Wash Officers (Field Coordination) 3 Positions

I. Post InformationJob Title: WASH OFFICERS (FIELD COORDINATION) – 3 positionsJob Level: NO-BSupervisor Title/ Level: WASH Cluster Coordinator, P-4, #93673Section: Humanitarian Affairs Post Locations: TRIPOLI, TYRE, or ZAHLE (Lebanon) II. Organizational Context and Purpose for the jobThe fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nation. Job organizational context: After five years of hosting families displaced by the Syrian crisis, Lebanon’s government and communities continue to face critical tests of stability. At the same time, the most vulnerable Lebanese, displaced Syrians and Palestine Refugees are reaching the end of their coping capacities. The mass influx of 1.5 million persons displaced from Syria has resulted in a 25% increase in the number of people residing in the Lebanese territory. The number of poor currently in Lebanon has risen by nearly two-thirds since 2011, and Lebanese unemployment has doubled. Children and youth are most affected after five years of economic hardship and limited access to essential services. Following years of chronic under-investment and growing security concerns the crisis is becoming increasingly challenging. Ensuring humanitarian assistance and protection for the most vulnerable among the displaced from Syria and poorest Lebanese; strengthening the capacity of national and local service delivery systems to expand access to and quality of basic public services; and reinforcing Lebanon’s economic, social, environmental, and institutional stability are the three strategic priorities of the Lebanese Crisis Response Plan (LCRP 2015-2016). We have commenced the second year of the implementation of this LCRP and will soon develop a longer-term strategic framework for 2017-2020. The WASH Sector has been meeting the needs of the most vulnerable from both a humanitarian and a stabilisation perspective. At the end of 2015 the scope of the sector was expanded and it was renamed the Energy and Water (E&W) Sector. Its overarching objective is two-fold: Ensuring access to basic services (electricity, water, sanitation and hygiene) to agreed minimum standards for the vulnerable populations affected by the Syrian crisis in order to mitigate the risk of potential health outbreaks and to ensure dignity and respect of human rights; and Mitigating the impact of the Syrian crisis on the environment and ensuring needed measures to avoid a further degradation of the natural ecosystem, its environmental health considerations and its long-term sustainability. To meet the sector objectives the following approach is being adopted: Implementation and maintenance of humanitarian interventions which are temporary or short-term, but designed to mitigate the risk of disease outbreaks and to ensure that services provided meet the agreed water, sanitation, hygiene and other humanitarian standards; Sustainable and cost-effective solutions that build resilience and return services to acceptable levels; Mainstreaming environmental considerations of the LCRP to mitigate priority environmental impacts of the Syrian crisis; and Preparedness and disaster-risk management activities (emergency) to respond rapidly and adequately to significant changes in needs, such as those arising from a mass influx of displaced populations, evictions, water scarcity or disease outbreaks. To be able to meet the challenges of the Syrian crisis in Lebanon and to achieve objectives of the sector effective and efficient coordination is essential between all the relevant stakeholders including the numerous involved government institutions from national to local level and the many Donor, UN, NGO, private, academic and community organisations. In addition the various coordination forums need to be optimised or linkages between them strengthened. The Ministry of Energy and Water (MoEW) leads the E&W Sector, with the Ministry of Environment as co-lead. UNICEF provide coordination support to the government and are the lead UN agency for the E&W sector coordination at the national and field level. The mechanisms of the E&W Sector established at the national level have been replicated in the four field areas (South & Nabatieh; North & Akkar; Beirut & Mount Lebanon; and Bekaa & Baalbek-Hermel). E&W Sector Field Coordinators coordinate partners and activities under the LCRP of these areas. Other coordination forums exist and overlap with the LCRP mechanisms: for water and wastewater there is a development water sector coordination forum chaired by MoEW and the four sub-national water authorities coordinate water and wastewater infrastructure investments under their areas of responsibility; and for Energy there is a coordination forum also chaired by MoEW. As part of its responsibilities for coordination UNICEF will provide three WASH Officer for Field Coordination covering the following areas: South & Nabatieh + Beirut & Mount Lebanon; North & Akkar; and Bekaa & Baalbek-Hermel. Purpose for the job: To provide support to government leadership at the field level of the Energy and Water Sector, for the Bekaa and Baalbek-Hermel governorates, and to facilitate the processes that will ensure a well coordinated, strategic, adequate, coherent, and effective response by participants in the E&W Sector. III. Key function, accountabilities and related duties/tasks Under supervision of the E&W Sector National Coordinator and in support of the relevant government authorities in the Bekaa and Baalbek-Hermel governorates (in particular the Bekaa Water Establishment) ensure:1. Maintenance of effective coordination mechanisms at field level•Support the relevant sub-national authorities to ensure appropriate coordination of all E&W sector activities, partners and stakeholders. •Establish/maintain forum(s) that facilitate the effective and efficient coordination of all activities of the sector (refer Results Framework).•Identify and establish contact with relevant field-based national and international organizations, and representatives of affected populations. As appropriate invite these stakeholders to participate as partners in the work of the sector.•Convene and facilitate sub-national meetings of the sector (and/or joint meetings with another sector), on a timetable to be agreed by the sector.  •Ensure that sector coordination meetings are well managed and action and results-oriented, with decisions clearly communicated to relevant sector partners and stakeholders.  •Support the Inter-Agency Coordination body to establish and maintain appropriate field-based cross-sector coordination mechanisms. Represent the sector in cross-sector coordination fora as appropriate at sub-national level.•Ensure that updated and relevant E&W information from the field is reported back to national level and included in general reporting. 2. Preparedness and capacity of E&W sector members at field level is effectively established and strengthened•Support sub-national capacity mapping and gap identification exercises.•Identify training needs of field-based sector partners and report to the national coordinator. 3. Participate in sector-wide needs assessment and situation analysis, prioritisation of program intervention and sector planning•Participate in field-based joint cross-sector needs assessment exercises as appropriate to ensure that identified needs, gaps and priorities are as evidence-based as possible. 4. Ensure integration of cross-cutting issues in all field coordination activities•Raise awareness of and promote the integration of agreed priority cross-cutting issues in sector/cross-sector needs assessments, analysis, planning, implementation and monitoring.  5. Application of standards, guidelines and good practice•Facilitate discussion and agreement on the use of common standards and tools among field-based E&W partners. •Ensure that sector partners are aware of relevant commitments that the Government has made under international human rights and humanitarian law and promote a response that is in line with these commitments. 6. Information management, monitoring, evaluation and reporting is effective and timely to ensure sector performance against objectives and outputs•Facilitate adequate reporting and information sharing, both within the sector and with other sectors. This will involve contact list management, collecting information from partners, ensuring partners enter all relevant information in Activity Info (and other agreed tools) before the deadline and ensuring it is shared with the sector and other interested parties.•Facilitate field discussion on what monitoring activities will be undertaken to review the impact of the sector’s response and ensure they are implemented. 7. Support and implement the E&W sector advocacy strategy•Together with field-based E&W partners, identify core advocacy concerns for the sector and contribute to the national development of key messages and the advocacy strategy. IV. Impact of Results An effective and efficient coordination in support of government leadership of the Energy and Water Sector at the sub-national level for the Bekaa and Baalbek-Hermel governorates. V. Competencies and level of proficiency required (based on UNICEF Professional Competency Profiles. Core Values -Commitment -Diversity and inclusion-Integrity Core competencies-Communication [II]-Working with People [II]-Drive for Result [II]  Functional Competencies:-Formulating Strategies and Concepts [I]-Analysing [I]-Relating and Networking [II]-Persuading and Influencing [II]-Creating and Innovating [I] VI. Recruitment Qualifications Education: University degree in one of the disciplines relevant to the following areas: Public Health, Civil Engineering, Environmental Studies, Hydrology, Hydrogeology, Water Resources Management, or a field relevant to international WASH related development assistance and coordination. Formal training in sector coordination an advantage.Experience: At least two years progressively responsible humanitarian work experience with UN and/or NGO, including project management and/or coordination in major emergency responses relevant to the sector.Extensive work experience outside the humanitarian sector that is relevant to this post (water, wastewater, solid waste, energy infrastructure and development) may be considered as a replacement for humanitarian experience. Previous experience in coordination. Knowledge and experience in application of international technical guidelines and standards in water, environment and energy.Demonstrated experiences in organising and conducting training activities and information campaign on WASH related issues. Proven technical expertise in the area of WASH assessments including survey, program implementation, monitoring and coordination.Language Requirements: Excellent knowledge of English and Arabic (written/oral/ comprehension) is required. Knowledge of French is beneficial.