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 fair chance

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have worked in the Philippines continuously since 1948.

UNICEF’s vision for every child in the Philippines is intimately linked to the realization of several Sustainable Development Goals and the promise to leave no one behind.  By 2030, we want to see that no child in the Philippines suffers from hunger; that every child has access to good health services, quality education opportunities, clean water, and toilets; and children grow up protected and develop in an inclusive, just, and peaceful society.

Since its establishment, UNICEF has been helping the Philippine government to strengthen national policies, programmes, and services to ensure that all children in the Philippines enjoy their rights. UNICEF supports the Government to extend the coverage and implementation of policies and legislation that benefit children and the most disadvantaged; to support the implementation of positive budget reforms and leverage the considerable fiscal space; to innovate and adapt national programmes to support inclusivity and relevance in diverse remote rural areas, impoverished urban areas, hazard and conflict-prone areas affected by climate change; and to strengthen national capacity to monitor change for children.

As an impartial partner, we are mandated to work with both state and non-state actors to protect the rights and promote the wellbeing of every child. We have successfully worked through many Government reforms in the Philippines, and we continue to work with the national government, its different agencies, and departments, and with local government units and authorities, including the Bangsamoro Transition Authority in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

UNICEF’s capacity, technical skills and structure allow us to work effectively with policy and decision-makers and be among the first responders to humanitarian crisis. It allows us to assess and respond quickly to the priorities and needs of communities in the most remote and underserved areas of the country. 

Visit this link for more information on UNICEF in the Philippines https://www.unicef.org/philippines/

How can you make a difference? 

The WASH & CER Chief is responsible for managing and supervising all stages of the WASH & CER programme from strategic planning and formulation to the delivery of the WASH outcome and output results as per the CPD. The Chief provides technical leadership and management support throughout the programming processes, to develop and facilitate the administration and achievement of the WASH & CER related outcome and output results in the country programme.

Under the general guidance of the Deputy Representative for Programmes, the position will be responsible for undertaking the following:

1. Managerial leadership

• Establish the annual work plan, determining priorities and performance measurements. Monitor workplan implementation, to ensure that WASH & CER output results are achieved to schedule and performance standards.  Report critical issues to the Deputy Representative and Representative for timely action.
• Establish the annual workplan outputs, activities and developmental priorities of the WASH &CER section staff.  Provide timely guidance to enable the WASH & CER section staff to perform their duties responsibly and efficiently.
• Manage the WASH & CER team building and motivation.  Signal potential conflicts and take preventive action, in coordination with Human Resources staff. 

2. Programme development and planning

• Prepare the WASH & CER inputs for the situation analysis.  Provide comprehensive and current data to inform WASH policy and programme development, planning, management and implementation. Keep abreast of global, regional and national WASH & CER sector developments, for maximum efficiency and effectiveness in WASH & CER programme design, management and implementation.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues and partners to discuss national WASH & CER priorities, resources, strategies and methodologies to ensure the most strategic use of the collective resources of external support agencies.
• Lead the development of the WASH & CER outcome and output results of the country programme (or CCPD), along with related background, strategic analysis and delivery strategies, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s Strategic Plan, UNICEF’s global WASH strategy and the country programme as well as government plans and priorities, and the role of other WASH & CER external support agencies.  Lead the development of output-related indicators, baselines, targets and means of verification.  Lead the development of the WASH & CER content of the CPAP. 
• Develop, manage and implement the fund-raising strategy for WASH & CER, aligned with the WASH & CER output results in the country programme, and lead interactions with senior staff of donor agencies.
• Ensure that UNICEF engagement in the area of climate and environment is well coordinated within and outside UNICEF, and that UNICEF progressively integrates climate resilience into programs and develop funding proposals that are based on sound risk assessments and strong climate rationale.
• Support Education, Health, Nutrition, Social Policy, Child Protection and all other programmes in identifying UNICEF’s niche for addressing Climate Change and Environment impacts on children, awareness raising and design of programmes to support the rights of children, and support risk informed programming in PCO.

3. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

• Prepare documentation for programme reviews and analytical statements on progress and constraints of WASH & CER outcome and output results.
• Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes for the achievement of the WASH & CER output results.  Ensure effective collaboration with other UNICEF sectors.
• With other external support agencies, analyze national government WASH & CER sector programmes and projects, with a focus on WASH & CER outcomes (behaviors), using bottleneck analysis tools available in the sector (WASH-BAT, CSOs, SDAs). 
• Manage monitoring and evaluation of the WASH & CER programme and its components, programme reviews and annual sectoral reviews with government and other partners and prepare reports for CO management and WASH & CER sector coordination bodies.
• Coordinate and lead the CER country team, ensuring efficient task-orientated functioning and knowledge management.
• Develop learning and capacity building plan for PCO and facilitate a climate change and environment capacity building for PCO and partners, focusing on topics such as WASH/CER/Inequalities; climate finance for Programmes etc.
• Monitor, report, and certify the use of sectoral programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets), verify compliance with approved allocations, organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity.
• Ensure timely donor reporting, negotiate any changes required to agreements with donors in a timely manner.  Ensure systems are in place for HACT compliance. 

4. Advisory services and technical support

• Participate in strategic discussions to influence national WASH and CER policies and strategies, including the reduction of inequalities, contributing to global sector learning.
• Advise senior officials in government, NGOs, UN agencies and WASH & CER sector donors on WASH & CER policies, strategies and best practices.
• Lead the preparation of policy papers, briefing notes and other strategic materials for use by management, donors, UNICEF regional offices and headquarters.
• Coordinate the use of technical experts from the Regional Office and HQ, as and where appropriate in the WASH & CER programme, through remote support and on-site visits. 
• Liaise with other stakeholders active in climate change and environmental sustainability in Philippines and EAP region for coordination, lessons learned and good practices and ensure linkages/knowledge exchange with national, regional and global stakeholders.

5. Advocacy, networking and partnership building

• Build and strengthen strategic partnerships with government counterparts, UN agencies, donor agencies, WASH institutions, NGOs, research institutes and the private sector to stimulate coordination and collaboration.
• Oversee the analysis of national budgets for WASH & CER, cost analysis and value-for-money studies, to advocate for improvements in sector efficiency. 
• Produce materials for WASH programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships and support fund-raising.
• Represent UNICEF in inter-agency discussions, ensuring that UNICEF’s position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in planning and agenda setting.
• Interact with global and regional initiatives and partnerships for WASH & CER. 
• Participate in development partners’ and joint UN climate action working groups.
• Maintain overall knowledge leadership on the policy, institutions and programmatic activities (e.g. Climate Landscape Analysis for Children).
• Establish climate and environment focused partnerships with CSO, Government, UN and development partners.
• Identify how UNICEF programmes can support climate funding and financing priorities by establishing partnerships with relevant focal points and potential partners for UNICEF.
• Advocate for improved child-focus of climate finance investments in Philippines among partners.
• Develop concept notes for fundraising for climate change adaptation and mitigation proposals as well as inputs to proposals from all sections as needed.
• Support section focal points in the coordination and implementation of approved climate and environment focused proposals.

6. Humanitarian WASH & CER preparedness and response

• Ensure the annual preparation/revision of UNICEF’s preparedness for WASH & CER in emergencies. 
• Ensure the coordination arrangements for humanitarian WASH are in place in line with UNICEF’s Cluster lead agency role, for instant robust coordination in case of an emergency. 
• Ensure that all UNICEF WASH & CER staff are familiar with UNICEF’s procedures for responding in an emergency.
• In case of an emergency, ensure that UNICEF meets its commitments for WASH in the response and early recovery. 
• Support government to strengthen WASH emergency preparedness. 

7. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Organize and lead the development, implementation, monitoring and documentation of WASH & CER action research and innovation (technical or systems), ensuring rigorous monitoring and wide sharing of results.
• Determine priorities for learning/knowledge products, covering innovative approaches and good practices, to support overall WASH & CER sector development.
• Systematically plan, support and monitor the professional development of UNICEF WASH & CER staff, to ensure our sector capacity remains up-to-date with latest developments.
• Organize the systematic assessment of WASH & CER sector capacity gap analysis, in collaboration with government and other stakeholders, and support the design of initiatives to strengthen capacities systematically.
• Provide technical guidance and policy advice to government officials, the private sector and civil society partners on climate change and environmental risks facing children.
• In coordination and partnership with Social Policy section and other UN and institutional stakeholders, support public expenditure reviews of national public/private sector climate and environment financing and budgeting.
• Support communication and policy advocacy regarding climate change, environmental degradation and child rights in Philippines, and input into key national climate and environment policy dialogues (National Action Plans, Nationally Determined Contributions and national climate strategies).
• Identify objectives, actions and best practices for protecting children from climate change and environmental risk and work with sections on implementation strategies.
• Identify partners and entry points for strategic engagement regarding climate change impact on children as well as strategic entry points for engagement with the government.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  Specific JD Template Chief of WASH CER Final SGD.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: 

  • An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: public health, social sciences, behavior change communication, sanitary engineering, or another relevant technical field.

  • Additional relevant post-graduate courses that complement/supplement the main degree are required.

• Work Experience: 

  • DEVELOPMENTAL:  a minimum of eight (8) years of professional experience in WASH-related programmes for developing countries is required.

  • A minimum of five (5) of the required eight (8) years of progressively responsible professional work experience cited above should be at the national and international levels in programme/project development, focused on developing countries in areas related to development cooperation in climate change adaptation and mitigation, environment, and socio-economic development.

  • Familiarity with children's rights and gender in the context of climate change adaptation and mitigation.

  • Proven ability to effectively lead a team to deliver results is required.

  • HUMANITARIAN:  At least one (1) year of work in humanitarian situations is required.

• Language Requirements:
  • Fluency in oral and written English. 

Desirables:

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.

How to apply

Qualified candidates are requested to complete an online candidate profile in http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/ by 21 January 2025. Only applications sent through the e-recruitment portal under Job no. 578288 will be considered.

By applying through our Talent Management System (TMS) you agree to our privacy statement which is in line with the Philippines’ Data Privacy Act. You are strongly advised to read carefully through the privacy statement before submitting your application.

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

(8) Nurture, leads, and manages people

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 candidates irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons 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.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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.