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UNICEF Ukraine 

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Please find details in attached TOR:

 TOR International WASH Cluster Lead - East_new

How can you make a difference? 

Purpose of assignment:

The objective of this roving position is to systematically improve the capacity of the Sub-national WASH Cluster along its 6+1 cluster core functions – as per the IASC Reference Module for Cluster Coordination. By the end of the assignment, the Sub-national WASH Cluster will be increasingly sustainable and fully reliant on national capacity within UNICEF and relevant national governmental and non-governmental counterparts. This will include developing and handing over:

A high-quality and effective subnational coordination mechanism. Subnational workplans. Analysis of current cluster operations and response with concrete recommendations to improve. Situation monitoring systems and tools. Response monitoring systems and tools. Contingency planning capacity. Improved reporting tools (templates, etc.).

Technical capacity and mentorship of local staff and actors will also be undertaken. The Sub-national Cluster mechanism depends on the prioritization of the national WASH Cluster’s core functions, including service delivery, HC/HCT strategic decision-making for humanitarian response, planning and strategy development and advocacy in Ukraine. The Sub-national Cluster expert will require to undertake a diverse function and set of tasks, with a focus on tracking of needs and responses to inform operations and performing a mixed role with the management of data collection, analysis and reporting of the Cluster-led mechanism for monitoring and reporting of WASH incidents. The Sub-national Cluster expert will also provide inputs to the National Cluster Coordinator in the HNRP cycle for 2026. Overarching the role’s responsibilities will be capacitating national WASH Cluster stakeholders (UNICEF and other Cluster co-lead colleagues) to maintain effective WASH Cluster coordination as the needs of the humanitarian response continue.

Work assignment overview:

Deliverable

Deadline

# of w/days

Deliverable 1: Sub-national coordination platforms strengthened. Develop and implement a plan to strengthen sub-national coordination in each AOR. The plan should integrate WASH actors (private sector, local, national and international organizations and authorities, etc.) with the Field Offices’ cluster colleagues and maintain an appropriate humanitarian coordination and mechanism at subnational levels for timely, effective and efficient WASH activities, which also complements inter-cluster and national level processes.

15 April 2026

20

Deliverable 2: Sub-national workplans

20 May 2026

25

Deliverable 3: Response analysis completed. To support the effectiveness of the response in the geographical areas covered, review and improve tools used to coordinate activities, technical exchanges, and the promotion of guidelines of the national response strategy, humanitarian principles, intersectoral integration and cross-cutting themes.

01 July 2026

25

Deliverable 4: Robust situation monitoring mechanism developed. To ensure that the response is responsive to needs in the geographic areas covered, and to highlight gaps and issues and report back to the national level.

15 Aug 2026

25

Deliverable 5: Response monitoring tools developed. To ensure that the response in the geographical areas covered meets established standards and technical guidelines, and the identification of contextualized lessons and best practices in a collaborative and collective manner.

01 Oct 2026

25

Deliverable 6: Contingency plans at the local level in place. To ensure rapid response protocols to the risks identified in the geographical areas covered, coordinate the development of sub-cluster contingency plans. Use these plans to support the advocacy to increase existing capacities, if necessary.

15 Nov 2026

25

Deliverable 7: Capacity building and mentorship of the sub-national cluster colleagues (coordinators and information managers) to strengthen technical response capacities at the local level – to identify technical weaknesses among the actors in the geographical areas covered and identify solutions in collaboration with the national level.

31 Dec 2026

25

Deliverable 8: Sub-national inputs embedded in national system. Facilitate the dissemination of contributions, priorities and perceptions of sub-national clusters, stakeholders at the national level including, but not limited to, the HNRP, advocacy paper and sitreps.

1 Feb 2027

20

Deliverable 9: Information management tools improved. Review and improve existing data collection tools and systems.

18 Mar 2027

30

Sub-total:

220

Travel Plan:

Number of travel days within Ukraine*: 60 days (Destination TBD within East cluster AOR – 20 trips)

Round trip to duty station and back (1 trip).

Round trip leave from and back to duty station (3 trips)

* Before any field mission, Safe and Secure Approaches in Field Environments (SSAFE) and Individual First Aid Kit (IFAK) trainings must be completed. The 4-day training schedule must be agreed upon with the UNICEF security team.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

Minimum requirements:

Education: Master’s degree in emergencies, relevant social sciences, environmental science, water resources engineering or sanitation engineering or a related field.

Work Experience: 

5 or more years of progressively responsible humanitarian work experience within the UN and/or NGOs, including working in contexts and roles with direct emergency response and WASH Cluster coordination responsibilities. At least 1 year of experience as part of a WASH Cluster coordination unit.

Skills and competencies:

Core competencies:

Strong understanding of the humanitarian approach, humanitarian reform, transformative agenda and roles of each humanitarian actor (Government, UNOCHA, Clusters, organizations, communities) and the coordination and information requirements within a Cluster. Strong understanding of Clusters in emergencies regarding engagement with Cluster participants and their various Cluster-specific needs. Ability to establish and maintain working relations with Cluster participants and Government counterparts, to identify synergies and efficiencies in workflows. Diplomatic skills and ability to establish excellent working relations with partners to collect and share information. Facilitation and capacity development skills. Ability to perform several tasks in a timely manner with a focus on quality. Communicate key messages to different audiences.

Technical competencies:

Understanding of key WASH and related technical issues to engage with cluster participants and local authorities, as well as ability to identify their cluster-specific coordination and/or information management needs.

Language Requirements:

English: Proficient/Native [C2].

Desirables:

Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts. The ability to lead field monitoring, assessment processes and/or technical working groups is a district asset. Direct experience of the emergency response and WASH Cluster coordination in Ukraine is a distinct advantage.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

Remarks:  

Please indicate your all-inclusive (lump sum) fees in USD against the deliverables listed above, including all associated administrative and travel costs (if applicable). The office selects the individual based on best value for money.

Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy 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. Consultants 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 consultant 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 consultant 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. The vaccine mandate, 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 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.