Consultant for Groundwater Exploration & Mapping (GEMs)

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1946, operates in over 190 countries and territories with a mission to save children's lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. The organization is committed to promoting the rights of every child and offers diverse opportunities for professional and personal development. UNICEF has a workforce that reflects the diversity of the children it serves and is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for all employees.

Job Overview:
The position involves working with the Sustainable WASH Innovation Hub in Copenhagen, which focuses on sourcing, piloting, and scaling innovative solutions to address water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) challenges exacerbated by climate change. The consultant will be responsible for outlining a structured scaling pathway for groundwater exploration and mapping initiatives, building on the More Water More Life (MWML) program. This role requires a strategic approach to expand proven innovations to reach larger populations and achieve sustainable impacts over time. The consultant will compile and analyze implementation experiences, develop methodologies, and identify key lessons and opportunities for scaling groundwater resource development.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Compile and analyze MWML implementation experiences, methodologies, tools, and outcomes from key countries to inform the scaling approach.
• Develop a methodological approach for identifying best practices in groundwater mapping and planning.
• Outline evidence gaps and future trends, including the role of AI in scaling initiatives.
• Create criteria for selecting priority countries for scaling groundwater exploration and mapping.
• Assess enabling environment needs for successful scaling, including policy and institutional readiness.
• Identify key lessons, gaps, challenges, and opportunities related to groundwater resource development.
• Engage with key actors in groundwater development to map best practices and common needs.
• Propose institutional, technical, and financing mechanisms for sustainable groundwater development.
• Provide a clear implementation roadmap and capacity development plan for governments and partners. 1
• Identify necessary resources for facilitating the uptake of solutions in new contexts.

Required Qualifications:

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Innovation management, Water Engineering, Hydrogeology, or a relevant field.
• A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• A minimum of 8 years of relevant professional experience in technical project management in water.
• Demonstrable experience in strategy development, knowledge management, and strategic planning to scale projects.
• Experience in project and contract management, particularly with government actors.
• Proven ability to drive projects in development settings with strong stakeholder engagement.
• Knowledge of models for scaling innovation within development contexts and relevant experience in other contexts.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in fields such as Innovation management, Water Engineering, Hydrogeology, or other relevant disciplines. Alternatively, a first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 8 years of relevant professional experience in technical project management related to water. Candidates should have demonstrable experience in strategy development, knowledge management, and strategic planning to scale projects, as well as experience in project and contract management, particularly in collaboration with government actors. Experience in driving projects in development settings with strong stakeholder engagement processes is essential, along with familiarity with both private sector and development actors in strategic project development and scaling of proven programs, innovations, systems, or policies.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) or a local language is considered an asset. This additional language proficiency can enhance communication and collaboration in diverse contexts, particularly in development and humanitarian settings.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is intended for an individual and will involve travel to various countries, including Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, Angola, and Djibouti, for one week each. Travel costs must be included in the financial proposal, which should cover economy class fares and daily subsistence allowances. Payment for professional fees will be based on the submission of agreed deliverables, and UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment if the deliverables do not meet the required standards. Consultants are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any applicable taxes. The position is not considered a staff member under UNICEF regulations, and consultants will not be entitled to benefits provided to staff members.