Background

Purpose: In collaboration with the Ministry of Water and Energy and OCHA, the WASH Cluster coordination team provides technical and coordination support to the Ministry of Water and Energy (MOWE) specifically in coordination, monitoring, reporting, and data compilation for analysis of humanitarian and emergency WASH response activities in the country.UNICEF is the Cluster Lead Agency for the WASH Cluster. Information management is a core Cluster Function. The purpose of this role is to manage the collection, analysis, and sharing of information that is important for the WASH Cluster to make informed strategic decisions at the regional level.

Location: Addis Ababa, Oromia region

                 Note: Regional WASH IMO Officer is expected travel upon request by regional WASH cluster coordinators to support                                      humanitarian and emergency WASH response coordination in regions

Duration:  Until November 2022 with a possible extension dependent on performance, budget availability and emergency situation

Start Date: ASAP

Reporting to:  Regional WASH cluster coordinator

UNICEF serves as WASH Cluster Lead Agency (CLA) in coordination with the Ministry of Water and Energy (MOWE) in the country. The coordination mechanism is active and strong, with emergency task force (ETF) meetings conducted on regular basis. At the national level, the WASH Cluster co-led the ETF with the MOWE and makes contributions to the ETF meetings held under the chairmanship of MOWE. At the regional level, UNICEF co-leads the cluster coordination platforms with the Regional Water Bureaus (RWB). The regional coordination platforms provide support to operational emergency WASH responses in the region and report back to the national level coordination. This serves as a useful forum for the various WASH Cluster partners to not only share updates but to discuss ways of improving linkages to maximize the benefits of different sector responses.

The cluster approach ensures coordinated humanitarian WASH responses to the affected population with clear accountability in line with the humanitarian principles and guidelines by clarifying the division of labor among organizations and better defining their roles and responsibilities within the different sectors of the response based on core functions. It aims to make the international humanitarian community better organized and more accountable and professional so that it can be a better partner for the affected people, host governments, local authorities, local civil society and resourcing partners.

The HNO (Humanitarian Needs Overview) and the HRP (Humanitarian Response Plan) identify People in Need as well as the target population that is affected men, women, girls and boys in need of emergency WASH services. WASH Cluster partners are expected to respond to several emergencies and humanitarian WASH response needs in line with HNO and HRP, which are developed and issued by the National Disaster Risk Management Commission and UNOCHA.

WASH Cluster partners at the regional and national level have put in place reliable monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system for the WASH Cluster and identify needs, monitor the response, and flag remaining gaps within the humanitarian WASH response. 

Justification

UNICEF, as a Cluster Lead Agency (CLA) for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), is obliged to take responsibility and accountabilities to deliver an effective response to the affected population. To deliver these and other relevant roles, regional WASH IM officers provide technical support in information management as well as cluster coordination.

This TOR is for the Regional WASH IM officer post to support the regional WASH cluster with necessary technical support to manage information about humanitarian WASH response needs, gaps, and related cluster partners’ response activities in the region.

The position also supports regional WASH clusters and RWBs in making strategic decisions based on the evidence collected through data and information in the regions. By doing these tasks the person can fill a critical human resource gap to meet minimum coordination requirements by the regional WASH cluster to maintain accountability to the affected population. The position also provides key information about the WASH situation in the region to the National WASH cluster team.

Key function, accountabilities, and related duties/tasks

Key tasks

• Respond to the Cluster participants’ needs for information (at the National, Regional, and Sub Regional level).

• Adapt existing IM approaches for collecting, analyzing and reporting Cluster/Sub-Cluster activities and resources, and identifying information gaps.

• Participate in humanitarian needs assessments organized in the region

• Support capacity development of RWB IM staff

• Establish and maintain information databases that consolidate, analyze and report/disseminate information critical to decision making.

• Maintain agreed-on periodical reporting from Cluster/Sub-Cluster participants. 

• Support the estimation of spatial and temporal gaps, overlaps, and coverage of Cluster/Sub-Cluster activities and projects.

• Work with Cluster/Sub-Cluster participants to identify information gaps at regional and sub-regional levels and propose ways to bridge those gaps

• Work with the OCHA IM Specialist to develop appropriate support strategies.

• Use GIS mapping for map production and geographic data management

• Adopt and promote the use of global standards for information management.

• Manage flows of information and dissemination in an appropriate way

• Manage an inventory of relevant documents on the humanitarian situation.

• Support the development and analysis of needs assessment and monitoring programs

• To provide IM leadership in assessments and monitoring, including joint assessments and training.

• Lead on the preparation of SitRep inputs with emphasis on Cluster/Sub-Cluster plans, targets and achievements.

• Contribute to the core Cluster/Sub-Cluster functions

• Ensure that there is effective communication, reporting, engagement and coordination with National and Sub Regional levels

Methodology

The regional WASH IM office will support respective regional WASH cluster coordinators in UNICEF field Offices. He/She will work closely with the RWBs and RHB to ensure effective information management as well as cluster coordination on humanitarian WASH response activities. The regional WASH IM officer will also link with the national WASH cluster IM officer and the national WASH cluster coordinator.

Expected deliveries: 

The post holder is responsible for the collection, compilation, and analysis of information related to emergency WASH response activities within their respective region and will:

1. Regularly update/provide information required by RWB, regional WASH cluster coordinator, National WASH cluster coordinator and National WASH IMO

2. Work with RWB and WASH partners to ensure current information on water infrastructure (including location, functionality, repair needs and costs etc) is captured

3. Compile information on WASH supplies needs, availability and gaps in the region

4. Ensure that data obtained from cluster 4Ws as well as National WASH Inventory (NWI) and continuous monitoring is shared and used by stakeholders for informed decision making

5. Updated information on regional WASH response needs, ongoing WASH responses and response gaps in the region

6. Production of dashboards, maps, and other information products related to WASH in the region

7. Inventory of relevant documents on the humanitarian WASH situation

8. SitRep inputs with emphasis on Cluster plans, targets and achievements.

9. Regular water trucking needs assessment

10. Identify WASH response priority areas

11. Regular WASH response updates for Inter-Cluster Coordination Group (ICCG)

Reporting

The Regional WASH IM officer will be supervised by the regional WASH cluster coordinator.

Job Requirements

Expected background and Experience

Education and Professional Background:

• University degree, preferably at an advanced level, in a subject area relevant to information management

• Extensive work experience relevant to this post may be considered as a replacement for formal qualifications

• At least 2 years of progressively responsible humanitarian work experience with UN and/or NGO, including information management

• Work experience outside the humanitarian sector which is relevant to this post may be considered a replacement for humanitarian experience

• Understanding of WASH sector and cluster approaches

• Fluency in English is mandatory

Technical Competencies:

• Understands the rationale behind Humanitarian Reform, its main components, and recent developments including the Transformative Agenda

• Understands uses and adapt the tools, mechanisms and processes developed as part of Humanitarian Reform 

• Communicates works and networks effectively with a wide range of people to reach a broad consensus on a well-coordinated response, and demonstrates leadership where required 

• Thinks and acts strategically and ensures that cluster activities are prioritized and aligned within an agreed strategy 

• Demonstrates commitment to the cluster and independence from employing organization 

• Builds motivate and leads the information management team

• Delivers optimally within defined resource parameters, correctly applies knowledge of specialized disciplines, anticipates and prepares response to change needs of the relevant organizational unit, and delivers on set objectives in hardship situations

• Effectively coordinates actions with other implementing partners, works effectively with local authorities, stakeholders, beneficiaries and the broader community to advance country or regional objectives

• Understands key technical issues for the cluster sufficiently well enough to be able to engage with cluster participants and understand their cluster-specific information management needs 

• Excellent knowledge of MS Excel, MS Access, or other databases (e.g. pivot tables and functions)

• Proven technical expertise in managing data capture and storage, analyzing diverse datasets, and presenting information in understandable tables, charts, graphs, and reports

• Proven skills in using GIS and map-making packages such as ArcGIS, Mapinfo, QGIS, and Adobe creative suite for mapping

• Knowledge and skills in software development are an asset

Core Competencies 

To be successful, the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following values and competencies: 

Core Values

• Care 

• Respect

• Integrity 

• Trust

• Accountability

Competencies

•  Builds and maintains Partnerships (level 1)

• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (level 1)

• Drive to achieve results for impact (level 1)

• Innovates and embraces change (level 1)

• Manages ambiguity and complexity (level 1)

• Thinks and acts strategically (level 1)

• Works collaboratively with others (level 1)

How to Apply

Register using this link