WASH Officer (UNV)

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established by the United Nations General Assembly, is dedicated to advocating for the protection of children's rights and ensuring their basic needs are met. The organization operates globally, focusing on the most disadvantaged children and families, particularly in developing countries. UNICEF mobilizes resources and political will to support countries in forming appropriate policies and delivering essential services for children. The organization emphasizes the importance of equity, aiming to provide all children with the opportunity to survive, develop, and reach their full potential, free from discrimination. UNICEF's mission is to promote children's rights universally, responding to emergencies and working with partners to achieve sustainable human development goals.

Job Overview:
The WASH Officer (UNV) will be stationed in one of the hubs in western Jamaica, such as St. James or Saint Elizabeth. This role involves supporting the implementation and monitoring of UNICEF's emergency WASH interventions, ensuring equitable access to safe water supply, sanitation services, and hygiene promotion, particularly for vulnerable populations, including children. The WASH Officer will report administratively to the chief of the hub and technically to the WASH Officer for guidance and supervision. The position is crucial for coordinating the response to the humanitarian crisis caused by Hurricane Melissa, which has severely impacted health, education, and WASH systems in Jamaica. The WASH Officer will play a key role in assessing needs, coordinating with partners, and ensuring effective delivery of services to affected communities.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Implement and monitor UNICEF-supported WASH interventions through civil society and governmental partners, ensuring timely and effective service delivery.
• Conduct monitoring missions to assess the progress and quality of partner activities.
• Prepare technical reports and documentation, ensuring accuracy and relevance of information.
• Coordinate regular assessments of WASH needs in target communities and displacement areas, identifying gaps and proposing recommendations for adaptive programming.
• Support UNICEF's leadership in coordinating WASH actors at the field level, representing UNICEF in local forums and facilitating information flow between partners.
• Assist in designing and rolling out hygiene promotion initiatives tailored to local contexts, engaging vulnerable groups to ensure equitable access to services.
• Collect, analyze, and manage field data for timely reporting, documenting lessons learned and best practices from the WASH response.
• Draft communication materials for advocacy to promote awareness and support fundraising for WASH initiatives.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates should possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work collaboratively in a team environment. They should demonstrate self-awareness and ethical awareness, as well as the ability to build and maintain partnerships. The role requires innovative thinking and a strategic approach to achieving impactful results. Candidates must be able to manage ambiguity and complexity effectively, demonstrating a drive to achieve results that improve child survival and development.

Educational Background:
A degree in a relevant field such as public health, environmental science, social sciences, or a related discipline is required. Additional training or certifications in WASH-related areas would be advantageous. Candidates should have a solid understanding of the principles of humanitarian response and child rights.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least 1-2 years of relevant experience in WASH programming, emergency response, or related fields. Experience working with international organizations, NGOs, or government agencies in a humanitarian context is preferred. Familiarity with data collection and analysis, as well as monitoring and evaluation processes, is essential.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory. Knowledge of local languages spoken in Jamaica would be an asset, as it would facilitate communication with local communities and stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
This is a national UN Volunteer assignment, and the selected candidate will be responsible for arranging their own housing and living essentials. The position is full-time and may require flexibility in working hours to respond to the needs of the communities affected by the emergency.