Working in partnership with Cluster participants, the WASH Cluster Coordinator (Manager) provides leadership and representation for the Cluster. This contributes to the predictability and accountability of humanitarian action, in line with the aims of the cluster approach and IASC principles, and ensures that the humanitarian response is well-coordinated, strategic, adequate, coherent, effective and builds the resilience of the affected population. It also contributes to maintaining and enhancing the credibility and ability of UNICEF to fulfil its commitments as Cluster Lead Agency, in line with the CCCs. By identifying opportunities from the onset and throughout the humanitarian response to build resilience of the affected population, for programming and coordination capacity and leadership, the WASH Cluster Coordinator (Manager) also contributes to a smooth phasing out of the internationally led Cluster Leadership.
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UNICEF is committed to support humanitarian coordination through the cluster approach. Introduced as part of the humanitarian reform, the cluster approach, aims at ensuring clear leadership, predictability and accountability in international responses to humanitarian emergencies by clarifying the division of labor among organizations and better defining their roles and responsibilities within the different sectors involved in the response. As a member of the IASC, UNICEF work along with national and local stakeholders (including national and local authorities, CSOs, and communities) to support humanitarian coordination and to improve the collective impact of humanitarian response. Whether the cluster approach is activated or not, UNICEF plays a key role in both global and country-level interagency coordination for its areas of programmatic responsibility. As Cluster Lead Agency (CLA) for Nutrition, WASH, Education (co-led), and Child Protection Area of Responsibility (AoR) within the Protection Cluster, UNICEF is committed to fulfil the core functions defined by the IASC when the clusters are activated or when UNICEF is asked to support sectoral coordination.
A well-run Cluster/ Sector/ Working Group coordination team is a formal deliverable of the Cluster Lead Agency and forms a part of the agency’s work.
Under the overall direction and guidance of the Representative, the WASH Cluster Coordinator (Manager) will provide leadership and representation of the Cluster. They will facilitate the processes that will ensure a well-coordinated, strategic, adequate, coherent, and effective response by participants in the Cluster that is accountable to those who are affected by the emergency. In their effort to provide an efficient and effective response to the humanitarian crisis, the WASH Cluster Coordinator (Manager) is responsible for building relationships with stakeholders, for securing the overall coordination of sectoral responses and for ensuring inter-sectoral collaboration.
As the full-scale war in Ukraine enters its fifth year in 2026, humanitarian needs remain severe and increasingly complex. Up to 10.8 million internally displaced and war-affected non-displaced people require humanitarian assistance,
An estimated 6.4 million people in Ukraine require humanitarian assistance related to water, sanitation, hygiene, and district heating (WASH) services.
The national WASH Cluster counts three subnational clusters and roughly one hundred partners assisted 4 million people in 2025.
The WASH Cluster as per the two Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP) strategic objectives, differentiating between two types of intervention: (i) direct assistance (meeting strict humanitarian criteria) and (ii) indirect assistance (supporting service providers and institutions to restore essential services and prevent systems collapse).
The WASH Cluster in Ukraine has a specific branch (TechCell) to assess the needs and prioritize the humanitarian assistance to the water/wastewater and district heating utilities. The cluster collaborates closely with the Vodokanals association and State Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development. The cluster actively engages with donors and various governmental stakeholders, participating in the Water Supply and Sanitation (WSS) Recovery Group led by UNICEF as WASH Cluster/Sector Lead Agency. The WASH Cluster also collaborates bilaterally with the Ministry of Energy and the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU).
The post holder is responsible for providing predictable, timely and strategic leadership and representation for the Cluster to ensure a timely and effective Cluster response. The post holder is responsible for leading multiple stakeholders, beyond their immediate team of direct reports, to work collectively towards the realization of a shared goal based on evidence in a complex humanitarian environment.
The post holder's main tasks and responsibilities will include but not be limited to:
- Coordination, representation and leadership
- Needs assessment and analysis
- Strategic response planning
- Resource mobilization and advocacy
- Implementation and monitoring
- Operational peer review and evaluation
- Accountability to affected populations
- Strengthen national and local capacity
If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: 
WASH Cluster Coordinator (Manager) P-4.docx
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Minimum requirements
- Education: Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in Public Health, Social Science, Engineering, WASH-related engineering, health and hygiene behavior change communication and any other related fields.
- Work Experience: 8 years of relevant work experience in WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene), humanitarian coordination, water sanitation and hygiene, emergency response, WASH-related programmes planning, management, experience in humanitarian context and any other related fields.
- Skills: Cluster Coordination; Humanitarian architecture, principles, standards and guidelines; WASH in Emergencies
- Language Requirements: English - Proficient/Fluent
Desirables
- Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language
- 1) international experience; 2) relevant experience in programme management in WASH related areas in a UN system agency or organization; 3) experience in development contexts; five years of experience of WASH Cluster/ Working Group coordination; 4) experience in effective management of human resources/teams in high stress/risk environments; 5) experience in a mixed set of country contexts, in multiple geographic regions, including a deployment mission with UN, Government or INGO; 6) experience in urban water systems and municipality structures within a developed country; 7) experience in energy sector and/or district heating; 8) experience in humanitarian/development nexus or cluster/sector transition; 9) experience in close collaboration with WASH-related ministries/agencies; 10) Experience working with OCHA Area Based Coordination mechanisms
- Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.
For every Child, you demonstrate...
UNICEF's Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values
UNICEF competencies required for this post are…
(1) Builds and maintains partnerships
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with others
(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people
Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.
UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.
UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation 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.
UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.
UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments are conditional on the selected candidates willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel. Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service.
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.
UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable women and candidates with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.
UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants' bank account information.
Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.
All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.
Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.