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Senior WASH Officer (P-4)

Beirut

  • Organization: UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
  • Location: Beirut
  • Grade: Senior level - Senior - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Environment
    • Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)
    • Project and Programme Management
  • Closing Date: Closed

DUTIES AND QUALIFICATIONS ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

As of July 2014, Lebanon hosted more than 1.1 million registered refugees from Syria compared to 576,000 just over a year prior. The Syrian refugee population in Lebanon is the largest in the world and also represents a significant percentage of Lebanon¿s total population. There are no camps in Lebanon and refugees are found across more than 1,700 locations across the country. Some 57% of refugees rent basic apartments or homes, half of which are overcrowded with several refugee families sharing limited space. Over 30% live in substandard and insecure conditions in makeshift shelters, tents, unfinished buildings, garages, warehouses and worksites. Ensuring access to basic services is a constant challenge.

As the designated lead agency in the refugee response in Lebanon, UNHCR has established a sector-based structure in Beirut and in the field to support the Government. The structure brings together 11 UN agencies, 54 national and international NGO partners in identifying and agreeing on the strategic priorities to address the needs of Syrian refugees and other affected populations. Moving forward, partners are making significant efforts to ensure that available resources reach the most vulnerable including through the targeting of assistance across all sectors and new programming efficiencies such as the introduction of cash assistance. UNHCR is also integrating direct support to government institutions and communities most impacted by the refugee influx into programming to ensure continued social cohesion and receptivity towards refugees.

The Senior Wash Officer will be responsible of the whole implementation of the WASH components of UNHCR programme, assisted by WASH officers and WASH associates deployed at the Branch Office, Sub-Offices and Field Offices. In order to ensure wider reach out to the refugees and ensure their close involvement in the delivery and management of the Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) services, the Senior WASH Officer will need to establish an appropriate consultative and monitoring framework which would draw the experience and expertise of a wide range of actors both internally and externally. Furthermore, the Senior WASH Officer is required to play a lead role in formulating the UNHCR WASH strategy as appropriate project proposals and assistance activities that should be reflected in the Lebanon UNHCR WASH program.

The Senior WASH Officer reports directly to the Assistant Representative (Programme), with technical support provided by the Senior Shelter Officer and by the Senior Regional WASH Officer for MENA region.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT

Accountability

  • WASH services provided to refugee to UNHCR are based on UNHCR country and /or internationally recognised and most up-to date standards and policies.
  • Sound technical support and advice are provided to country operation in the field of WASH.
  • There is viable monitoring and evaluation system in place for data collection, analysis and interpretation to serve as evidence base for planning and interventions.
  • UNHCR WASH programmes are implemented in coordinated approach in line with overall strategy.
  • Gaps and overlaps in UNHCR funded WASH programmes and unmet needs are addressed, and the activities are oriented to address priority WASH issues.

Responsibility

  • Ensure that national and/or internationally accepted and relevant standards and policies are applied and adapted in close coordination with the host country and relevant UN agencies and partners.
  • Provide support to sound project management by helping during design, BOQ, tender and contract awarding process as well as conducting joint technical field visits with partners and contractors.
  • Provide timely technical support in the management and implementation of UNHCR WASH program.
  • Review modelling, layout and profiles of designed system-reservoirs, transmission lines, pumping systems.
  • Review calculations and specification of materials, labour and equipment for civil, mechanical and electric systems as well as hydrogeological and geophysical studies.
  • Participate in the elaboration of the tender documents for the selection of construction companies
  • Participate in evaluating technical proposals against financial offers.
  • Review and provide input to technical sections of operation and maintenance manuals.
  • Assure that execution of all projects is in progress according to initial plans; if not, adapt remedial solutions.
  • Participate in inspection visits and partial handover of completed projects.
  • Review technical sections of inception and progress reports and clarify modifications during construction.
  • Ensure adequate monitoring mechanisms are in in place to review the impact of activities and progress against plans.
  • Ensure appropriate links with the WASH sector, national and local authorities, States institutions, local civil society and other relevant actors, and ensure appropriate coordination and information exchange with them.
  • Ensure adequate reporting and timely updates and briefings to donor and management.
  • Regularly exchange information and best practices with relevant stakeholders, including key sectors of UNHCR i.e. Protection, Public Health, Program, Basic assistance, Shelter, Supply, etc.
  • Provide technical inputs in developing ad hoc guidelines/framework/tools for monitoring water and waste water interventions in urban contexts (including developing performance and impact indicators).
  • Collect and draft lessons learned and best practices related the WASH response for urban refugees.
  • Update agreed response strategies and action plans according to the context evolution.
  • Collect and analyse available data related to WASH programs, especially in terms of geographical and thematic gaps in priority needs and coverage.
  • Participate within the sector to the elaboration of Sector Strategy, SoP, guidelines, concept notes.
  • Draw lessons from activities and beneficiary feedback to revise strategies/plans accordingly.
  • Promote synergies with other actors active in the WASH and in complementary sectors.
  • Ensure approval by relevant national and regional authorities of the UNHCR WASH programs.
  • Develop a strategic focus on cost efficiency and sustainability.
  • Support to investigate current water management in the focus areas of intervention.
  • Support in advocating for donors to fund WASH activities.
  • Support in discussions with main stakeholders on prioritization, resource mobilization and advocacy on WASH issues.
  • Support capacity building initiatives so that refugees and other persons of concern to UNHCR and its partners acquire the needed knowledge, skills, and sense of responsibility and ownership of programmes.
  • Support WASH focal points and coordination to develop training plan, organize and act as resource persons in workshops and training both in-service (formal) and on the job (coaching).
  • Promote and support training capacity building of partners and beneficiaries.
  • Support efforts to strengthen the capacity of the national authorities and civil society.

Authority

  • Enforce compliance with, and integrity of, all WASH standard operating procedures.
  • Provide guidance and recommendations on WASH program for the Lebanon operation.
  • Represent UNHCR's in WASH meetings as well as in technical monitoring of activities.
  • Decide priorities in the designing of implementation plan, in consultation with Snr. Management and Technical colleagues.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

  • Advanced University degree in Hydraulics / Civil / Public Health / Environmental engineering.
  • At least 10 years of working experience in the private engineering sector, consultancy or private and public water and Waste-water utility companies.
  • A minimum of 3 years' experience in humanitarian work in developing countries.
  • Advanced knowledge and proven experience in applied civil engineering in water supply and wastewater in urban and peri-urban contexts.
  • Diplomacy and interpersonal skills; negotiation, liaison and representation skills. .
  • Ability to multi-task in a fast changing environment.
  • Excellent knowledge of English (written / oral)

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES

  • Previous experience with UNHCR and/or an international humanitarian organization dealing with large scale emergencies or displaced/refugee situation directly relevant to the current position would be an asset, especially in urban (off-camp) setting.
  • Knowledge of French & Arabic is an asset.

Please apply through the UNHCR website on http://www.unhcr.org, under Employment/Current vacancies

This vacancy is now closed.
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