WASH Specialist NOC, Fixed Term, Amman, Jordan

Amman

Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Fund
Location: Amman
Grade: Mid level - NO-C, National Professional Officer - Locally recruited position
Occupational Groups:
- Environment
- Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)
- WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene)
Closing Date: Closed

The WASH Specialist reports to the Chief of WASH (Level 5/4) or WASH Specialist (Level 4) for guidance and general supervision. The Specialist supports the development, preparation, management, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the WASH programme within the country programme. The Specialist provides technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes, to facilitate the administration and achievement of the WASH-related output results in the country programme.

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.

Purpose of the job:

The WASH Specialist reports to the Chief of WASH for guidance and general supervision. The Specialist supports the development, preparation, management, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the WASH programme within the country programme and provides technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes, to facilitate the administration and achievement of the WASH-related output results in the country programme.

How can you make a difference?

Programme development and planning

Draft the WASH inputs for the situation analysis. Provide timely, comprehensive and current data to inform WASH policy and programme development, planning, management and implementation. Keep abreast of WASH sector development trends, for maximum efficiency and effectiveness in programme design, management and implementation.
Participate in strategic WASH programme planning discussions. Prepare WASH donor proposals, ensuring alignment with the UNICEF’s Strategic Plan, UNICEF’s global WASH strategy and the Country Programme as well as government plans and priorities, and the role of other external support agencies.
Assist in the formulation of the WASH outcome and output results, related indicators, baselines, targets and means of verification. Prepare required documentation for programme reviews.
Work with internal and external colleagues and partners to discuss strategies and methodologies for the achievement of WASH output results in the country programme.
Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes and ensure integration, coherence and harmonization of WASH with other UNICEF sectors, for the achievement of the WASH output results.
Draft assigned sections of the annual work plan, in close cooperation with government and other counterparts.

Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

With other external support agencies, strengthen national government WASH sector monitoring systems, with a focus on WASH outcomes (behaviors), using bottleneck analysis tools available in the sector (WASH-BAT, CSOs, SDAs).
Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sectoral reviews with government and other counterparts and prepare reports on results for required action/interventions at the higher level of program management.
Prepare/assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths/weaknesses in programmes and management, identify and document lessons learned.
Monitor and report on the use of sectoral programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets), verify compliance with approved allocations, organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity. Report on issues identified to enable timely resolution by management/stakeholders.
Prepare sectoral progress reports for management, donors and partners

Technical and operational support for programme implementation

Actively monitor UNICEF-supported activities through field visits, surveys and exchange of information with partners, to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and potential problems and take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely interventions.
Provide technical and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and other country office partners/donors on the application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes and best practices in WASH, to support programme implementation.
Plan for use of technical experts from the Regional Office and HQ, as and where appropriate in the WASH programme, through remote support and on-site visits.
Participate in WASH programme meetings, to review progress, with government, other sector agencies and implementation partners, involved at various stages of WASH programme implementation, to provide expert advice and guidance.
Draft policy papers, briefs and other strategic materials for use by management, donors, UNICEF regional office and headquarters.

Humanitarian WASH preparedness and response

Prepare requisitions for supplies, services, long-term agreements and partnership agreements to ensure UNICEF is prepared to deliver on its commitments for WASH in case of an emergency.
Contribute to the coordination arrangement for humanitarian WASH, for instant robust coordination in case of an emergency.
Ensure that all UNICEF WASH staff are familiar with UNICEF’s procedures for responding in an emergency.
Take up support roles in an emergency response and early recovery, as and when the need arises.

Networking and partnership building

Build and sustain close working partnerships with government counterparts and national stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge to facilitate programme implementation and build capacity of stakeholders to achieve WASH output results.
Prepare materials for WASH programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships and support fund-raising.

Participate in inter-agency discussions, ensuring that UNICEF’s position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the UNDAF development planning and agenda setting.

6. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

Lead the development, implementation, monitoring and documentation of WASH action research and innovation (technical or systems).
Prepare learning/knowledge products, covering innovative approaches and good practices, to support overall WASH sector development.

Create and deliver learning opportunities for UNICEF WASH staff, to ensure our sector capacity remains up-to-date with latest developments.

Contribute to the systematic assessment of WASH sector capacity gap analysis, in collaboration with government and other stakeholders, and support the design of initiative to strengthen capacities systematically.

Participate as a resource person in capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education: Master’s Degree in public health, social sciences, behavior change communication, sanitary engineering or other specialist field related to WASH is required.

Experience: a minimum of five years of professional work experience in WASH-related programmes for developing countries, including one year employment in a developing country is required.

Language requirements: Fluency in English and Arabic is required.

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.

Functional Competencies: