WASH Officer

Organizational Context

UNICEF is a leading UN agency in Somalia, focusing on critical sectors like WASH, Child Protection, Health, and Education. Somalia faces significant challenges due to conflict, climate change, and a large youth population with high unemployment. UNICEF's mandate is to protect children's rights and help them reach their full potential by providing essential services and advocating for their well-being, particularly in areas of clean water, sanitation, health, and education, from early childhood through adolescence.

Job Purpose

The UNV WASH Officer will support the Government of Somaliland in delivering key components of the 'Accelerating Sanitation & Hygiene for ALL (ASWA III)' project, focusing on Sanitation & Hygiene and WASH in Institutions. This involves providing technical assistance, managing contracts, and fostering partnerships with civil society. The role contributes to the development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of UNICEF's WASH program in Somalia. The officer will ensure the integration of WASH initiatives with other UNICEF sectors, aiming to achieve measurable output results and strengthen national capacity in sanitation and hygiene.

Responsibilities

The WASH Officer will support the Government of Somaliland in implementing the ASWA III project, focusing on Sanitation & Hygiene and WASH in Institutions through technical assistance, partnerships, and market-based approaches. Key responsibilities include: Programme Development & Planning: Participating in strategic WASH planning, preparing donor proposals aligned with UNICEF strategies and government priorities, and formulating WASH outcome/output results with clear indicators. Providing technical and operational support to ensure integration of WASH with other UNICEF sectors. Programme Management & Monitoring: Strengthening national WASH monitoring systems, participating in evaluations and reviews, and reporting on results and resource utilization. Identifying gaps, lessons learned, and ensuring compliance with organizational standards. Implementation Support: Monitoring UNICEF-supported activities through field visits, providing technical guidance to government counterparts and partners, and participating in WASH program meetings. Emergency Preparedness: Preparing requisitions for supplies and services for emergency WASH response and contributing to coordination arrangements. Partnership & Advocacy: Building and sustaining partnerships with government and stakeholders, and preparing advocacy materials for WASH programs. Knowledge Management: Developing knowledge products on innovative WASH approaches and contributing to capacity building initiatives.

Work Experience

A minimum of three years of relevant experience in WASH programs in developing countries is required, with a focus on Sanitation and Hygiene, community-led approaches (CLTS), hygiene behavior change, and communication for development. Experience working with government agencies, NGOs, and communities is essential. Familiarity with national WASH policies, market-based sanitation approaches, and humanitarian/development contexts is highly desirable. Fluency in English is required, and knowledge of the local language is an asset.

Skills

Core Values: Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, Sustainability. Core Competencies: Demonstrates Self-Awareness and Ethical Awareness, Works Collaboratively, Builds and Maintains Partnerships, Innovates and Embraces Change, Thinks and Acts Strategically, Drives for Impactful Results, Manages Ambiguity and Complexity. Technical Skills: Expertise in community development, engineering, construction, water, sanitation, and waste management.

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