UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

And we never give up. 

UNICEF South Africa

We work to promote the rights of every child.

For every child, clean water.  

The South Africa Human Rights Commission estimated that in 2021, 366 schools in the country did not have water, affecting 5,429 teachers and 144,255 students, particularly in the Eastern Cape, Limpopo and North-West provinces. Moreover, in the same year, 3,297 schools did not have safely managed sanitation services. In addition, a Green Drop Progress Assessment report found that 64% of wastewater treatment works are at high or critical risk of discharging partially treated or untreated water into rivers and the environment. Negative environmental implications and pose risks to drinking water quality and thus human health, such as cholera outbreaks are associated with wastewater pollution of water resources. This is a large concern as nearly 1,000 children under 5 years die every day, due to diarrheal diseases and poor hygiene conditions.  

When it comes to young people, 64% aged 15 to 24-years, are not engaged in formal work, education, or training. A recent survey on entrepreneurship showed a decline in youth owned businesses, particularly owned by women, which causes concern given the high unemployment figures in the country. It also found a need for more impactful business development support, particularly on business basics, to increase small business success rates.[1]

UNICEF shares the vision that every child realizes their human right to safe water, dignified sanitation, and the right to grow up in a safe and sustainable climate and environment. One of the objectives of the UNICEF WASH programme is to empower and engage young people in water quality technologies, products, and services. UNICEF is supporting a water quality monitoring initiative, in which so-called called young “Envirochamps” are trained and supported to monitor the quality of the water in their communities. The project is helping to create a healthier environment today and building knowledge and skills for tomorrow.

Building on the success of the Envirochamps project, UNICEF wishes to take this further and support young entrepreneurs within the water sector, to boost and market their businesses to benefit schools and Early Childhood Development Centres (ECDCs).

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

• A minimum of a first University Degree in the following fields: Water, Sanitation, Hygiene, Environment, Climate, Disability, Government Policies, Schools or Private Sector
• A minimum of five years of relevant professional experience in the WASH sector
• Experience with business and youth empowerment is highly desirable
• The individual must have a good understanding and familiarity with South Africa’s water sector (water, sanitation and hygiene), both public and private
• Knowledge of policies, strategies, SETAs and other processes currently implemented to guide the process of creating entrepreneurship/youth economic opportunities is an added advantage
• Experience with youth programmes or youth mentoring is desirable
• Experience with UN agencies is desirable
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of a local language is an asset
• Project management and business management certification will be an added advantage
• Entrepreneurship training/skills will be an added advantage

Please indicate your ability and availability; and attach a technical proposal and financial proposal in ZAR to undertake the terms of reference above (including admin cost if applicable). Proposals submitted without a detailed financial proposal aligned to the assignment will not be considered.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

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.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors 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. 

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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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. 

Remarks:  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract 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 and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors 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 candidate 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 candidates 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. It 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.