WASH Officer, NO-B, Cotabato, Temporary Appointment (9 months)

Join our dedicated team and contribute to Marawi emergency response efforts. You will provide support in the planning, implementation, management and monitoring of the WASH interventions with priority for children in Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte. This involves liaising and working with government and civil society partners towards recovery and strengthening capacities of government institutions to prevent and respond to WASH concerns.

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, a fair chance

UNICEF has been an active partner of the Government of the Philippines and civil society in realizing the rights of every Filipino child, in line with priorities to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. UNICEF efforts have been focused on the most vulnerable regions identified by the Government of the Philippines Development Plan, particularly in the regions of Visayas and Mindanao. To ensure that interventions are sustainable and scaled up, UNICEF will support primarily local government units (LGUs) as the main instruments of delivering services and building systems. The level of engagement with government institutions will take into account capacities, economies of scale and sector issues.

It has a field office in Cotabato City, the second largest city in Mindanao, southern Philippines, with some 300,000 population. The city is the regional administrative centre of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao and over 80 percent of the population is Muslim. Mindanao is both conflict-affected and prone to frequent earthquakes and typhoon storms. 

Visit this link for more information on Philippine Country Office: https://www.unicef.org/philippines/

How can you make a difference?

The WASH Officer will report directly to the WASH Officer in the Mindanao Field Office and work in constant coordination with other programme areas/staff assigned to the Marawi emergency response. The role will cover a range of activities which includes work around the areas of coordination, assessments and analysis, monitoring, policy advocacy and local capacity building.

The position will be based in Cotabato City but will required frequent travel to supported areas of the Marawi emergency response.

This will involve:

1. Support the establishment and maintenance of appropriate WASH humanitarian coordination mechanisms for the Marawi emergency response:

• Ensure UNICEF representation in the WASH sector coordination meetings and maintain networking with WASH sector partners.
• Coordinate with national/local authorities, state institutions, local civil society and other relevant actors.
• Ensure appropriate participatory and community-based approaches.
• Ensure appropriate attention to priority cross-cutting issues (e.g., gender, Early Recovery, etc.)

2. Provide assistance to government and UNICEF on needs assessment and analysis for responses and early recovery.

3. Assist the government and other UNICEF implementing partners, where and when needed, in coordination of sector-wide response and early recovery including UNICEF assistance:

• Perform logistical work on delivery of supplies in accordance with agreed parameters, desired results and deliverables.
• Collaboration with relevant sectors/clusters to ensure integrated response to the affected children, particularly with Child Protection, Education, Health and Nutrition sectors.

4. Undertake assurance visits to ensure government and CSO implemented activities have been carried out and to satisfactory standards.

5. Provide bi-weekly monitoring and reporting on response:

• Assurance checklists for assurance visits carried out.
• Including policy or guidance needed to ensure continuity of WASH services for displaced children and pregnant and lactating women (PLW).
• Arising needs and gaps.
• Provide monitoring and technical guidance as needed on WASH service delivery to affected communities.

6. Coordinate with staff on advocacy and communication needs for affected areas:

• Ensure WASH messages are included in the response strategies.

7. Perform other tasks as may be assigned by the WASH Officer and the field office.

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

• Advanced University degree in one of the following fields: Public Health, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Geology, Hydrology, Sanitation Engineering or other related disciplines.
  *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.
• Five years of progressive work experience in WASH with at least one year humanitarian experience in the field as a Team Leader or management level.
• Experience in designing and managing WASH programmes.
• Experience in managing and analysing relative large size of data and information from different sources and producing meaningful results and recommendations an asset.
• Ability to work in a low to medium security threat environment.
• Ability to work flexibly and independently with limited supervision in a multicultural team environment and deliver quality results against tight deadlines.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks and delivery quality outputs even under pressure.
• Proactive coordination and networking skills required.
• Ability to draft analytical reports/documents is required.
• Strong computer skills including the use of various office applications and internet navigation.
• Relevant experience in the region an advantage, as is knowledge of and experience in Mindanao particularly in Lanao del Sur.
• Excellent analytical, writing and communication skills.
• Fluency in English and Filipino required. Knowledge of the local language an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

Qualified candidates are requested to complete an online candidate profile in http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/ by 19 March 2018.  Only applications sent through the e-recruitment portal under Job Number: 511354 will be considered.

All candidates are requested to submit a cover letter, and the duly filled P 11 form which can be downloaded from our website at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/P11.doc indicating three (3) previous supervisors.

Only shortlisted consultants will be contacted.

By applying through our Talent Management System (TMS) you agree to our privacy statement which is in line with the Philippines’ Data Privacy Act. You are strongly advised to read carefully through the privacy statement before submitting your application.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.