Contract Duration – 8 months

Working arrangement: Office based with travel

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TERMS OF REFERENCE

Myanmar continues to face a complex humanitarian crisis characterized by widespread protracted and new displacement, access constraints, recurrent climate-related shocks, public health emergencies, and deterioration of WASH services and facilities in many sites and locations. Protracted conflict and repeated displacement continue to disrupt water, sanitation and hygiene services in Chin, Kayah, Kayin, Magway, Rakhine, and Sagaing; recurrent flooding contaminate water sources and damage WASH assets; access and terrain constraints delay repairs in Chin and Kayah; dry-season water scarcity affects Magway, Rakhine, and Sagaing; and earthquake-related damage and water-quality instability persist in pockets of the Northwest and Shan. Households continue to rely on unsafe water sources, face inadequate sanitation, and experience gaps in menstrual hygiene management and disability-inclusive facilities, increasing both protection risks and the transmission of WASH-related diseases. In 2026, an estimated 8.9 million people are in need of humanitarian WASH assistance.

The purpose of this assignment is to provide national-level coordination and strategic leadership of the WASH Cluster to ensure a coherent, evidence-based and prioritized WASH response; strengthen partner coordination, analysis, and response monitoring; and ensure robust WASH inputs into inter-cluster coordination and the Humanitarian Programme Cycle (HPC).

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

Minimum requirements:

Education:

Masters in Public Health Engineering, Hydrology, Sanitation, Geoscience, Environmental Science, International Development or a field relevant to international WASH-related development assistance
Additional relevant post-graduate courses that complement/ supplement the main degree are a strong asset.

Work Experience:

At least 8 years progressively responsible relevant work experience, on WASH humanitarian response with UN or NGO.
Demonstrated experience in leading or co-leading a Cluster, Sector, or equivalent coordination mechanism in complex humanitarian emergencies (conflict, natural hazards, public health emergencies), preferably at country level;
Demonstrated experience with coordination, project management, planning, monitoring, analysis, evaluation.
Proven experience working in complex humanitarian contexts, with sound understanding of humanitarian principles, and the IASC Cluster Approach;
Experience with the Humanitarian Programme Cycle, and joint planning processes (HNRP);
Experience in training partner organizaSons on key coordinaSon and technical WASH components.

Language Requirements: Fluency in English (written and oral) required
Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:

Strong knowledge of humanitarian architecture, cluster approach and associated core functions; humanitarian principles, standards and guidelines; WASH in Emergencies principles, standards, tools and resources;
Strong analytical, strategic planning, and problem-solving skills;
Proven ability to develop, nurture, and manage diverse, multi-stakeholder platforms and build consensus in complex contexts;
Strong ability to communicate confidently and persuasively, both orally and in writing;
Strong familiarity and understanding of information management, including 4/5Ws/activity mapping, needs assessments, and data visualization tools;
Demonstrated ability to provide technical and strategic leadership in hybrid setting for a diverse, dispersed, and multi-cultural team.

Desirables: Familiarity with the Myanmar operating context Familiarity with Climate, Energy, Environment, and Disaster Risk ReducSon (DRR) issues

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 WASH Cluster Coordinator.docx

Remarks:

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.

International WASH Cluster Coordinator (office base with travel) Emergency Unit, Myanmar, Yangon 8 months