UNV Especialista WASH
Organizational Context
UNICEF Colombia works to protect the rights of children and adolescents, addressing complex rights violations and deep-seated inequalities, particularly affecting rural and marginalized communities. Operating within the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) for 2025-2028, UNICEF supports national priorities including peacebuilding, migration, and accelerating Sustainable Development Goals. The program focuses on early childhood development, mental health, child marriage prevention, youth participation, climate action, and disaster risk reduction, with strategies in health, nutrition, education, protection, WASH, and social policy.
Job Purpose
The UN Volunteer Specialist WASH will contribute to establishing protective and inclusive environments that guarantee the rights of children and adolescents to education, protection, health, water, sanitation, and hygiene. This role involves technical assistance to local authorities and partners in Arauca, Colombia, focusing on WASH infrastructure, community management, and public policy. The specialist will lead the full cycle of WASH projects, from diagnosis to evaluation, ensuring integration with education, health, nutrition, and protection sectors. The position aims to support the development and implementation of resilient WASH solutions, particularly in rural and school settings, while strengthening local capacities and promoting sustainable practices.
Responsibilities
Provide technical assistance to Arauca department authorities and WASH cluster partners on WASH infrastructure, community management, and sectoral public policy. Lead the complete lifecycle of WASH projects, including diagnosis, formulation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation, coordinating with education, health, nutrition, and protection sectors. Support needs assessments and strategy development for WASH in emergencies and development, focusing on infrastructure, hygiene practices, and risk reduction. Formulate and oversee resilient water and sanitation infrastructure projects tailored for rural, peri-urban, and school settings, considering cultural and climate relevance. Supervise the technical and social execution of projects by implementing partners and contractors, ensuring quality, community participation, resilience, and prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse. Monitor the functionality of installed WASH services, identifying and resolving technical bottlenecks to improve coverage and sustainability. Lead WASH initiatives in schools, ensuring access to safe water, sanitation, menstrual hygiene, and health education. Strengthen capacities of communities and local operators in technical, administrative, and financial management of water and sanitation systems. Monitor the safety and accessibility of WASH facilities, ensuring they do not pose gender or child protection risks. Lead the departmental WASH coordination table in Arauca, ensuring collaboration, joint strategies, accountability, and work plan follow-up. Develop technical guides and protocols for operation, maintenance, and community management adapted to local contexts. Generate evidence and systematize experiences in community and school infrastructure, climate resilience, and community management to inform public policy and national learning. Lead monitoring and reporting of UNICEF interventions, documenting quality, relevance, dignity, and results in prioritized communities. Support WASH professionals in other regions as needed, contributing to national technical assistance and policy development.
Work Experience
Requires 3 years of relevant experience in designing and implementing sustainable WASH projects and infrastructure, including project cycle supervision and monitoring in schools, health institutions, and communities. Experience in community management and behavior change in rural and peri-urban settings is essential. Experience with climate change adaptation, community resilience, and ethnic inclusion in technological solutions is valued. Familiarity with emergency contexts and sectoral coordination is beneficial. Proficiency in IT and Microsoft Office is required. Strong written and oral communication skills, interpersonal sensitivity, and the ability to work inclusively are necessary.
Skills
Core values include Care, Respect, Integrity, Commitment, Accountability, and Transparency. Professional competencies include Sustainability, Teamwork, Continuous Learning, Planning and Organizing, Communication, and Flexibility. Genuine commitment to volunteerism principles (solidarity, compassion, reciprocity, autonomy) and impartiality are essential. Expertise areas include Community Development, Emergency Preparedness, Crisis Response, Climate Change, and Environment.