix to strengthen coordination and identify gaps.
• Use DIMS and sector assessment tools to track response, recovery, and relief supply inventories.
• Prepare timely and concise operational plans, assessments, and progress reports (e.g., MIRA/IRA).
• Develop and update maps, dashboards, and infographics to visualize WASH response coverage and partner activities.
• Work with field offices and partners to ensure high-quality, consistent data aligned with national information management standards.

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

Minimum requirements:

Education

• University degree (Bachelor's minimum) in Civil/Environmental Engineering, Environmental Management, Public Health Engineering, or a closely related technical field.  Advanced university degree, an asset or is desirable.

Work Experience:

• Minimum of three (3) years of professional experience in humanitarian response, WASH programming, Information and Data Management (IM)
• Demonstrated experience in supporting rapid needs assessments and damage assessments of WASH facilities during emergencies.
• Proven experience working closely with local stakeholders, including government and community actors, to relay critical information or messages.
• Familiarity with local context and experience working with local governments (LGUs) is highly desired.

Special Skills/Knowledge Required:

• Strong technical writing skills for producing timely, concise operational plans and assessment reports (e.g., /IRA/CSDA).
• Proven ability to utilize modern technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Power BI, mobile-based applications, and other advanced tools for effective data analysis, interpretation, and dissemination.
• Strong skills in rapid data collection, analysis, and processing, with technical writing proficiency for producing timely, concise operational plans and assessment reports (e.g., MIRA/IRA/CSDA documents).
• Demonstrated experience and competence in utilizing Disaster Information Management Systems (DIMS), for effective tracking and inventory management of relief supplies.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in Nepali and English (written and spoken) is required.
• High proficiency in Nepali (written and spoken) is essential for effective community, government, and partner engagement.

1. Humanitarian WASH Response Expert Consultant

WASH Humanitarian Response Expert consultant will provide senior-level technical leadership, strategic planning, and operational oversight for the WASH emergency response, ensuring comprehensive program implementation and effective coordination across governmental and humanitarian structures.

Specific tasks: 

• Lead the planning, implementation, and management of WASH infrastructure.
• Coordinate closely with federal, provincial, and local governments, leveraging the decentralized governance system.
• Engage actively in the Humanitarian Cluster System to strengthen coordination with other sectors.
• Design and support safe water, sanitation, and hygiene services, including institutional facilities, water quality management, environmental sanitation, vector control, and MHM.
• Integrate Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) in all WASH interventions.
•  Ensure gender-friendly and disability-inclusive WASH facilities, consulting affected groups where possible.
• Oversee monitoring and evaluation of WASH response and recovery activities.
• Build partnerships with government, NGOs, and other stakeholders to enhance WASH operations.
• Supervise WASH interventions to ensure safe water, sanitation, and hygiene for affected populations, especially children.
• Lead or support the preparation of situation reports, donor updates, and other documentation.

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

Minimum requirements:

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Civil/WASH/Environmental Engineering, Environmental Engineering and Management, Public Health Engineering, or a closely related technical field.

Work Experience:

• Minimum of five (5) years of professional experience in technical WASH programming, with specific experience in planning, implementation, and management of WASH infrastructure and logistics in emergency or crisis settings.
• Demonstrated experience in disaster response operations, particularly those related to climate-related natural hazards such as floods/landslides, drought, outbreaks or earthquakes.
• Proven experience working with Nepal's decentralized governance structure, coordinating effectively with federal, provincial, and local governments (LGUs).
• Familiarity with national operational mechanisms for disaster response, including Emergency Operations and the Humanitarian Cluster System.

Special Skills/Knowledge Required:

• Expert knowledge of technical standards and delivery models for emergency water treatment, sanitation provision, and hygiene promotion in displacement or crisis settings.
• Demonstrated experience and competence in creating, managing and utilizing Disaster Information Management Systems, 4/5Ws and its interpretations. Skill in reporting, documentation and dissemination is a must, Cross-Cutting Issues (GEDSI): Familiarity with incorporating Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) considerations into WASH design and delivery.
• Expertise in ensuring the provision of gender-friendly toilets and bathing spaces and ensuring the safety of water points for women and adolescent girls to mitigate risks of gender-based violence (GBViE). This includes addressing menstrual hygiene items and facilities.
• Ability to ensure all WASH facilities (toilets, bathing spaces, water points) and supplies are disable-friendly, and knowledge regarding the encouragement of consultation with people with disabilities during the development of these facilities.
• Strong technical writing skills for producing timely, concise operational plans and assessment reports (e.g., situation report, progress report, donor reports etc.).

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in Nepali and English (written and spoken) is required.
• High proficiency in Nepali (written and spoken) is essential for effective community, government, and partner engagement.

1. WASH Consultant for Provincial level

The overall objective of this assignment is to assist the province and local governments and programme partners in strengthening WASH sector governance and information management.

Specific tasks:  

• Support provincial and local governments in formulating and implementing WASH Acts, guidelines, and regulations.
• Strengthen WASH institutional arrangements and monitoring systems at provincial and local levels.
• Assist LGs in collecting, analyzing, and managing WASH data using the NWASH application and developing WASH plans.
• Build the capacity of frontline workers and government staff on WASH information management and sector planning.
•  Provide complementary support during emergencies, including flood, monsoon, and other crisis responses.

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

Minimum requirements:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in one of the disciplines relevant to the following areas: Civil Engineering, Environment, and Sanitation Engineering.
• Additional training in development planning, NWASH-application use, monitoring focusing on WASH, will be an asset.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of 3 years of professional experience in WASH governance, water supply, WASH in institutions and WASH in Emergency,
• Candidates with experience working with province governments
• Work experience of Sudur Paschim province will be added value.

Special Skills/Knowledge Required:

• Theoretical and technical knowledge of local and provincial planning processes, 
• Good knowledge, experience, and expertise in WASH information management, and use of NWASH application,
• Experience of working with the provincial and local governments, especially in WASH plan development with the use of the N-WASH application,
• A working knowledge of recent developments and approaches on safely managed water, sanitation, and hygiene services, water quality, WASH in schools and health care facilities, and WASH in emergencies,
• Demonstrated experience implementing water supply projects, in the communities and institutions (schools and health care facilities), water quality and recovery and reconstruction work in emergencies including result-based, human rights and gender/disability issues, specifically relating to children and women, and the current UN/ Govt’s position and approaches.
• Excellent knowledge and skills in computer use along with the use of AutoCAD, other data/information management applications
• Decentralized planning process of province and local government of Nepal,
• Demonstrated experience implementing water supply projects, in the communities and institutions (schools and health care facilities),

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in Nepali and English (written and spoken) is required.
• High proficiency in Nepali (written and spoken) is essential for effective community, government, and partner engagement.

Note:

Applicants must indicate in their applications, their preferred area of technical expertise.

Candidates should include their proposed professional fees in Nepalese currency

For every Child, you demonstrate...

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UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation for the person with disabilities 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.

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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.

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