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UNICEF Ukraine
Background:
The Secretariat of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights (Secretariat of the Commissioner) is preparing a Special Report on the state of citizens' rights to safe and accessible drinking water, particularly under the legal framework of martial law. The report aims to assess how Ukraine’s national legislation aligns with international standards, with a focus on the \"European Experience\" by analyzing the practices of Germany and Poland. The right to clean drinking water is a critical human right, especially in a country affected by conflict, where access to safe water may be compromised due to damaged infrastructure and other challenges.
Purpose of assignment:
The assignment seeks to provide a comprehensive comparative analysis to inform the Special Report on citizens’ rights to safe and clean drinking water, with a focus on drinking water and sanitation (WASH) services. The key objective is to support Ukraine’s efforts to improve water supply and hygiene services by aligning its legislation with best practices in Germany and Poland. The report also aims to strengthen Ukraine’s legislative response to ensuring the safety, quality, and accessibility of drinking water, with a focus on areas affected by conflict.
How can you make a difference?Key aspects of the assignment include:
Objective:
The primary objective is to conduct a comparative analysis of the legal frameworks in Germany and Poland, assessing how these countries regulate the right to safe and clean drinking water. The analysis will cover state responsibilities, water supply services, and collaboration between national and local authorities in securing clean water. Additionally, it will support efforts to strengthen Ukraine’s Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector, particularly through engagement with the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman’s office).
The key objectives of this assignment include:
Ensure access to safe and clean drinking water by reviewing international best practices for maintaining the quality and sustainability of water resources.
Strengthen WASH services by identifying effective strategies employed in Germany and Poland to provide continuous, safe water supply and adequate sanitation.
Promote legislative improvements in Ukraine’s legal framework regarding water quality, supply, and citizen access, especially in the context of emergency or conflict-related disruptions.
Collaborate with the Ombudsman’s Office to ensure the protection of human rights concerning access to clean drinking water, providing expert advice for the Special Report.
Expert’s Tasks:
Conduct a comparative analysis of Germany’s and Poland’s legislation regarding:
Control over drinking water supply, compliance with environmental and sanitary norms, and ensuring water quality.
Government and local authority measures to mitigate pollution in water sources.
Impact of industrial and business activities on the quality of drinking water.
Water consumption standards, pricing policies, and regulation of centralized water supply services.
Public participation in decision-making related to environmentally significant water management issues.
Compensation mechanisms for violations of the right to clean drinking water, including:
Compensation for state damages.
Compensation for citizens affected by water-related natural disasters.
Long-term health consequences from consuming poor-quality water, including the calculation of damage and possibilities for compensation.
Prepare analytical materials on each area, followed by an overarching comparative analysis of Germany’s and Poland’s legislation on drinking water rights and WASH services.
Deliver a detailed report (approximately 20 pages) to support the Special Report, including references to official sources and best practices for ensuring safe drinking water access in line with international standards.
Work assignment overview:
Deliverable
Deadline
# of w/days
Inception report with state of play
5 Dec 2024
7
Preparation of 1 information and analytical materials on each issue separately (10 pages)
16 Dec 2024
7
Preparation of a general comparative analysis of the legislation of Germany and Poland on these issues (20 pages)
23 Dec 2024
11
Sub-total:
25
Please provide an all-inclusive financial proposal including travels to carry out the deliverables listed above.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Education: Master's degree or higher in one of the following fields is required: in law, international relations, public administration, economics, or any other related technical field.
Professional experience:
Experience in participating in scientific-practical conferences on environmental law. Knowledge of Poland and German legislation are required. At least three years of experience in policy analysis, including at least one year in the analysis of legal actsLanguages:
Ukrainian: Proficient/Native [C2]; English: Intermediate [B1]; Poland: Intermediate [B1]; German: Intermediate [B1].Skills and competencies:
Excellent analytical and report writing skills Ability to produce high-quality results in a timely manner Good communication skills Good presentation skillsFor 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 here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.
UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.
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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.
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 to ensure 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.