Call for Interest: Consultancy – WASH Cluster Information Management Officer – ROSTER

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, a fair chance 

UNICEF is a United Nations agency that promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child. Together with partners, UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, for the benefit of all children, everywhere.

Since 1948, UNICEF has been working with the Philippine government and civil society to promote and protect the rights of Filipino children. UNICEF works on long-term development programmes in the following areas: Education; Health; Nutrition; Disaster Risk Reduction; Adolescent Development; Emergency Response; Peacebuilding; Social Policy; HIV & AIDS; Child Protection; and Water, Sanitation & Hygiene.

Purpose of the Activity/Assignment:

UNICEF Philippines is inviting applications from qualified individual consultants to join its roster for WASH Cluster Information Management (IM) support. This external call is open to those who are interested in contributing to emergency response efforts in disaster-affected areas across the country.

The selected consultants will form part of a pre-qualified roster and may be engaged to support WASH Cluster coordination, data management, reporting, and information analysis during emergencies. Assignments may be deployed at national or sub-national levels, depending on operational needs.

The roster will be valid for a period of 30 months. Inclusion in the roster does not guarantee immediate engagement nor any future contractual relations with UNICEF. Consultants will be contracted on a needs basis, depending on the requirements of specific assignments, as well as the candidate’s availability and suitability. When opportunities arise, detailed terms of reference will be shared with shortlisted candidates.

This is an opportunity to support humanitarian response efforts, strengthen information management systems, and contribute to improved decision-making and coordination within the WASH Cluster.

Methodology & Approach (Recruitment and Engagement Process):

Based on the applications, suitable individuals will be identified for the roster. The roster will contain pre-screened individuals found suitable for the assignment. Candidates will be placed in the roster based on their application, indicating sectoral and technical specializations. and called upon based on the suitability of the assignment and availability. The hiring process will be need-based with specific terms of reference shared with relevant individuals as per their area of interest indicated in their application. Inclusion in the Roster does not guarantee any future contractual relations with UNICEF. Qualified applicants will be pooled and offered a contract covering a period and may be extended/renewed as needed subject to performance review and validation with fixed professional rates per contract for the duration of the contract. Travel and daily subsistence allowance will be dependent on the assignment location, consultant’s place of recruitment, and duration.

Specific TORs with deliverables and timelines will be shared during recruitment, and contracts will be issued accordingly.

The contract serves as an on-call/as-needed arrangement between UNICEF and the individual for any required services and outputs during the agreed period.

Duration of individual assignments is dependent on the section’s volume of requirements. This will be discussed and agreed upon between UNICEF through the hiring section or requiring Units and the individual consultants prior to the start of every assignment.

Background:

The cluster approach is designed to ensure clear leadership, accountability, and defined roles among organizations responding to humanitarian emergencies. This system enhances coordination and predictability in response efforts, enabling the international humanitarian community to be more organized, accountable, and professional. By doing so, it strengthens partnerships with affected populations, host governments, local authorities, civil society, and funding partners.

In the Philippines, the cluster approach has been institutionalized since 2007 (NDCC Circular No. 5, amended in 2008), with cluster leads appointed at national, regional, and provincial levels. Specifically, UNICEF and the Department of Health co-lead the WASH Cluster, providing proactive leadership to coordinate water, sanitation, and hygiene initiatives that reduce public health risks for vulnerable groups including men, women, children, persons with disabilities, and marginalized communities. The WASH Cluster remains active in the Philippines due to its high disaster risk. By 2030, climate change could impact 7.6% of GDP (€21 billion), with expectations of stronger typhoons, floods, faster sea level rise, extended droughts, and higher temperatures.

Information management is a key responsibility of the Cluster Lead Agency and integral to its operations. UNICEF, as highlighted in their Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action, is fully committed to interagency humanitarian reform and supports this through provision of leadership and participation in assigned clusters and sectors.

Scope of Work:

1. Support the WASH Cluster on strategic coordination, preparedness, response planning, implementation and monitoring of the WASH cluster emergency preparedness and response.

2. Oversee information management systems and ensure proper data maintenance of the WASH Cluster information system.

3. Support information analysis, reporting and documentation during emergency preparedness and response.

4. Strengthen partners’ capacity to contribute to reporting and data management systems  for effective WASH cluster response monitoring.

Description of the Assignment:

The purpose of this consultancy is to manage the collection, analysis and sharing of WASH information that is important for the Cluster partners to make informed (evidence-based) strategic decisions, and facilitate the implementation of preparedness measures, including capacity development.

Tasks/Milestones:

1. Support the WASH Cluster on strategic coordination, preparedness, response planning, implementation and monitoring:

• Facilitate the updating of the WASH Cluster Capacity Mapping, and Cluster Strategic Plan.
• Follow-up and support specific actions and agreements with stakeholders in line with the Earthquake (EQ) Preparedness Plan.
• Support the conduct of WASH simulation exercises with cluster partners and government counterparts.
• Support the drafting of the tools and analysis of the DRRM-H/ DRRM Plan / CP or WASH sectoral plans in priority 18 provinces to ensure content and funding for WIE is included,
• Support the analysis of the preparedness mapping survey on WASH.
• Coordinate closely with UN OCHA and the DOH Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to support preparedness measures and response planning.
• Where there is both a national and a sub-national cluster, ensure that there is effective communication, reporting, engagement and coordination between the two levels.

2. Oversee information management systems and ensure proper data maintenance:

• Lead information management for assessments and monitoring, including joint assessments and trainings on WASH in Emergencies.
• Manage the WASH information flow and dissemination, including web platforms and dashboards of the cluster.
• Produce maps and manage geographic data using GIS for DOH and the WASH Cluster.
• Work with the UN OCHA to develop appropriate supportive strategies.
• Maintain and regularly update WASH databases and dashboards on cluster partners’ responses.
• Work with the WASH Cluster/ participants to identify information gaps at national and sub-national levels and propose ways to bridge those gaps.
• Promote and ensure consistent use of the WASH 5Ws tool aligned with OCHA standards.
• Support data cleaning and validation of 5Ws datasets.
• Ensure cluster and UNICEF partners are reporting regularly on HPM and/or HAC indicators.

3. Support information analysis, reporting and documentation of WASH during preparedness and emergencies:

• Support the analysis of needs and gaps and prepare consolidated rapid needs assessment report.
• Support the estimation of spatial and temporal gaps, overlaps and coverage of Cluster activities and monitoring of response.
• Ensure the regular provision of WASH updates / sitreps to UN OCHA and DOH EOC, with emphasis on Cluster plans, targets and achievements.
• Facilitate the timely submission of partner inputs to inter-agency reporting systems of DOH and UN HCT.
• Monitor key information sources (NDRRMC, DSWD, UN OCHA, DOH, and other clusters).
• Disseminate relevant and critical updates to WASH Cluster partners in a timely manner.
• Document WASH Cluster meetings and other coordination meetings including After Action Review related to the emergency response.
• Maintain organized records of discussions, decisions, and action points for reference and reporting using cloud storage of the WASH Cluster.
• Manage an inventory of relevant documents on the humanitarian situation.
• Support the selection of good practices on WASH in Emergencies.
• Support HEMB in establishing analytical framework and tools for WIE Reporting Forms.

4. Strengthen partners’ capacity to contribute to reporting and data management systems:

• Provide Information Management (IM) support to DOH and affected LGUs, where requested.
• Conduct IM trainings for LGU staff, WASH Cluster partners, UNICEF WASH IM roster and DOH staff.

Deliverables:

Deliverables will be identified in specific TORs during the actual recruitment process based on the scope of the assignment. These may include the development of strategies, conducting capacity building, documentation, and monitoring specific projects. Examples include:

Under Task 1:

• Updated WASH Cluster Capacity Mapping.
• Report on the analysis of WIE integration in the WASH sectoral and DRR plans.
• Updated Cluster Strategic Plan.
• Activity Report documenting the agreements with key stakeholders (e.g., Manila Water and Maynilad, DOH and LGUs) based on EQ simulation exercise.
• Progress Report documenting coordination among WASH Cluster Partners, DOH or UN OCHA.
• Updated directory of cluster partners which a core document to support cluster coordination.
• Maintenance of cluster group chats (viber- WASH Cluster) through provision of timely information, responding to queries and referral of requests.

Under Task 2:

• Updated WASH 5Ws+.
• Updated data on HAC/HPM indicators.
• Updated WASH Cluster response dashboard.
• Calendar of WASH resources to upload in DOH HEMB FB page.
• Approved content for Social Media Cards featuring WASH resources to upload on DOH HEMB FB page, and ensure proper sign off from UNICEF Communications, as necessary.

Under Task 3:

• WASH Cluster Situational Report regularly shared with UN OCHA, DOH Operation Center, and with WASH Cluster partners
• Meeting minutes of the WASH Cluster to record important decisions and action items for cluster partners
• AAR documentation.
• Updated cloud storage of WASH cluster files.
• Draft call for submission of good practices on WASH in Emergencies.
• Documentation of the good practices on WIE.
• Analysis of the WASH reporting forms from ongoing emergencies.
• Updated and cleaned version of database for consolidating WIE reports.

Under Task 4:

• Activity report on the WASH IM training for cluster partners / UNICEF IM staff roster / DOH HEMB and EOC staff / LGU staff.
• WASH IM Training Module.
• Progress report on the IM support provided to DOH CHDs or LGUs during an emergency.

* Schedules will be identified in specific TORs during the recruitment process as deliverables vary based on the actual scope of the assignment.

Organization & Management:

The Consultant will be managed by the assigned section/unit head or hiring manager who will be responsible to:

• Orient the consultant and outline the parameters of the required services.
• Provide copies of the units team profile and objectives.
• Provide and agree with the consultant on the work schedule, timelines and deadlines.
• Provide relevant feedback and evaluation of the service provided and outputs submitted.

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

Minimum Qualifications Required:

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably at an advanced level, in a subject area relevant to information management.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• Extensive work experience relevant to this post may be considered as a replacement for formal qualifications.
• Formal training in cluster information management an advantage.
• At least 3 years in humanitarian work experience with UN and/or NGO, including information management in the first phase of an emergency response relevant to the cluster.
• Extensive work experience in information management outside the humanitarian sector which is relevant to this post may be considered as a replacement for humanitarian experience.

Technical Competences:

• Understands key technical issues sufficiently well enough to be able to: engage with cluster participants; understand their cluster-specific information management needs.
• Excellent knowledge of MS Excel (e.g. pivot tables and functions), PowerBI.
• Proven technical expertise for managing data capture and storage, for analysing diverse datasets, and presenting information in understandable tables, charts, graphs and reports.
• Knowledge of establishing and managing basic websites (e.g. UNOCHA’s Humanitarian Response platform).
• Proven skills in using GIS and map-making packages, and in web design and software development are an asset
• Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English and Filipino.

 Core competencies:

• Communicates, works and networks effectively with a wide range of people to reach broad consensus on a well-coordinated response, and demonstrates leadership where required.
• Thinks and acts strategically and ensures that cluster activities are prioritized and aligned within an agreed strategy.
• Demonstrates commitment to the cluster and independence from employing organization.
• Builds, motivates and leads information management team * Please indicate in the cover letter which category you are applying for also indicate any specializations including on gender, disability; if regular programming and/or humanitarian.

HOW TO APPLY:

Qualified candidates are requested to complete an online candidate profile in http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/ by 24 April 2026. Only applications sent through the e-recruitment portal under Job Number:  592513 will be considered.

All candidates are requested to submit a cover letter, and the duly filled P 11 form which can be downloaded from our website at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/P11.doc indicating three (3) professional references with contact details. Please indicate your ability, availability and portfolio of professional work (e.g., links to online gallery/show reel). Applications with incomplete requirements will not be considered.

Only shortlisted consultants will be contacted.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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.

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.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants. Consultants are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.