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For every child, the right to care, health, chance, access.

How can you make a difference?

As part of the UNICEF India Country Programme (2023–2027) and the approved Rolling Work Plan (2026–2027), UNICEF Rajasthan proposes to engage an Individual Consultant to provide technical assistance to the Government of Rajasthan, particularly the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), for strengthening Water Quality Monitoring and Surveillance (WQMS) system to ensure equitable, climate-resilient and safely managed drinking water services.

With the expansion of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), Rajasthan is transitioning from infrastructure creation to sustained service delivery. While considerable progress has been made in providing Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs), ensuring the safety and quality of drinking water remains a significant challenge due to widespread contamination from fluoride, nitrate, salinity, iron, heavy metals, and microbiological pathogens. The State continues to have one of the highest numbers of water quality-affected habitations in the country, necessitating stronger institutional systems for water quality monitoring, surveillance, laboratory strengthening, and ensuring timely corrective action through effective feedback loop. As per JJM–IMIS (C17-A) data (as on 25 August 2026), across 41 districts of Rajasthan, there are a total of 7,634 quality affected habitations, covering approximately 0.3 million (3.23 lakh) households and a population of 1.92 million (19.25 lakh), where in 30,508 FHTCs are reported within these habitations. Of the total quality-affected habitations, 7,207 are affected by salinity, 356 by nitrate, and 67 by fluoride.

The consultancy will provide strategic and technical support to strengthen institutional capacities for Water Quality Monitoring and Surveillance through evidence-based planning, strengthening feedback loop mechanism, laboratory capacity enhancement, knowledge management, and multi-stakeholder engagement. The assignment will support PHED in improving laboratory systems with a focus on microbial water quality analysis, with monitoring of residual chlorine and progress towards NABL accreditation readiness, while strengthening mechanisms that connect field-level monitoring with district- and state level decision-making for ensuring access to safe water to the communities.

The consultant will facilitate technical consultations, undertake field assessments, generate implementation insights, develop knowledge products and policy recommendations, and support capacity-building initiatives for government functionaries. The consultancy will also contribute to strengthening institutional learning by documenting best practices, developing technical guidance materials, and promoting evidence-informed programme improvements to enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of WQMS.

The consultancy will adopt a systems-strengthening approach by leveraging existing government platforms, digital monitoring systems, technical institutions, development partners, and community-based monitoring mechanisms. Particular emphasis will be placed on strengthening institutional feedback loop mechanism, improving laboratory quality assurance systems, promoting data-driven decision-making, and supporting convergence across relevant stakeholders to build Water-Safe Communities in the State.

The consultancy will contribute towards achieving the objectives of Jal Jeevan Mission, Sustainable Development Goal 6.1 (Universal Access to Safe Drinking Water), SDG 6.3 (Improving Water Quality), and SDG 6.b (Strengthening Community Participation), while supporting the Government of Rajasthan's vision of ensuring safe, reliable, and sustainable drinking water services. The consultant will work under the technical supervision of the UNICEF Rajasthan WASH Officer/Specialist and provide technical support throughout the assignment period in accordance with the approved work plan for 2026–2027, in coordination with PHED.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: State Water Quality Monitoring and Surveillance Consultant.pdf

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have...

Minimum requirements: |(Qualifications/Experience/ Knowledge/Expertise/Skills)

Education: Master’s degree or equivalent in civil engineering/environmental engineering/water supply management/public administration & public health, with specialized knowledge and experience of community managed Water Quality Monitoring & Surveillance (WQMS), including Integrated Fluorosis Mitigation approach
Work Experience:

Minimum 08 years of relevant professional experience in Water Quality Monitoring & Surveillance (WQMS), drinking water quality, laboratory strengthening, water safety planning, capacity building, and systems strengthening at the state and/or national level.
Experience working on the Integrated Fluorosis Mitigation Programme (water quality dimension) or with similar state/national water quality institutions and programmes (e.g., State Programme

Language Requirements: Hindi and English
Knowledge/Expertise/Skills: Ability to use computer software i.e. MS Office, Internet, with skills in data analysis and visualization will be an asset.
Desirables: Strong knowledge of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), Water Quality Monitoring & Surveillance (WQMS), water quality laboratory systems, and NABL accreditation processes. Experience of working with the Government of Rajasthan/PHED will be desirable.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

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 encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

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.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):

An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
Cover letter
A separate financial proposal (only acceptable in the format of the linked template) Financial proposal State WQMS Consultant.docx
A detailed technical proposal 20260915 Template CIC WQ.docx

Remarks: If the TOR or financial proposal documents are not downloadable on certain recruitment platforms, please visit our official page Vacancies | UNICEF Careers.

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.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

National State Water Quality Monitoring and Surveillance Consultant (remote with travel for 14.5 months)