UNHCR WASH Officer

BACKGROUND

Due to recent emergencies, UNHCR is looking for WASH officers in SEVERAL locations (Mauritania, Niger, Lebanon and Ethiopia) to hold 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.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

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

Academic:
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 or French (written / oral / comprehension) is essential. Working knowledge of another UN language (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 as soon as possible for 3- 6 months with possibility of extension

How to apply:

Interested candidates can send their CV and/or P11s to the following email address: porteaud@unhcr.org , quoting: WASH officer