BACKGROUND
In 2010,
the High Commissioner emphasized WASH interventions as one of his priorities
and requested that a three-year WASH strategy be developed to ensure that all
persons of concern are assured the basic right to water and sanitation
facilities to reduce morbidity and mortality and enhance their safety, dignity
and quality of life. The Africa bureau made WASH one of its entrenched
priorities. Based on this observation and additional analyses carried out in
2010, the High Commissioner allocated 25 million
USD in 2011 to WASH in
addition to existing country budgets; 11 countries benefited from this
allocation. The aim was to provide the required resource to improve the WASH
situation and as much as possible meet UNHCR’s WASH standards. To ensure this
major investment is sustained and maintained for the following years, it was
decided to enhance UNHCR WASH capacity by hiring an additional 24 WASH
positions in 16 countries, some of those positions will be Regional and at
country level.
MAIN
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The
incumbent holds a professional management position responsible for provision of
expert technical support and advice as well as strategic planning and policy
making on activities within the areas of WASH and related technical sectors as
an integral part of UNHCR programmes.
A.
Strategy and Policy:
1. Support
the implementation of UNHCR’s Strategic Plan for WASH 2011-13.
2. Adapt
internationally accepted standards, policies, and guidelines for WASH
accordingly to the unique situation of UNHCR’s persons of concern and the
country context.
3.
Represent UNHCR in relevant meetings and conferences when requested.
B.
Advocacy:
1.
Advocate on all issues relating to WASH and refugees and other persons of
concern to UNHCR both within and outside of UNHCR.
2. Work
with others in UNHCR to advocate for access to refugees and other persons of
concern to WASH services in national and regional plans and proposals.
C.
Technical Assistance:
1.
Consolidate and provide technical guidance and support to partners on all WASH-related
issues to ensure quality, cost-effectiveness, sustainability and environmental
soundness in their implementation.
2. Act as
a focal point on water, sanitation and hygiene promotion issues within UNHCR
and liaise with UN related agencies and governmental and nongovernmental
counterparts.
3. Review
performance, monitor development and evaluate approaches adopted by partners in
WASH and related sectors (e.g. natural resources management, environment
assessment) and formulate appropriate designs and corrective measures as deemed
necessary.
4. Review
on a regular basis the quantity and quality of water and sanitation services
offered in the camps and host communities and ensure the maintenance of records
of water, sanitation and hygiene promotion performance indicators for all
locations.
5. Put measures in place to ensure that
regular and accurate reports that analyse the challenges encountered in
providing water, sanitation and hygiene promotion services for beneficiaries
are prepared and circulated and that periodic reports required by UNHCR at all
levels are submitted in a timely manner.
D.
Capacity Building:
1.
Facilitate capacity strengthening activities of UNHCR and its
implementing/operational partners to address key areas of WASH importance to refugees
and other persons of concern to UNHCR.
2. Build
the capacity and competence of UNHCR’s Public Health and WASH staff.
3. Ensure
WASH is adequately addressed in in-house capacity building activities of the
agency such as emergency and operations training.
E.
Emergency response
1. Being
deployed for the first emergency response, to carry out needs assessment and
support the country to develop a WASH strategic plan of response.
MINIMUM
QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED Academic:
ESSENTIAL
Advanced
university degree in water and sanitation engineering/water resources
development or postgraduate degree in one of the civil engineering disciplines
(water supply and/or hydrology) or sanitation/hygiene engineering.
Experience:
• Five to
eight years progressively responsible functions in water/sanitary engineering
or a related field in developing countries dealing with large scale
water/sanitary activities. Of the 8 years, at least 3 years experience should
be in a capacity directly relevant to the current position in an international
humanitarian organization dealing with large scale emergencies or
displaced/refugee situations.
• Proven
ability to deal with multiple tasks in a courteous and service-oriented manner
in a demanding working condition that often has short deadlines.
• Ability to coordinate a range of diverse
actors and activities to achieve a common objective in the area of WASH is
essential.
•
Demonstrated experiences in organising and conducting training activities and
information campaign in the areas of environmental sanitation, natural
resources management, water quality, bore-hole drilling, vector control and
appropriate technologies are other important elements for this post.
• Proven
technical expertise in the area of WASH assessment including survey, programme
implementation, monitoring and coordination is required.
• Exposure
to UNHCR mandate, its priorities and principles.
•
Knowledge and experience of working with local partner agencies with a capacity
to provide formal and informal training.
Skills:
• Ability
towards analytical and creative thinking for rapid solutions.
• Good
communicator with strong interpersonal and negotiations skills to deal with
persons of various cultural and educational backgrounds.
• Strive
to live up to high ethical and professional standards.
• A team
player with service oriented attitudes.
•
Proficiency in basic computer software such as MS Access, excel, powerpoint,
word, water modelling sofware, GIS.
Languages:
Excellent
knowledge of English (written / oral / comprehension) is essential. Working
knowledge of another UN language (preferably French or Arabic).
DESIRABLE
•
Experience and professional training in irrigation, site planning, or shelter
with a good understanding of the main issues in the other two sectors. To this
end, an advanced degree and additional training in one or more of the above
sectors would be useful.
• Applied
knowledge in UNHCR programme management, project formulation, its programme
cycles and reporting standards.
• Previous
exposure to cluster approach, preferably both at the global policy level and at
field implementation approach.
•
Expertise in planning, formulation, implementation, monitoring and reporting on
humanitarian operations.
•
Proficiency in the languages spoken in the region.
Duration
We would
like the person to start on the 1st of March (latest) until 31st of December
2012 with possibility of extension.
apply:
Interested
candidates can send their CV and/or P11s to the following email address: porteaud@unhcr.org , quoting: WASH officer
(Liberia) until the 22nd January 2012 included
