Consultancy Title: WASH Knowledge Management Consultant

Section/Division/Duty Station: Programme Group, WASH Section

Duration: 03 March 2026 to 31 March 2027

Home/ Office Based: Remote

About UNICEF 

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:

Knowledge management and evidence generation are foundational pillars of the new Strategic Plan 2026–2029 and central to the vision of the Centres of Excellence. In an increasingly complex global landscape, timely access to curated knowledge and robust evidence enables UNICEF and partners to make informed decisions, scale innovations, and drive accountability for results. By institutionalizing knowledge systems and leveraging data-driven insights, the Strategic Plan ensures that lessons learned, best practices, and cutting-edge research inform program design and policy dialogue across all levels.

The Centers of Excellence and Global WASH practice will serve as hubs for thought leadership and technical rigor, fostering collaboration, synthesizing global evidence, and translating it into actionable guidance. This integrated approach strengthens organizational learning, accelerates progress toward the SDGs, and positions UNICEF as a global leader in delivering impact at scale.

At the same time, it is critical that lessons from the implementation of multi-country grants including the DGIS funded ASWA programme are captured, documented and shared to showcase the progress made for global learning and replication across UNICEF supported programmes and countries.

Scope of Work:

Under the supervision of the WASH Knowledge Management Specialist, the consultant will support the implementation of the WASH Work Plan and KM under the multi-country grants, working closely with team members and regional WASH colleagues.

Objective 1: Strengthen knowledge management and internal communication to mainstream KM across all sub-sectors of WASH programming

Tasks:

• Systematically review and analyse 2025 Country Office Annual Reports (COARs), RAM narratives, and CSI data to identify WASH related interventions, achievements, and trends (MAXQDA Analysis)
• Classify and organise extracted information by country, region, sector and sub sectors (e.g. Sanitation, Hygiene, CRWASH, Emergencies, innovations, etc.).
• Produce a summary dataset and analytical tables that allow for easy reference and cross-country comparison.
• Build an initial baseline of country-level WASH engagement at the start of the new Strategic Plan.
• Compile inputs from WASH teams in HQ in consistent template and provide drafting and editorial support of WASH GARR 2025

Objective 2: Development and design of WASH Knowledge Products related to thematic areas and sub-sectors including multi country grants (ASWA, EU, FCDO, etc.)

Tasks:

• Update standards operating procedures, guidelines, and templates for producing templated knowledge products in line with the COE structure including under ASWA III
• Develop the 6th Edition of the UNICEF WASH Annual Publication Catalogue 2025, compiling all HQ, regional and country level flagship, templated and other knowledge products for global sharing and visibility, including a compendium of ASWA III KM products
• Proofread, format, and final consistency checks of WASH templated items and other WASH Reports
• Review of current WASH KM practices and update of the Global KM WASH strategy and KM Plan

• Design delivery of KM Learning package with webinar sessions on Experience Capitalization process for ASWA COs
• Documentation of best practices in ASWA countries, capturing knowledge and lessons on priority ASWA themes including Climate, Sustainability, Gender, WASH and Nutrition and Conflict Sensitivity.
• Prepare knowledge briefs, resources and presentations to ASWA countries to support participation and visibility in global, regional and national events and forums.

Objective 3: Enhance internal and external knowledge sharing to support WASH results and visibility

Tasks:

• Update the content and outlook of our global WASH knowledge platforms including www.unicef.org/WASH, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (unicef.org), PD-WASH - Homepage and SharePoint migration and merging of sites in line with COE structure and TA hub needs.
• Strengthen our networks for dissemination, communication and advocacy of WASH knowledge products and good practices and promotion of AI through UNICEF’s global presence in global events, including the production of Monthly Global WASH Bulletins and other special Bulletins/announcements.
• Ensure digital files / Document libraries are properly categorized/re-organised to operational standards, easily accessible, and aligned with new WASH workstreams.
• Undertake periodic analytics of the usage of WASH knowledge resources from all knowledge hubs, providing feedback on site improvement and increased usage.
• Production of the Global WASH Bulletin/calendar by managing content input, research on new journals/articles, and partner contributions for global and internal audience.
• Establish KM help desk and activate the Global WASH Viva engage Community of Practice with regular posts and responding to requests for any KM needs.
• Piloting the Knowledge Exchange Process and Virtual Skills Sharing in collaboration with the Global KM team.

Objective 4: Strategizing national WASH Capacity Building across the countries on emerging topics

Tasks

• Design and undertake capacity needs assessment in WASH linking with Capability mapping, and analyse outcomes to develop new training needs in collaboration with WASH team.
• Update global WASH capacity building plan and delivery of training at country level on WASH BAT, Systems Strengthening, etc.
• Conduct WASH learning Series/webinars (at least 6)/Skills Boost/Knowledge Fairs in multiple formats  with documentation of CO/RO good practices around learning.
• Arrange 10 meetings and draft notes and prepare presentation materials and graphic designs (At least 10)
• Participate in WASH team meetings, other events to keep abreast of the latest developments

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

 

Travel - N/A

Qualifications

Education:

• Advanced University (Masters) Degree in Engineering, Business Management, Communication, Marketing, International Relations, Social Sciences, or related field.

Work experience:

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *:

• At least 4 years’ experience in knowledge management, data analysis and product design or development.
• Demonstrated understanding of WASH programmes and operational contexts;
• Strong analytical, writing, and visual communication skills, including the ability to develop clear design materials and infographics.
• Proven ability to efficiently manage and organize large volumes of information using cloud-based platforms (e.g. Microsoft SharePoint, Teams).
• Experience in conducting research and synthesizing complex information into concise outputs using digital tools and applications.
• Prior experience with the UN or an international organization is desirable.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
• Strong interpersonal skills with demonstrated experience working effectively in multicultural and multi-stakeholder environments.
• Demonstrated commitment to UNICEF’s mandate, mission, and core values.
• Language Proficiency: English required; additional UN language preferred

Requirements:

Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and

- Upload copy of academic credentials

- Financial proposal that will include/ reflect :

• • the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability

- Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.

- At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.

- Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

U.S. Visa information:

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.  

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

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: Here

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:  

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 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.