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UNICEF

 

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Organization: UNICEF

Position: Emergency WASH OfficerJob Time: Full-Time

Job Type: Contract

Place of Work: Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

Application Deadline: Apr, 5/2022 

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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, WASH

In collaboration with the Regional Water, Irrigation and Energy Resources Development Bureau (RWIEB) and Regional Health Bureau (RHB), the Emergency WASH Officer will be responsible to support the planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting of Emergency Water supply, Sanitation and Hygiene program activities in Amhara Region.

How can you make a difference?

Background

Amhara region is suffering from multiple natural and manmade disasters including continuing volatile security situations in the Eastern parts that resulted in an increasing number of new IDPs arrivals in Wag Hemera, North Wollo, North Gondar and North Shewa /IDPs from the Oromia Region/. In addition, more than 1.4 Million ethnic Amharas some who flee ethnic conflict across regions including Oromia, Benishangul Gumuz, Somali have been sheltered in IDP sites and host communities for years living in substandard situations that require continued support to address WASH needs. This continued fighting between EDF & allied Special Forces with the TPLF caused massive damage/looting of basic service systems and infrastructures, including WASH service facilities in eight zones out of twelve zones of the region.

Moreover, most parts of the region are also vulnerable to flooding, outbreaks of WASH-related diseases including cholera COVID-19. The shortage of water during the dry season requires large-scale water trucking and other WASH interventions in Wag Himera, parts of N. Shewa, N. Wollo, Central and N. Gondar.

Currently, efforts are underway to provide life-saving responses and restoration of damaged WASH systems to minimize risks of transmission of communicable diseases and to reduce human suffering and fatalities

UNICEF continues providing emergency response for people affected due to all hazards across the region, closely working directly with the government partners and NGOs through partnership arrangements. UNICEF supported interventions include water trucking, rehabilitation and maintenance of damaged water systems, provision of key WASH NFIs, hygiene promotion on prevention and control of WASH-related disease outbreaks, construction of semi-permanent latrines and installation of humanitarian partners. UNICEF as WASH Cluster Lead is supporting the government in facilitating Emergency WASH Taskforce Coordination at regional and zonal /ICP levels, information management, coordination needs assessment, planning, and monitoring of WASH response.

With the increasing scale of emergency situations, both geographically and in intensity, UNICEF is expected to maximize the WASH support. Hence, recruitment of local staff as emergency WASH Specialist-TA is urgently needed to fill the critical human resource gap to address increasing emergency needs, ensure fulfillment of UNICEF’s role as Cluster Lead in WASH and accountabilities to the affected population.

Specific Tasks

1. Contribute to the development/establishment of WASH-related strategies, thorough analysis of WASH sector needs and priorities. Prepare technical reports and inputs for program preparation and documentation, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and relevance of information.

2. Intensively engage in advocacy with WASH Sector Bureaus / Health, Water, Education…/ to ensure their engagement and contribution to strengthening WASH Cluster Coordination, leadership in emergency preparedness and response.

3. Lead efforts to strengthen the emergency preparedness and response capacity at Regional, zonal and woreda levels in planning, response, and monitoring; ensuring the responses meets minimum emergency response standards.

4. Identify emergency needs, facilitate the distribution of WASH supplies including water treatment chemicals to needy people, ensure timely delivery and effective utilization at the end-user level.

5. Support WASH sector Bureaus to start the procurement process timely, follow up on construction/rehabilitation of water supply and sanitation projects, and hygiene promotion activities.

6. Closely working with the Field Office WASH Team, engage in high-level advocacy in flagging emergency situations, response gaps; develop strategies to address the needs and follow up the implementation of agreed actions.

7. Closely working with WASH Cluster IMO, Bureaus of Health and Water, ensure establish/strengthen regular reporting and feedback mechanisms with Woredas and Zonal levels, including WASH partners.

8. Ensure quality and timeliness of reports, effective information sharing among WASH Cluster partners including weekly updates and monthly 4W matrix.

9. Provide support to government sectors and other WASH partners in conducting periodic monitoring of WASH facilities in health institutions, learning centers, child-friendly spaces, temporary health care facilities in the IDP sites and provide on-the-spot corrective measures.

10. Provide support to strengthen water quality monitoring systems at woreda/zonal levels, including treatment of water provided for emergency response.

11. Participate and provide inputs during the development of Social Behaviour Communication materials, ensuring SBCC is incorporated in the planning and implementation of emergency WASH.

12. Ensure GBV and PSEA mitigation measures are in place through working in close collaboration with other relevant teams such as Protection, Education and ensure data related to GBV and PSEA is captured and included in WASH response reports.

13. Undertake other emergency WASH-related tasks, as assigned by UNICEF-Amhara Field Office Team including following up on regular WASH program activities to link emergency and regular programs.

Deployment Arrangements

The emergency WASH Officers will be based in UNICEF-Amhara Field Office with the major task of supporting the WASH Team in liaising and facilitating with Regional, Zonal and Woreda level government counterparts and non-governmental partners on the ground. The WASH Officer will closely work with Emergency WASH Officers/consultants deployed at Regional and Zonal levels by providing technical support, establish follow-up, reporting and feedback systems.

Expected Deliverables

1. Develop and submit a weekly/bi-weekly work plan for emergency response

2. Draft weekly emergency brief, monthly Sitrep, emergency response plan and submit to Amhara WASH Team

3. Facilitate WASH Cluster meetings as per the agreed schedule, ensure minutes are shared with partners on a timely basis.

4. Closely working with the WASH Information Management Officer, ensure compilation and timely sharing of updates and monthly 4W matrix to UNICEF-Amhara WASH Team, National WASH Cluster and Regional Bureaus.

Reporting

• The Emergency WASH Officers will be supervised by UNICEF’s Amhara WASH Specialist/Officers.

 

Job requirements

 

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in WASH areas of disciplines: Engineering, Environmental Health, Public Health is required; experience in an emergency setting is an asset.
• A minimum of 2 [two years] of relevant professional experience in humanitarian WASH at the National/regional level; proven experience in coordination of emergency WASH in INGO setting, participation in WASH Cluster Coordination at Regional/Federal levels.
• Proven experience in Emergency Project Management/procurement, supervision, review of payment documents.
• Very good understanding of WASH sector and Cluster coordination approach.
• Knowledge of MS Office.
• Proven technical expertise in project management
• Strong knowledge and experience in emergency WASH preparedness, response and recovery.
• Very good understanding of gender equality and WASH
• Strong interpersonal, communication, coordination, and networking skills.
• Strong planning and organizational skills.
• Ability to meet deadlines.
• Ability to work under pressure, independently and with a team.

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

Core Competencies:

§ Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)

§ Works Collaboratively with others (1)

§ Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)

§ Innovates and Embraces Change (1)

§ Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)

§ Drive to achieve impactful results (1)

§ Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. Qualified female applicants who meet the requirements of the post are highly encouraged to apply.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

 

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