Senior Regional WASH Officer, Nairobi

Senior Regional WASH Officer, NairobiClosing Date: Thursday, 26 April 2012

Duties and Qualifications
Senior Regional WASH Officer Location: Nairobi, RSH, Kenya
Salary Grade: P4

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT:

In order to ensure wider reach out to the refugees and ensure their close involvement in the delivery and management of the Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) services, the incumbent will need to establish an appropriate consultative and monitoring framework which would draw the experience and expertise of a wide range of actors both internally and externally.

The Senior Regional WASH officer will be responsible for provision of professional technical support and guidance on activities within the areas of WASH. Furthermore, the incumbent is required to play a lead role in formulating appropriate project proposals and assistance activities that should be incorporated into the relevant country programmes of UNHCR.

The Senior Regional WASH Officer will work under the technical supervision of the Senior WASH Officer in PHHIV at Headquarters and the line supervision of the Head of UNHCR Regional or Country office. The incumbent will coordinate her/his activities with other sector technicians in the region. The objective, work plan, and the priorities of WASH interventions will be jointly formulated by the field, bureau and PHHIV section.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT:

Accountability: - WASH services provided to refugee and others persons of concern to UNHCR are based on UNHCR country and /or internationally recognised and most up-to date standards and policies. - Sound technical support and advice are provided to country operation in the field of WASH. - There is viable monitoring and evaluation system in place for data collection, analysis and interpretation to serve as evidence base for planning and interventions.

Responsibility: - Ensure that national and/or internationally accepted and relevant standards and policies are applied and adapted in close coordination with the host country, relevant UN agencies and partners in order to guide the provision of essential health services (preventative and curative). - Facilitate regional and country-level coordination of WASH actors so that WASH programme planning and implementation is streamlined, resources are optimally utilised, and there is active participation of the Government, implementing and operational partners, refugees and other persons of concern as well as sister UN agencies. Effective coordination will identify gaps and overlaps in programming, address unmet needs, and orient existing activities to address priority public health issues. - Support WASH focal point to take lead role in coordinating WASH activities and promote7be involved in WASH cluster coordination at regional level and assess potential collaboration with UNICEF, UNHabitat on defined areas. - Work closely with UNHCR programme, field and protection staff to identify priority WASH and key data requirements for programme planning and monitoring to ensure that minimum UNHCR and international standards are being met according to the phrase of emergency. - Undertake needs and resources assessments with Governments and partners in order to prioritize needs and activities in provision of services to refugees and other persons of concern of UNHCR. - Support WASH focal points to participate in review and analysis of relevant project proposals and budgetary submissions presented by UNHCR partners within context of UNHCR programme cycle. - Guide and assist in preparation of engineering calculations leading to detailed drawings for required WASH infrastructures and activities with associated cost estimates for existing and new camps/settlements, transit centers, receptions centers, border exit stations. - Monitor and evaluate country-level WASH programmes against standard UNHCR and international indicators to ensure that programmes are evidence-based and implemented in a comprehensive and cost-effective manner. - Monitor technical and financial aspects of WASH programmes and provide technical guidelines and advice to UNHCR, other UN agencies and implementing partners in their activities related to WASH in refugee situations. - Support capacity building initiatives so that refugees and other persons of concern to UNHCR and its partners acquire the needed knowledge, skills, and sense of responsibility and ownership of programmes. Support WASH focal points and coordinators to develop training plan, organize and act as resource persons in workshops and training both in-service (formal) and on the job (coaching). - Emergency response: Able to be deployed for the first phase emergency response (for a maximum of one month), to carry out needs assessment and support the country to develop a WASH strategic plan of response. - Liaise and coordinate with WASH Senior officer in HQs on technical activities related to the operation. - Any other responsibilities/functions deemed necessary or as delegated by the Head of the Office/Chief of Section to meet the level of the services in the organization.

Authority : - Enforce UNHCR¿s strategies and guidelines in the field of WASH - Provide guidance and recommendations on WASH programmes in the country and region. - Represent UNHCR¿s in WASH meetings as well as in technical monitoring of activities.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Advance University degree in Civil Engineering, Public Health Engineering, or Environmental Studies, Hydrology or Water Resources Development.Minimum 10 years of progressively relevant professional working experience in WASH related activities. At least 3 years of this experience should be with an international humanitarian organization dealing with large scale emergencies or displaced/refugee situations and, should be directly relevant to the current position.Ability to coordinate a range of diverse actors and activities to achieve a common objective in the area of WASH is essential.Demonstrated experience in organising and conducting training activities and information campaigns in the WASH related issues.Proven technical expertise in area of WASH assessment including surveys, programme implementation, monitoring and evaluation, 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.Proficiency in basic computer software such as MS Access, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, water modelling software, GIS.Excellent knowledge of English and French (written/ oral/ comprehension).

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES:

Experience and professional training in one of 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, programme cycles and reporting standards.Previous exposure to cluster approach, preferably both at the global policy level and at field level.Expertise in planning, formulation, implementation, monitoring and reporting on humanitarian operations.Working knowledge of another relevant UN language.Proficiency in the languages spoken in the region

For application goes to the UNHCR website http://www.unhcr.org/pages/4dca99626.html "International Professional Staff Vacancies"

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