GVA – Multiple positions: WASH Officer NOA, TA, Multiple locations (Maiduguri, Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna, Lagos, Sokoto, Enugu, Abuja), Nigeria – WCAR

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The purpose of this GVA is to build a pool of pre-assessed, high-caliber candidates who can be considered for future positions aligned with UNICEF’s strategic priorities and operational needs. While does not guarantee selection for a specific post, it serves as a highly valuable and primary resource for swiftly filling future vacancies.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

How can you make a difference?

The WASH Officer will make a difference by supporting the planning, implementation, monitoring and documentation of WASH programmes that contribute to improved access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene for children and communities, especially the most vulnerable. The role will help ensure timely, accurate and evidence-based programme support, contribute to emergency preparedness and response, and strengthen collaboration with partners for sustainable WASH results.

The WASH Officer reports to a WASH Specialist at Level 3 for supervision and guidance. The role provides technical, operational and administrative support throughout the WASH programming cycle, applying theoretical and practical technical skills to research, collect, analyse and present programme information, while supporting the development, implementation, monitoring and reporting of WASH output results in the Country Programme.

As a national officer role at NOA level, the post is intended to provide entry-level professional support to WASH programming while building familiarity with UNICEF rules, regulations, procedures and systems. The incumbent will work with colleagues, government counterparts, implementing partners and other stakeholders to support evidence-based planning, timely implementation, field monitoring, documentation of results, emergency preparedness and response, and learning across the WASH programme. The position may be based in Maiduguri or another UNICEF Nigeria duty station, depending on programme needs, and may require field travel to support implementation and monitoring.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities: 

•  Programme development and planning
• Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results
• Technical and operational support for programme implementation
•  Humanitarian WASH preparedness and response

 1. Programme development and planning

• Research and analyse national and sub-national political, WASH, health, social and economic development trends to inform programme development, design and preparation.
• Collect, analyse, verify and synthesize information to support situation analysis, programme planning, documentation and decision-making.
• Assist in the development and establishment of WASH-related outcome and output results, strategies, indicators and workplans based on sector needs and priorities.
• Prepare technical reports, inputs, documentation and materials to facilitate programme preparation, review and approval processes.

2.  Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

• Work collaboratively with colleagues and partners to collect, analyse and share information on programme implementation issues, routine bottlenecks and proposed solutions.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and sectoral reviews with government and other counterparts, and prepare minutes, reports and follow-up actions.
• Monitor and report on the use of sectoral programme resources, verify compliance with approved allocations, UNICEF rules, donor commitments and standards of accountability and integrity.
• Maintain records of reports, assessments and monitoring findings to support follow-up, institutional learning and documentation of results.
• Prepare inputs for programme and donor reporting, ensuring accuracy, timeliness and relevance of information.

3.  Technical and operational support for programme implementation

• Undertake field visits and surveys, collect information and share reports with partners and stakeholders.
• Identify and report critical issues, bottlenecks and potential problems to the supervisor for timely action.
• Provide technical and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and other stakeholders on UNICEF policies, strategies, processes and good practices in WASH.
• Support programme implementation through preparation of materials, documentation and administrative follow-up in line with organizational processes and systems.

4. Networking and partnership building

• Build and sustain close working relationships with government counterparts, national stakeholders and implementing partners through active sharing of information and knowledge.
• Draft communication and information materials for WASH programme advocacy, awareness raising, partnership building and resource mobilization.
• Participate in inter-agency meetings and events on WASH programming to support coordination and harmonization of UNICEF output results with wider sector plans.
• Research information on potential donors and prepare resource mobilization materials and briefs for partnership development purposes.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: GJP WASH Officer Level 1.doc

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

Minimum requirements

• Education: Bachelor or equivalent (First Level University Degree) in Public Health,Social Science, behaviour change communication, sanitary engineering and any other related fields.
• Work Experience: At least 1 years of relevant work experience in Programme Management,WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene), sanitation and hygiene promotion, water quality, Water Supply.
• Skills: Writing Proposals, Drafting reports, Initiating Cooperation, Planning, Monitoring, Delivering Results
• Language Requirement : Fluency in English is required.

Desirables

• Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language
• Government Partnerships, Development Partner Experience, Emergency Response, field monitoring, data collection, Rural Urban sanitation
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts. 

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with others

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

WHY JOIN UNICEF

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility jobs-near-me.org UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments are conditional on the selected candidates willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel. Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service.

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Internal applicants already holding fixed-term appointments at NO-1 in the WASH Officer NOA, TA, Maiduguri, Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna, Lagos, Sokoto, Enugu, Abuja functional area are kindly advised that they do not need to apply to this GVA process as they are already eligible for consideration for roles within your current functional area and level.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to delivering the best results for children. For this talent group, eligible and suitable [Insert candidates from targeted underrepresented groups, e.g., female candidates, candidates from the Global South, candidates with disabilities, candidates from specific underrepresented regions/countries] are strongly encouraged to apply.

Review of applications submitted by the deadline will be done on a rolling basis and will be prioritized and staggered in accordance with organizational and strategic need in the WASH.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.