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At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to Safety.

How can you make a difference?

This assignment aims to support UNICEF and government partners in strengthening sanitation financing in Nepal by assessing financing opportunities and barriers, identifying sustainable financing mechanisms and partnerships, and developing practical approaches to mobilize and scale investments across the sanitation service chain, in line with the National Sanitation Flagship Programme (NSFP), the City-Wide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS) approach, and national WASH priorities.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: TMC0007935 TOR.pdf

Minimum requirements:

Education:
- Advanced university degree (Master's or higher) in Civil Engineering, Environmental or Sanitary Engineering, Public Finance Management, Development Finance, Development Studies, or related field
Work Experience:
- Minimum 10 years of professional experience in WASH sector reform initiatives, with a focus on sanitation financing, infrastructure/development finance and sanitation investment planning, including at least 5 years supporting government institutions in policy development, financing strategies, investment planning, and systems strengthening. Experience in Nepal’s sanitation sector and federal governance context is strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated experience undertaking sanitation programme designing at national level, financing assessments, policy analyses, stakeholder consultations, and developing financing mechanisms and implementation frameworks, and in costing sanitation infrastructure and services (including FSM and treatment systems). Strong understanding of Nepal's WASH sector, public financial management systems, intergovernmental fiscal arrangements, sanitation service chains (including city-wide inclusive sanitation approaches), and institutional arrangements with excellent analytical, report writing, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Experience in sanitation financing, fecal sludge management, blended finance, climate finance, results-based financing, municipal finance, PPPs, and engagement with development finance institutions, commercial banks, donors, or private investors will be an asset. Previous experience with UNICEF, UN agencies, development banks, or similar international organizations is highly desirable.
Language requirement:
- Fluency in written and spoken Nepali and English is required. Nepali is required for effective coordination with provincial and local governments, municipal officials, communities and implementing partners, while English is required for preparation of technical documentation, analytical reports, presentations, meeting records and communication with UNICEF.
Skills:
- Strong expertise in WASH systems strengthening with demonstrated experience in policy analysis, financing assessments, investment planning, resource mobilization, and development of innovative financing mechanisms in the federal context of Nepal, including familiarity with CWIS/MWIS approaches
- Good understanding of Nepal's WASH sector, sanitation service chain (including FSM, wastewater treatment and resource recovery), the WASH sector building blocks, and sector financing frameworks, including the NSFP.
- Ability to translate national sanitation policy into costed, investment-ready municipal proposals, including basic technical and cost appraisal of sanitation infrastructure.
- Excellent analytical, stakeholder engagement, facilitation, report writing, and communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with government, development partners, financial institutions, and private sector stakeholders.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications is required.
Desirables:
- Experience in sanitation particularly sanitation service chain assessment, financing, including innovative financing mechanisms (blended finance, climate finance, results-based financing, PPPs, and municipal finance);
- Engagement with financial institutions and development partners; and familiarity with Nepal's sanitation policies, financing frameworks, and sector coordination mechanisms and federalism of Nepal.
- Previous experience with UNICEF, UN agencies, or international development organizations is an advantage

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 TMC0007935 Financial Proposal Template.docx

Remarks: If the TOR or financial proposal documents are not visible 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.

Consultant for Subnational Financing, Investment Readiness and Market Development, UNICEF WASH Section, Kathmandu, Nepal, 7 months (remote) #596768