WASH Sub Cluster Coordinator (P-3), Post No. 101558, based in UNICEF Sittwe Field Office, Myanmar - TA for 364 days

Vacancy announcement for UNICEF Sittwe Field Office in Myanmar for a WASH Sub Cluster Coordinator (P-3) - Temporary Appointment for 364 days

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Background and Purpose of the Position

A total of 140,000 people were displaced and continue to live in camps throughout various townships in Rakhine in very poor conditions since the two incidences of violence in June and October 2012. The situation is now protracted though displaced population are gathered in 32 official camps across 9 townships of Rakhine state. Most of the IDP live in temporary shelters. In the sensitive working environment of Rakhine state, the humanitarian response systematically encompass a do-no-harm approach. WASH services have been extended to villages hosting IDPs and surrounding villages. The WASH Cluster also seeks to address needs in the northern part of Rakhine State (NRS), where displacements have occurred since October 9, 2016 and where in broader terms there is inadequate WASH services associated with possible causes of high malnutrition rates in the area.

Infrastructure has now been established in camps with progressive handover of management to user's groups and temporary to semi-permanent structure. An upgrade with more durable items will ease their maintenance by the community and will incorporate strict safety guidelines. In villages, community-led interventions have been implemented, in line with community priorities and considering the village as a whole, instead of targeting affected individuals only. Efforts to provide adequate infrastructure have been made, but a number of water facilities do not yield safe drinking water based on water quality results which require more efforts for water facility improvement and treatment. The facilities upgrade will be achieved in collaboration with Government and documented by regular water quality testing, at both source and point of use levels. Collaboration beyond operation and maintenance of WASH facilities with the CCCM cluster agencies is essential in this context. Some locations suffer from water shortages during the dry season and rely only on emergency water supply, for which reliable alternative sources should continue to be strived for. In this protracted crisis, resilience of individuals will be built by socio-culturally appropriate maintenance mechanism and sense of ownership over the facilities. A hygiene kit strategy is being worked on by the cluster and shall follow an intersectorial approach with consideration where feasible to market-based approaches; feasibility of targeted distributions and usage of voucher systems will be explored. Formative research and qualitative data gathering is being conducted to strengthen hygiene promotion and community mobilization actions which complements the provision of supplies and facilities. The Cluster will seek to improve accountability, ensure services are tailored to children and adults with disabilities and pregnant women, and women and girls' participation in routine consultations. The country faces floods every year and there is the potential of cyclones and earthquakes, particularly during the rainy season (April-November) in Rakhine state which highlights the importance of cluster preparedness actions.

Following the 2012 violence, the WASH Cluster was activated in December 2012, together with Shelter and Health. UNICEF plays a dual role for WASH in emergencies in Myanmar, as a primary provider of assistance and as coordinator of the sector and WASH cluster lead agency.

The need of an assertive dedicated cluster coordinator remains an organizational priority in Rakhine was recommended for this key transition period:

• Very difficult context requiring full involvement of the cluster to streamline approaches and bridge NGO and State and Township governments in the various areas context of Rakhine state, including humanitarian and early recovery and linkages with development efforts

• High frequency of external coordination including inter-sectoral coordination

• Protracted displacement demanding a high level of technical investment to mainstream strategic orientation and complementarity of humanitarian, early recovery and development actions, and drive cross-cutting issues such as gender, protection, disability etc.

• Disaster preparedness as well as building community resilience is key

Key Accountabilities and Duties & Tasks

  
• Ensure appropriate coordination between all WASH humanitarian partners (national and international NGOs, the International Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, etc…), through establishment/maintenance of appropriate WASH Cluster/sector coordination mechanisms, including working groups and, if necessary, at local level;

• Ensure that the activities planned in the Myanmar WASH Cluster Terms of Reference are implemented by the different cluster members at state level. This includes the following:

o Supporting WASH service delivery, by providing a platform to ensure that service delivery is driven by the agreed strategic priorities, and develop mechanisms to eliminate duplication of service delivery and identify gaps and ensure protection and gender mainstreaming.

o Informing strategic decision-making of the National Wash cluster Coordinator, and the Sittwe UNICEF Chief of Office, for the humanitarian response, based on needs assessment made by the WASH partners, the analysis and identification of gaps, inter-cluster (ICCG, etc) and government coordination

o Participating to strategy planning, development and monitoring, through the update of Rakhine WASH sector strategy, the application to WASH standards and guidelines, the clarification of funding requirements, prioritization, and WASH cluster contributions for the overall humanitarian funding considerations

o Cluster-wide Standards/approaches/designs:Support the development and review/endorsement of relevant cluster wide approaches, designs, guidelines, minimum standards and other relevant documents to guide WASH cluster partners response and standards at field level

o Advocating: Identify advocacy concerns to contribute to Wash Cluster messaging and action, and support advocacy activities on behalf of WASH cluster partners and the affected population through evidence gathering and analysis to support advocacy.

o Monitoring and reporting on the implementation of the WASH cluster strategy and sex desegregated results; recommend corrective action where necessary and support resource mobilization for the response.

o Contingency planning/preparedness activities

• Ensuring that the sub-cluster coordination is carried out in close collaboration with the Government of the Union of Myanmar at National, State and Township levels.

• Ensure that all cluster coordination activities in Rakhine state are conflict sensitive in its approach and take into consideration cross-cutting issues such as gender, protection, and disability among other.

• Organize, chair and disseminate the results of WASH sub-Cluster

• Coordinate effectively on behalf of the WASH cluster with other Clusters such as Shelter, CCCM, NFI, Protection, Education and Health in order to ensure adequate sharing of information and provide cross-cluster support

• Ensure that the resolution to technical problems in the field is tackled through cluster-wide agreed solutions such as partner's leadership or activation of Technical Working Groups, and that solutions and standards developed during these groups are disseminated and applied in the field.

• Together with the UNICEF Sittwe Chief of Office, represent the cluster in Rakhine Coordination Group meetings and other relevant meetings/workshops/working groups with the humanitarian community.

• Ensure that relevant cross-cutting and inter cluster/sector issues are incorporated in the WASH cluster strategy.

• Ensure monthly monitoring of WASH activities is conducted.

• Guide and support the partners of the cluster when required in areas such as sources of information/data, adopted strategies, standards, best practice in implementation, working with the Myanmar government, and briefings on issues related to the cluster.

• Identify and report on clearly defined results achieved by the sector/cluster to document the challenges and achievements of the coordination team.

• Work with National Wash cluster Coordinator to produce lessons learned from this emergency and for preparedness, and ensure the tools produced by the WASH Cluster and by the partners will be available for any other emergency at national, regional and global level.

• Perform any other responsibilities required to ensure smooth and efficient coordination of the WASH actors.

Qualifications of Successful Candidate

1. Education

Advanced university degree in one of the disciplines relevant to the following areas: Public Health, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Geology, Hydrology, Sanitation Engineering, Social Sciences or a field relevant to international WASH related development assistance. First level University degree with additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in exceptional circumstances.

Additional training in Health Education, Emergency or Communication for Development (Programme Communication), an asset.

2. Work Experience

Five years of progressively responsible WASH professional work experience in the UN or other international development organization, national government or the private sector in the in provision of water supply, sanitation and hygiene services in emergency / early recovery operations.

Previous cluster coordination experience is an asset.

Expertise in rapid assessments and public health risk analysis; strong links in humanitarian community and early recovery; experience in protracted crisis requiring linkage with development are advantages.

Background/familiarity with Emergency (preparedness and response) and the IASC Cluster approach.

3. Language Proficiency

i) Fluency in English and another UN language
ii) Knowledge of Myanmar and/or local languages will also be an asset.

Competencies of Successful Candidate

Core Values

• Commitment
• Diversity and Inclusion
• Integrity

Core competencies

• Communication
• Working with People
• Drive for Results

Functional Competencies

• Leading and Supervising

• Formulating Strategies and Concepts 

• Analyzing

• Relating and Networking 

• Deciding and Initiating Action

• Applying Technical Expertise 

Technical Knowledge  

Common Technical Knowledge and Skills Required

• Ability to facilitate workshops and meetings with good communication skills
• Have strong ability to liaise with Government
• Have excellent communication skills both written and oral
• Strong analytical and presentation (oral and written) skills including use of essential computer software packages.
• Ability to work in a diverse cultural environment, with an ability to tolerate alternative customs and beliefs and build bridges between partners in a sensitive environment.
• Good health and willingness to travel under difficult conditions.
• Be comfortable to travel by speedboat for several hours

Technical Knowledge to be Acquired/Enhanced (for the Job)

• Government development plans and policies
• Knowledge of local conditions and country legislation relevant to UNICEF programmes
• UN policies and strategy to address international humanitarian issues and the responses, including the IASC Cluster approach.
• UN common approaches to programmatic issues and UNICEF positions
• UN security operations and guidelines.
• UNICEF policies, strategies promoting and supporting gender equality and diversity.

To view our competency framework, please click here. 

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation.