WASH Specialist (Water, Climate & Urbanization) at UNICEF

How can you make a difference?

The Position Holder will oversee Pillar 1 – Drinking Water for Households and Communities. The key components areas under this pillar are: (1) Increasing access to climate-resilient drinking water supply (2) Developing innovative approaches to drinking water service management, financing, monitoring and sustainability (3) Water safety planning. However, as urbanization has been identified as emerging area in UNICEF’s Global Strategy for WASH (2016-2030), the position holder will have an expanded mandate to cover urbanization issues.

The position holder will be required to be innovative especially on the financing and sustainability aspects, so that the region can accelerate access to drinking water services to realize SDG 6.1. The person will be involved in capacity building of UNICEF Staff and key partners; manage and develop partnerships with key partners engaged in innovative water service provision and climate resilience; and, document and share relevant initiatives in the technical areas mentioned.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks

• Support regional programming and provide technical advice and guidance to country offices on increasing access to basic service levels for drinking water.
• Provide technical advice and guidance to country offices on water safety practices.
• Provide technical advice and guidance to country offices on financing and sustainability of water service provision.
• Provide technical advice and guidance to country offices on WASH Climate Resilient Development. 
• Provide technical advice and guidance to country offices on Urban WASH.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in a relevant field such as Water Engineering, Environmental engineering, environmental sciences, Civil engineering, or a field related to international WASH programming.
• A minimum of eight of relevant professional experience in the United Nations or other international organization, government or the private sector in water supply, climate resilience and Urbanization.
• Experience in working in developing contexts is needed. 
• Work experience in Eastern and Southern Africa and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.