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Profile WASH Officer

Multiple locations

  • Organization: UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
  • Location: Multiple locations
  • Grade: Junior level - P-2, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)
  • Closing Date: Closed

WASH Officer Profile

Various Locations

Grade: Junior (P2), Mid (P3) and Senior (P4) Level Positions

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is mandated to lead and coordinate international action to protect and assist refugees and other persons of concern. It is constantly seeking talented, compassionate candidates with high-integrity to strengthen its capacity to respond urgently to crises with the right skills. Given the nature of UNHCR¿s work, it is essential that its workforce has the right mix of skills and qualities to fulfil its mandate. 
The WASH Officer will support the UNHCR Country Operation, in coordination with the Government, to assess needs and coordinate the provision of WASH services to persons of concern to UNHCR. This will include WASH contingency and preparedness planning, assessment and development of long term WASH Strategy and operational plans.  Coordination or WASH partners in conjunction with the government authorities, and monitoring progress of WASH programme implementation to ensure that an adequate level of WASH service is provided at each site in accordance with the UNHCR WASH Manual and Technical Guidelines, and applicable UNHCR Standards and/or National Standards.

Responsibilities include:
Leadership and Coordination
- Lead the delivery of WASH services for refugees to meet the UNHCR standards and / or the national WASH standards, depending on the context.
- Act as a focal point for WASH issues within UNHCR and liaise with UN and international agencies, Government and Non-governmental counterparts.
- Coordinate the activities of WASH Partners, together with other UN agencies, governmental and non-governmental counterparts and local authorities to ensure delivery of WASH services to beneficiaries meet UNHCR standards of assistance, depending on the context.


WASH Strategy, Planning and Programme Support
- Actively participate in drafting WASH strategies, and operational plans for UNHCR WASH programme at the country level.
- Jointly with technical staff of implementing partners and other WASH actors, update detailed needs and resource assessments and revise designs of technical plans as necessary, taking into account practical aspects of implementation, long-term sustainable solutions, and relevant technical specifications and guidelines.
- Advise and assist the UNHCR programme staff on the development of WASH aspects of the programme including planning, budgeting and input to financial management of the programme.


Technical Assistance and Capacity Building
- Provide technical guidance and support to partners on all water, sanitation, hygiene promotion related issues, to ensure quality, cost-effectiveness, sustainability and impact soundness in their implementation and in accordance with UNHCR policies, standards and priorities.
- Facilitate capacity strengthening activities of national UNHCR WASH staff and, if applicable, of staff of implementing/operational partners to address key areas of WASH importance to refugees and other persons of concern to UNHCR.


Monitoring, Evaluation and Quality Assurance
- Supervise and monitor the implementation of the ongoing water, sanitation, hygiene projects administered directly by UNHCR and its partners.
- Ensure that mechanisms to monitor the performance of UNHCRs partners on WASH activities in the refugee camps / settlements / host community are in place.
- Ensure that the WASH Monitoring System data collection and reporting is carried out systematically, properly and timely with quality information


Reporting
- Report regularly on WASH activity implementation by all WASH partners, while maintaining accurate records of all relevant WASH performance indicators.
- Prepare regular sectorial reports and submit material for preparation of periodic project monitoring reports as required by the office at country level.
- Maintaining regular contact with the WASH Unit, Public Health Section in Geneva regarding all technical matters.


Minimum Qualifications and Professional Experience Required:
For positions at the P2 level
- Education: University degree in Civil / Environmental / Water / Public Health Engineering or related field.
- Minimum of 2 years of relevant professional experience with Advanced University/Master's Degree (4 years with University/Bachelor's Degree).
- Excellent knowledge of English and good working knowledge of another UN language. French/English is particularly desirable (dependant on official language of country).




For positions at the P3 level
- Education: University degree in Civil / Environmental / Water / Public Health Engineering or related field.
- Minimum of 6 years of relevant experience with Advanced University/Master's Degree     (8 years with University/Bachelor's Degree) of which a minimum of 2 years of international field experience
- Excellent knowledge of English and good working knowledge of another UN language. French/English is particularly desirable (dependant on official language of country).


For positions at the P4 level
- Education: University degree in Civil / Environmental / Water / Public Health Engineering or related field.
- Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience with Advanced University/Master's Degree (12 years with University/Bachelor's Degree) of which a minimum of 4 years of international field experience
- Excellent knowledge of English and good working knowledge of another UN language. French/English is particularly desirable (dependant on official language of country).


The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.

This vacancy is now closed.
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