Youth Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Officer

Mission and objectives

UNICEF helps build a world where the rights of every child are fully realized. It is our conviction that nurturing and caring for children are the cornerstones of human progress. UNICEF was created in 1946 to work with others to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease and discrimination place in a child’s path. It has global authority to influence decision-makers, and a wide variety of partners at grassroots level to turn the most innovative ideas into reality. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children’s survival, protection and development. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and Governments.

Context

UNICEF Zambia has over 100 employed staff that work in different programme sections. The programme sections include the Child Protection, Education, Health and HIV , Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Nutrition and Programme Monitoring and Excellence (PME) sections. The other key sections include Operations, Finance, Supplies, Administration, ICT, Human Resources, Communication, Advocacy, Partnerships and Engagement (CAPE) and Social Policy & Research. The incumbent will be part of the WASH section.

Task description

Under the overall supervision of the WASH Specialist- Enabling Environment, the UN Volunteer will perform the following tasks: • Contribute to the WASH programme through interventions that create opportunities for adolescents to voice their priorities, promote WASH and provide recommendations to decision makers; • Examine areas of linkages across programmes, promote the inclusion of the youth perspective in cross-cutting efforts, and participate in WASH and climate research initiatives focused on youths; • Participate in advocacy activities designed to influence Government and other stakeholders to prioritize WASH, particularly through global commemoration days; • Assist in developing WASH thematic briefs and providing technical inputs in support to the programmatic work of the WASH section; • Assist in reviewing WASH public expenditure and other mapping processes as needed; • Assist in developing terms of reference for WASH and climate activities as needed; • Assist in drafting communication and information materials for Country Office (CO) programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and support fundraising for WASH programmes; • Assist in mapping partners and their capacities, and in preparing expressions of interest for emergency preparedness and response; • Assist in preparation and updating of annual work plans and supply plans, strategic monitoring questions and other key periodic plans as required; • Contribute to development of skills on knowledge management and dissemination of key sector documents amongst WASH stakeholders; • Participate in WASH task forces, working groups and meetings, and provide feedback on these (written and verbal feedback); • Follow up on and monitor WASH activities being implemented by partner organizations; • Support with preparations, note taking and drafting of reports for workshops, conferences and meetings i.e., mid-year and end year joint reviews with the Government, and cooperating partners.

Eligibility criteria