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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 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.

For every child, the right to [insert tagline] 

The UNICEF Programme of Cooperation with the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) is designed to address and mitigate the threat of poverty the country's children face, while responding to the needs with interventions addressing the multiple causative factors.

To find out more about UNICEF's work in Zambia, please visit https://unicef.sharepoint.com/sites/ZMB/SitePages/About-us(1).aspx 

How can you make a difference? 

These terms of reference are for establishing long-term agreements (LTAs) with competent Environmental, Social, Health and Safety (ESHS) Experts (consultants). They will support construction activities for UNICEF Programmes. Under the supervision of the UNICEF WASH section, consultants will monitor construction projects to ensure adherence to the Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP), including work site assessments and tracking contractor ESHS performance and grievance mechanisms.

The ESHS Experts will monitor ESMP implementation, conduct on-site ESHS orientations, report incidents/grievances, and review contractor documentation and compliance as instructed by the WASH Specialist. Contracts may be issued to multiple consultants depending on need.

The objectives of the assignment are to:

1. Ensure construction activities are implemented responsibly, sustainably, and in compliance with relevant ESHS requirements.

2. Provide technical oversight to ensure quality and compliance.   

3. Enhance coordination and administration of construction contracts and facilitate proper documentation of construction activities.

ESHS Experts will be engaged as needed and assigned specific tasks based on programme requirements. Upon receiving an assignment, the consultants will submit work plans and budgets based on pre-agreed LTA rates for UNICEF approval. The budget will cover all anticipated costs, including professional fees, daily subsistence allowances, and travel expenses. The chosen mode of contracting under this assignment is consistent with the phased approach of construction. Contracts may be issued to multiple consultants depending on need.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: TORs: Advert TORs_QA_ESHS Expert_NEWZA_Aug_2025.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

Education: 

• A university (Bachelor’s) degree is required in Civil and/or Environmental Engineering, Sanitary Engineering, Water Engineering, Environmental Management, Environmental Science, Public Health, Occupational Health & Safety, or related discipline

Work Experience: 

• A minimum of Five (5) years of relevant experience in -infrastructure projects with a focus on Environmental Social Safeguards and/or other related ESHS management responsibilities.
• Understanding of the Zambia local context, culture, and government systems in the delivery of development projects, particularly rural public infrastructure in the Education, Health, and WASH areas.
• UN experience is an advantage

Knowledge / Skills:

• Supervision of construction projects, planning and coordination of works, including preparation of daily site reports, quality control, and measurements of works
• Computer skills in Microsoft packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint etc)
• Use of digital data collection tools (Kobo, mWater, ODK, etc)
• Strong documentation and report writing skills

In your cover letter, clearly indicate the number of years they have worked in the construction industry in a similar role.

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 

[add the 8^th competency (Nurtures, leads and manages people) for a supervisory role]. 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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 | 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 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 is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates from targeted underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

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.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

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.

Financial Proposal:

Financial proposals (and/or professional consultancy fees) should be expressed in Zambian Kwacha.