Deadline 25 May 2021: For every child, WASH Access:  While a Peace Agreement was signed between the Government and 14 armed groups in February 2019, one in four Central Africans has been forcibly displaced by violence. Half of the CAR population remains in need of humanitarian assistance and protection, more than half of whom are children. CAR ranks 188th out of 189 countries in the United Nations Human Development Index. CAR has the second-highest newborn death rate in the world, and malnutrition is intensifying.

The coverage for water and sanitation services is extremely low. Those conditions increase the public health risk, especially for children under five, and the spread of waterborne diseases. In 2019, several episodes of bloody diarrhea and an outbreak of hepatitis E were recorded. In addition, this situation is increasing cross-border contagion risks of the Ebola virus disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and cholera in Cameroon.

Despite persistent insecurity and funding gap, UNICEF is providing emergency water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services and household supplies to the most vulnerable children and families. In 2020, UNICEF and partners provided 147,685 crisis-affected people with access to clean water, and 40,441 with sanitation facilities.

In addition, the COVID 19 global covid pandemic has not spared the Central African Republic. A Coronavirus Response Plan has been developed and adopted by the CAR government. The plan is articulated into 7 pillars which are: surveillance and laboratory, Logistics, Case management, Communication, Community mobilization, Population movement and Scientific research. UNICEF is actively involved in supporting the government on coordination, logistics, infection prevention and control, communication and community engagement.

Job Details

Job title: WASH Cluster Coordinator, P3 – Fixed-Term, Unicef Bangui, CAR

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, WASH Access:  While a Peace Agreement was signed between the Government and 14 armed groups in February 2019, one in four Central Africans has been forcibly displaced by violence. Half of the CAR population remains in need of humanitarian assistance and protection, more than half of whom are children. CAR ranks 188th out of 189 countries in the United Nations Human Development Index. CAR has the second-highest newborn death rate in the world, and malnutrition is intensifying.

The coverage for water and sanitation services is extremely low. Those conditions increase the public health risk, especially for children under five, and the spread of waterborne diseases. In 2019, several episodes of bloody diarrhea and an outbreak of hepatitis E were recorded. In addition, this situation is increasing cross-border contagion risks of the Ebola virus disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and cholera in Cameroon.

Despite persistent insecurity and funding gap, UNICEF is providing emergency water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services and household supplies to the most vulnerable children and families. In 2020, UNICEF and partners provided 147,685 crisis-affected people with access to clean water, and 40,441 with sanitation facilities.

In addition, the COVID 19 global covid pandemic has not spared the Central African Republic. A Coronavirus Response Plan has been developed and adopted by the CAR government. The plan is articulated into 7 pillars which are: surveillance and laboratory, Logistics, Case management, Communication, Community mobilization, Population movement and Scientific research. UNICEF is actively involved in supporting the government on coordination, logistics, infection prevention and control, communication and community engagement.

Purpose of the post

UNICEF is the Cluster Lead Agency for the WASH Cluster. On behalf of UNICEF, and in support of the Government, the purpose of this post is to provide leadership and facilitate the processes that will ensure a well-coordinated, strategic, adequate, coherent, and effective response by participants at country level for the WASH sector.

Responsibilities

The post holder has joint responsibility with the Cluster Lead Agency, resourcing partners and all cluster participants at the national and sub-national level for the efficient management and functioning of the WASH Area of Responsibility encompassing the following:

• Provide leadership, guidance, and direction for the WASH Cluster
• Establish and maintain an appropriate humanitarian coordination mechanism;
• Strengthen pre-existing sectoral coordination through increased predictability and accountability;
• Build complementarity of partner actions: avoiding duplication and gaps;
• Ensure adequate resources are mobilized and are equitably allocated for the effective functioning of the cluster and its response;
• Effective and comprehensive integration of relevant cross-cutting issues, including age, gender, environment and HIV/AIDs;
• Maintain flexibility within the cluster to respond to changes in the operating environment, evolving requirements, capacities and participation;
• Effectively use and transfer information to, from and between cluster participants and other stakeholders;
• Interact with other clusters (including through inter-cluster coordination fora), humanitarian actors, government counterparts, and relevant authorities for operational planning, engagement and active contribution of operational partners;
• Be accountable to the affected population through effective and inclusive consultative and feedback mechanisms.
• Monitor performance of the core cluster functions.
• Ensure effective communication, reporting, engagement and coordination between national and  sub-national clusters.
• Managing Information management staff

Accountabilities, Duties and Tasks  

The WASH Cluster Coordinator holds primary responsibility leading development of cluster goals and objectives and the development of strategies and innovative approaches.

The post holder is accountable to:

• Participants of the country led cluster, who will in turn ensure that they deliver on their agreed minimum commitments (see IASC Reference Module for Cluster Coordination at the Country Level, November 2012)
• Inter-cluster coordination bodies established by the HCT/UNOCHA
• Affected populations through agreed mechanisms
• The WASH Working Group Coordinator is accountable by the UNICEF Representative in country and will be managed by the Representative or other delegated manager as appropriate.

Core Cluster Functions

Supporting service delivery

• Provide a platform to ensure that service delivery is driven by the agreed strategic priorities
• Develop mechanisms to eliminate duplication of service delivery

Informing strategic decision-making of the HC/HCT for the humanitarian response

• Needs assessment and gap analysis (across other sectors and within the sector)
• Analysis to identify and address (emerging) gaps, obstacles, duplication, and cross-cutting issues.
• Prioritization, grounded in response analysis

Planning and strategy development

• Develop sectoral plans, objectives and indicators directly support realization of the HC/HCT strategic priorities
• Application and adherence to existing standards and guidelines
• Clarify funding requirements, prioritization, and cluster contributions to HC’s overall humanitarian funding considerations (Flash Appeal, CAP, ERF/CHF, CERF)

Advocacy

• Identify advocacy concerns to contribute to HC and HCT messaging  and action
• Undertaking advocacy activities on behalf of cluster participants and the affected population
• Monitoring and reporting the implementation of the cluster strategy and results; recommending corrective action where necessary
• Contingency planning/preparedness for recurrent disasters whenever feasible and relevant.

Accountability to affected populations

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: public health, social sciences, behavior change communication, sanitary engineering or another relevant technical field
• Additional relevant post-graduate courses that complement/supplement the main degree are a strong asset
• Extensive work experience relevant to this post may be considered as a replacement for formal qualifications.
  Formal training in cluster coordination is an advantage.

Work experience

• At least 5 years progressively responsible humanitarian work experience with UN and/or NGO, including programme management and/or coordination in the first phase of a major emergency response relevant to the cluster
• Extensive work experience outside the humanitarian sector which is relevant to this post may be considered as a replacement for humanitarian experience

Language requirements

• Fluency in French and English is required.  Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

Core competencies

• Understands the rationale behind Humanitarian Reform, its main components and recent developments including the Transformative Agenda.
• Understands, uses, and adapts the tools, mechanisms, and processes developed as part of Humanitarian Reform
• Demonstrates commitment to Humanitarian Principles: https://docs.unocha.org/sites/dms/Documents/OOM-humanitarianprinciples_eng_June12.pdf
• Demonstrates commitment to Principles of Partnership: http://www.globalhumanitarianplatform.org/doc00003804.doc
• Communicates, works, and networks effectively with a wide range of people to reach broad consensus on a well-coordinated response, and demonstrates leadership where required
• Thinks and acts strategically and ensures that cluster activities are prioritised and aligned within an agreed strategy
• Demonstrates commitment to the cluster and independence from employing organisation
• Builds, motivates, and leads the cluster coordination team
• Successful track-record in presenting complex issues to various stake holders effectively, sensitively, and within professional poise

Functional Competencies:

• Formulating strategies and concepts (II)
• Analyzing (II)
• Applying technical expertise (II)
• Learning and researching (II)
• Planning and organizing (II)

Professional Skills:

• Ability to build trust, develop, and maintain effective working relationships with respect for diversity
• Commitment to the UNICEF’s values and guiding principles
• Communicates effectively including: tailoring languages, tone, style, and format to match audiences; actively listens to perspectives of stakeholders and team members; interpreting messages and respond appropriately; speaking and writing clearly and efficient; and makes presentations in public with confidence
• Conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines, and achieving results
• Fosters innovation and empowers management
• Excellent oral and written communications skills, as well as analytical skills, with an exemplary ability to identify problems and propose solutions
• Strategic thinking and decision-making skills, with a commitment to excellence
• Strong interpersonal, team work, and self-management skills, as well as mature judgment
• Ability to perform under pressure while maintaining a sense of humor

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Apply through the link below: unicef – WASH Cluster Coordinator, P3 – Fixed-Term, Unicef Bangui, CAR

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Berinyuy Cajetan, Publisher

Berinyuy Cajetan is the founder and publisher of Human Rights and Legal Research Centre (HRLRC) since 2017. He has intensive experience in strategic communications for Civil Society Organizations, campaign and advocacy, and social issues. He has an intensive experiencing in human rights monitoring, documentation and reporting.