ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The Public Health and HIV Section in the Division of Program Support and Management (DPSM) objectives are to reduce morbidity and mortality among UNHCR’s populations of concern and to improve their quality of life. The Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion (WASH) Officer’s position is among these crucial expertises within the section. This position will provide technical support at headquarters to the bureaux and the field (regional and country) as well as to support the implementation of policies and strategies related to WASH. The WASH officer will be supporting the Senior WASH Officer to provide technical support at headquarters to the bureaux and the field (regional and country). The WASH officer, under the guidance of the Senior WASH Officer, will help to ensure that latest policy and technical procedures are shared and used consistently in UNHCR’s WASH and related programmes.
Within UNHCR: Support on the development, dissemination and coordination of WASH policies and programmes with. Regional Public Health Coordinators and Country Public Health Coordinators (and WASH Coordinators where they exist) at regional, national and field level. Provide technical support and guidance to Regional Bureaux, Headquarter's Divisions and Units, and Country Offices. Undertake missions to the fields and liaise with Representatives and their staff on the implementation of WASH programmes. Advocate for WASH issues. Actively puruse resource mobilisation. The WASH officer would be deployed as part of the first phas emergency response.
With EXTERNAL Parties: Regular contact with UN technical agencies, particularly WHO and UNICEF, Implementing and Operational Partners, and Government officials as requested by Senior WASH officer.
The incumbent holds a professional management position responsible for provision of expert technical support and advice as well as strategic planning and policy making on activities within the areas of water, sanitation, hygiene and related technical sectors as an integral part of UNHCR programmes.
Major duties and responsibilities include: A. Strategy and Policy: 1. Support the implementation of UNHCR’s Strategic Plan for Wat/San. 2. Help and support the development of new policies and strategies for UNHCR in key aspects of WASH. 3. Provide support on the development, review, update and dissemination of internationally accepted standards, policies, and guidelines within UNHCR and among partners; adapt accordingly to the unique situation of UNHCR’s people of concern. 4. Represent UNHCR in relevant international meetings and conferences when requested. 5. Support the senior WASH officer on exploring and establishing standby agreements to secure and mobilize support from specialized institutions, NGOs, bilateral and multilateral agencies, donors and other institutions to enhance UNHCR emergency water and sanitation services, and collaborate with DER on various fund raising and advocacy efforts. 6. Maintain information on available technical experts with standby partners and roster of Consultants, and facilitate timely deployment of competent experts/consultants according to the needs in the Field. 7. Collaborate with and support EPRS on contingency planning exercise, preparedness activities including WEM and making available for initial response to address technical aspects of an emergency operation
B. Advocacy: 1. Advocate on all issues relating to WASH and refugees/IDPs and other persons of concern to UNHCR both within and outside of UNHCR. 2. Work with others in UNHCR to advocate for access to refugees, IDPs, returnees and other persons of concern to UNHCR to wat/san services, including support for inclusion of refugees, returnees and other persons of concern in national and international fora and funding sources.
C. Technical Assistance for selected countries: 1. Provide technical assistance to UNHCR's regional and national coordinators, the Bureaux, DIPS and direct requests from the field as required for countries allocated from the priority list. 2. Review and provide technical inputs on reports and programme proposals from the field with the view to verify compliance with UNHCR policy priorities refugee women and children, gender, adolescents and other related topics. 3. In support to request from Field Offices, Regional Bureaux, or other services, identify and brief all fieldbased personnel (UNHCR staff or external consultants) for technical positions, providing all the necessary technical backstopping; establish TORs for such staff and together with the Bureaux, Hubs and Offices in the field. 4. Provides field-based support missions for emergency and stable situations as needed. 5. Advise SMS and Field Offices on the matters related to procurement of sector-related materials or equipment, and development and regular updating of specifications of such items.
D. Capacity Building: 1. Facilitate capacity strengthening activities of UNHCR and its implementing partners to address key areas of WASH importance to refugees and other persons of concern to UNHCR. 2. Build the capacity and competence of UNHCR public health and WASH coordinators. 3. Ensure WASH is adequately addressed in in-house capacity building activities of the agency such as emergency and operations training.
E. Monitoring and Evaluation: 1. Support the design and implementation of the monitoring and evaluation system for WASH programmes for refugees, returnees, and other persons of concern to UNHCR. 2. Support implementation and functioning of WASH monitoring system and HCR’s Standards and Indicators Project 3. Support the yearly reporting on WASH for UNHCR. F. Resource Mobilisation: 1. Support the effort in resource mobilisation for WASH activites with an emphasis on non-traditional donors to UNHCR. G. Programmatic Research 1. Under the coordination of the Senior WASH officer undertake programmatic research with relevant organisations as needed to improve programmatic response.
H. Emergency response 1. Being deployed for the first emergency response, to carry out needs assessment and support the country to develop a WASH strategic plan of response.
ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED Academic: Advanced university degree in water and sanitation engineering/water resources development or postgraduate degree in one of the civil engineering disciplines (water supply and/or hydrology) or sanitation/hygiene engineering.
Experience: • Five to eight years progressively responsible functions in water/sanitary engineering or a related field in developing countries dealing with large scale water/sanitary activities. Of the 8 years, at least 3 years experience should be in a capacity directly relevant to the current position in an international humanitarian organization dealing with large scale emergencies or displaced/refugee situations. • Proven ability to deal with multiple tasks in a courteous and service-oriented manner in a demanding working condition that often has short deadlines. • Ability to coordinate a range of diverse actors and activities to achieve a common objective in the area of WASH is essential. • Demonstrated experiences in organising and conducting training activities and information campaign in the areas of environmental sanitation, natural resources management, water quality, bore-hole drilling, vector control and appropriate technologies are other important elements for this post. • Proven technical expertise in the area of WASH assessment including survey, programme implementation, monitoring and coordination is required. • Exposure to UNHCR mandate, its priorities and principles. • Knowledge and experience of working with local partner agencies with a capacity to provide formal and informal training.
Skills: • Ability towards analytical and creative thinking for rapid solutions. • Good communicator with strong interpersonal and negotiations skills to deal with persons of various cultural and educational backgrounds. • Strive to live up to high ethical and professional standards. • A team player with service oriented attitudes. • Proficiency in basic computer software such as MS Access, excel, powerpoint, word, water modelling sofware, GIS.
Languages: Excellent knowledge of English (written / oral / comprehension) is essential. Working knowledge of another UN language (preferably French or Arabic).
Interested candidates can send their CV and/or P11s to the following email address: porteaud@unhcr.org , quoting: WASH officer (HQ) until the 15th of January 2012 included
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