South Sudan: Water and Wastewater Quality Specialist

Apr 17, 2022 | United Nations Mission in South Sudan
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Under Resolution 2625 (2022), the Security Council determined that the situation in South Sudan continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security in the region. The Council extended the UNMISS mandate until 15 March 2023. It also emphasized that the Mission should continue advancing its three-year strategic vision defined in resolution 2567 (2021) to prevent a return to civil war, build durable peace and support inclusive, accountable governance and free, fair and peaceful elections in accordance with the Revitalized Peace Agreement. Under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, UNMISS is therefore authorized to use all necessary means to implement its mandate which includes: (a) Protection of civilians (b) Creating conditions conducive to the delivery of humanitarian assistance (c) Supporting the Implementation of the Revitalised Agreement and the Peace Process (d) Monitoring, investigating, and reporting on violations of humanitarian and human rights law: The overall ceiling for uniformed personnel is maintained at 17,000 troops and 2,101 police, including 88 corrections officers. Please refer to https://unmiss.unmissions.org/mandate for more information.

Context

UNMISS was established in 2011 under the auspices of the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO); subsequently, UNMISS mandate has been renewed through resolutions 2057 (2012), 2109 (2013), 2155 (2014), 2187 (2014), 2223 (2015), 2241 (Dec. 2015), 2304 (2016) and 2327 (2016), 2392 (Dec. 2017), 2406 (Mar. 2018), 2459 (Mar. 2019), 2514 (Mar. 2020), 2567 (Mar. 2021), 2625 (Mar. 2022).

Task description

Under the direct supervision of the Head of the Environmental Engineering Unit (EEU), the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

  • Provide support to the Head, Water and Sanitation Unit in preparation of Scope of Works (SoW) for procurement of new water and wastewater quality-related testing re-agents, consumables and equipment and procurement of water and wastewater treatment chemicals.
  • Conduct quality control of water supplied and discharged effluent across the Mission to ensure compliance with WHO Guidelines.
  • Ensure all physical, chemical, and bacteriological quality testing parameters are conducted in all mission’s Field Offices laboratories and results recorded in Field Offices quality testing database on daily basis then compiled and analyzed in mission’s central database on weekly and monthly basis,
  • Compilation, analysis and posting on intranet and iseek Mission wide weekly and monthly water and wastewater compliance reports.
  • Ensure available laboratory reagents/consumables/equipment and water and wastewater treatment chemicals are distributed and dispatched to Field Quality Testing laboratories to support water and wastewater compliance effort.
  • Prepare the relevant technical specifications for acquisition of laboratory reagents/consumables/equipment and water and wastewater treatment chemicals material requirement
  • Prepare reports and recommend the removal and safe disposal of any reagent/consumable/equipment/chemical that have passed their shelf/useful lives.
  • Initiate write-off of worn-out or technically malfunctioning barcoded equipment.
  • Conduct capacity building/development through coaching, mentoring and formal on-the-job training to all Field Water and Sanitation personnel and counterparts in the area of water and wastewater treatment and quality testing and analysis.
  • Provide Quality Testing technical support to all Field laboratories.
  • Provide water and wastewater treatment technical support to all Field Offices
  • Performing any other related water and sanitation duties as needed or assigned.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:

  • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day);
  • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;
  • Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities;
  • Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;
  • Assist with the UNV Buddy Program for newly-arrived UN Volunteers;
  • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Eligibility criteria

Age: 27 - 80

Nationality: Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.

Requirements

Required experience

  • 3 years of experience in the position of water or wastewater Quality Analyst in the water supply industry;
  • Water treatment methodologies;
  • Ability to take corrective measures when water and wastewater compliance values are abnormal.
  • Proficiency in MS Office application (excel, word, power point) and office technology equipment.
  • Have affinity with or interest in humanitarian relief, post-conflict situations, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System;
  • Sound security awareness.

Area(s) of expertise

  • Energy and environment

Driving license

  • Manual Transmission Required

Languages

  • English, Level: Fluent, Required Arabic, Level: Fluent, Desirable

Required education level

  • Bachelor degree or equivalent in Bio-Chemistry or Environmental Engineering.

Competencies and values

  • Integrity and professionalism
  • Planning and organizing
  • Teamwork and respect for diversity
  • Communication
  • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards the UN core values.

Other information

Living conditions and remarks

Living conditions vary between UNMISS duty stations. Each duty station where UNMISS has a field presence has basic residential camp facilities, which includes running water and electricity. Candidates should be aware that accommodation may be austere with the possibility of water shortages and power blackouts. On arrival in Juba accommodation will be on a share basis. Ablutions will also be shared. As the accommodation situation improves single unit accommodation, with an attached ablution, should become available in all locations. Hard wall accommodation is available in Juba. All UNMISS duty stations apart from Entebbe, Uganda are considered non - family duty stations. The security level of UNMISS duty stations is classified by the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) who will brief on arrival. A number of locations in South Sudan are prone to conflict. Primary health care services (preventive and curative) are provided in 11 United Nations Owned Equipment (UNOE) Level-I clinics, 21 Contingent Owned Equipment (COE) Level-I clinics, 4 COE Level-II medical facilities within the mission area and the establishment of contractual agreements for Level-III and Level-IIII care outside the mission area. The 4 Level-II facilities available in Juba, Bor, Malakal and Wau, run by the Troop Contributing Countries (TCC), take referrals from the Level-I clinics and provide hospital-based care. The climate is tropical with a rainy season in many areas, which should normally span from around April to October. Ability to live and work in difficult and harsh conditions is essential.