Consultancy – Environmental Health and Sanitation Specialist
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Sierra Leone Country Office, invites applications from interested person for the above mentioned consultancy in the Child Survival and Development Section.
Purpose Under the supervision of the chief of the child survival and development section and in consultation with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation the incumbent will be responsible for providing technical support to MOHS - Environmental Health and Sanitation Directorate in Sierra Leone.
Duty station: Freetown Duration: 6 months
Background / Context Sierra Leone has one of the highest maternal and under-5 mortality rates in the world, while malaria, respiratory and diarrheal diseases account for more than 75% of the country’s under-five mortality. Malnutrition is reported to cause 57% of child deaths. All these indicators are closely linked with the poor situation with water and sanitation; diarrheal diseases; bloody and watery diarrheas are the third major cause of infant mortality according to the Disease Surveillance Unit in the Ministry of Health and Sanitation.
Background for technical assistance for Environmental health and sanitation (EHS) specialist Position UNICEF is currently seeking to recruit a Senior EHS Specialist, with extensive experience of environmental health and sanitation development in Sierra Leone able to demonstrate professional leadership to MoHS staff and partners. Physically located in the Ministry of Health and Sanitation and s/he will be required to work closely with all the UN agencies involved in sanitation and other Sierra Leone non-Governmental organizations responsible for environmental health and sanitation services. The purpose of this position is to assist in establishment of environmental and sanitation directorate as well as implementation of the MoHS aim of strengthening Sanitation Leadership, Coordination and to assist the MoHS in developing and managing the implementation of sanitation sector country strategies to achieve impact; and delivering an existing program of products and activities to assist Sierra Leone meet the sanitation MDGs.
Duties and Responsibilities • Leadership and Coordination Support MoHS operations in planning, developing and executing new initiatives, including support of national cooperation in environmental health supply and sanitation sector, focusing mainly on technical and operational matters related to water supply and sanitation, wastewater management. Identify improved water governance system in Sierra Leone and integrate into action plan for implementation, including policy and legislation, regulation, decentralization, sector financial management, alternative service providers, and civil society participation. Assist MoHS to ensure that accountabilities for the Sanitation sector, especially services in the sub-sectors-urban sanitation – are clearly defined. Support the strengthening of sanitation sector coordination by hosting regular coordination meetings and establishing a Sector Working Group. Initiate the dialogue within MoHs towards establishing a Sanitation Sierra Leone.
• Roadmap to Reach sanitation MDGs Lead and provide technical and policy advice to directorate staff and project partners to develop innovative policies and projects consistent with the strategic objectives of MoHS and sector priorities as well as innovative programs that would accelerate achievement of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Lead and undertake national studies and research to promote to new technologies, policies and sector assessments. Support the MoHS to develop a roadmap to Sanitation MDGs. Expected outputs include: a document outlining plans to achieve sanitation MDGs; guidelines and practical support to implementation of Sanitation MDG roadmap; and development of MoHS service standards.
• Sanitation Services Support in identifying appropriate, advanced and efficient technology that is suitable to the continental climate conditions and develop necessary norm / standards. Assist MoHS to development specific strategies for Sanitation support. A model for sustainable development and management of Sanitation services should be developed and an investment project designed to test out the model.
• Sector Advocacy Assist to give sanitation sector a higher priority in national budget and donor financing through intensifying sector advocacy. Undertake a study of the economic impact of the sanitation, including CLTs/SSHE sector in Sierra Leone. Support sanitation-specific advocacy activities, especially for the establishment of a specific budget line for sanitation. Develop sector promotional materials and assist branches of government in preparing WSS budget proposals. Contribute to sanitation global advocacy activities by sharing the Sierra Leone sanitation experience with international counterparts. Contribute substantially to the definition and execution of coaching and training directorate staff, with a focus on technical and operational aspects under existing and new initiatives.
• Knowledge Exchange Lead and support strengthening of knowledge and innovation services for catalyzing investments, reforms, and capacity development. Develop and maintain a knowledge database on the sanitation sector across the region covering the overall structure of the service, the decentralization process, the role of other sectors entities, a list of key service providers and financiers, investment needs over the short, medium and long term, investment trends and key enabling conditions to increase investments in the sector. Contributes proactively to internal and external Knowledge development by identifying, presenting and publishing best practices and lessons learned. Act as the focal point for UNICEF institutional relations in the sector, and liaise with other development partners, different media, selected service providers and MoHS. Assist key MoHS policy-makers gain insight from comparative experience in WSS policies, including rural water and sanitation policies. Assist in the analysis of Mongolia’s sector and producing publications to share lessons with other lead sanitation sector agencies. Update the sanitation standards and technical training with current information. Advise developing water safety plan in order to embrace into the national and local policy program. Update the curriculum in sanitation for technicians. Support study tours, video conferences, seminars and greater exposure and learning opportunities for Mongolia sector personnel.
Expected deliverables/results • Support establishment of EHS directorate. • Consultancy proposals clarifying responsibilities from all key stakeholders on sector and subsector for WSS. Also, be the lead of implementing action plan; • Implementation reports outlining plans to achieve sanitation MDGs; guidelines and practical support to implementation of sanitation MDG roadmap; and development of MoHS service standards. • Develop a model for sustainable development and management of Sanitation services. • Periodic reports, briefing notes for the progress of sanitation work • Draft funding proposals and other documents as and when necessary for the directorate • Technical guidelines & curriculums for improving WSS standards. Specific arrangements The Specialist will report to the director of EHS and closely cooperate with the relevant UNICEF WASH officers, its implementing agencies and other stakeholders to ensure quality and complementarities of the desired outputs.
Required qualifications: • Education
Masters or higher-level degree(s) in a related technical or management discipline (Sanitary or Public Health Engineering or other relevant degree with specialization in sanitation and hygiene service provision)
Masters or higher-level degree(s) in a related technical or management discipline (Sanitary or Public Health Engineering or other relevant degree with specialization in sanitation and hygiene service provision)
• Specific knowledge for this position – Extensive knowledge on institutional, financial and technical challenges in sanitation sector and current knowledge for possible solutions in Sierra Leone. Strong knowledge and experience in policy, planning and management issues related to the sector including WASH approaches and concepts. Knowledge of good governance practices, and approaches deal with gender-sensitive, social inclusion and empowerment principles. Ability to integrate contributions from different disciplines to formulate strategies and viable implementation sequences in sector.
Experience At least 8 years relevant experience using a broad range of advocacy tools, such as government relations, issue campaigns, political advising, elite education and mobilization, etc. in the sanitation sector. Significant experience working in developing country and/or closely with partners, including governments in developing countries, bilateral and multilateral donors, and major civil society actors preferred.
Skills – Demonstrated experience and ability to work with the government and partners, to influence without taking over, advise on politically sensitive reforms, and gain and retain confidence in a personal ability to deliver on required products to meet deadline. Outstanding listening as well as verbal and written communication skills and the ability to express complex strategies in simple and actionable terms. Full written and spoken fluency in English.
Others Proven ability both in delivering on own-managed work and in team leadership, especially dealing sensitively with other in a multi-cultural context. Track record of delivery of and managing complex tasks requiring technical knowledge and experience, personal maturity and political judgment.
Submission of Applications: Applications should be sent accompanied by a Cover Letter, CV and P-11 by email tosrlrecruitment@unicef.org
The Personal History Form (P11) in MS Word format can be downloaded from our website athttp://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_53129.html. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
The deadline for receipt of applications is 13 September, 2013
UNICEF is a smoke-free environment. UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization.
How to apply:
Submission of Applications: Applications should be sent accompanied by a Cover Letter, CV and P-11 by email tosrlrecruitment@unicef.org
The Personal History Form (P11) in MS Word format can be downloaded from our website athttp://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_53129.html. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
The deadline for receipt of applications is 13 September 2013
