Stretch Assignment: WASH Specialist NOC/P3, Guinea CO (Onsite)
Title: WASH Specialist
Reports to: Deputy Representative
Duration: 3 months
Section: WASH
Location: Conakry, Guinea
Dates/Duration: Stretch assignment 3 months from the beginning of October 2025.
Eligibility: All Fixed-Term, Permanent or continuing appointment UNICEF staff members currently working in UNICEF worldwide.
Purpose of the Position
Under the direct supervision and guidance of the Deputy Representative, and in collaboration with the Construction Specialist, the WASH Specialist is responsible for ensuring the timely completion of infrastructure projects by the end of 2025, while maintaining high standards of quality and technical oversight across health centers, schools, and communities. The role also involves strengthening infection prevention and control (IPC) in health facilities, building local capacity for sustainable water management, and promoting the integration of WASH into education and social policy frameworks. Additionally, the Specialist will support financial tracking in line with donor requirements, enhance coordination and visibility efforts, and reinforce connections between national and local systems to improve rural WASH service delivery.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS
• Accelerate implementation of ongoing WASH infrastructure initiatives, ensuring timely delivery of activities funded under RR, KOICA, and MUSKOKA, particularly those due for completion by end of 2025.
• Support implementation of the emergency floods response related to WASH interventions, in coordination with the Chief of field operations.
• Provide technical oversight and quality assurance for WASH infrastructure works (e.g., in health centers, schools, and communities), including procurement inputs, design validation, supervision, and certification.
• Strengthen Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures in health facilities, including capacity development of local stakeholders and frontline workers in line with national standards.
• Support capacity development of local government structures and community-based actors for sustainable management of water points and WASH services, including systems for maintenance, monitoring, and local financing.
• Provide implementation support to ensure integration of WASH in key cross-sectoral platforms (CSD, education, social policy), especially in hard-to-reach or high-burden areas.
• Assist in financial tracking and utilization plans for WASH resources, ensuring alignment with donor requirements and internal deadlines.
• Support coordination and reporting, including inputs to donor reports, SitReps, and external presentations to partners, ensuring visibility and accountability for all WASH investments.
• Facilitate linkages between national and decentralized levels for technical backstopping, with a focus on building sustainable institutional systems for rural WASH service delivery.
• Any other tasks as requested by the Supervisor of the stretch assignment.
Minimum Qualifications and Competencies
• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: civil engineering, public health, social sciences, behavior change communication, sanitary engineering, or another relevant technical field.
• Minimum five (5) years of progressively responsible experience working on WASH-related programmes.
Key skills
• Strong planning, coordination, and organizational skills
• Fluency in French and working knowledge of English are required
• Results-driven with attention to detail
• Client-oriented mindset and ability to manage competing priorities
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Uphold UNICEF Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, Sustainability
• Demonstrate UNICEF competencies: Builds and maintains partnership - Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness - Drives to achieve results for impact - Innovates and embraces change - Manages ambiguity and complexity - Thinks and acts strategically - Works strategically with others.
Funding arrangement
The applicable DSA for stretch assignment, set at 100 % for the first two months and 50% for the remaining duration of the assignment, and an economy ticket will be covered.
HOW TO APPLY
This opportunity is open to all qualified UNICEF staff members on Fixed-Term, Continuing or Permanent appointment within UNICEF.
To apply, please take the following steps:
• Discuss this stretch assignment with your supervisor as well as Head of Office and obtain his/her agreement prior to submitting your application. The agreement of your supervisor and Head of Office is a prerequisite for this stretch assignment;
Attach to your application's email the following documents:
- An updated CV
- Last two PERs
- A cover letter outlining your motivation for applying
- Approval from the supervisor and Head of Office
Selection Process
A desk review will be used for the selection of the suitable candidate with informal discussion.