Overview
The WASH Specialist will support the planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of UNICEF Papua New Guinea's WASH programme, focusing on strengthening sector systems, evidence generation, public finance, and resource mobilization.
Key Responsibilities
- Contribute to strengthening national and sub-national WASH sector systems, institutional capacities, policies, strategies, and implementation frameworks.
- Support government counterparts in sector planning, monitoring, coordination, and performance review processes.
- Assist in the development and dissemination of technical guidance, standards, and operational tools to improve sustainable WASH service delivery.
- Coordinate and support sector studies, assessments, evaluations, operational research, and analytical work to generate evidence for decision-making.
- Analyze programme and sector data to identify trends, gaps, bottlenecks, and opportunities for improving WASH outcomes.
- Support strengthening WASH information management systems, monitoring frameworks, dashboards, and knowledge products.
- Prepare technical briefs, situation analyses, policy notes, presentations, and knowledge products for internal and external stakeholders.
- Contribute to public finance analyses, budget reviews, expenditure tracking, and investment case development related to the WASH sector.
- Support advocacy and policy dialogue aimed at increasing and improving public sector investments in WASH services.
- Assist government counterparts in strengthening financing frameworks and accountability mechanisms for WASH service delivery.
- Contribute to the development of resource mobilization strategies and identification of funding opportunities.
- Support engagement with development partners, donors, international financial institutions, private sector partners, and other stakeholders.
- Assist in preparing investment cases, concept notes, partnership documents, and fundraising materials.
- Lead and coordinate the preparation of high-quality donor proposals, concept notes, workplans, budgets, and supporting technical documentation.
- Support development, quality assurance, and timely submission of donor reports, progress updates, and results-based reporting.
- Ensure donor reporting reflects achievements, lessons learned, challenges, and programme impact in accordance with donor requirements and UNICEF standards.
- Monitor implementation progress against annual work plans and programme targets.
- Support documentation of results, innovations, lessons learned, and good practices.
- Contribute to preparation of programme reviews, annual reports, briefing materials, and management updates.
- Support integration of emergency preparedness, resilience, and risk-informed programming into WASH activities.
- Contribute technical inputs to emergency assessments, response planning, donor appeals, and recovery programming, when required.
- Promote volunteerism and contribute to capacity strengthening, knowledge sharing, and collaborative partnerships within the programme.
- Contribute to UNICEF's commitment to equity, inclusion, child rights, gender equality, and accountability to affected populations.
Required Experience
At least 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience at the national and/or international level in WASH programme management, systems strengthening, sector coordination, public finance, evidence generation, resource mobilization, donor proposal development, monitoring and evaluation, or related fields. Experience with UNICEF, the UN system, governments, development partners, or international development organizations is an asset. Demonstrated experience in developing technical reports, donor proposals, concept notes, funding applications, and results reporting. Experience in supporting government institutions, development partners, and sector coordination mechanisms is desirable. Knowledge of WASH sector policies, planning processes, monitoring systems, and financing mechanisms is an asset. Strong analytical skills and experience in data management, evidence generation, and knowledge management. Excellent oral and written communication, drafting, and reporting skills. Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively with government counterparts, development partners, civil society organizations, and communities. Strong computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and data analysis tools. Experience working with UNICEF, the United Nations, international development organizations, or government institutions is desirable.
Qualifications
Master's degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Water Resources Engineering, Hydrogeology, Public Health, Environmental Science, Development Studies, or another relevant field. A first-level university degree with 7 years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.
