UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is offering a full-time position within UNHCR Sub-Office, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh
The Position will be within UNHCR’s Technical Support, which is based in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. This exciting position is a unique opportunity to gain experience in not-for-profit branding as well as experience working within the UN system.
UNHCR is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people. Every year, millions of men, women and children are forced to flee their homes to escape conflict and persecution. We are in over 134 countries, using our expertise to protect and care for millions.
Organizational context:
In Bangladesh, Teknaf Upazila under Cox’s Bazar district has a long-established and serious problem with drinking water resources. Ground water is generally unavailable in the immediate area and surface water is difficult to manage, with limited appropriate areas for reservoirs. The 2017 forced displacement of Rohingya refugees therefore has introduced a severe strain on these already limited and underdeveloped water resources. To mitigate this problem, a project has been agreed and funded by the ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Japan which will be implemented by a UNHCR Partner. The project is to implement a feasibility study and infrastructure development for deep groundwater and surface water sources for the area of Teknaf in Southern Bangladesh, adjacent to the Rohingya Refugee camps.
UNHCR is looking for an experienced and outstanding Senior Water Officer to lead the project. This project is both high profile and complex, requiring a leader with proven coordination and management skills, able to build trust and consensus, coordinate with a wide range of stakeholders, pre-empt, manage, and mediate conflict situations between a diverse set of stakeholders to ensure programme outcomes are achieved. This will require strong leadership, awareness, sensitivity, diplomacy, and a thorough contextual understanding to know when to consult, lead, support or make decisions to achieve results.
The incumbent will be responsible for program and budget management, which will deliver the project through a range of contracts and partnership agreements of the following scope of works:
Ground Water Development.
One new wellfield of suitable size and depth, with associated collection, pumping and transmission infrastructure to provide up to 20% (assumption) of the water resources required by the host communities and refugees in the southern Teknaf area. This will include all associate infrastructure, including pumping stations, storage tanks, transmission mains and distribution networks.
Water Treatment Plant.
The construction of one new, centralized, well located, sustainable and unified conventional Water Treatment Plant (WTP).
Transmission and Distribution Network.
These new water resources would then be distributed to all users equitably through a new and unified transmission and distribution network, capable of taking water from areas of surplus to areas of severe deficit. It is expected that the outcome of the full programme, including existing planned African Development Bank (ADB) and World Bank (WB) interventions will, for the first time, supply sufficient water of good quality in the proximity of all the communities in the target area.
Surface Water Reservoir Development
One (or more) large, well designed, and engineered water reservoirs. Collecting and storing the significant wet season flows for dry season supply to host communities and refugees in the southern Teknaf area. A full professional feasibility study to be performed with a design of the project, and possibly exploring avenues of funding as well as negotiation with the Government of Bangladesh on a suitable implementing agency.
The Senior Water Engineer will be responsible for coordination, technical strategy and standard setting of the Water, sector responses related to the Teknaf water supply program in the host communities and adjacent refugee camps, including the responses of UNHCR and partners as relevant. The incumbent will be supervised by a Senior Operations/Technical Coordinator. In addition, the incumbent will be expected to work within multi-functional and interdisciplinary teams both within UNHCR as well as outside with stakeholders associated with the project including the Deputy Commissioners Office in Cox’s Bazar, The UNO’s Office in Teknaf, the WASH Sector, the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner’s office as well as various donors like the Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC), the Dutch Embassy etc
The Senior Water Engineer will support the UNHCR Operation, in coordination with the Government, to assess needs and coordinate the provision of WASH services to Persons of Concern (PoC) to UNHCR. This will include supporting the assessment and development of operational plans related to the Teknaf Water Supply Program and any associated works. The incumbent will be responsible for the coordination of program Partners in conjunction with government authorities, and for monitoring progress and quality of the water supply programme implementation to ensure that an adequate level of services is ensured at project sites in accordance with the UNHCR WASH manual, technical guidelines, and applicable UNHCR and/or national standards and the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets.
S/he will follow a rights-based and community focused approach to programme design and implementation working in close collaboration with UNHCR Partners.
The incumbent should maintain regular communication with the WASH team in HQ for technical advice, information, and access to updated global tools and resources.
Leadership and Coordination
Coordinate activities of relevant Partners, together with other UN agencies, governmental and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other partners to ensure delivery of Water supply services to beneficiaries (refugees and host community) meets UNHCR and /or nationally recognised and most up-to-date standards and policies.
Work closely with government and partners, following the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR), to unlock resources (humanitarian and development) for the design and construction of community-centred water infrastructure, improved and sustainable surface and underground water conditions in Teknaf and the safe management of water related services in the target project locations
Provide strong leadership in all decision-making regarding challenges related to the Teknaf Water supply program and associated services that takes into account the needs and capacities of PoC and relevant Partners including Governmental Partners,
Working with the Program Management Unit (PMU) Manager facilitate coordination among partners of the various projects, ensuring that inclusive and good practice coordination structures for all technical issues covered are in place, and that coordination functions at Cox’s Bazar and field levels are in line with operational and partner requirements.
Address gaps and overlaps in the JMoFA funded Teknaf Water supply Project as well as the proposed Surface Water improvement project including highlighting any potential unmet needs, and the activities are oriented to address priority water supply and management related issues.
Manage and provide support to a multi-sector “technical unit” in the AoR, including sector functions covering site planning, shelter, health, nutrition, and environment.
Provide support to national government(s) for inclusion of PoC within national SDG 6 development plans (Urban and Rural) and financing mechanisms and service delivery systems.
Build key WASH strategic partnerships with development and humanitarian agencies to support inclusion of refugee WASH services within national systems and development financing mechanisms.
Engage with Urban WASH actors (Municipal Authorities, Utilities, and relevant government line ministries) for preparedness planning, inclusion in pro-poor tariffs, and provision of WASH services to PoC hosted in urban areas.
WASH Strategy, Planning and Programme Support
Oversee the UNHCR coordination and technical response strategy setting within the WASH sector response at all operational locations in the AoR, and function as the UNHCR WASH sector (co-)lead.
Maintain a WASH strategy which identifies the targets and approaches for water supply, personal and environmental hygiene, and institutional WASH facilities. The strategy should include a contingency plan for potential epidemics, refugee and returnee movement.
Ensure the strategy is in alignment with UNHCR’s programming approach to WASH and the five WASH Protection Principles (see WASH Manual) as well as the principles of the GCR.
Maintain and update WASH contingency plan for potential epidemics, refugee and returnee movement.
Decide priorities in the designing of implementation plan, in consultation with senior management and technical colleagues.
Work closely with UNHCR programme, field and protection staff to identify priority WASH and key data requirements for programme planning and monitoring to ensure that minimum UNHCR and international standards are being met.
Participate in the elaboration of the tender documents for the selection of construction companies.
Provide support to sound project management by helping during design, BOQ, tender and contract awarding process as well as conducting joint technical field visits with partners and contractors.
Participate in evaluating technical proposals against financial offers. Provide timely technical support in the management and implementation of UNHCR WASH program.
Provide strong leadership with WASH partners and other stakeholders, update detailed needs and resource assessments and revise designs and technical plans, taking into account practical aspects of implementation, long-term sustainable solutions, and relevant technical specifications and guidelines.
Lead, together with colleagues in human resources and programme, the recruitment efforts for WASH positions with an emphasis on promoting diversity within WASH staff- gender, geographic, thematic expertise, etc.
Ensure the WASH Strategy includes all UNHCR PoC, and considers at a minimum WASH access data collection, and advocacy for inclusion of all PoC (both in camp and out of camp) within national systems of WASH service provision.
Technical Assistance and Capacity Building
Provide strong leadership to ensure that the needs of women, children, the elderly and people living with disabilities are adequately addressed in planning and implementing WASH activities.
Lead in the support of operations to define the scope of UNHCR involvement, expressed in terms of overall and operational objectives during emergency, transition, and protracted phases.
Lead in the review and analysis of partner project proposals and budgetary submissions.
Use community-based approaches, including clear involvement of women, girls, boys, and men, elderly, persons with disabilities in the design of WASH related infrastructure, products, and services.
Provide technical assistance to UNHCR offices and programmes in the development, integration and mainstreaming of appropriate client-focused and cost-effective WASH programmes.
Develop or ensure development of information, education and communication materials through community consultations, collaborating with women, girls, boys, men, elderly, persons with disability, and other potentially marginalised groups.
Facilitate capacity strengthening activities of UNHCR and its implementing/operational partners to address key areas of WASH importance to PoC.
Build the capacity and competence of UNHCR’s staff on both hardware and software components of WASH.
Ensure community capacity building is carried out through multi-discipline teams working with women, girls, men, and boys of the community to train and empower them on WASH related aspects including hygiene promotion, operation and maintenance, monitoring and reporting, and other topics.
Field(s) of Education
Civil Engineering/ Water Engineering/ Hydrology/ Water resource development.
9 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 8 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 7 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree
Work Experience
5 years project management experience in humanitarian and development contexts which includes, proven experience managing large scale water and/or sanitation infrastructure projects; experience working in the UN or other international development organization is preferable.
Vast experience in ground water and surface water management including test boring, soil investigation, treatment, transmission and distribution networks.
Experience in strategic planning and performance measurement, including indicator selection, target setting, reporting, and database management.
Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills.
Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing.
Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels.
Familiarity with tools and approaches of WASH programs (i.e., hygiene promotion, theories of water extraction and treatment).
Working experience with governments and other stakeholders on complex projects/initiatives is desirable.
Language Requirements:
Core Competencies:
Accountability
Communication
Organizational Awareness
Teamwork & Collaboration
Commitment to Continuous Learning
Client & Result Orientation
Managerial Competencies:
Managing Performance
Judgement and Decision Making
Leadership
Managing Resources
Cross-Functional Competencies:
Analytical Thinking
Technological Awareness
Stakeholder Management
The successful candidate will be based with the team in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.
The initial duration of contract is for 12 months, to align with our budget year 2021/ 2022 proportionally. This is a full-time role with working hours starting from 8.00am to 5.00 pm Sunday to Thursday (40 hours per week).
This vacancy is archived.