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.

UNICEF WASH focuses its efforts on increasing sustainable access to safe drinking water, eliminating open defecation, improving access to safe sanitation and promoting hand washing and good hygienic practices, including in schools and healthcare facilities and with particular attention to girls and to children with disabilities. Leveraging its presence before, during and after emergencies, UNICEF WASH provides support to increase access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene among children and families in humanitarian situations.

Within these pages you will find ​information about WASH programming areas, our principle strategies, who's who, resources and tools, and news and events.   

For every child, a hope….

We are looking for a proactive and experienced WASH Specialist (Sanitation) to join our team remotely under the guidance of the Senior Adviser (Sanitation and Hygiene). In this role, you will collaborate with regional advisors, country offices, and external partners to drive market-based sanitation programming and strengthen sanitation systems for scaling up safely managed sanitation services. You will provide technical support and oversight for the Lixil-funded multi-regional sanitation program, assist in rolling out the UNICEF Sanitation Game Plan, and support capacity development and knowledge sharing to help achieve universal access to safely managed sanitation. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to global WASH initiatives and make a lasting impact.

How can you make a difference?

The WASH Specialist (Sanitation) will take on a leadership role in overseeing and engaging with global private sector initiatives in sanitation, specifically focusing on the Lixil-funded six-country sanitation program. This includes providing technical support for the program’s management, monitoring progress, and ensuring effective communication with program countries and regional offices. The role also involves developing communication materials such as videos and briefs, supporting cross-regional learning opportunities, and maintaining regular coordination with Lixil and PFP. The specialist will further drive private sector engagement in market-based approaches to sanitation, contributing to scaling up sanitation efforts globally.

Additionally, the WASH Specialist will support the implementation and coordination of the UNICEF Sanitation Game Plan and the eight steps to achieve universal access to safely managed sanitation. The role includes assisting in the development and updating of the communication plan, supporting the integration of climate resilience into sanitation efforts, and building capacity within UNICEF WASH staff and partners. The specialist will also prepare policy papers and proposals, plan and organize regional and global sanitation events, and document learnings from the adoption of the Sanitation Game Plan. Furthermore, the specialist will provide support to the Sanitation and Hygiene Unit's monitoring, reporting, and resource mobilization efforts, including developing new proposals and partnerships to accelerate progress on safely managed sanitation.

Minimum requirements:

Education

Advanced university degree (master’s degree) in a relevant field such as public health, education, environmental health, social sciences and engineering or a related field is required.

Work Experience

At least eight years of solid responsible work experience in WASH development in developing countries.

Desirables/Assets:

• Experience working in the areas of private sector engagement, strategy development, capacity building, planning, monitoring and knowledge management will be considered an asset.

Language Requirements

• Fluency in English is required.  Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

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…

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

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.

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.