Programme Specialist

Organizational Context

UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, is a global agency dedicated to providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children. Operating in 192 countries, its activities encompass immunizations, disease prevention, HIV treatment support, nutrition, sanitation, education, and emergency relief. This UNV assignment is part of the R WASH programme, a collaborative initiative with UNHCR, local governments, and other partners, focused on delivering inclusive WASH services to vulnerable populations in fragile settings across Ethiopia, Somalia, and Sudan.

Job Purpose

This United Nations Volunteers (UNV) assignment supports the R WASH programme, a key initiative focused on delivering inclusive Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) services to refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and host communities in fragile and conflict-affected regions across Ethiopia, Somalia, and Sudan. The role involves contributing to the implementation of sustainable, cost-effective, and climate-resilient WASH systems and supporting the establishment of efficient local water utilities to ensure long-term sustainability and promote social cohesion. A specific focus in Somalia includes a pilot initiative on Regional Managed Aquifer Recharge (R-MAR) to enhance groundwater storage and drought resilience.

Responsibilities

The Programme Specialist will manage and deliver regional WASH and Prospects programme activities, ensuring alignment with workplans, budgets, and donor requirements. This includes monitoring progress, identifying challenges, and implementing corrective actions. The role provides technical support and quality assurance for programme implementation, coordinating reviews of designs, terms of reference, and procurement documents, while ensuring adherence to Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS). Capacity building of government counterparts and partners through training and knowledge exchange is crucial. The incumbent will contribute to monitoring, evaluation, and reporting by supporting performance tracking, participating in field missions, and preparing donor and annual reports, documenting results, risks, and lessons learned. Knowledge management involves documenting best practices and contributing to learning initiatives and communication products. Policy and systems strengthening efforts will be supported through follow-up on policy analyses and coordination of system-strengthening initiatives. Operational and coordination support to the Programme Management Unit (PMU), including procurement and technical documentation, is also required. Financial monitoring and compliance with organizational procedures, as well as strengthening partnerships with diverse stakeholders, are key responsibilities.

Work Experience

Requires 7 years of relevant experience in programme implementation, coordination, monitoring, and reporting. Experience supporting WASH or related sector programmes in development or displacement-affected contexts (HDP nexus) is essential. Experience working under senior technical or managerial guidance is also required. Desirable experience includes multi-country or regional programme exposure, policy analysis follow-up, utility or systems strengthening, and technical quality assurance.

Skills

Core Values: Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, Sustainability. Core Competencies: Demonstrates Self-Awareness and Ethical Awareness, Works Collaboratively with Others, Builds and Maintains Partnerships, Innovates and Embraces Change, Thinks and Acts Strategically. Areas of Expertise: Community development, Development programmes, Engineering and construction.

Explore related opportunities