WASH Officer (Gedaref) – UNICEF

Job Description

Job no	592961
Contract type	Fixed Term Appointment
Location	Gedaref
Level	NO-2
Categories	WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene)
Advertised	08 May 2026 E. Africa Standard Time
Deadline	25 May 2026 E. Africa Standard Time

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to a Chance

How can you make a difference?

You will report to the Chief of Field Office or a WASH Specialist (Level 3 or 4) and provide technical, operational, and administrative support throughout the WASH programming cycle.

You will be responsible for supporting the development, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of WASH programme outputs. This will include managing a range of technical and administrative tasks to ensure the effective and timely delivery of results in line with country programme objectives.

The WASH Officer reports to the WASH Specialist for supervision. The incumbent provides technical, operational, and administrative support throughout the WASH programming cycle.

The WASH Officer is responsible for supporting the development, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of WASH programme outputs. This includes managing a range of technical and administrative tasks to ensure effective and timely delivery of results in line with the country programme objectives.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1.    Programme development and planning
•    Draft updates for WASH in the situation analysis, to inform the development of WASH-related outcome and output results. Research and report on trends in WASH, for use in programme development, management, monitoring, and evaluation.  

•    Prepare technical reports and inputs for programme preparation and documentation, ensuring accuracy, timeliness and relevance of information.

•    Contribute to the development/establishment of WASH-related outcome and output results, as well as related strategies, through analysis of WASH sector needs and priorities.

•    Provide technical and administrative support throughout all stages of programming processes by executing/administering a variety of technical programme transactions, preparing materials/documentations, complying with organizational processes and management systems, to support progress towards the WASH-related outcome and/or output results in the country programme.

•    Prepare all necessary documentation, reports, and technical materials to facilitate timely review, approval, and decision-making processes by supervisors, government authorities, and implementing partners. Ensure that submissions are complete, accurate, and aligned with UNICEF standards, policies, and procedures.

2.    Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

•    Work collaboratively with colleagues and partners to collect/analyze/ share information on implementation issues, provide solutions on routine programme implementation and alert appropriate officials and stakeholders for higher-level interventions and/or decisions. Keep records of reports and assessments for easy reference and/or to capture and institutionalize lessons learned.

•    Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sectoral reviews with government and other counterparts and prepare reports on results for required action/interventions at the higher level of programme management.

•    Monitor and report on the use of sectoral programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets), verify compliance with approved allocations, organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity. Report on issues identified to enable timely resolution by management/stakeholders. Prepare sectoral progress reports for management, donors and partners.

3.    Technical and operational support for programme implementation

•    Provide technical and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and other country office partners/donors on the application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes and best practices in WASH, to support programme implementation.

•    Conduct regular field supervision of WASH construction and rehabilitation works to ensure compliance with approved designs, technical specifications, and work plans. 

•    Monitor quality of materials and workmanship, identify deviations or delays, and recommend timely corrective actions. Report critical issues, bottlenecks and potential problems to supervisor, for timely action.
•    Verify progress and completion of works and support certification processes for contractor payments in coordination with relevant stakeholders. 

•    Ensure adherence to environmental, social, and safety standards, and document progress through site reports and inspections.

4.    Humanitarian WASH preparedness and response

•    Draft requisitions for supplies, services, long-term agreements and partnership agreements to ensure UNICEF is prepared to deliver on its commitments for WASH in case of an emergency.
•    Study and fully understand UNICEF’s procedures for responding in an emergency.
•    Take up support roles in an emergency response and early recovery, as and when the need arises.  

5.