Regional Sanitation and Hygiene Specialist (Roster), Multiple positions

1. General Background

2. Background and Scope of Assignment

Through the GSF; WSSCC supports large scale grants in Africa and Asia designed to increase access to sanitation through collective behaviour change, often based on Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS). It works to achieve a situation where all people use appropriate sanitation and hygiene services in an affordable, accessible, safe, and sustainable manner. GSF currently supports country-programmes in 11 countries, with additional programmes under development. The first GSF-supported programmes became operational in 2010/11, with the youngest programmes starting implementation in 2014/15. Three key concepts for GSF are scale, sustainability and equality.

Scale:  Programmes are designed for scale and intend to inspire or catalyse exponential growth. The GSF’s Theory of Change (ToC) stipulates that programmes should target entire administrative areas, rather than pockets of communities. Programmes should also inspire local commitment and build local systems and capacity, therewith strengthening country systems. A core feature of many GSF-supported programmes in this respect is the variety of Institutional Triggering approaches and activities being implemented and perfected.

Sustainability: Programmes are based on collective behaviour change approaches but need to ensure sustained access to and use of basic sanitation facilities and progression towards safely managed sanitation. Factors influencing sustainability include the presence and strength of local systems, the quality of sanitation facilities and services, and the level of inclusiveness of programming.  A number of different approaches and methodologies have been developed and replicated to address sustainability issues, such as the Follow-Up Mandona originating from the GSF supported programme in Madagascar and currently used in 7 countries. 

Equality: In order to better understand whether and how GSF-supported programmes adequately addressed issues linked to equality and non-discrimination, in 2016/17 the GSF undertook a large scale ' Scoping and Diagnosis of GSF's Approach to EQND' and has since made a number of programmatic adaptation to better ensure substantive equality and inclusion, among others through a training course and Handbook on EQND in CLTS.

Over the past decade, WSSCC has also built up a strong programme on Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM). WSSCC’s approach to MHM seeks to address the sanitation and hygiene needs of women and girls by approaching menstrual hygiene as a catalyzing entry point to break the silence and address gender inequality and injustice in WASH and beyond. In order to do so, WSSCC works with a range of government ministries and other national and international stakeholders to address the enabling environment for MHM, and supports partners at sub-national levels to incorporate MHM messaging and programming into ongoing WASH-related programmes.  Capacity building focuses on breaking the silence; sharing knowledge about how to manage menstruation hygienically and various options for safe reuse and disposal solutions. While some GSF-supported programmes have integrated MHM messaging into their work, especially at schools, this is not yet widespread and WSSCC is learning and documenting its experiences in this regard.

In line with the above, WSSCC undertakes a range of activities to strengthen country programmes and build capacity of implementing partners. This includes trainings, learning events and processes such as real-time learning, country exchanges, and peer-to-peer reviews, as well as strengthening of M&E.

This assignment seeks to identify individuals, based in the global South, who have built extensive experience in and understanding of the various facets of collective sanitation behaviour change programming and/or MHM and can share this experience through facilitation of trainings, technical support assignments, and regional exchanges with other programmes.

The focus will be on approaches to improve quality, increase sustainability, ensure equality and non-discrimination, and integrate MHM as a key aspect of EQND and entry point to address inclusion of women and girls. Depending on individual strengths and experience, resource persons recruited against this ToR will become technical advisors and Trainers of Trainers on some or several approaches such as Follow-Up Mandona, Institutional Triggering, EQND in CLTS, and/or MHM, and will support countries in their region and possibly beyond. This does not entail full-time employment, but rather, individuals would be offered retainer contracts or short-term assignments based on availability and need.

• CLTS, CLTS follow up support (e.g. Follow-Up Mandona), and community-based initiatives to improve latrine build quality an engrain sanitation and hygiene behaviours
• Equality and Non-Discrimination in CLTS and broader GSF programming to Leave No One Behind
• Institutional Triggering and similar approaches to strengthen local and national enabling environments for sanitation programming
• Supply side approaches and progression towards safely managed sanitation

• Provide technical support to governments and partners to convene for collective action, dialogue and policy transformation on MHM, where relevant facilitating cross-sectoral or policy dialogue
• Facilitate, as part of a team, Trainings of Trainers and other contextualised capacity building / training exercises to build capacity of national and local level government staff, GSF partners, WSSCC National Coordinators and other sector partners on MHM
• As and where relevant, support GSF Executing Agencies and Implementing Partners on further integration of MHM messaging and programming into their schools and community behaviour change activities
• Support the WSSCC Secretariat on follow-up, ongoing mentoring and support to and monitoring of MHM trainers and partners engaged in MHM activities linked to / supported by WSSCC.

Depending on experience, skills and interest, and with training and support provided by the Technical Support Unit in Geneva, Regional Technical Advisors would either work across both objectives, or on only one of the two.

Scope of Work /activities and deliverables

WSSCC intends to recruit several Regional Resource Persons across West and Central Africa, East and Southern Africa, and Asia to populate a roster from which WSSCC can draw individuals either for short-term assignments or on longer-term draw down contracts. Exact activities and deliverables will be agreed with the individual contractors at the time of recruitment.

Monitoring and Progress Controls

For each project a detailed set of milestones and deliverables will be developed and agreed with the selected consultant. At minimum, each consultant will be expected to deliver an inception report or detailed work plan; and a final assignment report. For projects concerning more in-depth or long-term technical support or mentoring/coaching to individuals or partners, regular progress updates will be built into the project delivery schedule. Progress monitoring will be shared between the hiring manager (TSU) and the concerned Regional Manager(s) of the region(s) in which the project is taking place.

• Advanced University degree in Public Health, Engineering, Social Science or related discipline is required. 
• A bachelor's degree with a combination of 2 additional years of relevant experience may be accepted  in lieu of the master's degree.

• At least 5 years’ post master's degree or 7 years post bachelor's degree of relevant professional experience in sanitation, hygiene, health and/or gender related programming in an African or Asian context required
• Experience of working with public officials as well as with grassroots communities required
• Demonstrated experience in behaviour change programming, preferably CLTS, , hand washing with soap, MHM and/or other water and sanitation related hygiene practices is desirable.
• Basic understanding of gender, menstrual hygiene management and/or equality and non-discrimination is required. Demonstrated previous experience in gender and MHM programming an asset
• Demonstrated work experience in the area of adult training /capacity development an asset
• Experience with policy dialogue, influence and decision-making platforms an asset

• Strong facilitation skills using participatory methodologies to negotiate transformed mind sets
• Sensitivity to difference by age, gender, sexual preference, physical condition and a thirst for learning and improvement.
• Strong reporting (including data collection) and communication skills.
• Availability and ability to travel, including to remote and rural areas, often on short notice
• Flexibility, diplomacy and ability to work under pressure.

• Contract type: Individual Contractor Agreement
• Contract level: International Specialist Level 2 
• Contract duration: One Year (Retainer) renewal subject to organisational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.