UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, Sanitation

UNICEF has been working in Cameroon since 1975 to allow women and children to fully realize their rights to development without restriction, as enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. UNICEF provides financial and technical support to Cameroon across seven areas to fully realize the rights of women and children. These areas include Health, HIV/AIDS, Water-sanitation-Hygiene, nutrition, education, child protection, and social inclusion. UNICEF focuses mainly on children and the most vulnerable and excluded families. Cameroon’s 2020 population is estimated at 26,545,863 people according to UN data. The population is young and generates strong socioeconomic demand. In rural areas, limited access to basic social services and the effects of climate change led to household impoverishment and severe child deprivations. The task is immense but not insurmountable; it requires the energy of all stakeholders in Cameroon and outside of Cameroon: also, women, men, youth and children, government, technical and financial partners, donors, civil society, the private sector, parliamentarians, and communities. Everyone is invited to take part in the struggle to meet the challenges that lie ahead. It is together that we will act for Cameroon, a country that summarizes the challenges and hopes of Africa.

The WASH Officer reports to the Chief Field Office Buea and HAS AS technical supervisor the Chief WASH. The WASH Officer provides technical, operational, and administrative assistance throughout the WASH programming process. The Officer prepares, manages, and implements a variety of technical and administrative tasks, related to the development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the WASH output results of the country programme.

 Key tasks and responsibilities:

The post holder has joint responsibility with the Cluster Lead Agency, resourcing partners, and all cluster participants at the national and sub-national level for the efficient management and functioning of the WASH Area of Responsibility encompassing the following:

• Establish and maintain an appropriate humanitarian coordination mechanism.
• Strengthen pre-existing sectoral coordination through increased predictability and accountability.
• Build complementarity of partner actions: avoiding duplication and gaps.
• Ensure adequate resources are mobilized and equitably allocated for the effective functioning of the cluster and its response.
• Effective and comprehensive integration of relevant cross-cutting issues, including age, gender, environment, and HIV/AIDs.
• Maintain flexibility within the cluster to respond to changes in the operating environment, evolving requirements, capacities, and participation.
• Effectively use and transfer information to, from, and between cluster participants and other stakeholders.
• Interact with other clusters (including through inter-cluster coordination fora), humanitarian actors, government counterparts, and relevant authorities for operational planning, engagement, and active contribution of operational partners.
• Be accountable to the affected population through effective and inclusive consultative and feedback mechanisms.
• Monitor the performance of the core cluster functions.
• To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have

  EDUCATION

  • University degree in one of the following fields is required: public health, social sciences, behavior change communication, sanitary engineering, or another relevant technical field.
  • Additional relevant post-graduate courses that complement/supplement the main degree area strong asset.
  • Formal training in cluster coordination is an advantage

  WORK EXPERIENCE

  A minimum of two years of professional work experience in WASH-related programmes for developing countries is required

  LANGUAGES

  • Fluency in French and English is required.

   

  UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

  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 is committed to promoting 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.

  Remarks:

  UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to delivering the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.

  UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed a

  The VA is open to all (internal and external candidates)

  UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

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