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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. 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 personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

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

For every child, a champion.

Please access UNICEF Sierra Leone information here 

How can you make a difference? 

Purpose of the job:

The WASH Specialist (Climate, Environment and DRR) reports to the Chief of WASH (Level 4) for guidance and general supervision. The Specialist supports the development, preparation, management, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the WASH programme within the country programme (including Climate Action). The Specialist provides technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes, to facilitate the administration and achievement of the WASH, Climate, Environment and DRR (CED)-related output results in the country programme and broadly contribute to achieve UNICEF’s global Strategic Plan for 2022-2025, under which Goal Area 4 states that UNICEF will work to ensure that ‘every child, including adolescents, has access to safe, climate-resilient water, sanitation and hygiene services and lives in a safe and sustainable climate and environment through:  

• Identification of the critical elements of climate-resilient WASH and how are these integrated with other aspects of development.
• Supporting the Government of Sierra Leone in building its capacity to integrate climate agenda in the WASH sector.
• Defining “climate resilient WASH” in the context of Sierra Leone with clear indicators and ways to measure and be able to report at national and sub-national levels.
• Facilitating the integration of WASH climate resilience in relevant WASH policies, strategies, and plans.
• Enhancing the capacity of UNICEF to effectively scale-up climate-resilient programme in line with the shift towards climate-resilient WASH programming in both development and humanitarian actions.
• Supporting the Government to develop climate change investment case and advocacy tools.
• Facilitate the conduct of comprehensive Child Centered Risk assessments to identify potential hazards and vulnerabilities
• Prepare and support the implementation of UNICEF’s programme work plans as required to include community based DRR risks and opportunities, and provide concrete guidance to make programme activities risk-informed.
• Support the government to develop or establish effective early warning system.
• Support the government line ministries to develop environmental sustainability and Climate Change disaster risk reduction (DRR) action plans in line with the UNICEF Sustainability and Climate Change Action Plan (SCAP) and roll out.
• Support the mainstreaming of DRR approaches in UNICEF-key sectors within UNICEF through country programme planning and monitoring processes.
• Support the implementation, monitoring and review of the rolling work plans signed between UNICEF and relevant ministries.
• Participate in DRR/CC sector review meetings with government counterparts. Prepare annual programme status reports in a timely manner, as required; ·
• Contribute to concept notes and proposals for Climate Change Environment and DRR funding opportunities.
• Draft CBDRR training manuals in collaboration with relevant ministries.
• Provide support to cross-sectoral programme areas in terms of climate change and disaster risk reduction.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Programme development and planning
2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results
3. Technical and operational support for programme implementation
4. Humanitarian WASH preparedness and response
5. Networking and partnership building
6. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  TOR WASH Specialist NO3 (TA) CED .pdf

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

The following minimum requirements:

Education: 

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: Climate & Environmental science, Water Resources Engineering or another relevant technical field.
• Additional relevant post-graduate courses that complement/supplement the main degree are a strong asset.

Experience:

• A minimum of five years of relevant professional experience in WASH and CED systems strengthening including development of policy framework and strategies.
• Experience working with optimization of design or Climate Resilient (CR) WASH and capacity building at national, District, and community levels.
• Experience with quality assurance and site monitoring for civil engineering projects especially for various WASH technology options.
• Experience in partnership management and working with multiple stakeholders, especially government partners and civil society organisation, in the management of various components of climate change, environmental sustainability, and DRR.
• Strong communication skills and flexibility working with various government stakeholders.
• Previous work experience with UNICEF or other international organizations working in the WASH Sector in developing countries is an asset.
• Computer skills, including internet navigation and various office applications.
• DEVELOPMENTAL: a minimum of five years of professional experience in WASH or CED-related programmes for developing countries is required.
• HUMANITARIAN: At least one three-month deployment mission in a humanitarian situation (with UN-Govt-INGO) is required.

Language Requirements: 

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

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

The 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.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will 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.

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 may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

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.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates will be prioritized.

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.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.