United Nations Children’s Fund
(UNICEF)
Kenya Country Office, Nairobi
Vacancy Announcement: Wash Cluster Coordinator
Temporary Appointment (NO-C)
Duration: 9 months
Date of Issue: 03 September, 2014Duration: 9 months
Closing Date: 17
September, 2014
Applications are hereby invited from suitably qualified candidates to fill the above Temporary Appointment position in the WASH Section, UNICEF Kenya Country Office
Applications are hereby invited from suitably qualified candidates to fill the above Temporary Appointment position in the WASH Section, UNICEF Kenya Country Office
Purpose of the Post: Under the guidance of the Chief of WASH, UNICEF Kenya, and supervision of the IASC Humanitarian Coordinator, the incumbent will be responsible for the day-to day leadership and facilitate the processes that will ensure a well-coordinated and effective WASH response in Kenya.
Background and Justification: Kenya experiences humanitarian emergencies linked
to natural disasters such as drought and floods, and outbreaks of human and
livestock diseases. Drought and flood patterns have become more frequent,
intense and unpredictable with the number of people living in areas vulnerable
to these disasters in Kenya increasing annually.
They affect over 10 million people, mostly
living in arid and semi-arid lands - which cover more than 80 per cent of the
country’s land mass. Additionally, there is often a risk of population
movements due to ethno-political or resource-based conflicts.
Humanitarian emergencies often require coordinated multi-sectoral humanitarian response. It is for this purpose that the Water and Environmental Sanitation Coordination mechanism (WESCOORD) was established as a technical arm of Kenya Food Security Steering group (KFSSG) - shortly after the La-Nina related drought of 2000/2001.
Humanitarian emergencies often require coordinated multi-sectoral humanitarian response. It is for this purpose that the Water and Environmental Sanitation Coordination mechanism (WESCOORD) was established as a technical arm of Kenya Food Security Steering group (KFSSG) - shortly after the La-Nina related drought of 2000/2001.
This sector coordination platform
brings together agencies active in responding to humanitarian WASH needs of
populations affected by emergencies in the country.
Overall, the coordination of WASH interventions in Kenya is led by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Natural Resources (MEWNR), and the Ministry of Health (MoH).
Overall, the coordination of WASH interventions in Kenya is led by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Natural Resources (MEWNR), and the Ministry of Health (MoH).
UNICEF, as the WASH Cluster lead
agency, is responsible for ensuring that the cluster approach is effectively
carried out in Kenya. In the last couple of years, WESCOORD’s performance as a
sector coordination forum improved greatly after the establishment of a
permanent secretariat at the MEWNR offices; and UNICEF’s increased technical
capacity support to WESCOORD for coordination and information management.
Scope of Work
Responsibility for WASH Cluster Coordinator
Scope of Work
Responsibility for WASH Cluster Coordinator
Under the guidance of the IASC
Humanitarian Coordinator in Kenya and UNICEF (as the lead agency for the IASC
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Sector), and in collaboration with the State
Authorities, the main purpose of the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
Cluster Coordinator post is to provide leadership and facilitate the processes
that will ensure a well-coordinated, coherent, strategic, and effective WASH
response in Kenya by a mobilized and adequately resourced groups of agencies,
organizations, NGOs, local communities etc.
Given the frequency of emergencies
caused by conflict or natural phenomena in Kenya, as well as the commitment of
UNICEF to support WASH cluster coordination even in more “normal” times and
ensure a well-functioning sector with clear strategies of DRR, recovery and
support to building resilience and coping mechanisms especially in more
vulnerable communities, it is felt important to create a National post to
continue supporting the government in this critical sector on a medium term
basis.
The post in close coordination with
the Chief of WASH and WASH section will focus on enhancing the institutional
capacity of the cluster members and systems strengthening in DRR in normal
times for a more coordinated and effective response in emergencies and to
mitigate its effects.
The IASC Humanitarian Coordinator
(HC) retains the principle responsibility for the overall humanitarian response
and thus the WASH Cluster Coordinator will report to the Humanitarian
Coordinator, through UNICEF representative and Chief of WASH Section on all
issues related to the functioning of the WASH Sector. The AISC HC will be
supported by OCHA and may delegate some reporting tasks to others.
The role of WASH Sector Coordinator
is facilitation of the coordination process.
Accountabilities and Scope of Work
Accountabilities and Scope of Work
The accountability and key
end-results set out below are those of the WASH Sector Lead Agency.
It is the role of the WASH Sector
Co-ordinator to ensure these are attained through the combined efforts of
him/herself, of the WASH Sector Support Team (when provided) and of the WASH
Country Sector Group.
The WASH Sector Co-ordinator may
supervise a number of staff (provided either solely by the lead agency or in
collaboration with others such as UNOCHA and other WASH organizations) as the
WASH Sector Support Team.
In Kenya the sector is jointly
coordinated by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Natural Resources,
Ministry of Health and UNICEF through the WESCOORD secretariat. The WASH
Cluster Coordinator will be expected to divide his/her time between the two
offices.
In line with the transformative
agenda, the WASH Cluster Coordinator will provide leadership and ensure improved
accountability and coordination.
The Cluster Coordinator will support
and strengthen capacity of the government to effectively lead the cluster and
support the sub-national coordination mechanisms.
The exact tasks and responsibilities
will depend on the nature, size and scope of the emergency/programme, as well
as existing capacity of national government and the international
community.
In this respect they will include but
may not be limited to the following:
1. Inclusion of key humanitarian partners:
- Ensure inclusion of key WASH humanitarian
partners in a way that respects their mandates and programme priorities
- Act as focal point for inquiries on the WASH
Sector’s response plans and operations.
2. Establishment and
maintenance of appropriate humanitarian coordination mechanisms:
- Ensure appropriate coordination between all
WASH humanitarian partners (national and international NGOs, the
International Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, etc…), through maintenance
of appropriate WASH Sector /sector coordination mechanisms, including
working groups at the national and, if necessary, local level;
- Secure commitments from WASH humanitarian
partners in responding to needs and filling gaps, ensuring an appropriate
distribution of responsibilities within the WASH group, with clearly
defined focal points for specific issues where necessary;
- Ensure the complementarity of different WASH
humanitarian actors’ actions;
- Promote WASH emergency response actions while
at the same time considering WASH within early recovery planning as well
as prevention and risk reduction concerns;
- Ensure effective links with other Sector
/sector groups;
- Provide support to Ministry of Environment,
Water & Natural Resources and Ministry of Health to maintain and
strengthen WASH Cluster functions and WASH Emergency Sector Coordination
through the WESCOORD (Water & Environmental Sanitation) structure
under the Kenya Food Security Group.
- Ensure effective links with and participation
in existing GoK emergency structures such as the Crisis Response Centre
(CRC), National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC) etc.
- Ensure that WASH coordination mechanisms are
adapted over time to reflect the capacities of local actors and the
engagement of development partners;
- Represent the interests of the WASH Cluster in
discussions with the Humanitarian Coordinator and other stakeholders on
prioritization, resource mobilization and advocacy;
- Maintain information on all current and
potential WASH partners, their capacities and areas of work (including
Who, What, Where and by When).
3. Coordination with
national/local authorities, State institutions, local civil society and other
actors:
- Ensure that WASH humanitarian responses build
on local capacities;
- Ensure appropriate links with national and local
authorities, State institutions, local civil society and other relevant
actors (e.g. peacekeeping forces) and ensure appropriate coordination and
information exchange with them.
4. Participatory and
community-based approaches:
- Ensure utilization of participatory and
community based approaches in WASH related assessments, analysis,
planning, monitoring and response.
5. Attention to priority
cross-cutting issues:
- Ensure integration of agreed priority
cross-cutting issues in WASH assessments, analysis, planning, monitoring
and response (e.g. age, diversity, environment, gender, HIV/AIDS and human
rights);
6. Needs assessment and
analysis:
- Ensure effective and coherent WASH assessment
and analysis, involving all relevant partners
7. Emergency preparedness:
- Ensure adequate WASH related contingency
planning and preparedness for potential significant changes in the nature
of the emergency;
8. Planning and strategy development: Ensure
predictable WASH action within;
- WASH assessment and analysis; development
(adaptation of generic standards) of standard assessment formats;
- Identification of gaps in the field of WASH
and conceptualize how sectoral needs can be met through collective
delivery
- Developing/updating agreed WASH response
strategies and action plans and ensuring that these are adequately
reflected in the overall country strategies, such as the Common
Humanitarian Action Plan (CHAP) an integral component of the CAP process.
- Drawing lessons learned from past WASH
activities and revising strategies and action plans accordingly;
- Developing an exit, or transition, strategy
for the WASH interventions and key Sector /sector partners.
9. Application of standards:
- Ensure that WASH Cluster /sector participants
are aware of relevant policy guidelines, SPHERE standards, technical
standards and relevant commitments that the Government/concerned
authorities have undertaken under international human rights law;
- Ensure that WASH responses are in line with
existing policy guidance, technical standards, and relevant Government
human rights legal obligations.
- Support compilation and sharing of WASH Sector
standard designs, best practices and unit costs of WASH emergency
intervention infrastructure.
10. Monitoring and reporting:
- Ensure adequate monitoring mechanisms are in
place (with OCHA support) to review impact of WASH interventions and
progress against implementation plans. This specifically needs to
include an analytical interpretation of best available information in
order to benchmark progress of the emergency response over time.
That is monitoring indicators - quantity, quality, coverage, continuity
and cost. Target population data including desegregation by sex and
age of service delivery which are derived from working towards meeting previously
defined standards.
- Ensure adequate WASH impact reporting and
effective information sharing (with OCHA support) to demonstrate the
closing of gaps.
11. Advocacy and resource
mobilization:
- Identify core WASH advocacy concerns,
including resource requirements, and contribute key messages to broader
advocacy initiatives of the HC, UNICEF and other actors;
- Advocate for donors to fund WASH actors to
carry out priority WASH activities in the sector concerned, while at the
same time encouraging WASH actors to mobilize resources for their
activities through their usual channels.
12. Training and capacity
building:
- Promote and support training of WASH
humanitarian personnel and capacity building of humanitarian partners,
based on the mapping and understanding of available capacity;
- Support efforts to strengthen the WASH
capacity of the national/local authorities and civil society.
13. Provision of assistance or
services as a last resort: Where
critical gaps in addressing WASH priorities are identified the WASH Cluster/Sector
Coordinator will:
- Lobby for implementing humanitarian partners
(including UNICEF WES) to address the gaps.
- With advice/support from the HC and support
from other humanitarian partners will advocate, as appropriate, on the
adequate provision of resources and safe access.
- If persistent gaps remain then with the full
support of the UNICEF Country Representative will specifically request
that the UNICEF take action to fill the critical gaps through direct
implementation action.
AWP Areas Covered
WASH Output 4: Institutional Development: National and County platforms for coordination of WASH activities including emergency WASH coordination strengthened and information management systems improved to support planning and evidence generation.
Expected Deliverables
The WASH Sector Coordinator will deliver the following:-
WASH Output 4: Institutional Development: National and County platforms for coordination of WASH activities including emergency WASH coordination strengthened and information management systems improved to support planning and evidence generation.
Expected Deliverables
The WASH Sector Coordinator will deliver the following:-
- Assist the Ministry of Environment, Water and
Natural Resources and Ministry of Health in setting the agenda and
chairing national WESCOORD meetings and also to strengthen WASH coordination
at sub-national levels;
- Representation of WASH Cluster/Sector in all
inter cluster, donor, government or other relevant meetings of for a;
- WASH Cluster Coordination functions as per
IASC accountabilities are fulfilled;
- Capacity gaps identified and assessed and
relevant training courses facilitated to address the gaps;
- All WASH Cluster/WESCOORD reporting
requirements are fulfilled in a timely manner (accountability);
- Leadership/Supervision of staff supporting the
cluster coordination.
Desired Background & Experience
Candidate Profile:
Candidate Profile:
The WASH Cluster Coordinator requires
both technical skills relevant to the position, as well as managerial and
organizational skill sets.
The following profile should be used
as a guide:
Technical Profile
Technical Profile
- Minimum of 5 years WASH Sector experience at
least two of which would be based in the field at Team Leader/WASH
programme management level;
- Significant experience in responding to
emergency situations;
- Demonstrable experience and knowledge of WASH
Cluster Approach;
- Experience in emergency preparedness and
response planning preferably within the AISC cluster framework;
- Experience of proposal and appeal writing
preferably within cluster framework;
- Experience of planning and facilitating
workshops, trainings, meetings, etc;
- A minimum of 5 year experience with either the
UN and/or NGO. Additional work experience(s) with UNICEF and/or WASH
partners desirable
Managerial Profile
- Able to manage and work with a
multidisciplinary team of WASH professional and provide leadership and
guidance for coordination operations
- Good written and oral presentation skills
- Strong negotiation and interpersonal skills
- Willingness and ability to work in hardship
environments
- Cultural and Gender sensitivity
- Good knowledge of humanitarian coordination
practices
- Ability to lead in context of
partnership-building and consensual decision-making
- Fluency in English.
Education: Advanced
university degree in appropriate subject/areas of WASH, eg. Health Promotion or
Education, Civil or Public Health Engineering, Public Health (MPH),
Environmental Health, etc.
Competencies
- Communication
- Drive for Results
- Formulating Strategies and Concepts
- Relating and Networking
- Persuading and Influencing
- Applying Technical Expertise
- Learning & Research
- Working with People
- Planning and Organizing
Languages: Fluency in English. Knowledge of Kiswahili
would be an asset.
Interested and suitable candidates should ensure that they forward their applications along with their curricula vitae, to;
Interested and suitable candidates should ensure that they forward their applications along with their curricula vitae, to;
The Human Resources Manager
UNICEF Kenya Country Office
Email address: kenyahrvacancies@unicef.org
Please indicate Reference No. “KCO/WASH/2014/063” in the email subject.
UNICEF Kenya Country Office
Email address: kenyahrvacancies@unicef.org
Please indicate Reference No. “KCO/WASH/2014/063” in the email subject.
Interested candidates should also complete the Personal History (P11) form, which can be downloaded from the UNICEF Kenya website (http://www.unicef.org/kenya).
“Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply”
Zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse
UNICEF is a smoke-free environment