Afghanistan: WASH Officer (Cluster Coordination), Afghanistan Nationals

Mar 17, 2024 | United Nations Children's Fund
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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. Across 190 countries and territories, UNICEF works for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

Purpose for the job:

Under the supervision of the Emergency Officer, with support from the WASH Officer in the region, the post holder will provide leadership and facilitate the processes that will ensure a well-coordinated, strategic, adequate, coherent, and effective response by partners in the sub-national WASH cluster.

The post holder will facilitate communication and information sharing through coordination architecture at the regional level in liaison with WASH partners, Provincial Disaster Management Committee (PDMC), OCHA-led Coordination Forum (HRT), National WASH cluster, Directorate of Refugees & Returnees (DoRR) and Provincial Rural Rehabilitation & Development (PRRD).

The incumbent will guide regional partners in delivering appropriate WASH services to vulnerable people through strengthening the humanitarian preparedness and response to emergencies, incorporating Disaster Risk Reductions (DoRR) as well as where possible, linking the humanitarian-development nexus through planning and coordination.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

Support service delivery

  • Ensure regional coordination meetings are functional and routinely organized to take stock of the emergency preparedness and response situation.
  • Ensure effective coordination with other clusters at the regional level (with OCHA HRT support).
  • Work with core pipeline stock managers (UNICEF, DACAAR, IOM, and National WASH Cluster coordination team) to monitor Core Pipeline levels, facilitate partner requests for supplies and assess if Core Pipeline quantities meet existing and expected needs of the region.
  • Represent the regional cluster partners at the Provincial Disaster Management Committee (PDMC) meetings.
  • Point of contact for the regional cluster, promote the use of the WASH Cluster website, and keep the national cluster updated (by sharing minutes, sitreps, etc.) on progress, needs, and issues/challenges related to WASH in Emergencies (WinE) in the Region.
  • Proactively follow up referrals from AWAAZ directly or indirectly to ensure such referrals are assessed, addressed, tracked, and feedback shared with concerned/relevant entities.
  • Maintain a repertoire of active WASH cluster partner contacts (emails, telephone, etc.) for focal persons at the regional level.
  • Ensure effective coordination, Communication, and information sharing with PRRD at the regional level.
  • Ensure that, for quality service delivery, MRRD technical standards are considered in WASH project implementation, especially for durable water supply projects.
  • Support and consultatively address the handing over process of WASH projects/systems to the project participants through DoRR, RRD, and/or with WASH cluster members.
  • Maintain flexibility within the sub-cluster to respond to changes in the operating environment, evolving requirements, capacities, and participation.
  • In AWD/Cholera outbreak situation, support establishing a regional multi-sectorial forum to coordinate response and operationalize response plan, follow up, and ensure timely sharing of information including line listing, hot spots, surveillance, and epidemiological reports among others.
  • Through partnership with cluster members/ regional humanitarian forum, support needs assessment of affected population and exchange information and reports, highlighting urgent WASH-related needs and gaps to avoid duplication and support effective decision making.
  • Coordinate and support the regional mapping and identification of vulnerable groups among the conflict and disaster-affected populations prioritizing WASH needs and emergency response.
  • Support and encourage the integration of priority cross-cutting issues in WASH needs/gaps assessment(s), analysis, planning, monitoring, and response (e.g., age, diversity, environment, gender, and protection).

Support implementation of cluster strategies

  • With support from the National WASH Cluster IMO, ensure the 3/4Ws are updated and appropriately represent partners’ presence and response capacity in the region, provide inputs where necessary on key national cluster documents/planning and strategy documents such as cluster HRP, contingency/preparedness plans, advocacy papers, etc.
  • Adequately participate/support NWC in the AHF – standard/Reserve allocation activities prioritization, geographical coverage, and partners’ response capacity.
  • Adapt existing in-country information management approaches for collecting, analyzing, and reporting Cluster activities and resources, and identifying information gaps in consultation with the WASH Cluster IM.
  • Disseminate national strategies, guidelines, and standards among the regional partners and support their implementation.

Support cluster performance monitoring and evaluation

  • With support from the IMO, maintain up-to-date information on partners’ presence and capacity within the sector in the given region, using a 3/4 W tool/matrix that is periodically updated.
  • Provide feedback to the National WASH Cluster coordination team on the progress of the regional WASH cluster, including successes, challenges, best practices, and human-interest stories.
  • Where practical work closely with ICCG and Partners implementing AHF-Standard or Reserve allocation to ensure WASH response(s) meet acceptable cluster standards and provide quality services to the planned beneficiaries.
  • Conduct joint monitoring of WASH AHF projects with OCHA.
  • Support the national WASH Cluster by ensuring partners participate and contribute towards annual WASH cluster performance monitoring through Cluster Coordination and Performance Monitoring (CCPM).
  • Assist the National WASH Cluster in promoting and supporting training and capacity building of WASH humanitarian partners, based on the mapping, and understanding of available capacities.

Support advocacy

  • Support advocacy campaigns, especially facing WASH gaps related to conflict, natural disasters (e.g., drought, floods, famine, etc.), public health issues (malnutrition, outbreaks such AWD, COVID-19, etc.), and protection issues (toward Gender Based Violence (GBV) risks, Persons with Disability/ies (PwD), elders, etc.).
  • Support cross-sector advocacy issues (such as humanitarian space and access, need-based assistance, impartiality, and neutrality of humanitarian response) and special events (such as World Water Day, Global Hand Washing, and World Toilet Day).

Accountability to Affected Population (AAP) / putting communities at the center.

  • Ensure WASH programs are designed to provide equitable access and reduce incidences of gender-based violence in accessing and utilizing WASH services through separate consultation of boys, girls, women, and men including older people and those with disabilities.
  • Support and monitor WASH partners to ensure that girls, boys, women, and men including older people and those with disabilities have access to appropriate and safe WASH services.
  • In coordination with WASH implementing partners, ensure that girls, boys, women, and men including older people and those with disabilities have access to feedback & complaint mechanisms (or any culturally appropriate two-way communication mechanism) so that corrective actions can address their protection and assistance needs.
  • Monitor and evaluate safe and equitable access and use of WASH services in WASH projects.
  • Work with partners to ensure and enforce the Do No Harm approach for WASH assistance.
  • Liaise and work closely with gender and protection focal point persons at the regional level to ensure partners at the regional level incorporate and operationalize the joint WASH Cluster & GBV Sub-cluster “WASH GBV checklist” in their response/projects.

Qualifications

  • A university degree in one of the WASH (Civil, Water, Construction engineering) disciplines, Public Health.
  • A minimum of 2 (two)of relevant professional experience in complex and volatile humanitarian contexts, technical competence in Cluster systems, procedures, governance structures, and humanitarian response systems. 
  • Documented results related to the position’s responsibilities.
  • Knowledge about own leadership skills/profile. 
  • The capacity to maintain good relationships with all relevant stakeholders and work with diverse teams to develop consensus is an advantage.
  • Proven ability to take into consideration the interests of NGOs (international and national) while advocating or lobbying for the localization agenda is an asset. 
  • The cluster is guided by the principles of neutrality, impartiality, and advocacy for all. 
  • Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
  • 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:

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything it does and how it does it. Get acquainted with the UNICEF Values Charter: UNICEF Values

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.

During the recruitment process, UNICEF tests candidates following the competency framework. View the competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and its global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.


UNICEF offers a wide range of benefits to its staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
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 is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. 

Remarks

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF offers a wide range of benefits to its staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions.  Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should a candidate be selected for a position with UNICEF, employees either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be cancelled.

All selected candidates will 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.

Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government 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. 

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

Advertised: 04 Mar 2024 Afghanistan Standard Time

Deadline: 21 Mar 2024 Afghanistan Standard Time

  • Job no: 570138
  • Contract type: Temporary Appointment
  • Duty Station: Herat
  • Level: NO-2
  • Location: Afghanistan
  • Categories: WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene)