WASH Officer at UNICEF

How can you make a difference?

• The WASH Officer will make a difference by supporting the planning, implementation, monitoring and documentation of WASH programmes that contribute to improved access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene for children and communities, especially the most vulnerable. The role will help ensure timely, accurate and evidence-based programme support, contribute to emergency preparedness and response, and strengthen collaboration with partners for sustainable WASH results.
• The WASH Officer reports to a WASH Specialist at Level 3 for supervision and guidance. The role provides technical, operational and administrative support throughout the WASH programming cycle, applying theoretical and practical technical skills to research, collect, analyse and present programme information, while supporting the development, implementation, monitoring and reporting of WASH output results in the Country Programme.
• As a national officer role at NOA level, the post is intended to provide entry-level professional support to WASH programming while building familiarity with UNICEF rules, regulations, procedures and systems. The incumbent will work with colleagues, government counterparts, implementing partners and other stakeholders to support evidence-based planning, timely implementation, field monitoring, documentation of results, emergency preparedness and response, and learning across the WASH programme. The position may be based in Maiduguri or another UNICEF Nigeria duty station, depending on programme needs, and may require field travel to support implementation and monitoring.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities: 

•  Programme development and planning
• Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results
• Technical and operational support for programme implementation
•  Humanitarian WASH preparedness and response

 Programme development and planning

• Research and analyse national and sub-national political, WASH, health, social and economic development trends to inform programme development, design and preparation.
• Collect, analyse, verify and synthesize information to support situation analysis, programme planning, documentation and decision-making.
• Assist in the development and establishment of WASH-related outcome and output results, strategies, indicators and workplans based on sector needs and priorities.
• Prepare technical reports, inputs, documentation and materials to facilitate programme preparation, review and approval processes.

Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

• Work collaboratively with colleagues and partners to collect, analyse and share information on programme implementation issues, routine bottlenecks and proposed solutions.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and sectoral reviews with government and other counterparts, and prepare minutes, reports and follow-up actions.
• Monitor and report on the use of sectoral programme resources, verify compliance with approved allocations, UNICEF rules, donor commitments and standards of accountability and integrity.
• Maintain records of reports, assessments and monitoring findings to support follow-up, institutional learning and documentation of results.
• Prepare inputs for programme and donor reporting, ensuring accuracy, timeliness and relevance of information.

Technical and operational support for programme implementation

• Undertake field visits and surveys, collect information and share reports with partners and stakeholders.
• Identify and report critical issues, bottlenecks and potential problems to the supervisor for timely action.
• Provide technical and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and other stakeholders on UNICEF policies, strategies, processes and good practices in WASH.
• Support programme implementation through preparation of materials, documentation and administrative follow-up in line with organizational processes and systems.

Networking and partnership building

• Build and sustain close working relationships with government counterparts, national stakeholders and implementing partners through active sharing of information and knowledge.
• Draft communication and information materials for WASH programme advocacy, awareness raising, partnership building and resource mobilization.
• Participate in inter-agency meetings and events on WASH programming to support coordination and harmonization of UNICEF output results with wider sector plans.
• Research information on potential donors and prepare resource mobilization materials and briefs for partnership development purposes.

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

Minimum requirements

• Education: Bachelor or equivalent (First Level University Degree) in Public Health,Social Science, behaviour change communication, sanitary engineering and any other related fields.
• Work Experience: At least 1 years of relevant work experience in Programme Management,WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene), sanitation and hygiene promotion, water quality, Water Supply.
• Skills: Writing Proposals, Drafting reports, Initiating Cooperation, Planning, Monitoring, Delivering Results
• Language Requirement : Fluency in English is required.

Desirables

• Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language
• Government Partnerships, Development Partner Experience, Emergency Response, field monitoring, data collection, Rural Urban sanitation
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.