WASH Specialist, FT, P3, Kananga, Democratic Republic of Congo, #105427

A challenging and exciting opportunity has arisen within UNICEF DRC CO for a passionate and committed WASH Expert. If you want to make a difference for children, we encourage you to apply. Applications from women will be prioritized.

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 chance

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the Organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give more children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

How can you make a difference? 

The WASH Specialist level 3 GJP is to be used in a Field Office (FO) where the WASH Programme is a major component of the Country Programme (or CCPD). The WASH Specialist reports to the Chief of Office (Level 4) and has a technical reporting line to the WASH Manager who is at Level 4 of the WASH section.

The WASH Specialist will be responsible for conceptualizing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating WASH projects in Kasai Central, Kasai and Sankuru. These three provinces, located in the center of the country, are part of the “Provinces de convergence”, where UNICEF and DRC government will implement an integrated, multi-sectoral program from 2025 to 2029. The WASH program will be closely integrated with the health, nutrition, education, and protection sectors.

In these provinces, the WASH program aims to strengthen provincial technical and institutional sectoral capacities, enhance understanding and management of water resources, increase community-level demand for WASH services, and improve hygiene behaviors. It will support the provision of WASH services in communities, schools, and health centers. On major challenge the WASH specialist will work on is the implementation of context specific operation and maintenance models to increase WASH infrastructures sustainability. The WASH Specialist will also contribute to strategic thinking and planning at provincial level regarding climate change adaptation measures in the sector. The WASH program being currently financed primarily by the EU, KOICA, SIDA, and UNICEF funds, the WASH Specialist will prepare a contextualized, multi-year WASH program aligned with the new CPD for 2025–2029. The WASH Specialist will directly supervise one WASH Officer NOB in Kananga and will provide technical supervision for two WASH Officers NOB based in Lodja (Sankuru) and Tshikapa (Kasai) and will also manage national consultants.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  GSP_WASH Specialist P3 - Kananga.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 a strong asset.

• Work Experience:

  Developmental:  a minimum of five years of professional experience in WASH-related programmes for developing countries is required.

  At least 4 year of deployment in a developing country is required.

  Humanitarian: At least one six-month deployment mission in a humanitarian situation (with UN-Govt-INGO) is required.

• Skills 

1. Rural water supply for low- and middle-income countries - including water safety, sustainability.
2. Rural sanitation for low- and middle-income countries, incl sustainability; applying CATS principles.
3. Urban sanitation for low- and middle-income countries, incl sustainability
4. Handwashing with soap
5. WASH-in-Schools and Health Centres
6. Menstrual hygiene management
7. National government WASH policies, plans and strategies
8. Analysis of national budgets and expenditure for basic WASH, and related advocacy
9. Engineering expertise and experience in designing WASH infrastructure and supervising construction work

• Language Requirements:

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

Desirables:

• 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 

[add the 8^th competency (Nurtures, leads and manages people) for a supervisory role]. 

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 suitable women and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply 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.