National WASH Consultant-Water Supply and Capacity Building Expert (Nationals only - office based with travel)

Organizational Context

UNICEF operates in over 190 countries and territories, dedicated to saving children's lives, defending their rights, and helping them fulfill their potential. We are committed, passionate, and proud of our work, viewing the promotion of children's rights not just as a job but as a calling. UNICEF fosters diverse opportunities for professional and personal development.

Job Purpose

This consultancy aims to provide targeted technical assistance to support the implementation of two priority surface water-based piped water supply systems in Chapainawabganj and Khulna districts, Bangladesh. These areas are critically affected by arsenic contamination, salinity intrusion, and seasonal groundwater depletion. The consultant will focus on transferring technical knowledge, enhancing systems and processes, and supporting the Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) in establishing standards and practices for future scale-up. The interventions are designed to serve as model schemes, demonstrating context-appropriate, climate-resilient, and scalable solutions that can be replicated and expanded by DPHE using government resources, ensuring high-quality implementation, robust technical oversight, and long-term sustainability of water supply systems.

Responsibilities

The National WASH Consultant will be responsible for providing expert technical guidance and support for the implementation of rural piped water supply (RPWS) schemes, with a specific focus on surface water-based systems in arsenic and salinity-prone areas. This includes overseeing the construction and implementation phases, ensuring adherence to engineering designs and quality standards. The consultant will play a key role in water quality management, including chlorination protocols, and will support the community-based management of these piped systems, ensuring their long-term sustainability. A significant part of the role involves capacity building for the Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) and other relevant local institutions in planning, design, implementation, and operation of water supply systems. This includes transferring technical knowledge, developing and refining systems and processes, and assisting in the establishment of robust standards and best practices for future large-scale replication. The consultant will also monitor progress, manage data, and prepare reports on project activities and outcomes, contributing to the overall success of UNICEF's WASH initiatives in Bangladesh.

Work Experience

Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in WASH-related program management, including planning, monitoring, data management, and reporting. A minimum of 5 years of experience specifically in rural water supply implementation within Bangladesh is required.

Skills

Construction supervision of water systems, Water quality management, Chlorination, Community-based management of piped systems, Design and management of water supply systems, WASH program management, Planning, Monitoring, Data management, Reporting, Capacity building, Technical knowledge transfer

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