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, for every child, the right to care
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbkJiMmvKqk

How can you make a difference?
Purpose of the job:
Under the overall direction and guidance of the WASH Emergency Manager and, the WASH Specialist Cluster Coordinator will provide leadership and representation of the WASH Cluster/ Sector/ Working Group at the National level. Together with the WASH in Emergencies Manager and with support from WASH Specialist at the regions, they will facilitate the processes that will ensure a well-coordinated, strategic, adequate, coherent, and effective response by participants in the national Cluster/ Sector/ Working Group that is accountable to those who are affected by the emergency. In their effort to provide an efficient and effective response to the humanitarian crisis, the WASH Specialist Cluster Coordinator is responsible for building relationships with stakeholders, securing the overall coordination of sectoral responses and for ensuring inter-sectoral collaboration at the national level, and for ensuring adequate coordination with the national level.
Summary of key functions/accountabilities:
1. Coordination, representation and leadership
2. Needs assessment and analysis
3. Strategic response planning
4. Resource mobilization and advocacy
5. Implementation and monitoring
6. Operational peer review and evaluation
7. Accountability to affected populations
8. Strengthen national and local capacity
If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: [JD/TOR WASH Specialist (Cluster Coordinator), FT, NOC, Kabul]
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Minimum requirements:
Education:
- An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: public health, social sciences, sanitary engineering, civil engineering, health and hygiene behavior change communication, WASH-related engineering or another relevant technical field.
- Additional relevant post-graduate courses that complement/ supplement the main degree are a strong asset.
- A first University Degree in a relevant field (as mentioned above), combined with 2 additional years (minimum 7 years in total) of professional experience, may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree or any other relevant discipline.
Work Experience:
- A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in WASH-related programmes planning and management is required. Relevant experience in programme management in WASH related areas in a UN system agency or organization is considered an asset.
- Experience in humanitarian contexts is required. Experience in development contexts is an added advantage.
- Experience of working in the humanitarian coordination system is desirable.
- Experience in effective management of human resources/teams in high stress/risk environments is an advantage.
- Experience in a mixed set of country contexts, in multiple geographic regions, including a deployment mission with UN, Government or INGO is strongly desirable.
Language Requirements:
- Fluency in English and the official UN language of the duty station are required. Knowledge of other languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) and a local language is considered an asset.
Desirables:
- Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.
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…
(1) Builds and maintains partnerships
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with others.
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 encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.
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.
UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.
Remarks:
As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.
UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.
Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions 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.
UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.
Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.
Visa residence requirements: UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.
All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.
Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.