Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)
E (most hardship)
Family Type (not applicable for home-based)
Non Family with Residential Location
Staff Member / Affiliate Type
UNOPS LICA6
Target Start Date
2025-03-01
Deadline for Applications
January 28, 2025
Terms of Reference
1. General Background (operational Context)
(Brief description of the national, sector-specific, or other relevant context in which the individual contractor will operate)
The Representation of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR in Algeria was accredited on 27 September 1984 under the Accord de Siege concluded between the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria desiring to continue and strengthen their long-standing cooperation in the field of protection and assistance to refugees in Algeria.
UNHCR operation in Algeria operates through its two offices serving two different caseloads; BO Algiers deals with the Representation and the urban refugees and asylum seekers mainly Syrians, while the Sub-Office in Tindouf deals with camps situation providing protection and assistance to vulnerable Saharawi refugees living in Tindouf area. The above Local-Support position is part of the Refugee program of SO-Tindouf.
In Tindouf, Sahrawis have been recognized as refugees by Algeria on a prima facie basis within the framework of the 1969 African Union Convention, UNHCR continues to provide protection and assistance to Sahrawi refugees, who have been living in a protracted displacement situation in five camps near Tindouf for 50 years.
2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment
(Concise and detailed description of activities, tasks, and responsibilities to be undertaken, including expected travel, if applicable)
3. Organizational Setting and Work Relationships:
The WASH Associate works under the overall supervision of a more senior WASH colleague, Technical Coordinator, Programme Officer or the Head of Office. S/he provides assistance in the development, guidance and oversight of the implementation of WASH strategies for refugee settlements. The incumbent will support WASH related activities in the refugee settlements working closely with the multi-functional teams including colleagues from protection, health, settlement planning, field and others.
The WASH Associate provides technical guidance, works with partners and other external stakeholders, reviews ongoing activities and generally contributes to improving WASH service delivery to persons of concern (POC) to adequate levels at each site in accordance with the UNHCR WASH Manual and Technical Guidelines, and applicable UNHCR and/or national standards.
S/he will follow a rights-based and community focused approach to programme design and implementation. The incumbent will follow the five principles for protection, accountability and WASH as outlined in UNHCR’s WASH Manual.
All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR’s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.
4. Duties:
o Provide technical guidance and support to partners on all WASH-related issues to ensure quality, cost-effectiveness, sustainability and environmental sound WASH interventions.
o Liaise with implementing partners, operating partners and relevant governmental and non-governmental counterparts.
o Review regularly the quantity and quality of water and sanitation services offered in the Area of Responsibility (AoR) and maintain the records of WASH performance indicators for all locations.
o Support the review of performance, undertake field verifications, monitor development and support the evaluation of activities and approaches adopted by partners in WASH and related sectors, reporting the results to the supervisor for sharing with other technical units.
o Provide technical assistance (TA) to partners and help to enhance capacity building of partners.
o Promote community involvement and participation in all the different stages of the WASH project cycle.
o Build and maintain close relationships with other sectors, particularly site planning, health and community service, to locate, plan, implement and monitor WASH activities.
o Provide timely inputs to ensure that regular and accurate reports that analyze the challenges encountered in providing WASH services for beneficiaries are prepared and circulated.
o May participate in the preparation of all reports for management, boards, donors, budget reviews, programme analysis, monthly, annual reports etc. in a timely manner.
o Contribute to providing technical inputs during strategic and operational planning cycles of UNHCR within the AoR (Area of Responsibility)
o Assist in the communication of WASH related issues as well as of the needs and issues of other sectors through reliable regular field presence.
o Provide regular updates and track progress, prepare summaries and follow-up documents in correspondence.
o Participate in WASH sector, infrastructure coordination, camp coordination and cross-cutting sector meetings e.g. health, environment, as required by the supervisor.
o Compile documents and reports related to WASH activities and construction under the AoR.
o Record feedback from UNHCR camp management, field and community services colleagues on issues with water availability, access, quality, sanitation situation, and ensure follow-up.
o Support the management in provision of WASH facilities required (UNHCR managed and supported areas), including activities such as technical design, cost estimations of technical activities, development of bill of quantities for construction of all associated WASH works, and all operational and maintenance considerations.
o Provide project management support for UNHCR WASH activities employing typical PM tools for design control, procurement, implementation and monitoring, and contract administration including evaluations to support progress certificates.
o Promote and participate in the establishment of a complaint mechanism/system to improve the WASH accountability toward refugees; report all issues, communications and resolutions employed.
o Establish and follow master and detailed chronograms, reporting to the sector any issue resulting in delays or extra costs.
o Coordinate and supervise UNHCR partners' construction and maintenance of WASH in UNHCR managed and supported areas.
o Assist in negotiations with local authority counterparts, partners and populations of concern.
o Provide inputs for country operations plan and other submissions and reports.
o Monitor WASH activities in the AoR on behalf of UNHCR and make recommendations to the supervisor and the UNHCR management team.
o Provide data inputs for the WASH monitoring system.
o Perform other related duties as required.
5. Authority (decisions made in executing responsibilities and to achieve results)
Not Applicable
6. Monitoring and Progress Controls
(Clear description of measurable outputs, milestones, key performance indicators and/or reporting requirements which will enable performance monitoring)
Accountability (key results that will be achieved) Please add a paragraph or keep the same one below:
- UNHCR’s policies, standards and procedures are constantly and coherently applied in the area of responsibility (AoR), to better meet the needs of persons of concern.
- Regular reporting and analysis of progress ensure that identified gaps and challenges in the WASH sector are addressed promptly, aligning with humanitarian standards and operational goals.
7. Qualifications and Experience
a) Education (Level and area of required and/or preferred education)
For G6 - 3 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher
b) Language Requirements
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.
c) Work Experience
Essential
Experience in the area of WASH including, conducting surveys, programme implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and coordination.
Desirable
Knowledge and understanding of water and wastewater hydraulics and physical, chemical and biological properties; solid waste management practices, vector control and hygiene promotion/awareness raising strategies. Knowledge and understanding of relationship between water, wastewater, solid waste and vector control to public health indicators, and value of hygiene promotion/awareness-raising and behaviour change methodologies.
8. Desired candidate profile:
In addition to the qualifications listed in the job description, the ideal candidate should have experience in designing water and sanitation technical studies and overseeing construction projects. Experience in WASH operations, particularly in a humanitarian context, is highly desirable. A solid understanding of water quality monitoring, including microbiological and physicochemical assessments, is advantageous. The candidate should be proficient in conducting inventories of materials and tools and demonstrate the ability to prepare project proposals and reports for donors, with a proficiency in English required for work-related communication, essential for reporting, proposal writing, and liaising with international partners. The candidate should also have experience in preparing, conducting, and analyzing data from surveys. Additionally, the candidate should have experience liaising with implementing and operating partners, private companies, as well as relevant governmental and non-governmental stakeholders. Regular review of WASH services, including maintaining WASH performance indicator records, is a critical component of the role. Experience in supporting the evaluation of activities with field verification and reporting will be considered an asset. Lastly, the ability to provide reliable data inputs for the WASH monitoring system is highly valued.
d) Key Competencies
(Technical knowledge, skills, managerial competencies, or other personal competencies relevant to the performance of the assignment. Clearly distinguish between required and desired competencies)
Cross-Functional Competencies
Analytical Thinking
Innovation and Creativity
Technological Awareness
Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
Planning and organizing
Policy Development and Research
Political Awareness
Stakeholder Management
Change Capability and Adaptability
Other required competencies:
Accountability
Communication
Organizational Awareness
Teamwork & Collaboration
Commitment to Continuous Learning
Client & Result Orientation
Desirable competencies:
Empowering and Building Trust
Managing Resources
Functional Skills :
SP-Sphere Handbook
WA-WASH Assessment: Survey planning, implementation and oversight
WA-WASH-related Technologies
SP-Support/Advise/Guide on technical WASH related issues
SP-Vector Control
MD-Public Health Epidemiology
IT-Computer Literacy
IT-Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
EX-Experience with Inter/Non-Governmental Organization (INGO/NGO)
SP-Environmental Sanitation
Standard Job DescriptionRequired Languages ,
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Desired Languages ,
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Additional QualificationsSkills
Education
Certifications
Work Experience
Other information
Candidates will be shortlisted based on job requirements in the description, and assessed on qualifications, experience, and performance in the test and interview. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the written test and interview.This position doesn't require a functional clearance
Home-Based
No