Senior WASH Assistant (UNOPS-LICA-5)

Title**: Senior WASH Assistant**

City and country :Tahoua, NIGER

Category and grade**: UNOPS-LICA-5**

Type of contract : Individual Contractor LICA

Duration of contract**: Position budget until 31/12/2022 with possibility of renewable**

Closing date**: 30 September 2022**

1. General Background

(Brief description of the national, sector-specific or other relevant context in which the individual contractor will operate)

As of August, 1st 2022; Niger hosts 674,432 people of concern registered, of which 52% are internally displaced persons (IDPs), 46% refugees, and 2% for other persons of concern. Most refugees come from Nigeria (73%) and Mali (21%). The population is predominantly young (58 % youths), with women accounting for 53 %. As a result of continuous deterioration of security in its border, Niger has been accumulating situations of forced displacement (out and in) since 2012, including the latest waves from Burkina Faso, Mali and northwestern Nigeria. 674,432

UNHCR’s work in Niger focuses on providing holistic assistance and comprehensive protection and solutions for persons of concern, including Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH). Efforts on WASH covers refugee sites, returnees, IDPs and host communities through providing safe water, sanitation infrastructures, hygiene promotion sessions and ensuring coordination of activities. Particularly in Tahoua, where the position will be, UNHCR’s work guided by a community-based approach and supported by a Nexus approach, is focused on host villages.

2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment

(Concise and detailed description of activities, tasks and responsibilities to be undertaken, including expected travel, if applicable)

Under the supervision of the Programme Officer and technical support by the Country WASH Officer, the incumbent should have to:

• Oversee the WASH activities and provide technical support to the Office Management and partners.
• Maintain regular exchanges with the Government technical service and local authorities concerning WASH activities, sharing ongoing activities and addressing any concerns.
• Lead the implementation of the WASH strategies, respond to day-to-day communication and ensuring the coordination of activities
• Assist in and check engineering calculations leading to detailed drawings for required WASH infrastructures and activities and associated cost estimates.
• Ensure the proper application of UNHCR policies and technical guidelines.

3. Monitoring and Progress Controls

(Clear description of measurable outputs, milestones, key performance indicators and/or reporting requirements which will enable performance monitoring)

• Technical advice and support provided to implementing partners; Water and sanitation outcomes meet UNHCR standards, through an optimal and rationale use of resources allocated.
• A viable monitoring and evaluation system is in place for data collection, analysis and interpretation, and is kept up to date.
• Training materials and relevant tools (guidelines and technical support documents) developed to enhance the capacity of UNHCR people of concern in the area of WASH;
• Contributions provided in emergency preparedness, contingency planning, and response programs requiring WASH interventions.
• A High quality and timely reports on sector activities are prepared for Donors and for the Management within UNHCR.

4. Qualifications and Experience

(List the required education, work experience, expertise and competencies of the individual contractor. The listed education and experience should correspond with the level at which the contract is offered.)

a. Education (Level and area of required and/or preferred education)

• Level: Bachelor’s degree
• Area of required: Water and Sanitation Engineering, Civil Engineering.

b. Work Experience

(List number of years and area of required work experience. Clearly distinguish between required experience and experience which could be an asset.)

Minimum 3 years of relevant professional experience with a Master’s degree or 5 years of relevant professional experience with a Bachelor’s degree.

Relevant professional experience includes management of humanitarian water, sanitation and hygiene programs / projects or a combination of experience in the humanitarian sector and construction-related activities outside of the humanitarian sector such as supervision of boreholes, latrines and other WASH facilities construction.

c. Key Competencies

(Technical knowledge, skills, managerial competencies or other personal competencies relevant to the performance of the assignment. Clearly distinguish between required and desired competencies)

• Excellent French speaking and report writing skills. English will be an asset
• Knowledge of computer software (MS Word, Excel PowerPoint), as well as the capacity to use mapping tools, i.e. GPS and knowledge of construction drawing and design software (AutoCad or Epanet…) is a great added advantage.
• Excellent interpersonal, teamwork and negotiation skills in a cross-cultural environment and the ability to assist in communication of technical and non-technical details with Government technical staff as well as NGO staff and local authorities.
• Integrity and professionalism: demonstrated expertise and ability to apply good judgment; high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures in a politically sensitive environment, while exercising discretion, impartiality and neutrality; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially.
• Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities.