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 for as long as we are needed. 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 professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, sanitation

Lebanon continues to face economic pressures and service-delivery challenges that limit children’s access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene. Strained public systems and growing vulnerabilities have increased disparities across communities. UNICEF Lebanon works with government and partners to strengthen national systems, improve WASH service delivery and ensure that the most disadvantaged children and families are prioritized. The WASH programme emphasizes equitable access to safe water and sanitation, improved hygiene practices and climate-resilient solutions. In this context, the WASH Specialist (Sector Coordinator & Climate Change) will play a key role in leading national coordination efforts and supporting the integration of climate considerations across WASH strategies and interventions.

How can you make a difference? 

The WASH Specialist (Sector Coordination & Climate Change) P-3 reports to the Chief of WASH. Below is a summary of the key functions/accountabilities:

1. Programme development, planning, coordination, integration, technical and operational support to sections.
2. Advocacy, evidence generation, policy, and positioning of UNICEF in sector coordination and climate change and children.
3. External partnerships, resource mobilization and linkages to regional and global efforts.
4. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results.
5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  P3 WASH Specialist (Sector coordination & Climate Change).docx

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, water related studies, environmental sciences, health and hygiene behavior, geology or earth sciences, WASH-related engineering, disaster risk reduction and mitigation, biology or another relevant technical field is required.

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

• A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with seven years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.

Experience: 

• A minimum of 5 five years of progressively responsible professional work experience in WASH-related programmes planning and management in humanitarian and development contexts is required.

• Relevant experience at national and/or international levels in programme management in WASH related areas preferably with combination of WASH and climate change related programming within the UN system agency or organization is required.

• Demonstrated experience in applying results-based management required. 

• Experience in areas related to development cooperation in climate change adaptation and mitigation, environment, engagement; and is advocacy and policy development related to climate action and socio-economic development is highly desirable.

• Experience working in the humanitarian coordination system is desirable.

• Experience in building partnerships with national governments towards strategy or policy development in areas related to environment, climate change, risk management etc. is highly desirable.

• Previous experience within UNICEF and/or other UN agencies is different contexts is an asset.

Language: 

• Fluency in English is required.  Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of the duty station are is considered as an asset.

Desirable:

• Developing country 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 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 candidates from targeted underrepresented groups 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.

UNICEF staff members holding fixed-term, continuing, or permanent appointments who are considered to be on abolished post status may apply for this temporary position and, if selected with a start date before 31 December 2025, may take it up as a temporary assignment, in line with UNICEF guidance on separation due to the abolition of posts or staff reduction. They will retain their fixed-term entitlements but will not hold a lien to their abolished post. For other scenarios where a Temporary Assignment may be possible, please refer to Additional guidance on IP to IP temporary assignments after completion of the full TOD.pdf (accessible to UNICEF personnel only).

The conditions of a temporary assignment, including relocation entitlements, will depend on the status of the staff member’s original appointment and may be limited in accordance with applicable UNICEF policies, procedures, and practices in force.

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.

UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.

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.

UNICEF does not charge any fee during any stage of the recruitment process.