WASH Officer

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 from early childhood through adolescence. The organization is committed to promoting the rights of every child, emphasizing equity and the needs of the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families. UNICEF is dedicated to building careers and offers diverse opportunities for professional and personal development, fostering a culture of belonging and growth, and providing an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Job Overview:
The WASH Officer will play a crucial role in providing professional technical, operational, and administrative assistance throughout the WASH programming process. This includes applying theoretical and practical technical skills in researching, collecting, analyzing, and presenting program information. The officer will support the development, implementation, and monitoring of WASH output results of the Country Programme, contributing to improved child survival, growth, and development while reducing inequalities in Cuba. The position requires collaboration with colleagues and partners to ensure effective program management and delivery of results, as well as technical and operational support for program implementation, humanitarian WASH preparedness, and response, and building partnerships with stakeholders.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Programme Development and Planning: Research and analyze regional/national political, WASH, health, and social and economic development trends. Collect, analyze, verify, and synthesize information to facilitate program development and preparation. Prepare technical reports and inputs for program documentation, ensuring accuracy and relevance. Assist in establishing WASH-related outcome and output results and strategies based on sector needs. Provide technical and administrative support throughout programming processes, ensuring compliance with organizational processes.
• Programme Management, Monitoring, and Delivery of Results: Collaborate with colleagues and partners to collect and analyze information on implementation issues, suggesting solutions and alerting stakeholders for higher-level interventions. Maintain records of reports and assessments for reference and institutional learning. Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, preparing reports for follow-up actions by management.
• Technical and Operational Support for Programme Implementation: Conduct field visits and surveys, sharing reports with partners. Provide technical support to government counterparts and partners on UNICEF policies and best practices in WASH.
• Humanitarian WASH Preparedness and Response: Draft inputs for WASH emergency preparedness, including supplies and services. Understand UNICEF’s emergency response procedures and support roles in emergencies.
• Networking and Partnership Building: Build partnerships with government counterparts and stakeholders, sharing information to facilitate program implementation. Draft communication materials for WASH advocacy and participate in inter-agency meetings to collaborate on WASH programming.
• Innovation, Knowledge Management, and Capacity Building: Assist in developing and documenting WASH action research and innovation. Prepare learning products to support sector development and create learning opportunities for UNICEF WASH staff.

Required Qualifications:
A university degree in public health, social sciences, behavior change communication, sanitary/hydraulic engineering, or another relevant technical field is required. Advanced university degrees or post-graduate courses that complement the main degree are considered a strong asset. Candidates should have a basic knowledge of four of the eight components related to WASH, including rural and urban water supply and sanitation, handwashing, WASH-in-Schools, menstrual hygiene management, and national government WASH policies. Knowledge of humanitarian WASH preparedness and response is also essential.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a university degree in a relevant field such as public health, social sciences, behavior change communication, or sanitary/hydraulic engineering. Advanced degrees or additional qualifications that complement the main degree are advantageous.

Experience:
At least 1 year of relevant work experience in WASH-related programs for developing countries is required. Experience in development, fragile settings, and humanitarian contexts is desirable, along with a basic understanding of program/project management, capacity development, knowledge management, and monitoring and evaluation.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of additional languages is considered an asset, particularly in the context of working with diverse communities and stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The position is full-time and may involve international recruitment. UNICEF offers a wide range of benefits, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. The organization promotes a zero-tolerance policy on conduct incompatible with its aims, including discrimination and abuse. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous background checks, and appointments are subject to medical clearance and compliance with vaccination requirements.