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For every child, the right to sanitationย
Background:
UNICEF works across 22 countries and territories in Europe and Central Asia to support equitable, sustainable access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in both development and emergency settings to ensure children and communities have access to safe, affordable, and climate-resilient water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services in development and emergency contexts. Regional WASH support covers systems strengthening, shock-responsive WASH programming, climate and resilience integration, and the delivery of inclusive and sustainable WASH services in homes, schools, health-care facilities, and community settings.
The Regional Office has been advancing WASH programming across the region by providing technical guidance and hands-on support to Country Offices. This includes strengthening climate-resilient WASH systems, supporting the development and rollout of Water Safety Plans, and promoting climate-adapted service delivery models. The office has worked closely with national and regional institutions to enhance WASH in schools and health-care facilities, improve monitoring systems, and support policy and standards development. It has also facilitated regional learning and knowledge exchange, built country capacities on emergency preparedness and response, and supported evidence generation, programme design, and resource mobilization for WASH investments in both development and humanitarian settings.
As part of the organisational transition toward the new Centres of Excellence (CoE) model, regional WASH functions previously situated within the ECA Regional Office are being realigned. This change reflects a broader restructuring to streamline technical support mechanisms and consolidate expertise within the CoE platform. During this period, core WASH responsibilities and engagements continue across the region, requiring interim support to maintain ongoing and pending pieces of work to facilitate smooth transition.
Purpose of Assignment:
The purpose of the assignment is to support the Regional Emergency Adviser (REA) in finalizing outstanding regional WASH workstreams and ensure structured transfer of WASH knowledge and programme assets to the Centres of Excellence (CoEs). The assignment will ensure structured handover of documentation, tools, and programme materials, and preparedness for WASH functions to be fully absorbed by the CoEs.
To support the completion and orderly transition of key regional WASH workstreams following the end of the current staffing cycle. The consultant will support the Regional Adviser finalizing pending deliverables, advise on ongoing regional initiatives such as completion of RO-CO multi country projects (ACT-Initiative, ADB TA), annual reporting contributions, and transfer of WASH knowledge management assets to the Centres of Excellence (CoEs). The assignment will ensure structured handover of documentation, tools, and programme materials, and preparedness for WASH functions to be fully absorbed by the CoEs.
Objective:
The purpose is to support the Regional Emergency Adviser (REA) in finalizing outstanding regional WASH workstreams and ensure structured transfer of WASH knowledge and programme assets to the Centres of Excellence (CoEs).
How can you make a difference?ย
Scope of Work:
The consultant will:
Provide WASH technical expertise to Country Offices in the Europe and Central Asia region during the transition period Support completion of annual and donor reporting inputs Coordinate and submit WASH contributions to regional and corporate reporting platforms (e.g., ROAR, HAC reporting inputs, other relevant reporting streams) Consolidate and transfer WASH knowledge assets Organize WASH documentation, guidance notes, tools, SOPs, regional files, and dashboards Finalize and transfer WASH SharePoint folders/archives Ensure WASH knowledge products are indexed and accessible for CoEs Prepare structured handover package Handover note summarizing WASH activities, tools, processes, partnerships & files Mapping of key WASH programmes, learning, and knowledge assets Recommendations for continuity in priority areas Facilitate handover & knowledge transfer Provide briefings and transition notes to CoEs and internal colleagues Organize virtual handover session(s) with relevant teams Support the Regional Adviser in maintaining light coordination with key regional WASH stakeholders during handover (e.g., WHO, IFRC, WASH Cluster partners) โ limited to matters strictly necessary for closure / continuity of institutional memoryWork Assignment Overview
Tasks / Milestones
Deliverables / Outputs
Timeline
ย
Paymentย
Provide WASH technical expertise to Country Offices in the Europe and Central Asia region during the transition period
Calls organized and facilitated with relevant partners (4 days/ month) Monthly report outlining issues addressed, recommendations and bottlenecks identified (2 days/month)Week 1- 8
12 days
20 %
Support completion of annual and donor reporting inputs
ECARO WASH reporting contributions submitted ( 2 days) Review of 22 COAR finalized ( 10 days)Weeks 1-7
12 days
20%
Consolidate and transfer WASH knowledge assets
Weeks 3-10
12 days
20%
Prepare structured handover package
Mapping of ongoing WASH functions, responsibilities, and stakeholders Transition schedule and agreed next steps with CoEs and ECARO 10 Weekly coordination meetings with new focal points organized and facilitatedWeeks 3-13
15 days
25%
Facilitate handover & knowledge transfer
Consolidated handover pack (contacts, files, deadlines, risks, priorities) Final briefing and transition meeting with the Regional Advisor and CoE organized and facilitated Completion notes and recommendations on sustaining WASH support post-transitionWeeks 13-14
9 days
15%
ยEstimated Duration of the Contract
60 working days between January 2026 and March 2026
Consultant's Work Place and Official Travel
The Consultant will be home-based with no travels foreseen.ย The consultant must be available during Europe and Central Asia Region (ECAR) working hours (GMT+3 to GMT+6) to coordinate across regional and country offices.
Estimated Cost of the Consultancy & Payment Schedule
Payment will be made on submission of an invoice and satisfactory completion of the above-mentioned deliverables.ย UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs are incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines. All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNICEF and UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future.
Please submit a professional fee (in USD) based on 60 working days to undertake this assignment.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will haveโฆย
Minimum requirements:
Education:ย Advanced university degree in public health, water and sanitation engineering, environmental sciences, or related fields. Work Experience:ย Minimum eight (8) years of progressively responsible professional experience in WASH programming, across both development and emergency contexts. Experience in WASH systems strengthening, WASH in institutions (e.g., schools and health care facilities), and climate-resilient / DRR-sensitive WASH. Experience and familiarity of working in the Europe and Central Asia Region (ECAR) or comparable regional context. Experience supporting regional roles, multi-country portfolios, and organizational transition processes. Familiarity with inter-agency humanitarian coordination mechanisms and emergency preparedness. Technical Competencies:ย Strong understanding of WASH programme design, monitoring, reporting, and sector coordination. Demonstrated capability to coordinate across sectors and work with governments and development partners. Familiarity with UNICEF programme procedures, tools, and systems is required. Language: Fluency in English (written and verbal). Other: Strong analytical, communication, and writing skills Ability to work independently, handle multiple priorities, and meet deadlines. Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate with diverse teams.Desirables:
Experience facilitating virtual learning and cross-country knowledge exchange Knowledge of Russian or another regional language.For every Child, you demonstrateโฆ
UNICEFโs core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS), and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.
To view our competency framework, please visitย here.
UNICEF is here to serve the worldโs most marginalized children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family 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 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.
Remarks:
Please submit a full CV, aย Cover Letter, and at least two (2) recent writing samples (URL or as attachments)ย in your application. Additionally, indicate your availability and professional fee (in USD) to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without a professional fee will not be considered.ย Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered โstaff membersโ under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEFโs policies and procedures and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.
The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.
UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.