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 innovate 

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 lead to household impoverishment and severe child deprivation. The task is immense but not insurmountable; it requires the energy of all stakeholders in Cameroon and out of Cameroon: also, women, men, youth and children, government, technical and financial partners, donors, civil society, the private sector, parliamentarians, communities. Everyone is invited to take part in the struggle to meet the challenges that lie ahead. Together, we will act for Cameroon, a country that summarizes the challenges and hopes of Africa.

To learn more about UNICEF Cameroon, use the below

link: https://unicef.sharepoint.com/sites/CMR/SitePages/AboutUs.aspx

How can you make a difference? 

Background

Access to adequate sanitation remains a significant challenge in Cameroon, particularly in rural areas, where progress towards universal coverage has been slow. According to the Cameroon Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) 2018, only 29% of rural households have access to improved sanitation facilities, and 19% continue to practice open defecation. This situation exposes communities to high risks of diarrheal diseases, parasitic infections, undernutrition, and environmental contamination, with children under five being the most affected.

The Government of Cameroon has committed to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6.2, which aims to end open defecation and ensure access to adequate and equitable sanitation for all by 2030. Rural sanitation is recognized as a priority area, with Community-Led Total Sanitation adopted as a key strategy to trigger behavior change and eliminate open defecation. However, CLTS alone is insufficient to achieve safely managed sanitation services, which require sustained investments in improved sanitation facilities, hygiene promotion, and solid waste and fecal sludge management systems.

UNICEF’s Country Program prioritizes rural sanitation as a core component of its WASH strategy to achieve Key Results for Children 8 (KRC8) ensuring that children live in a clean and safe environment. Furthermore, improving sanitation in rural areas contributes directly to better health and nutrition outcomes, particularly during the first 1,000 days of life, which is critical for child growth, development, and cognitive potential (Black et al., 2013; Prüss-Ustün et al., 2019).

 

Scope of Work:

The consultant will undertake the following tasks:

1. Conduct a desk review of existing documentation and data on:
• National policies, strategies, and budget frameworks for rural sanitation, Current financing mechanisms for sanitation in Cameroon
• National policies, strategies, and budget allocations for sanitation
• Previous studies, investment cases, and costing analyses related to rural sanitation financing in Cameroon and similar contexts.
2. Map the existing financial flows to the sanitation sector in Cameroon, identifying:
• Sources of financing (government, development partners, private sector, microfinance institutions)
• Current levels of investment allocated to rural sanitation interventions
• Regional or geographical disparities in financing flows
• Benchmark Cameroon’s rural sanitation investments against other low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to assess relative adequacy and identify potential gaps and opportunities
• Analyze climate financing opportunities that can be leveraged for rural sanitation, including existing climate funds, green bonds, and adaptation financing mechanisms.
3. Identify and analyze bottlenecks and barriers preventing effective financial flows towards rural sanitation implementation, including:
• Institutional barriers (e.g. policy gaps, coordination challenges, unclear roles)
• Technical barriers (e.g. lack of capacity to design bankable projects, implementation inefficiencies)
• Evidence barriers (e.g. insufficient data to justify increased financing, lack of cost-benefit data to justify investment decisions).
4. Develop an investment case for scaling up rural sanitation in Cameroon, which should include:
• Identification of high-impact interventions and solutions for accelerating rural sanitation achievements
• Cost estimation for implementing these interventions over short, medium, and long-term timeframes (from 5 years)
• Analysis of expected returns on investment, including health outcomes (e.g. reduction in diarrheal diseases), economic benefits (e.g. productivity gains, reduced health expenditure), social impacts (e.g. dignity, safety for women and girls) and climate resilience benefits.
5. Identify and propose financing strategies and mechanisms to increase the flow of funds to rural sanitation, including:
• Options for leveraging private sector engagement and financing
• Approaches for mobilizing microfinance institutions (e.g. MUFID)
• Advocacy recommendations for increased national budget allocations
• Innovative financing approaches applicable to the sanitation sector in Cameroon
• Leveraging climate financing and blended finance approaches
• Assess existing and potential Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements in the sanitation sector to identify opportunities and strategies for leveraging private sector participation and financing in rural sanitation programs.
6. Engage with key stakeholders (e.g. government ministries, development partners, private sector actors, microfinance institutions, NGOs) through interviews, focus group discussions, or consultative meetings to validate findings and ensure relevance.
7. Develop practical and actionable recommendations to:
• Address identified bottlenecks and barriers
• Inform policy, program, and advocacy strategies for enhanced rural sanitation financing.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  ToR Consultant in charge of the study on the Identification of viable financing or mechanisms for rural sanitation in Cameroon_.pdf

Duration :

The consultation will run from 1st September 2025 to 30 November 2025.

Deliverables:

To achieve the objectives of the consultancy, the following results are expected:

Work Assignment Overview
Tasks/Milestone	Deliverables/Outputs	Timeline	Estimate Budget
Desk review of existing documents and data; Mapping of existing financial flows for, Identification	D0. Inception Report detailing methodology, work plan, and data collection tools D1. Financial Flow Mapping and Benchmarking Report (Draft section) Comprehensive mapping of existing financial flows for rural sanitation in Cameroon Benchmarking analysis comparing Cameroon’s rural sanitation investments with those of other low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)	First month after signature of contract (September 2025)	40%
Mapping of existing financial flows for, Identification and analysis of financing bottlenecks and barriers	D2. Bottleneck and Barrier Analysis (Draft section)       Identification and detailed analysis of institutional, technical, and evidence barriers hindering financial flows to rural sanitation
Stakeholder consultations (interviews, FGDs Draft Investment Case for Rural Sanitation, meetings)	D3. Summary of key insights and validation inputs gathered from stakeholder interviews, focus group discussions, and consultative meetings
Draft Investment Case for Rural Sanitation	D4. Investment case report, which includes: Identification of high-impact interventions and solutions for scaling up rural sanitation Cost estimation for short, medium, and long-term implementation horizons (e.g. 1 year, 3 years, 5 years) Analysis of expected returns on investment, including health, nutrition, economic, and climate resilience benefits	Second month after signature of contract (October 2025)	40%
Draft Financing Strategy and Mechanisms Report	D5. Proposed financing strategies and mechanisms, including public sector budget advocacy, PPP models, microfinance engagement, and climate financing options report
Finalization of report and submission	D6. The final report for submission that includes: Analysis of financial flows and benchmarking Bottleneck and barrier analysis Rural sanitation investment case (interventions, costs, returns) Financing strategies and mechanisms (including climate financing opportunities) Actionable recommendations.	Third month after signature of contract (November 2025)	20%
Workshop to present the deliverable (3 days)	D7. Presentation and Validation of research

Payment details and other considerations

Payment of professional fees will be based on the submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment if the products delivered do not conform to the required standards or if the consultant is late in submitting them.

Submission of applications :

Interested candidates are requested to apply and upload the following documents :

• Letter of interest (covering letter), CV or curriculum vitae
• Performance evaluation reports or references from similar consultancy assignments (if available)
• A financial proposal: All-inclusive lump sum cost including medical insurance with medivac, travel and accommodation expenses for this assignment, in accordance with the work assignment. Cf.  Financial Proposal Template.xlsx
• A technical proposal: A detailed methodological note for carrying out this assignment, with an indicative timetable for the various stages of the consultation and the products or deliverables expected, together with the related costs.
• A copy of diplomas

 

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Hold a university degree (Master) in the following fields: Economics, Finance, Public Health, Public Policy, Development Studies, Environmental Engineering, or other related fields.

• Work Experience: At least 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in:
  • sector financing (WASH, public health, education…), resource mobilization, or investment case development
  • Economic and financial analysis in the context of development or public health programs
  • Conducting studies or consultancies involving policy and financing bottleneck analysis

• Proven experience in developing investment cases, costing models, or financing strategies for sanitation or related sectors.

Languages: Fluency in French (spoken and written); Proficiency in English is an asset.

Desirables:

• A focus or additional training in WASH financing, investment analysis, or development economics is an asset. 
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts. 

Technical expertise:

• Strong knowledge of sanitation financing frameworks.
• Proven expertise in financial analysis, investment case development, and cost-benefit analysis in development programs.
• Solid understanding of public financial management systems, budgeting processes, and sector financing in developing countries.
• Familiarity with Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models and innovative financing mechanisms for WASH.

Analytical and Research Skills

• Excellent skills in data analysis and interpretation, including financial and economic data.
• Ability to synthesize complex information and present it in clear, actionable formats for policy and program decision-making.
• Experience in conducting bottleneck and barrier analyses and proposing practical solutions.

Communication and Interpersonal Skills

• Strong writing and presentation skills, with a track record of producing high-quality reports, briefs, and presentations.
• Ability to engage effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, including government officials, private sector actors, microfinance institutions, and development partners.
• Excellent facilitation skills for stakeholder consultations and validation meetings.

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 females or disabled 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.

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.