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For every child, the right to health. 

Background

The Government of South Sudan, in collaboration with UNICEF and sector partners, is working to strengthen the enabling environment for sustainable, climate-resilient WASH services. While the Transitional Constitution (2011) affirms access to water and sanitation as a basic right, sector performance remains constrained by inadequate financing, fragmented systems, and weak public financial management (PFM). Despite policy frameworks aligned with SDG 6 and Agenda 2063, government allocations fall below recommended levels, and over 80% of WASH spending is off-budget, undermining accountability and sustainability.

Decentralized service delivery is hindered by delayed and inconsistent transfers, leaving local governments and community structures under-resourced. Reviews such as PEFA (2021–2022) highlight systemic weaknesses in financial oversight, infrastructure maintenance, and budget execution. Broader PFM challenges—including a non-functional IFMIS and outdated capital budgeting guidance—further limit effective planning and resource allocation.

To address these issues, this consultancy will deliver a comprehensive fiscal space analysis and a national WASH Financing Strategy, incorporating climate and blended finance approaches. The outputs will guide reforms in financing mechanisms, enhance government ownership, and support long-term sustainability. They will also contribute to bridging humanitarian and development financing under the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus (HOSI), helping build a more resilient WASH sector.

Scope of Work:

The main scope of this consultancy is to analyse the current fiscal space for WASH, reviewing government allocations, donor contributions, and private sector participation. Building on this, the consultant will identify opportunities to expand fiscal space through domestic resource mobilization, efficiency gains, and innovative financing, including climate and blended finance. A comprehensive WASH Finance Strategy will then be developed, outlining priority financing pathways, resource mobilization options, and measures for institutional strengthening. Finally, the consultant will provide actionable policy recommendations to government and partners to enhance sector financing, alignment, and long-term sustainability.

 

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

Under the overall guidance of the Deputy Representative (Programme) and the direct supervision of the Social Policy Specialist and WASH section Chief the consult will carry out the following:

•Desk Review: Analyze existing financial flows, government budget frameworks, and donor investment trends in WASH.

•Stakeholder Consultations: Engage with Ministries (Finance, Water, Health, Education, Environment), donors, private sector, and civil society.

•Fiscal Space Analysis: Examine revenue potential, expenditure reprioritization, efficiency gains, external financing opportunities, and macro-fiscal outlook for WASH.

•Climate & Blended Finance Assessment: Identify entry points for climate funds, PPPs, concessional finance, and private sector partnerships.

•Draft WASH Finance Strategy: Develop a structured strategy document with financing options, implementation roadmap, and monitoring framework.

•Validation & Finalization: Present findings to sector stakeholders and incorporate feedback into a final strategy.

 

Specific deliverables:

Deliverable 1 is a concise Inception Report (maximum 10 pages) outlining the methodologies and strategies for each deliverable, including baseline and target indicators, a detailed activity plan, and a Gantt chart to support effective monitoring and follow-up by UNICEF. The report should also specify target timelines for each deliverable. It is to be completed within 5 working days and submitted by December 25.

 

Deliverable 2 is a comprehensive Needs Assessment report (maximum 30 pages, plus annexes) that evaluates the fiscal space for WASH and existing financial management practices across all levels of government, including service delivery units. The report must identify key gaps and propose actionable strategies to strengthen the current financial system. It is to be completed within 30 working days and submitted by February 2026.

 

Deliverable 3 consists of two parts: (1) an inclusive and consultative process engaging national and subnational stakeholders, including those from WASH, economic sectors, civil society, and academia, to present findings from the Needs Assessment and inform strategy development; and (2) a concise, easy-to-read WASH fiscal analysis and financing strategy document aligned with national and international best practices. The strategy should address key public financial management (PFM) areas such as budget planning, execution, procurement, internal controls, and financial reporting, and include actionable steps, timelines, and clearly defined roles and responsibilities to support transparency, accountability, and effective resource allocation. This deliverable is to be completed within 40 working days and submitted by May 2026.

 

Deliverable 4 is a Validation Workshop designed to present the draft fiscal space analysis and WASH financing strategy to key stakeholders—including governance bodies, sector partners, and donor groups—to build consensus prior to submission to the Economic Cluster, Council of Ministers, and Parliament. The process includes three days of preparation, three days for the workshop itself, and two days to draft a summary report for immediate stakeholder sharing. A final workshop report will follow, capturing recommendations and proposed action plans. This deliverable is to be completed within 10 working days and submitted by June 2026.

 

Deliverable 5 consists of two parts: (1) the final, approved WASH Fiscal Space Analysis Report (maximum 45 pages), which will be publicly available and endorsed by the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation (MoWRI); and (2) the WASH Sector Financing Strategy (maximum 15 pages), a concise, user-friendly document tailored for senior government officials, development partners, and sector leaders. It will summarize key findings, outline priority financing pathways, including climate and blended finance, and present actionable recommendations to support sustainable WASH funding. A draft strategy will be prepared following the stakeholder validation workshop and finalized after formal endorsement by relevant government and coordination bodies. This deliverable is to be completed within 10 working days and submitted by July 2026.

 

Deliverable 6 involves the development of infographics and an advocacy piece that visually summarize the key findings and recommendations from the fiscal space analysis and financing strategy. This will support stakeholder engagement and advocacy efforts. It is to be completed within 5 working days and submitted by September 2026.

Minimum requirements:

Education:

• A Master’s degree in Public Finance, Economics, Development Studies, or related field.

Work Experience:

• Minimum 10 years of experience in public financial management, sector financing, or fiscal policy, preferably in WASH or social sectors.
• Proven expertise in fiscal space analysis, resource mobilization, climate finance, or blended finance models.
• Strong knowledge of WASH sector dynamics and sector financing challenges in low-resource settings.
• Excellent analytical, writing, and facilitation skills.
• Understanding of the humanitarian context in sub-Saharan Africa is a strong advantage, experience in protracted crises and/or South Sudan is also a plus.

 

All applications must be accompanied by a detailed technical and financial proposal.

 

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 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 female candidates 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.

 

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.

 

The selected consultant is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected consultant are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. The vaccine mandate, does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.

 

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

 

For more details, please find the term of reference attached.   ToR WASH fiscal space and finance startegy development Consultancy.docx