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 clean start

Join UNICEF as a WASH Officer (MEAL and Knowledge Management) and play a key role in advancing water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programs that aim to improve the lives of vulnerable children and families. Working within UNICEF’s Country Programme, you will support the development and management of data systems to track the success of WASH interventions and ensure their effective implementation across diverse regions.

This position will focus on monitoring, evaluation, and knowledge management for WASH programming in the country, contributing to both emergency preparedness and long-term development. You will collaborate closely with local governments, NGOs, and UN partners, building partnerships and networks to improve access to safe water and sanitation for marginalized communities. As part of this dynamic role, you will help ensure that UNICEF’s WASH programs are effectively aligned with national priorities and contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: ensuring access to water and sanitation for all. You’ll also help advocate for and mobilize resources to support ongoing initiatives that improve children’s health and well-being. This is an exciting opportunity for someone with a strong technical background in WASH and experience in monitoring and evaluation, who is passionate about making a lasting impact in improving children’s lives in the country.

The WASH Officer (MEAL and Knowledge Management) reports to WASH Specialist (MEAL). The WASH Officer provides professional technical, operational, and administrative assistance throughout the process of monitoring and evaluation of WASH programming. This is done through setting up sector information systems to collect, analyze, present and document programme information. The objective is to support the development, implementation, and monitoring of the WASH output results of the Country Programme

How can you make a difference? 

Our Champion will play a key role in improving access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) for vulnerable children and communities. You will support UNICEF’s Country Programme by helping to design, monitor, and evaluate WASH programs that make a lasting impact on children's health and well-being.

The WASH Officer (MEAL and Knowledge Management) will assist in developing and managing data systems to monitor program outcomes, ensuring that WASH interventions are effectively implemented and contribute to improving the health and living conditions of children and families. You will also help to document best practices and support emergency preparedness efforts.

Main activities:

• Monitor and Evaluate WASH Programs: Track outcomes, collect and analyze data, and contribute to reports for UNICEF and donors.
• Support Program Implementation: Work with partners to ensure WASH activities meet local needs and international standards.
• Build Partnerships: Collaborate with governments, NGOs, and local stakeholders to strengthen WASH efforts and drive advocacy.
• Emergency Preparedness and Response: Assist in collecting data for emergency response planning and support field operations during crises.
• Capacity Building: Provide training and support to partners on data collection, monitoring, and WASH best practices.

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to life-changing programs and make a direct impact on the lives of children.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: [ WASH Officer Level 1 129204.pdf]

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: A first university degree in one of the following fields is required:  public health, social sciences, physical sciences, hydrogeology, behavior change communication, sanitary engineering, or another relevant technical field

• Work Experience: A minimum of one year of professional experience in WASH-related programmes including monitoring and evaluation for developing countries is required.

  Previous experience managing water resource or WASH sector data to inform policy, planning and coordination is preferred.

• Language Requirements: Fluency in French is required. Knowledge of English is an asset
•  
• Field work experience and/or familiarity with emergency. 

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 committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

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’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female andidates and candidates with disabilities 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.

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.