For every child, the right to a Future
The WASH Officer reports to the WASH Specialist who is at level 3 or 4 for supervision. The WASH Officer provides technical, operational and administrative assistance throughout the WASH programming process. The Officer prepares, manages and implements a variety of technical and administrative tasks, related to the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the WASH output results of the country programme.
Ukraine's water supply and sanitation sector is at a critical inflection point, with RDNA5 (February 2026) estimating USD 8.4 billion in damage and losses in the WSS sub-sector alone. Formally appointed by the Ministry of Development (November 2025) as the lead technical assistance partner for WSS recovery, UNICEF deploys around 30 national experts embedded across MinDev — spanning the Water Recovery and EU Integration Office, State Programme teams under Enerhovoda and Ecostoky, the E-Water/M&E platform team, and the EIB-funded Programme Management and Support Unit (PMSU). This position provides the coordination backbone that this multi-track architecture currently lacks, ensuring coherence across workstreams and supporting UNICEF's institutional credibility with donors financing the EUR 125 million EIB facility.
Summary of key functions/accountabilities
Collaborates with colleagues, government counterparts, and partners to collect, analyze, and share programme implementation information, identify solutions to routine challenges, and support evidence-based decision-making while maintaining records of reports, assessments, and lessons learned. Supports monitoring, evaluation, programme reviews, and resource tracking; prepares progress reports for management, donors, and partners; and ensures compliance with approved allocations, organizational procedures, and accountability standards.
Prepares requisitions for supplies, services, long-term agreements, and partnership arrangements to support UNICEF’s readiness and capacity to deliver WASH interventions during emergencies. Maintains knowledge of UNICEF emergency response procedures and contributes to emergency response and early recovery efforts by providing operational and programme support as required.
The support provided by the WASH officer will enable the country office to achieve the WASH-related output results of the country programme. This, in turn, will contribute to the achievement of the outcome results of the country programme document. When done effectively, the achievement of the outcome results will improve child survival, growth and development, and reduce inequalities in the country.
Effective coordination directly protects the credibility and reporting integrity underpinning the EUR 125 million EIB Ukraine Water Recovery Programme and supports UNICEF's positioning to secure sustained donor financing for the sector's technical assistance architecture as the country advances EU accession-linked reforms.
Minimum requirements
Desirables
- Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
- EU Water Framework Directive, Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, EU acquis alignment, EIB programme experience, World Bank engagement, EBRD engagement, Donor coordination
- Familiarity with Ukraine's water sector legal and institutional reform environment (e.g., Law No. 4196-IX on corporatization, Law No. 4777-IX on tariff authority transfer) and EU acquis alignment (Water Framework Directive, UWWTD) is an asset.
- Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.
For every Child, you demonstrate...
UNICEF competencies required for this post are…
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with others
UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.
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.
UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.
Remarks
As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.
UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce.
Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.
UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants' bank account information.
Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.
Visa residence requirements: i.e. UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.
All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.