Job Title: Emergency WASH specialist, temporary appointment (6 months), Nairobi
Closing Date: Monday, 21 May 2012
Background and Justification
The humanitarian situation in Kenya in 2011 was defined by the dual food security and refugee crises. Successive seasons of poor rainfall and rising food and fuel prices left 3.75 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. The food security and nutrition situation improved towards the end of the year due to above average rainfall in most of the Arid and Semi-Arid areas as well as the concerted scale up of humanitarian programmes by Government and partners. The recent Short Rains Assessment has indicated that 2.2 million people require urgent humanitarian assistance. Despite the improvement in the situation, the food security outlook is poor given anticipated poor rains between March-May 2012 especially for North and North Eastern Areas. UNICEF has scaled up its programmes in drought affected areas and will continue to focus on recovery and integration of Disaster Risk Reduction and preparedness for a resumption of humanitarian programming in drought affected areas.
Humanitarian WASH response in Kenya is challenging given the chronically high levels of vulnerability of populations in Arid and Semi-Arid areas, diversity of livelihoods including pastoral populations and increasingly pastoral 'drop outs' living in peri-urban areas, and low levels of access to safe water due to declining water table/depletion of ground water and poor sanitation and hygiene practices. The situation is further complicated by access challenges particularly in districts in North East Province due to insecurity, conflict and poor infrastructure. The reach of Government and NGO partners in these in these areas is limited.
Lessons Learned from the Humanitarian Response in 2011 point to a need to review and update the UNICEF strategy for humanitarian WASH programmes to ensure effective targeting of vulnerable populations, programme delivery that is sensitive to community needs and practices, and the full integration of Disaster Risk Reduction approaches into all programmes and the capacity for rapid scale up in response to deterioration of the situation.
Scope of Work
Under the direction of the Chief of WASH, working closely with staff of the WASH Section and in consultation with the Chief of Field Operations and Emergency, and external partners and stakeholders, develop an emergency WASH strategy for the Kenya Country Office that allows for effective preparedness and response to both slow and rapid onset emergencies and integrated Disaster Risk Reduction approaches. Once the strategy is developed, make recommendations as to Human Resource, financial, and technical requirements requires for its effective implementation.
AWP areas covered
IR 4: 1,000,000 vulnerable people in Emergency prone areas (mainly drought/floods/cholera affected areas) are timely provided with improved water, sanitation and hygiene services by 2012.
Expected Deliverables
a) Clear emergency response strategy for UNICEF WASH is developed including standard approaches and partnership analysis for both rapid onset (flood and conflict) and slow onset (drought). Preparedness actions to allow for effective programme scale up are put in place including clear linkages to other sectors particularly nutrition, standard designs and budgets, agreed assessment and monitoring tools, pre-positioned supplies, ToR for additional staff capacity, etc.
b) Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy for UNICEF WASH, which articulates how UNICEF will undertake long-term programming in Northern Kenya that systematically reduces disaster risk, enhances population resilience to repeated shocks, and addresses disparities is developed and implementation initiated.
c) Refinements of the existing monitoring and information management systems for UNICEF WASH are implemented to ensure that planning and targeting of emergency response is evidence-based and can be effectively measured.
d) Fund raising strategy for WASH DRR and Emergency programmes is developed, relationships with key donors are initiated, and tailored proposals developed to raise funds for the strategies highlighted above.
e) Additional technical support is provided to WESCOORD (WASH cluster) coordinator to ensure that national capacity for WASH coordination is systematically strengthened while high-level support to coordination in the sector is maintained and coordination for humanitarian response and Disaster Risk Reduction are linked at national and county level.
f) Recommendations as to the staff competencies required to continue implementation of the emergency and DRR strategies (as above) after 2012 are developed
g) Recommendations for integration of DRR and strengthening of the emergency WASH programme (including sectoral coordination through WESCOORD) are made for inclusion in the planning for the new UNICEF Kenya Country Programme beginning in 2014.
Reporting
The Emergency WASH Specialist reports to the Chief of WASH section.
Desired background and experience Advanced university degree in any of the following: Water/Civil Engineering, Social Sciences, Public Health Project management or other fields related to the work of UNICEF.
Eight years of progressively responsible professional work experience at national and international levels in Humanitarian WASH project management and coordination.
The successful candidate will have experience in developing programme strategies through a review of existing data and analysis and consultation with internal and external stakeholders on comparative advantage of UNICEF. The candidate should also be familiar with UNICEF Humanitarian policies and procedures including the Core Commitments for Children as well as IASC policy and guidance on cluster coordination. Experience required in integrating Disaster Risk Reduction into WASH programmes. Familiarity with the context of the Horn of Africa would be an asset.
Competencies of Successful Candidate
a) Communicates effectively to varied audiences, including during formal public speaking. b) Able to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment. c) Sets high standards for quality of work and consistently achieves project goals. d) Has good leadership and supervisory skills; co-ordinates group activities, ensuring that roles within the team are clear. e) Translates strategic direction into plans and objectives. f) Analyzes and integrates diverse and complex quantitative and qualitative data from a wide range of sources. g) Quickly builds rapport with individuals and groups; maintains an effective network of individuals across organizational departments. h) Identifies urgent and potentially difficult decisions and acts on them promptly; initiates and generates team- and department-wide activities. i) Demonstrates, applies and shares expert technical knowledge across the organization.
Conditions (Important)
General UNICEF Terms and Conditions apply. UNICEF will provide transport and/or transport costs following the standard UNICEF Travel Authorisation procedures. UNICEF will provide Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) according to standard applicable rates.
How to apply:
Interested and suitable candidates should ensure they forward their applications along with their curriculum vitae (internal candidates should attach copies of their last two Performance Evaluation Reports), to:
The Human Resources Manager UNICEF Kenya Country Office Email address: kenyahrvacancies@unicef.org
Please indicate Reference No. "KCO/EMERG/2012-022" in the email subject.
"QUALIFIED FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY" ZERO TOLERANCE FOR SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE UNICEF IS A SMOKE-FREE ENVIRONMENT
Deadline: 21st May 2012
