General Background

(Brief description of the national, sector-specific or other relevant context in which the individual contractor will operate)

The incumbent will work under direct supervision of Program Officer and overall guidance of the Head of Sub Office in Jigjiga, Somali region with regular technical support from and consultation with WASH Officers at country and regional level. S/he is the focal point for the UNICEF-UNHCR Regional WASH Program for Refugees, IDPs and Host Communities in East Africa (R-WASH). S/he will ensure close follow-up, implementation, monitoring, supervision, and coordination of all activities related to the R-WASH utility program and existing WASH activities at Awbarre, Sheder and Kebribeyah, in accordance with the UNHCR WASH manual, technical guidelines, and applicable UNHCR and/or national standards and the Sustainable Development Goal targets.

The incumbent will coordinate closely with the UNHCR WASH Officer in Addis Ababa as well as with UNICEF WASH colleagues in Jigjiga, and in close communication link with the UNHCR Senior Regional WASH Officer in Nairobi when required. The position requires close collaboration with government and contractors and frequent sharing of information with all relevant parties. The internal contacts are with other colleagues in the field, in particular working with camp management, site planning/shelter, health, nutrition, education, protection, livelihoods, CRRF, and community services sectors. S/he will maintain active technical link with UNHCR WASH Officer Addis Ababa.

S/he will closely work with staff from UNICEF, Operational and Implementing Partner's Organizations, Government authorities including ARRA & Somali Regional Water Bureau (RWB), Utility staff, private sector, local leaders and all other relevant stakeholders to discuss and share information on the issues related to WASH in refugee camps and the surrounding communities. UNHCR Manual & technical guidelines, program objectives, Operations Plans, UN and UNHCR financial/budgetary rules and regulations will guide the work of the Associate WASH Officer. S/he is also expected to stay abreast of the challenges in the region posed by the political context; conflict; seasonal environmental hazard including drought, floods, disease outbreaks; the UN and humanitarian reform and institutional developments.

Purpose and Scope of Assignment

• (Concise and detailed description of activities, tasks and responsibilities to be undertaken, including expected travel, if applicable)

Leadership and Coordination

• Lead the implementation, follow-up and supervision of all activities related to the R-WASH utility program to persons of concern in order to meet the UNHCR standards of assistance in the designated locations.
• Ensure regular and effective coordination with all actors from user groups and UNICEF, to contractors, NGOs and utility staff, local authorities and government line ministries.
• Participate and represent UNHCR and R-WASH in meetings, forums, workshops, and visits with all actors involved with the R-WASH project and existing projects linked to R-WASH.
• Liaise between UNICEF, Government authorities, user groups, and all actors involved in the R-WASH project from refugee, IDP & host community leaders and water user groups, to contractors, UN agencies, NGOs, and technical working groups etc.

WASH Strategy, Planning, and Program Support

• Contribute to the budgeting and planning processes and financial management of the program in the area of WASH.
• Formulate project submissions including budget to respond to identified needs in collaboration with appropriate authorities, implementing partners and UNHCR program and technical sectors.
• Advise on the strategic development of WASH aspects of the R-WASH program.
• Jointly with the technical staff of the Partners, update detailed needs and resource assessments and revise designs of technical plans as necessary, taking into account practical aspects of implementation, and relevant technical specifications and guidelines.

Technical Assistance and Capacity Building

• Provide technical guidance and support to Partners on all water, sanitation, and hygiene promotion issues, to ensure quality, cost-effectiveness, sustainability and environmental soundness in their implantation and in accordance with UNHCR policies, standards and priorities.
• Share, seek and offer advice as a contribution to problem identification and solving where needs arise (technical, operational, conflict resolution, negotiation etc.).
• Trouble shooting and risk management: constantly observe and analyze potential problems and risks and to contribute to their mitigation (e.g. from natural hazards, social tensions, capacity issues, mismanagement etc).
• Monitoring, Evaluation and Quality Assurance
• Proactively monitor all aspects of the R-WASH project implementation (studies, construction, trainings, communications, materials, work sites etc.) and to flag deviations from schedules, specifications and planning. Work with the Sub Office Program Unit; monitor existing WASH projects in the 3 refugee camps (Kebribeyah, Sheder & Aw-Bare) that contribute to the overall R-WASH strategy.
• Ensure that mechanisms to monitor the performance of UNHCR's Partners on WASH activities in the refugee settlements / host community are in place.
• Actively follow up project implementation activities to help ensure quality control, transparency, accountability, including adhering to the code of conduct.
• Ensure that the WASH Monitoring System (WMS) data collection and reporting is carried out properly and timely with quality information.
• Review the quantity and quality of water offered in the settlements jointly with the partners, carry out an assessment on the quantities of water provided to refugees and related water losses.
• Ensure periodic and water quality testing and reporting with corrective action being widely communicated
• Review the WASH situation in the settlements and jointly with the partners carry out an assessment of the WASH service delivery in the settlements and their physical conditions based on UNHCR standards.
• Review the ongoing hygiene promotion activities and make any necessary recommendation for improvement.

Reporting, communication and documentation

• Report regularly on WASH activity implementation, while maintaining accurate records of the relevant WASH performance indicators.
• Maintain effective and transparent communication channels on all aspects of the R-WASH project with all interest groups.
• Contribute to accurate and timely reporting of R-WASH project implementation and of performance indicators. Ensure documentation is maintained and shared (messages, reports, analysis, correspondence, minutes etc). Share lessons throughout the project implementation.
• Regular exchange, consultation and feedback expected with UNHCR, UNICEF and all actors related to the R-WASH program.
• R-WASH Officer will be invited to join regional calls to share lessons and contribute to the technical discussions.

Authority

• Provide inputs for the country operations plan, as well as prepare inputs for funding submissions, appeals and reports related to R-WASH.
• Ensure compliance with UNHCR¿s global strategies, protocols and guidelines in line with the R-WASH deliverables and outputs.

Monitoring and Progress Controls

• (Clear description of measurable outputs, milestones, key performance indicators and/or reporting requirements which will enable performance monitoring)
• UNHCR¿s policies, standards and procedures relating to WASH are appropriately and coherently applied in the area of responsibility.
• Implementation of WASH in targeted locations clearly documented, reported and shared.

Job Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

Years of Experience / Degree Level

• For NOB - 3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year relevant experience with Doctorate degree
• Bachelor of Water, Civil Engineering, Water Resources Development, Hydrogeology, Hydraulics or relevant field.

Key Competencies

• (Technical knowledge, skills, managerial competencies or other personal competencies relevant to the performance of the assignment. Clearly distinguish between required and desired competencies)
• Demonstrated technical experience in urban/small town water engineering including low income communities (Required).
• Demonstrated context knowledge and professional water sector experience working with the government in Ethiopia/Uganda/Somalia/or Sudan.
• Proven expertise in the area of WASH including surveys, program implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and coordination.
• Experience of working with refugees, internally displaced, and hosting communities (Required).
• Experience of risk assessment and management (Required).
• Knowledge and understanding of UNHCR/UN administrative and financial rules and regulations (Desired).
• Experience of engineering project management including procurement and coordination (Required).
• Demonstrated ability to resolve conflict, troubleshoot sources of tension, and to unite different interest groups (Required).
• Demonstrated ability to achieve results by constant monitoring and adapting project cycle to ongoing lessons learned (Required).
• Cultural and political sensitivity, and ability to communicate clearly to all audiences (Required).
• Excellent budgeting skills (Required).
• Proficiency in computer software such as MS Access, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, water modelling software (EPANET), GIS Software (MapInfo, Arc GIS), AutoCAD (Required).
• Good knowledge and understanding of WASH standards for emergencies and refugee camps including SPHERE and UNHCR Emergency Handbook technical guidelines and standards (Required)
• Knowledge and understanding of water and wastewater hydraulics and physical, chemical and biological properties; solid waste management practices, faecal sludge management, vector control, sanitation and hygiene promotion/awareness raising strategies (Required).
• Knowledge and understanding of relationship between water, wastewater, solid waste, human waste, vector control to public health indicators, and value of hygiene promotion/awareness raising (Required).
• Knowledge and understanding of risk-based monitoring and evaluation, multi-criteria analysis and project management and control (Required).
• Sound Knowledge of WASH and its impact on protection and other UNHCR sectors such as health and nutrition, education (Required).
• Experience in conducting WASH trainings (desired).
• Knowledge of English (written / oral / comprehension) is Required. Knowledge of the local language is added advantage.

Position Competencies

• Competencies as defined in Job Profile

Language Requirements

• Knowledge of English language is required.

How to Apply

Additional Information

Please note that UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, travelling, processing, training or any other fees).

An eliminatory or complementary written test for shortlisted candidates may be conducted which will be followed by competency-based interview.

Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Only Shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Applicants must be nationals of the country and be locally recruited within the country of their employment.

Closing Date

The closing date for submission of applications is on Tuesday 08 June 2021 (Mid- night Ethiopian time).

 Interested and qualified applicants can apply through the following link