Consultancy, Emergency WASH Specialist, Lunda Norte, Angola (5 months)

Under the direction of the Chief of WASH, responsible for support the province of Lunda Norte in refining WASH needs assessment as well as improve the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) component of emergency response to the refugee crisis from DRC in Angola. She/he will work closely with staff of the WASH Section and in consultation with government authorities, external partners and stakeholders. She/he will need to co-ordinate with other WASH team members and UNICEF staff, especially logistics, Health, C4D and communication section, to ensure a rapid, proportionate and effective response. The specialist may need to take a very active role in technical co-ordination, support and advocacy with local government partners and other technical agencies relevant to the sector.

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 Assignment

Under the direction of the Chief of WASH, responsible for support the province of Lunda Norte in refining WASH needs assessment as well as improve the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) component of emergency response to the refugee crisis from DRC in Angola. She/he will work closely with staff of the WASH Section and in consultation with government authorities, external partners and stakeholders. She/he will need to co-ordinate with other WASH team members and UNICEF staff, especially logistics, Health, C4D and communication section, to ensure a rapid, proportionate and effective response. The specialist may need to take a very active role in technical co-ordination, support and advocacy with local government partners and other technical agencies relevant to the sector.

Assignment Tasks

Under supervision of UNICEF WASH Chief, and in close collaboration with UNICEF Emergency Field Coordinator and the rest of UNICEF WASH Team, and provincial and local WASH authorities, the Emergency WASH Specialist will:

Provide sectorial leadership and expertise in the assessment of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene conditions among the affected areas.

• On the basis of the result of rapid assessment determine priorities and immediate activities and resources i.e. in order to finalize the response and make adjustment as necessary accordingly to the situation.
• In coordination with DPEA/DMEA select and design water systems including source selection (ground water, surface water), abstraction, storage, treatment and distribution for new systems and/or the rehabilitation of old systems.
• In coordination with DPEA/DMEA select and design the most appropriate form of sanitation systems (to include excreta disposal, vector control, solid waste disposal, drainage) taking full account of priorities, local conditions, resources, customs and cultural norms.
• Select and design, with support of C4D Section, and in coordination with the WASH team and DPEA/DMEA and other actors, a suitable hygiene promotion strategy in order to address child and mother key practices in emergency.
• Ensure that issues of child protection, health/nutrition, gender, livelihoods, DRR and environmental impact, operation and maintenance and sustainability are taken into account in the program intervention.
• Ensure Sphere standards both qualitative and quantitative are considered and any departures documented.
• Develop concept papers, budgets and proposals in respect of the above.

• In coordination with UNICEF Emergency Field Coordinator liaise with stakeholders and local Governmental and non-Governmental agencies for the purposes of the WASH aspects of the humanitarian operation.

Provide regular updates to UNICEF Emergency Field Coordinator, WASH Chief and WASH team on progress, priorities and constraints of WASH intervention

Expected Deliverables

• Submission of brief weekly Situation Reports (SitRep) for WASH operations in the area of intervention.
• Submission of technical proposals (based on recurrent need assessment) to overcome the WASH challenges in the affected areas.
• Submission of monthly activity report, providing information and progress on each task mentioned above to supervisors as required and follow-up actions taken on gaps identified.
• Support local authorities and partners in organizing and doing quality monitoring of distribution campaigns of WASH items.
• Support local authorities and partners in organizing and doing water quality monitoring for the water being distributed by different means (water supply network, water trucking and/or wells/boreholes), from the water sources to the end users.

• Attend relevant coordination meetings organized by the Central/Provincial/Municipal Committees for cholera response, in participation of stakeholders, including NGOs and civil society and provide minutes of meeting.

  1. Estimated duration of the contract and cost of consultancy

     The initial duration of this consultancy will be 5 months.  

  2. Working space and supervision

     The Emergency WASH Specialist will be based in Dundo City (province of Lunda Norte), and will report to the WASH Chief and Emergency Field Coordinator.

  3. Qualifications required 

     Advanced university degree in any of the following: Water/Civil Engineering, Environmental Health Engineering, Public Health Project management or relevant WASH specializations. Substantial work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.   

     Five years of progressively responsible professional work experience at national and international levels in Humanitarian WASH project management and coordination.  3 years humanitarian aid experience in the WASH sector applied in emergency response operations.

     The successful candidate will have experience in developing programme strategies through a review of existing data and analysis and consultation with internal and external stakeholders.  The candidate should also be familiar with UNICEF Humanitarian policies and procedures including the Core Commitments for Children as well as IASC policy and guidance on cluster coordination.  Experience required in integrating Disaster Risk Reduction into WASH programme.  Familiarity with the context of Lunda Norte province and previous experience in refugee crisis will be an asset. 

  • High level of awareness of environmental health issues as applied to emergency settings, with special attention to the needs of women and children, and particularly in the context of humanitarian operations with refugees.
  • Communicates effectively to varied audiences, including during formal public speaking.
  • Good writing skills and ability to speak fluently in Portuguese and English.
  • Experience to liaise with Government.
  • Able to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment.
  • Sets high standards for quality of work and consistently achieves project goals.
  • Translates strategic direction into plans and objectives.
  • Analyse and integrates diverse and complex quantitative and qualitative data from a wide range of sources.
  • Quickly builds rapport with individuals and groups; maintains an effective network of individuals across organizational departments.
  • Identifies urgent and potentially difficult decisions and acts on them promptly.

To view our competency framework, please click here. 

Please indicate your ability, availability and daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above (including travel and daily subsistence allowance, if applicable).  Applications submitted without a daily/monthly rate will not be considered.

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 organisation.