TA Urban WASH Specialist, P-3, Juba South Sudan (364 days)

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

Purpose of the Position

To support implementation of UNICEF South Sudan Urban WASH programme with an aim to improve urban water services in the country.

Under the direct supervision and technical guidance of the Chief of WASH in Juba, the urban WASH Specialist is responsible to take forward UNICEF urban WASH strategy and develop the urban WASH scenario through technical, managerial lead and linkage with other stakeholders. The Urban WASH Specialist will also undertake the planning, development, and execution of new initiatives in the water supply, sanitation and hygiene in urban setting and its management and maintenance, with relevant sector governance reforms in national and state policies. Support in formulating and engaging in dialogue with governments and stakeholders concerning water supply and sanitation, and provision of urban environmental management. Identify, develop, process, technical assistance projects and developing products and services in the assigned sector with other sectors like health, education, Protection and Nutrition.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. Work closely with South Sudan Urban Water Corporation (SSUWC) and other WASH stakeholders in South Sudan to assess the current situation of the urban water, sanitation and hygiene scenario in the key towns in South Sudan and develop an action plan based on UNICEF urban WASH strategy.

• Facilitate detailed assessment of urban water supply systems in conflict affected states of Unity, Upper Nile, Jonglei and Central Equatoria states and provide technical recommendations for rehabilitation and upgrading of the systems.
• Provide appropriate technical, managerial and Operations and Maintenance (O&M) system solutions for improving the urban WASH conditions in the selected towns of South Sudan
• Undertake long term assessment with technical support from professional agencies in terms of formalising system design and bid documents. Prepare contract documents, designs and technical specifications for upgrading/rehabilitating urban water supply systems in conflict affected states. Including recruitment and supervision of specialized services.
• Work closely with other stakeholders namely urban WASH donors, government departments and NGO partners to develop sustainable operations and maintenance solutions based on effective cost recovery measures.

2. Support UNICEF in terms of monitoring technical and social aspects of the construction of urban WASH infrastructure though participation of other stakeholders. This would involve regular monitoring and supervision of urban WASH infrastructure construction/rehabilitation, periodic update of the construction and assess the bills submitted by the contractor.

• Be a part of the project review team along with partners to monitor and report the progress of the construction and deal with all stakeholders and other departments to ensure clearance and way of rights.
• Report and address the challenges faced by the contractor and find appropriate solutions to resolve them with other stakeholders; check the billing of the contractor through regular progress process and deal with finance department.
• Develop quality control mechanism and checks for the progress of work and report regularly on the quality parameters.

3. With regard to UNICEF urban WASH strategy the urban WASH Consultant need to work closely with other sections and stakeholders to implement the strategies in different states South Sudan with a strong focus on sustainability.

• Facilitate detailed assessment of urban water supply, urban sanitation, hygiene conditions and solid waste management in critical towns in South Sudan and propose intervention plans to improve the conditions further.
• Based on UNICEF comparative advantages and overall strategies for the WASH programme in South Sudan work with different stakeholders to implement programs in the intervening urban towns.
• Institutional strengthening; there is a greater need for public-private partnership and women entrepreneurship building for greater cost recovery, increased professionalism and long-term sustainability of the urban WASH facilities.
• Work closely with The Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and GIZ to introduce key elements of urban WASH based on UNICEF advantage in the newly formed water bill.
• Work closely with other sections to ensure that urban WASH facilities reach the schools, key institutions in urban towns to ensure that child protection and development is ensured.

4. Undertake policy dialogue with governments and other donor organizations on water supply and sanitation areas, including in the urban development thematic areas, and promote efficient use of resources and encourage participatory approaches to development planning, financing and sustainability with market driven approach involving public-private partnership. Lead in conducting thematic work around the areas of water supply, sanitation and hygiene in the context of sustainable inclusive economic development and poverty reduction and child development. Provide advice on climate change vulnerability and disaster risk assessments and mitigation for urban areas in relation to water supply and sanitation.

5. Focus on the improving the urban sanitation especially in peri-urban areas in the key towns of South Sudan by developing inter-linkages with government counterparts and NGO partners and private players to formulate market driven sanitation solutions based on community approach to total sanitation.

• Work with key stakeholders and private entities especially women entrepreneur to develop low-cost appropriate sanitation solutions which are safe, hygienic and sustainable.
• Develop key messaging and participatory/child hygiene and sanitation transformation as tools along with other partners to create behavior change within urban communities in peri-urban areas of town.
• Develop appropriate cost-effective long-term solutions in densely populated urban areas along with sustainable sludge management techniques.
• Work in close cooperation with government counterparts and private players to reduce cost of sanitation materials, produce locally and provide hardware subsidy or soft loans within women groups to develop their household sanitation. 

6. Develop and maintain a suitable network in the WASH sector to keep abreast of the latest developments and issues regarding new innovations and technologies and disseminate the same within the WASH counterparts and partners. Substantially contribute to activities for advocacy, dissemination and knowledge building around water supply, sanitation issues and hygiene using market-driven public-private entrepreneurship. Develop and maintain a knowledge database on the water sector covering (i) capacity building of government counterparts and other non-government stakeholders through regular inter-exchange of ideas (ii) the overall structure of the service, the decentralization process, the role of municipal entities, a list of key service providers and financiers, investment needs over the short, medium and long term, investment trends and key enabling conditions to increase investments in the sector; and (iii) information on best industry practice including the type of technical and operational due diligence needed for project preparation.

7. Capacity building and system strengthening of SSUWC and other NGO partners in terms of O&M of the existing structures and make way for new structures.

• The capacity building will be done along three board sections, technical section which will involve operations and maintenance of water treatment plant (WTP) and water distribution (WD); the financial section which will deal with investment and cost recovery and the management section which will deal with monitoring, evaluation and benchmarking of different operations in WTP and WD.
• Support and train Government counterparts and UNICEF NGO partners on operation and maintenance and management of urban water supply systems.
• Support the Government counterparts establishing sustainable management of urban water supply system including public private partnerships.

8. Work closely with fund-raising, communications and advocacy section within UNICEF to raise the required funds for the urban WASH programme and also develop key advocacy and communication material for wider dissemination.

• Meet the key donors in South Sudan on regular basis and brief them about UNICEF programme and seek their feedback and seek opportunities for future co-operations.
• In close collaborations with donors and strategic NGO partners and government counterparts develop appropriate communication material for wider dissemination around policies, practices, and behavior changes like user tariff, safe use of WASH facilities, customer care services for water/sanitation services etc.

9. Support the WASH section through any required technical intervention and emergency support as and when required or as advised by the supervisor. This involves providing technical guidance, capacity building and supporting other members in Juba and field offices to accomplish their task successfully.

Qualifications of Successful Candidate

1. Education

Advanced University degree on water supply and engineering related technical fields.

*First university degree with additional two-years of relevant work experience is acceptable in lieu of an advanced university degree.

2. Work Experience

• 5 years professional work experience in urban water supply and infrastructure projects in developing countries, with proven field experience.
• Knowledge of designing and technical specifications of urban water supply system equipment.
• Knowledge and experience on establishing urban water supply management systems in developing countries and public private partnerships
• Analytical, negotiation, communication and advocacy skills.
• Leadership and teamwork abilities.
• Experience in UNICEF WASH programming environments will have an added value.

3. Language

Fluency in English is required.

Competencies of Successful Candidate

1. Core Values

• Commitment      
• Diversity and Inclusion    
• Integrity

2. Core Competencies

• Communication [II]          
• Working with People [II]        
• Drive for Results [II]

3. Functional Competencies

• Leading and Supervising [ I ]
• Formulating Strategies and Concepts   [ II ]      
• Analyzing   [ III ]  
• Relating and Networking   [ II ]
• Deciding and Initiating Action   [ II ]
• Applying Technical Expertise [ III ]      

To view our competency framework, please click here.

Remarks

* The successful candidate for this emergency recruitment MUST be available to commence work within 31 days of receiving an offer.

* Please note that Juba is a non-family duty station.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization.

Employment is conditional upon receipt of medical clearance, any clearance required, the grant of a visa, and completion of any other pre-employment criteria that UNICEF may establish. Candidates may not be further considered or offers of employment may be withdrawn if these conditions are unlikely to be met before the date for commencement of service