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, a Trustable hand
https://www.unicef.org/where-we-work
How can you make a difference?

Background and Purpose:
UNICEF, with financial support from KOICA, will implement the 2nd phase of a five-year (2025-2029) WASH in institutions (schools and health facilities) programme in Karamoja region, targeting approximately 27,500 children across 50 schools and 15 health facilities.
The programme will be implemented across all nine (9) districts of Karamoja: Amudat, Abim, Napak, Nakapiripirit, Nabilatuk, Kotido, Karenga, Moroto and Kaabong districts, with the aim of improving health and learning outcomes for children by enhancing access to climate-resilient water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services in schools and health facilities, while fostering gender-sensitive, disability-inclusive, and children-friendly environments in Karamoja region. The programme is expected to achieve three key outcomes:
1. Improved infrastructure to ensure the provision of basic WASH services in schools and health facilities.
2. Increased knowledge and skills of the district local governments and key stakeholders to promote key sanitation and hygiene practices and proper operation and maintenance of WASH facilities in schools and health facilities.
3. Strengthened governance for institutional WASH through evidence-based policies and practices.
In an effort to better understand the performance of WASH programming and strengthen accountability for achieving results, UNICEF Uganda is collaborating with UNICEF HQ to implement an Impact Evaluation of the project. The Impact Evaluation aims to empirically assess the effect of WASH interventions, primarily on the health outcomes among beneficiaries in schools and, to the extent feasible within the scope of the programme implemented in schools, on educational outcomes for children.
By comparing a treatment group with a control group, the evaluation will determine whether observed changes in the treatment group can be attributable to the climate resilient WASH intervention in schools. To support this effort, UNICEF is seeking the services of an experienced consultant in WASH programming and research to conduct a rapid assessment of WASH service conditions in Karamoja region. The rapid assessment will cover approximately 283 primary schools and 152 health facilities in Karamoja region. The results will guide the identification and prioritization of water scarce 100 schools and 15 health facilities for targeted WASH interventions and will also serve as a critical input for the Impact Evaluation research.
Justification
This WASH situation rapid assessment will be conducted in nine districts of Karamoja region,
covering approximately 283 primary schools and 152 health facilities. However, the programme will only target 100 schools for the impact evaluation study, including 50 schools for WASH interventions and 50 schools for control groups without WASH interventions. Rapid assessment is essential because there is a paucity of data on the status of WASH services and situation in schools and health facilities in the Karamoja region. Without a comprehensive and inclusive survey, it is not feasible to objectively pre-select the priority schools for intervention out of the total schools.
The consultant/partner will be required to collect information on the following areas:
School Information
• Basic data on number of students by gender, age group and number of teachers
• Establish the location of schools using GPS data Health Facility Information
• Basic data on number of health workers by gender, position and average of patients visit
• Establish the location of Health Facility using GPS data WASH facilities in schools and health facilities
• Water Scarcity The assessment will employ a multi-dimensional approach to evaluate water insecurity using components for schools and health facilities from the Household Water Insecurity Experiences (HWISE) Scale (or other similar scale), measuring four critical dimensions: accessibility (physical access and time to water sources), adequacy (sufficiency for drinking, cleaning, and hygiene needs), reliability (consistent availability throughout the school year and seasonal variations), and safety (water quality and treatment practices).
• Infrastructure functionality assessment will follow systematic observation protocols based on the WHO/UNICEF Surveillance of WASH in Schools Guide, documenting the operational status, design appropriateness, and maintenance conditions of all WASH facilities through structured checklists that capture availability, functionality, privacy, and accessibility for all users, especially the needs of post-menarche girls. This methodology will generate comparable water insecurity scores across schools and health facilities, enabling systematic ranking of the most vulnerable institutions while providing baseline data essential for the planned impact evaluation design and treatment/control group selection. Facilities may include latrines, bathing shelters, changing rooms for girls, urinals, hand washing facilities, garbage collection bins/pits.
• Assess the design of existing WASH infrastructure and use in approximately 283 primary schools and 152 health facilities in order to guide the proposed construction/rehabilitation of water systems and drainable latrines in terms of price of water, time taken to fetch water, type of water source, distance etc.
• Assess, determine and/or suggest the appropriateness of WASH facilities in terms of age groups, gender and disability and privacy/security.
Objectives

The purpose of this study is to assess the current infrastructural status of water and sanitation facilities in schools and health facilities in Karamoja region. The expected results will support the listing of 100 priority schools and 15 health facilities for WASH interventions. The survey will help to establish baseline information and as the sample frame for selecting the most vulnerable schools before conducting a baseline for the impact evaluation.
Major Tasks:

1. Developing an assessment tool and study plan
2. Update Inception report with feedback from UNICEF
3. Field work and data entry and analysis including GPS/photos
4. Draft report for review and feedback
5. Submission of final report

Deliverable
1. Draft rapid assessment plan and tools
2. Final Inception report
3. Weekly updates
4. Draft assessment report
5. Final rapid assessment report
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Technical Background and experience
1. At least (5) years of experience in WASH and/or public health programme management in the context of Uganda.
2. Demonstrated experience in conducting studies / assessments of WASH infrastructures in schools and health care facilities as well as working with children.
3. Ability to mobilize muti-disciplinary team involving WASH programme persons and enumerators.
4. Experience of working with relevant stakeholders from the government and non-governmental Institutions
5. Experience in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene programming, particularly WASH in schools and health care facilities.
6. Excellent communication, leadership and interpersonal skills.
7. Knowledge of English is mandatory
8. Computer literacy especially with Excel and GPS/photo management, is required
For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).
To view our competency framework, please visit here.
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.
According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.
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:
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract 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 and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors 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 candidate is solely responsible for ensuring 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 candidates 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. It 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.