UNICEF recruits 01 WASH Specialist (IPC), P-3
WASH Specialist (IPC), P-3, TA, Ebola Response, Goma/ DRC
Job Number: 525991 | Vacancy Link
Locations: Africa: Congo, Dem. Rep
Work Type : Temporary Appointment
For every Child, Hope
In spite of its vast physical size and limitless natural resources, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is one of the poorest countries in the world, ranking 176th out of 188 countries in the 2015 human development report. Child poverty is widespread, particularly in conflict-affected and hard-to reach areas. According to a recent UNICEF study, 80 percent of children aged zero to 15 years old experience at least two major child rights deprivations. Despite sustained growth in recent years, the size of DRC’s economy remains far too small to provide enough government revenue to meet the basic needs of the population, children in particular. Since 2016, political instability, the persistence of conflicts in Eastern DRC and a sharp fall in global commodity prices have been aggravating factors.
On the August 3rd, 2018, DRC government declared a new Ebola Disease Virus (EVD) in North Kivu, health zone of Mabalako. This is the 10th EVD outbreaks since 1976 in DRC. Last one was declared in May 2018. EVD quickly expanded to 12 health zones with new hotspots in Beni and Butembo.
The EVD response is operated in a challenging context, with protracted humanitarian and volatile security environment, mainly due to the extended presence of armed group/.
UNICEF has quickly deployed programmatic and operational teams on the ground to support the response.
To face this situation the government and partners including UNICEF are supporting the implementation of the National Joint Response Plan to the Ebola outbreak under the leadership of the Ministry of Health.
How can you make a difference?
The purpose of the position is to provide a technical coordination of the UNICEF’s WASH/IPC component of the Ebola virus disease outbreak response. in North Kivu and Ituri. This will aim to ensure that UNICEF’s response in health facilities, both formal and traditional, is based on strong needs and capacity assessment, an analysis of the technical and operational gaps in the sector, in fulfilment of approved IPC national guidance and UNICEF Core Commitments for Children.
Under the overall technical guidance of the Senior Health Advisor and the managerial responsibility of the Chief WASH, the WASH/IPC Manager will be accountable for the quality of UNICEF interventions as regard to IPC in healthcare facilities. As WASH/IPC response focal point for the WASH program, the incumbent will:
Provide technical and program development support to field response teams and partners engaged on WASH/IPC;
Support IPC commission coordination at field level (hotspots)
Assist in developing adequate monitoring system to ensure qualitative interventions;
Participate regularly in WASH/IPC emergency related coordination meetings, both internally and externally;
Ensure regular and timely processes and impacts evaluation are done regarding UNICEF IPC related interventions in healthcare facilities;
Provide technical guidance to developing partnerships agreements and collaboration mechanisms with international and national NGOs that have relevant expertise, implementation capacity and knowhow in management of responses to WASH/IPC emergencies as well as in development of community-based surveillance systems;
Support systematic and timely reporting of IPC activities to the WASH Manager.
The incumbent will also facilitate a synergic collaboration with the Government of the DRC represented by the General Coordination of the Ebola response, the World Health Organization, other, UN Agencies, Civil Society Organizations, and other partners for all aspects related to WASH/IPC.
Key tasks include
WASH/IPC Coordination and Project Development
Provide technical support, guidance and coordination to key governmental and non-governmental partners on policies, strategies, processes and programs related to WASH/IPC as regard to the current Ebola outbreak;
Ensure that key technical information on WASH/IPC is communicated timely and accurately between field coordination teams;
Ensure effective knowledge management for WASH/IPC through:
documentation and dissemination of lessons learned;
development and implementation of appropriate capacity building strategies, and;
technical leadership, guidance and coordination of operational research.
Sectoral Planning, Implementation, and Monitoring
Support the development of action plans on WASH/IPC, per Health Zones, through partnership development and support to technical monitoring of UNICEF partners, specifically assist in: a) building capacity of field teams in IPC in healthcare facilities, b) strengthen capacity for needs assessments and response capacity etc., c) logistic and operational capacity, d) data-collection, monitoring and analysis capacity development;
Provide technical leadership in data-driven prioritization and implementation of WASH/IPC strategies and interventions aligned to established guidelines and procedures
Collaboration, Networking and Partnership
Establish active and participatory partnerships with key stakeholders in WASH/IPC (Government, WHO, other UN agencies, NGOs, bilateral agencies) and interact with them at various stages of the Ebola Strategic Response Plan design and implementation.
Maintain close working relationships with other UNICEF sectors, particularly Child Protection, Health, Nutrition, Education, and program communication to ensure cross-sectoral integration of the WASH/IPC component of the Ebola response;
Project Delivery & Analysis through Results-based Approach
Ensure full compliance of the WASH/IPC response with UNICEF’s Core Commitments for Children;
Promote the quality of Ebola response program through the formulation of goals, strategies and approaches, using results-based planning methodology and terminology;
Bring coherence, synergy and added value to UNICEF’s Ebola response process in terms of planning and design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
Evaluation and Reporting
Develop an evaluation framework to regularly review and adapt UNICEF’s IPC response in HCFs;
Support the implementation of efficient, timely, rigorous and transparent evaluation of UNICEF’s WASH/IPC response to the EVD outbreak;
Ensure corrective actions are undertaken to address bottlenecks;
Support to IPC interventions reporting so that it is provided in timely and qualitative manner.
Participate in major evaluation exercises, Ebola response review meetings with government and other counterparts.
Qualification of Successful Candidate
A Master’s Degree in public health, emergency response, social sciences, behaviour change communication, sanitary engineering or other specialist field related to WASH/IPC is required. A Bachelor’s Degree with 7 years of relevant experience may be acceptable.
Background/familiarity with Emergency (preparedness and response) and the IASC Cluster approach.
A minimum of five years of professional work experience in IPC -related programs for developing countries, including successful experience in infectious disease outbreak context, Fluency in both oral and written French and English is required.
Language skills:
Oral and written proficiency in French and English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset.
Duty station:
This position will be based in Goma, DRC, with frequent missions in affected health zones
For every Child, you demonstrate…
Our core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply
UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse, and on any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks
Remarks
* The successful candidate for this emergency recruitment MUST be available to commence work within 31 days of receiving an offer.
* Employment is conditional upon receipt of medical clearance, any clearance required, the grant of a visa, and completion of any other pre-employment criteria that UNICEF may establish. Candidates may not be further considered or offers of employment may be withdrawn if these conditions are unlikely to be met before the date for commencement of service.
Closing Date Wed Sep 04 2019 23:55:00 GMT+0100 (Afr. centrale Ouest)