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How can you make a difference? 

The State of Eritrea recognizes access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene (WASH) as a fundamental human right and a critical component for achieving national development goals, public health, environmental protection, and human dignity. Significant progress has been made, particularly through the community-led sanitation campaigns aiming to achieve Open Defecation Free (ODF) status, with over 90% of communities reportedly achieving ODF status as of recent years. Eritrea has also developed a climate resilient "One WASH Strategy and Investment plan (2020-2024/2030) in collaboration with partners, outlining a vision for the sector.

Despite these advancements, challenges remain. Disparities persist between urban and rural access to improved sanitation and hygiene services. Ensuring sustainable WASH services in institutions like schools, healthcare facilities, public places and offices requires dedicated focus. The impacts of climate change on water availability necessitate resilient strategies. Furthermore, while various initiatives and strategies exist, a single, comprehensive, and updated National Sanitation and Hygiene Policy is needed to provide a unified vision, strategic direction, clear institutional mandates, and a robust framework for coordinated action across all levels.

This policy development process will build upon existing strategies (like the One WASH Strategy), national plans (like the National Health Policy), and lessons learned from past initiatives. It aims to align national efforts with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), and ensure that no one is left behind.

Key Deliverables and tasks:

Inception Phase: Develop a detailed inception report outlining the understanding of the TOR, proposed methodology, specific activities, deliverables, detailed work plan with timelines, and identification of potential risks and mitigation strategies.

Literature Review and Situational Analysis:

• Collect and review all relevant national documents: existing policies (health, environment, water, education, local government), legislation, strategic plans (One WASH Strategy, HSSDP), survey data (e.g., EPHS, MICS if available), sector performance reports, programme evaluations, and relevant research conducted in Eritrea.
• Review the best international practices, guidelines (e.g., WHO Guidelines on Sanitation and Health), and relevant policy examples from comparable contexts.
• Analyze the current status of sanitation (urban, rural, peri-urban; household, institutions; safely managed vs basic), hygiene practices (handwashing with soap, menstrual hygiene management - MHH), solid and liquid waste management, existing technologies, supply chains, and sanitation marketing efforts.
• Assess the institutional landscape, clarifying roles, responsibilities, coordination mechanisms, and capacity gaps among key ministries (MLWE, MoH, MoE, MoLG, MoFND, etc.), regional administrations, local authorities, communities, development partners, NGOs, and the private sector.
• Analyze existing financing mechanisms, funding gaps, and potential sustainable financing options.
• Identify key challenges, opportunities, and priorities for sanitation and hygiene improvement, considering vulnerable groups, gender equity, and climate resilience.

Stakeholder Consultation:

• Map key stakeholders across relevant sectors and levels.
• Design and facilitate consultations (workshops, key informant interviews, focus group discussions as appropriate) at national and regional levels to ensure broad participation and ownership.
• Gather perspectives on policy priorities, implementation strategies, institutional roles, financing, monitoring, and potential challenges.

Drafting of the National Policy:

• Based on the analysis and consultations, draft the National Sanitation and Hygiene Policy document. The policy should address, inter alia:
• Vision, Goal, Guiding Principles: Including equity, inclusion, sustainability, affordability, climate resilience, health impact, community participation.
• Scope and Definitions: Clear definitions for sanitation levels (basic, safely managed), hygiene, etc., aligned with national context and international standards (e.g., JMP).
• Policy Objectives and Strategic Focus Areas: Such as: Achieving universal access to safely managed household sanitation (urban/rural).
• Ensuring adequate WASH in Healthcare Facilities,
• Ensuring adequate WASH in Schools.
• Promoting universal hygiene practices (incl. handwashing with soap, face washing, MHH).
• Sustainable management of fecal sludge and wastewater.
• Safe management of solid waste related to sanitation and hygiene.
• Strengthening sanitation supply chains and markets.
• Climate change adaptation and resilience in WASH.
• Emergency WASH preparedness and response (sanitation/hygiene aspects). 
• Institutional Framework: Clearly defined roles, responsibilities, and coordination mechanisms for all key actors.
• Legal and Regulatory Framework: Recommendations for strengthening or developing necessary regulations.
• Financing Strategy: Principles for sustainable financing (public investment, private sector engagement, tariffs/user contributions where appropriate). *
• Capacity Development: Strategies for strengthening human resource capacity at all levels.
• Behavior Change Communication (BCC): Strategic approaches for promoting desired hygiene and sanitation practices.
• Technology and Innovation: Guidance on appropriate and sustainable technological options.
• Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL): Framework outline for tracking progress and informing adaptation.

Development of Implementation and MEL Framework Outlines:

• Develop a clear outline for a subsequent, detailed Implementation Framework/Action Plan, including priority actions, timelines, responsible actors, and indicative costs.
• Develop an outline for the MEL framework, proposing key indicators (aligned with national M&E systems and SDGs), data sources, reporting mechanisms, and review processes.

Validation and Finalization:

• Present the draft policy and framework outlines to stakeholders in validation workshop(s).
• Incorporate feedback received during validation.
• Submit the final draft National Sanitation and Hygiene Policy and accompanying outlines for approval.

Work Assignment

• Inception Report: Within one month of contract signing (5 days)
• Draft Situational Analysis and Stakeholder Consultation Report: Within 8 weeks. (21 days)
• First Draft National Sanitation and Hygiene Policy Document (including Implementation and MEL outlines): Within four months. (30days)
• Report(s) from Validation Workshop(s): Within five months (5 days)
• Final Draft National Sanitation and Hygiene Policy Document (including Implementation and MEL outlines), incorporating validation feedback: Within 24 weeks (5 days)
• Policy Brief: A concise summary (e.g., 4-6 pages) of the final policy. (2days) 
• Presentation: Final presentation of the policy to key stakeholders/leadership. (10 days)

Methodology

The assignment should employ a participatory and evidence-based approach, including:

• Desk Review: Comprehensive analysis of existing documents and data.
• Stakeholder Consultations: Inclusive workshops, key informant interviews, focus group discussions at national, regional level and community levels.
• Technical Analysis: Assessment of technical options, institutional capacities, and financial requirements.
• Iterative Drafting: Development of the policy through drafts incorporating feedback from key stakeholders and a designated oversight body (e.g., Technical Working Group/Steering Committee).

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

Minimum requirements:

Education: Master’s degree in public health, Environmental Health/Engineering, Development Studies, Public Policy, or a related field.

Work Experience:

• Minimum 8years of progressively responsible professional experience in the WASH sector, with proven experience in developing national WASH policies or strategies, preferably in Africa or similar contexts.
• Strong understanding of sanitation and hygiene issues, including technical, social, institutional, financial, and environmental aspects.
• Demonstrated experience in facilitating multi-stakeholder consultations and policy dialogue processes.
• Excellent analytical, synthesis, and report writing skills in English.
• Familiarity with the Eritrean context or the Horn of Africa region is highly desirable

Complementary expertise may be required in areas such as:

• Sanitation Engineering / Technology
• Hygiene Promotion / Behavior Change Communication (BCC)
• Health Economics / WASH Financing
• Institutional Development / Governance
• Monitoring & Evaluation
• Environmental Management / Climate Change Adaptation
• Legal / Regulatory Frameworks

Language: Fluency in written and spoken English is essential.

Knowledge of local Eritrean languages (Tigrinya, Arabic) would be a significant asset for stakeholder engagement.

Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts is desirable

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 and persons with disability 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.