WASH Specialist

Host entity: UNICEF Papua New Guinea

Volunteer type: International

Areas of expertise: Administration, Engineering, construction, Community development

Application deadline: 04/09/2026

Mission and objectives

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias, or favouritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic, and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries.
Therefore, the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

Assignment context

UNICEF Papua New Guinea works with the Government of Papua New Guinea, development partners, civil society organizations, and communities to advance children's rights and improve equitable access to essential services. Within the Country Programme, the WASH programme supports national and sub-national institutions to strengthen systems, policies, financing mechanisms, and service delivery models that improve sustainable access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene services, particularly for vulnerable and underserved populations.

Papua New Guinea continues to face significant challenges in achieving universal access to safe and sustainable WASH services. These challenges include limited sector financing, weak institutional capacity, fragmented information systems, evidence gaps for decision-making, increasing climate and disaster risks, and persistent inequalities in access to WASH services. Strengthening government systems and enhancing accountability, financing, and evidence-based planning are critical to accelerating progress toward national development priorities and Sustainable Development Goal 6.

This UN Volunteer assignment will support UNICEF Papua New Guinea's efforts to strengthen sector systems and institutional capacities for sustainable WASH service delivery. The assignment will contribute to evidence generation, sector monitoring, data analytics, knowledge management, and the production of strategic information to inform policy dialogue and decision-making. The UN Volunteer will also support public finance analysis, budget tracking, and advocacy for increased and more effective investment in the WASH sector. In addition, the assignment will contribute to resource mobilization efforts through the development of donor proposals, concept notes, investment cases, partnership documents, donor reporting, and communication of programme results. The position will support UNICEF's engagement with government counterparts, development partners, financial institutions, and donors to strengthen sector coordination, leverage additional resources, and improve programme impact and sustainability.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for UN Volunteers 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 recruitment process and afterwards in your assignment.

Task description

Under the direct supervision of the Chief of WASH and in close collaboration with government counterparts, development partners, and UNICEF programme teams, the UN Volunteer WASH Specialist will support the planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of UNICEF Papua New Guinea's WASH programme. The incumbent will undertake the following tasks:

Support WASH Systems Strengthening
• Contribute to strengthening national and sub-national WASH sector systems, institutional capacities, policies, strategies, and implementation frameworks.
• Support government counterparts in sector planning, monitoring, coordination, and performance review processes.
• Assist in the development and dissemination of technical guidance, standards, and operational tools to improve sustainable WASH service delivery.

Support Evidence Generation and Knowledge Management
• Coordinate and support sector studies, assessments, evaluations, operational research, and analytical work to generate evidence for decision-making.
• Analyze programme and sector data to identify trends, gaps, bottlenecks, and opportunities for improving WASH outcomes.
• Support strengthening WASH information management systems, monitoring frameworks, dashboards, and knowledge products.
• Prepare technical briefs, situation analyses, policy notes, presentations, and knowledge products for internal and external stakeholders.

Support Public Finance for WASH
• Contribute to public finance analyses, budget reviews, expenditure tracking, and investment case development related to the WASH sector.
• Support advocacy and policy dialogue aimed at increasing and improving public sector investments in WASH services.
• Assist government counterparts in strengthening financing frameworks and accountability mechanisms for WASH service delivery.

Support Resource Mobilization
• Contribute to the development of resource mobilization strategies and identification of funding opportunities.
• Support engagement with development partners, donors, international financial institutions, private sector partners, and other stakeholders.
• Assist in preparing investment cases, concept notes, partnership documents, and fundraising materials.


Support Donor Proposal Development and Reporting
• Lead and coordinate the preparation of high-quality donor proposals, concept notes, workplans, budgets, and supporting technical documentation.
• Support development, quality assurance, and timely submission of donor reports, progress updates, and results-based reporting.
• Ensure donor reporting reflects achievements, lessons learned, challenges, and programme impact in accordance with donor requirements and UNICEF standards.

Support Programme Monitoring and Results Reporting
• Monitor implementation progress against annual work plans and programme targets.
• Support documentation of results, innovations, lessons learned, and good practices.
• Contribute to preparation of programme reviews, annual reports, briefing materials, and management updates.

Emergency Preparedness and Response
• Support integration of emergency preparedness, resilience, and risk-informed programming into WASH activities.
• Contribute technical inputs to emergency assessments, response planning, donor appeals, and recovery programming, when required.

UN Volunteer Contribution
• Promote volunteerism and contribute to capacity strengthening, knowledge sharing, and collaborative partnerships within the programme.
• Contribute to UNICEF's commitment to equity, inclusion, child rights, gender equality, and accountability to affected populations.

Skills and experience

• At least 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience at the national and/or international level in WASH programme management, systems strengthening, sector coordination, public finance, evidence generation, resource mobilization, donor proposal development, monitoring and evaluation, or related fields. Experience with UNICEF, the UN system, governments, development partners, or international development organizations is an asset.

• Demonstrated experience in developing technical reports, donor proposals, concept notes, funding applications, and results reporting.
• Experience in supporting government institutions, development partners, and sector coordination mechanisms is desirable.
• Knowledge of WASH sector policies, planning processes, monitoring systems, and financing mechanisms is an asset.
• Strong analytical skills and experience in data management, evidence generation, and knowledge management.
• Excellent oral and written communication, drafting, and reporting skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively with government counterparts, development partners, civil society organizations, and communities.
• Strong computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and data analysis tools.
• Experience working with UNICEF, the United Nations, international development organizations, or government institutions is desirable.

Competencies and values

• Accountability
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Creativity
• Working in Teams
• Client Orientation
• Analytical Thinking
• Results Orientation
• Stakeholder Engagement

Living conditions

Port Moresby is a family duty station and the administrative and commercial hub of Papua New Guinea. It offers international-standard housing, healthcare, banking, communications, schools, and shopping facilities. The WASH Specialist will be required to undertake periodic travel to provinces and remote communities where infrastructure, accommodation, and services may be limited. Field missions may involve challenging terrain and logistics and require adherence to UN security protocols. Papua New Guinea offers a unique and rewarding work environment. Flexibility, cultural sensitivity, adaptability, and willingness to travel are essential for successful performance in this assignment.

Full eligibility requirements, conditions of service and application instructions are available on the official UNV platform.