WASH Specialist (Urban), P-4, NYHQ, #99900

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the senior Adviser WASH, the WASH Urban Specialist leads the urban WASH portfolio and has a strong regular working relationship with the Regional WASH Advisors.

UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child. UNICEF has spent 70 years working to improve the lives of children and their families. Defending children's rights throughout their lives requires a global presence, aiming to produce results and understand their effects. UNICEF believes all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential – to the benefit of a better world.

For every child, hope

UNICEF’s water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) team works in over 100 countries worldwide to improve water and sanitation services, as well as basic hygiene practices. Last year, UNICEF’s efforts provided nearly 14 million people with clean water and over 11 million with basic toilets.

Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 includes ambitious new targets to achieve universal access to drinking water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) by 2030. Universal access encompasses urban and rural challenges. It also calls for close collaboration with other sectors in support of the shared objective to 'end poverty in all its forms'. Fulfilling every child's right to water, sanitation and hygiene education still remains a major challenge.

How can you make a difference?

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the senior Adviser WASH, the WASH Urban Specialist leads the urban WASH portfolio and has a strong regular working relationship with the Regional WASH Advisors. The WASH Urban Specialist also works in close collaboration with the other sections in the Division and Operations team, staff of other UN Agencies, and Government officials, international organizations, subject matter experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors, ensuring successful WASH urban strategy implementation.

The key functions include:

• Provide technical expert advice on urban WASH for the program globally and also for the emergency group and WASH cluster;
• Develop UNICEF's global knowledge management on Urban WASH spanning policy, programming, research and innovation;
• Advise the JMP on urban indicators and statistics;
• Provide necessary advises to countries for domestic resources mobilization for urban WASH;
• Serve as urban focal point for WASH globally and work with other sectors to develop cross sectoral approaches for urban programming.

To qualify as a champion for every child you will have…

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in public health, water, sanitation or environmental health, social sciences, education, urban planning (ideally with a specialization/additional studies in the areas of water and sanitation in urban WASH, economy, contracting, tariff Setting in urban context)

*A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.

• Additional relevant post-graduate courses that Complement the main degree are required.
• A minimum of eight of relevant professional experience in urban WASH, spanning development and humanitarian contexts.
• Experience in the following areas with respect to urban WASH are an advantage:
  • Policy development
  • Strategy planning
  • Planning, programming, and monitoring
  • Community mobilisation
  • Engagement with utilities and other service providers
  • Capacity building of staff and partners
  • Research and innovation
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

Our core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

This position is classified as “rotational” which means the incumbent is expected to rotate to another duty station upon completion of their tour of duty.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply.