Home-based consultant: Regional WASH Expert

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence. At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling. UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package. Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF. For every child, the right to sanitation Background UNICEF works across 22 countries and territories in Europe and Central Asia to support equitable, sustainable access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in both development and emergency settings to ensure children and communities have access to safe, affordable, and climate‑resilient water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services in development and emergency contexts. Regional WASH support covers systems strengthening, shock‑responsive WASH programming, climate and resilience integration, and the delivery of inclusive and sustainable WASH services in homes, schools, health‑care facilities, and community settings. The Regional Office has been advancing WASH programming across the region by providing technical guidance and hands‑on support to Country Offices. This includes strengthening climate‑resilient WASH systems, supporting the development and rollout of Water Safety Plans, and promoting climate‑adapted service delivery models. The office has worked closely with national and regional institutions to enhance WASH in schools and health‑care facilities, improve monitoring systems, and support policy and standards development. It has also facilitated regional learning and knowledge exchange, built country capacities on emergency preparedness and response, and supported evidence generation, programme design, and resource mobilization for WASH investments in both development and humanitarian settings. As part of the organisational transition toward the new Centres of Excellence (CoE) model, regional WASH functions previously situated within the ECA Regional Office are being realigned. This change reflects a broader restructuring to streamline technical support mechanisms and consolidate expertise within the CoE platform. During this period, core WASH responsibilities and engagements continue across the region, requiring interim support to maintain ongoing and pending pieces of work to facilitate smooth transition. Purpose of Assignment The purpose of the assignment is to support the Regional Emergency Adviser (REA) in finalising outstanding regional WASH workstreams and ensure structured transfer of WASH knowledge and programme assets to the Centres of Excellence (CoEs). The assignment will ensure structured handover of documentation, tools, and programme materials, and preparedness for WASH functions to be fully absorbed by the CoEs. Objective The purpose is to support the Regional Emergency Adviser (REA) in finalising outstanding regional WASH workstreams and ensure structured transfer of WASH knowledge and programme assets to the Centres of Excellence (CoEs). How can you make a difference? Scope of Work Provide WASH technical expertise to Country Offices in the Europe and Central Asia region during the transition period Support completion of annual and donor reporting inputs Coordinate and submit WASH contributions to regional and corporate reporting platforms (e.g., ROAR, HAC reporting inputs, other relevant reporting streams) Consolidate and transfer WASH knowledge assets Organise WASH documentation, guidance notes, tools, SOPs, regional files, and dashboards Finalize and transfer WASH SharePoint folders/archives Ensure WASH knowledge products are indexed and accessible for CoEs Prepare structured handover package Handover note summarising WASH activities, tools, processes, partnerships & files Mapping of key WASH programmes, learning, and knowledge assets Recommendations for continuity in priority areas Facilitate handover & knowledge transfer Provide briefings and transition notes to CoEs and internal colleagues Organise virtual handover session(s) with relevant teams Support the Regional Adviser in maintaining light coordination with key regional WASH stakeholders during handover (e.g., WHO, IFRC, WASH Cluster partners) – limited to matters strictly necessary for closure / continuity of institutional memory Work Assignment Overview Tasks / Milestones Deliverables / Outputs Timeline Payment Payment will be made on submission of an invoice and satisfactory completion of the above‑mentioned deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs are incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines. All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNICEF and UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future. Please submit a professional fee (in USD) based on 60 working days to undertake this assignment. Estimated Duration of the Contract 60 working days between January 2026 and March 2026 Consultant's Work Place and Official Travel The Consultant will be home‑based with no travels foreseen. The consultant must be available during Europe and Central Asia Region (ECAR) working hours (GMT+3 to GMT+6) to coordinate across regional and country offices. Estimated Cost of the Consultancy & Payment Schedule To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… Minimum requirements Education: Advanced university degree in public health, water and sanitation engineering, environmental sciences, or related fields. Work Experience: Minimum eight (8) years of progressively responsible professional experience in WASH programming, across both development and emergency contexts. Experience in WASH systems strengthening, WASH in institutions (e.g., schools and health care facilities), and climate‑resilient / DRR‑sensitive WASH. Experience and familiarity of working in the Europe and Central Asia Region (ECAR) or comparable regional context. Experience supporting regional roles, multi‑country portfolios, and organisational transition processes. Familiarity with inter‑agency humanitarian coordination mechanisms and emergency preparedness. Technical Competencies: Strong understanding of WASH programme design, monitoring, reporting, and sector coordination. Demonstrated capability to coordinate across sectors and work with governments and development partners. Familiarity with UNICEF programme procedures, tools, and systems is required. Language: Fluency in English (written and verbal). Other: Strong analytical, communication, and writing skills Ability to work independently, handle multiple priorities, and meet deadlines. Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate with diverse teams. Desirables Experience facilitating virtual learning and cross‑country knowledge exchange Knowledge of Russian or another regional language. For every Child, you demonstrate… UNICEF’s core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS), and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. To view our competency framework, please visit here. Remarks Please submit a full CV, aCover Letter, and at least two (2) recent writing samples (URL or as attachments) in your application. Additionally, indicate your availability and professional fee (in USD) to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without a professional fee will not be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully‑vaccinated status against SARS‑CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts. UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most marginalized children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. UNICEF has a zero‑tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check. #J-18808-Ljbffr