Job Summary

The WASH Officer reports to the WASH Specialist who is at level 3 based in Area Office North at Atbara, River Nile State. The WASH Officer provides technical, operational and administrative assistance throughout the WASH programming process. The Officer prepares, manages and implements a variety of technical and administrative tasks, related to the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the WASH output results of the country programme which is focused on provision of lifesaving critical WASH services to the people affected by ongoing war and cholera outbreak.

Key Duties And Responsibilties

• Draft updates for WASH in the situation analysis, to inform the development of WASH-related outcome and output results. Research and report on trends in WASH, for use in programme development, management, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Prepare technical reports and inputs for programme preparation and documentation, ensuring accuracy, timeliness and relevance of information.
• Prepare required financial plan to implement the proposed activities as part of the overall planning process including preparation of shelf project and contingency partnership documents.
• Contribute to the development/establishment of WASH-related outcome and output results, as well as related strategies, through analysis of WASH sector needs and priorities.
• Provide technical and administrative support throughout all stages of programming processes by executing/administering a variety of technical programme transactions, preparing materials/documentations, complying with organizational processes and management systems, to support progress towards the WASH-related outcome and/or output results in the country programme.
• Prepare required documentations/materials to facilitate review and approval processes.

Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

• Work collaboratively with colleagues and partners to collect/analyze/ share information on implementation issues, provide solutions on routine programme implementation and alert appropriate officials and stakeholders for higher-level interventions and/or decisions. Keep records of reports and assessments for easy reference and/or to capture and institutionalize lessons learned.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sectoral reviews with government and other counterparts and prepare reports on results for required action/interventions at the higher level of programme management and coordinate with the country office on the same.
• Monitor and report on the use of sectoral programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets), verify compliance with approved allocations, organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity. Report on issues identified to enable timely resolution by management/stakeholders.
• Ensure utilization of allocated funds well before the expiry of the grants by putting in place a monitoring mechanism to track utilization status including close monitoring of open commitments.
• Prepare sectoral progress reports for management, donors and partners and timely share with the country office.

Technical and operational support for programme implementation

• Undertake field visits and surveys, collect and share reports with partners/stakeholders. Report critical issues, bottlenecks and potential problems to supervisor, for timely action.
• Provide technical and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and other country office partners/donors on the application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes and best practices in WASH, to support programme implementation.
• Conduct quality assurance activities both for construction related activities and utilization of the funds transferred to partners as per agreement/PDs including conducting programmatic visits and recording the same in the systems.
• Ensure corrective actions are taken by the implementing partner on the recommendations made during programmatic review, spot checks and other instruments.

Humanitarian WASH preparedness and response

• Implement UNICEF supported WASH response in the identified gathering points, camps, schools, health facilities and nutrition centre to ensure the affected population receive access to WASH services as per agreed timeframe.
• Draft requisitions for supplies, services, long-term agreements and partnership agreements, including contingency PCAs, to ensure UNICEF is prepared to deliver on its commitments for WASH in case of an emergency.
• Study and fully understand UNICEF’s procedures for responding in an emergency.
• Take up support roles in an emergency response and early recovery, as and when the need arises.

Networking and partnership building

• Build and sustain close working partnerships with government counterparts and national stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge to facilitate programme implementation and build capacity of stakeholders to achieve WASH output results.
• Draft communication and information materials including providing pictures and video clips for WASH programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and support fund-raising for WASH.
• Participate in inter-agency meetings on UNDAF planning, to integrate and harmonize UNICEF output results and implementation strategies with UNDAF development and planning processes.
• Ensure effective coordination of WASH cluster at the state level and local government level.
• Research information on potential donors and prepare resource mobilization materials and briefs for fund raising and partnership development purposes.

Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Assist in the development, implementation, monitoring and documentation of WASH action research and innovation (technical or systems).
• Assist in the preparation of learning/knowledge products, covering innovative approaches and good practices, to support overall WASH sector development.
• Assist in creating and delivering learning opportunities for UNICEF WASH staff, to ensure our sector capacity remains up-to-date with latest developments.
• Participate as a resource person in capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders.
• Draft background documents, papers, cases studies, and human-interest stories with infographics to support knowledge management.

Qualification, Skills And Experience

Education: A university degree in Civil/Sanitary/Environmental Engineering, Hydrogeology, Environmental Science or another relevant technical field is required.

Experience:  A minimum of two (2) years of professional work experience in WASH-related programmes for developing countries at sub-national or national level is required.

Language Requirements: Fluency in English and Arabic is required.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 24