UNICEF is seeking Talented Professionals in Water Sanitation & Hygiene at the P4 & P5 Level

UNICEF is introducing a new and exciting recruitment process that uses Generic Vacancy Announcements to attract and identify qualified candidates to be placed in Talent Groups for WASH professionals. A Talent Group is an exclusive roster of experts from which UNICEF offices worldwide can quickly select qualified pre-assessed, top-level candidates whenever a post becomes available.If you are a WASH professional with significant experience in child survival and development, and have a passion about making a lasting difference for children, the world’s leading children’s rights organization wants to hear from you.

The types of posts that may be staffed with candidates from the Talent Groups include:

Chief of WASH, who under the overall guidance of the Representative / Deputy Representative is accountable for the development, design, planning, implementation and management of a WASH programme within a UNICEF country programme. The role as head of section includes directing, leading and managing a group of professional and supporting staff to develop, manage and administer the sectoral or inter-sectoral project/programme.

WASH Specialists, who under the overall guidance of the Chief WASH in a large WASH programme, take responsibility for key elements of the programme as determined by the Chief WASH.

The overall objective of UNICEF in WASH is to contribute to the realization of children’s rights to survival and development through global and national promotion of sector investment and support to programmes that increase equitable and sustainable access to, and use of, safe water and basic sanitation services, and promote improved hygiene. UNICEF aims to work in close partnership with its sister agencies, but above all in support of nationally identified priorities evolving from national development plans in support of accelerated achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

UNICEF’s work for the sector is guided by guided by two overarching targets that have been widely recognized by governments and the international development community.

Target 1: Halve, by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation. The world has met the water aspect of this target 5 years early where 89% of the world has access to fresh drinking water! We need your help in sustaining this remarkable achievement.

Target 2: Ensure that all schools have adequate child-friendly awter and sanitation facilities and hygiene education programmes

In order to acheive these targets, UNICEF is seeking candidates with the following skills:

1. Intimate knowledge of the evolving evidence base related to WASH and Children

2. Communication for behaviour change (for sanitation, hygiene, household water treatment)

3. Analysis of sector policy, working in partnerships and advocacy

4. New technologies

5. Working with the private sector

6. Experience with emergency preparedness and response

For more information on Talent Groups and instructions on how to apply, click here.

The Application deadline is March 26, 2012.