Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)B
Family Type (not applicable for home-based)
Family
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeUNOPS IICA1
Target Start Date2025-06-02
Deadline for ApplicationsApril 21, 2025
Terms of ReferenceAssociate WASH Officer
Regional Technical Support
Nairobi, Kenya
UNHCR Regional Bureau
ICA Level 1
P-2/ NOB
Duration, 6 Months
1. General Background
The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the Regional Technical Coordinator, with guidance from the Senior Operations Coordinator and Head of Strategic Programme and Management, and in regular technical consultation with WASH Officers at the country level. As the focal point for the UNICEF-UNHCR Regional WASH Programme for Refugees, IDPs, and Host Communities in East Africa (R-WASH), the incumbent will oversee follow-up, monitoring, oversight, technical support, and coordination of all activities related to the R-WASH utility programme in Ethiopia, Sudan, and Somalia. S/he will represent UNHCR at R-WASH Technical Steering Committee Meetings and other ad hoc meetings with UNICEF ESARO on behalf of the Regional Technical Coordinator.
The incumbent will collaborate closely with the Regional Technical Coordinator, Senior Programme Officer โ Energy and Environment and with the Climate Action Task Team members on energy, environment, and climate-related initiatives. Additionally, s/he will engage with the Energy and Environment technical staff across country operations. This role requires close coordination with Regional Bureau Sector Team Leaders, the Regional Multi-Functional Team, and various stakeholders, including country operations, government representatives, and UN/Development/Implementing Partners if needed, ensuring regular information exchange with all relevant parties. Internally, s/he will interact with colleagues in the regional bureau, country operations, and field offices, particularly in sectors such as camp management, site planning/shelter, health, nutrition, education, protection, livelihoods, external relations, development section, CRRF, and community services, while maintaining active technical links across the region.
The incumbent will also work closely with technical staff in the region, development partners, donors, government line ministries, the private sector, and other relevant stakeholders to discuss and share insights on WASH/Energy/Environment/Climate services in refugee camps and surrounding communities. His/her work will be guided by the UNHCR Manual and technical guidelines, programme objectives, Operations Plans, and UN/UNHCR financial and budgetary regulations. S/he is expected to stay informed of regional challenges posed by political dynamics, conflict, seasonal environmental hazards (e.g., floods, disease outbreaks), and UN/humanitarian reform and institutional developments.
2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment
Leadership and Coordination
โข In collaboration with UNICEF and UNHCR Country WASH Officers, follow-up and monitor and coordinate all activities related to the R-WASH utility programme in Ethiopia, Sudan and Somalia to meet the UNHCR standards of assistance in the designated locations.
โข Ensure regular and effective coordination with all Country R-WASH Coordinators and Focal Points in Ethiopia, Sudan and Somalia, UNICEF and donors when needed. S/he will participate/represent UNHCR in the regular technical steering committee meetings and joint monitoring field visits in coordination with the Regional Technical Coordinator.
โข Maintain regular and effective coordination with Country WASH/Energy/Environment Officers for regional earmarked funding activities, facilitate regional technical sectorsโ coordination meetings, and bilateral meetings with country operations, in collaboration with and supported by the Regional Technical Coordinator.
โข Participate and represent UNHCR in meetings, forums, workshops, and visits with all actors involved with the R-WASH project and existing projects linked to R-WASH in coordination with the Regional Technical Coordinator.
โข Liaise between UNICEF, and UNHCR Country Operations, Government authorities, and all actors involved in the R-WASH project from refugees, host community leaders and water user groups, to contractors, UN agencies, NGOs, and technical working groups.
WASH/Energy/Environment/Climate Roadmaps, Planning, and Programme Support
โข Provide strategic support and guidance to the country operations on all activities related to WASH/Energy/Environment/Climate including the ongoing multi-year strategies of the country operations, community engagement and inclusion strategy being implemented under the above technical sectors.
โข Jointly with the WASH/Energy/Environment Colleagues, update detailed needs and resource assessments and revise designs of technical plans as necessary, considering practical aspects of implementation, and relevant technical specifications and guidelines.
โข Contribute to the planning processes and financial management of the WASH/Energy/Environment programme.
โข Formulate project submissions including budget to respond to identified needs in collaboration with appropriate regional and country sector leads, and other programme and technical sectors.
โข Advise on the strategic development of WASH/Energy/Environment programme, including potential expansion within the respective country operation.
Technical Assistance and Capacity Building
โข Provide technical guidance and support to country operations WASH Staff and Partners on all water, sanitation, and hygiene promotion issues, to ensure quality, cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and environmental soundness in their implementation and in accordance with UNHCR policies, standards, and priorities.
โข Share, seek and offer advice as a contribution to problem identification and solving where needs arise (technical, operational, conflict resolution, negotiation etc.).
โข Trouble shooting and risk management: constantly observe and analyze potential problems and risks and to contribute to their mitigation (e.g. from natural hazards, social tensions, capacity issues, mismanagement etc). Regularly attend the UNHCR Technical meetings and other technical working group forums.
Monitoring, Evaluation and Quality Assurance
โข Proactively monitor all aspects of the WASH/Energy/Environment/Climate Action project implementation (studies, construction, trainings, communications, materials, work sites etc.) in close collaboration with the Country Operations Technical Staff and to flag deviations from schedules, specifications, and planning. Ensure that mechanisms to monitor the performance of UNHCR's Partners on WASH activities in the refugee camps and host community are in place.
โข Actively follow up project implementation activities to help ensure quality control, transparency, accountability.
โข Ensure that the WASH Monitoring System (WMS) and the Technical Information Monitoring Systems (TIMS) data collection and reporting is carried out properly and timely with quality information.
โข Coordinate and follow-up the Quarterly Country Operations Technical Sectors Report.
Reporting, communication, and documentation
3. Monitoring and Progress Controls
โข UNHCRโs policies, standards and procedures relating to WASH are appropriately and coherently applied in the area of responsibility.
โข Implementation of WASH activities in targeted locations clearly documented, reported, and shared.
4. Qualifications and Experience
a. Education (Level and area of required and/or preferred education)
โข Bachelor of Water/Civil Engineering, Water Resources Development, Hydrogeology, Hydraulics, or relevant field.
b. Work Experience
โข Four years with a bachelorโs degree or three years with Mastersโ degree in one of the relevant fields, of progressive work experience in water/sanitary engineering or a related field, dealing with large scale refugee/IDPs WASH services delivery, Energy and Environment and Climate initiatives.
c. Key Competencies
(Technical knowledge, skills, managerial competencies or other personal competencies relevant to the performance of the assignment. Clearly distinguish between required and desired competencies)
โข Demonstrated technical experience in urban/small town water engineering including low-income communities (Desired).
โข Demonstrated context knowledge and professional WASH/Energy/Environment/Climate sectors experience, preferrable from the East, Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes Region. (Desired).
โข Proven expertise in WASH including surveys, programme implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and coordination (Desired).
โข Experience of working with refugees, internally displaced, and hosting communities (Required).
โข Experience of risk assessment and management (Required).
โข Knowledge and understanding of UNHCR/UN administrative and financial rules and regulations (Desired).
โข Experience of engineering project management including procurement and coordination (Required).
โข Demonstrated ability to resolve conflict, troubleshoot sources of tension, and to unite different interest groups (Required).
โข Demonstrated ability to achieve results by constant monitoring and adapting project cycle to ongoing lessons learned (Required).
โข Cultural and political sensitivity, and ability to communicate clearly to all audiences (Required).
โข Excellent budgeting skills (Required).
โข Proficiency in computer software such as MS Access, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, water modelling software (EPANET), GIS Software (MapInfo, Arc GIS), AutoCAD (Desired).
โข Good knowledge and understanding of WASH standards for emergencies and refugee camps including SPHERE and UNHCR Emergency Handbook technical guidelines and standards (Required)
โข Knowledge and understanding of water and wastewater hydraulics and physical, chemical, and biological properties; solid waste management practices, faecal sludge management, vector control, sanitation and hygiene promotion/awareness raising strategies (Required).
โข Knowledge and understanding of relationship between water, wastewater, solid waste, human waste, vector control to public health indicators, and value of hygiene promotion/awareness raising (Required).
โข Knowledge and understanding of risk-based monitoring and evaluation, multi-criteria analysis and project management and control (Required).
โข Sound Knowledge of WASH/Energy/Environment/Climate and its impact on protection and other UNHCR sectors such as health and nutrition, education (Required).
โข Experience in conducting WASH trainings (Desired).
โข
Knowledge of English (written / oral / comprehension) is required. Knowledge of the local language is added advantage.
Standard Job Description
Required Languages
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Desired Languages
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Additional Qualifications
Skills
Education
Certifications
Work Experience
Other information-Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
-Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit for a written test. Oral interviews are mandatory.
-Female candidates are encouraged to apply.This position doesn't require a functional clearance
Home-BasedNo