Mission and objectives

UNICEF is supporting health, nutrition, HIV prevention, education, access to safe drinking water, sanitation and protection for children and families caught in the conflict.

Context

Ukraine's water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector faces critical challenges with 70-90% infrastructure deterioration, leaving approximately 10 million people (including 1.7 million children) without safely managed water services. Since opening its office in Kyiv in 1997, UNICEF has supported the Government of Ukraine in strengthening water and sanitation services. Building on operational experience gained during the 2014 conflict in Donbas, UNICEF has expanded its WASH response in 2022 by establishing six field offices across the country (Kyiv, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Lviv, Odesa and Poltava). Since then, UNICEF’s WASH programming has shifted from emergency lifesaving interventions and frontline repairs to a more strategic, integrated approach that addresses both immediate needs and long-term, climate-resilient recovery. While maintaining emergency response capacity in areas of active conflict, the programme now emphasizes systemic improvements, institutional capacity building, and environmental sustainability. The shift from reactive to proactive interventions includes greater investment in modernization, optimization and energy efficiency for water utilities, climate-smart infrastructure, water safety planning, groundwater monitoring, circular economy approaches to waste management, and youth engagement in environmental action. Odesa field office is one of the six field offices across Ukraine with a portfolio of US$10-20 million supporting over 20 water utilities and heating companies in Odesa, Mykolaiv and Kherson oblast. This UNV assignment will reinforce Odesa WASH team to support the implementation of emergency projects in the water, sanitation and heating sector in Mykolaiv and Kherson Oblast and recovery projects targeting specific locations (Odesa and Mykolaiv Oblast).

Task Description

Under the direct supervision of the WASH Manager of Odesa, the UNV is expected to undertake the following: Programme development and planning • Draft updates for WASH in the situation analysis, to inform the development of WASH- related outcome and output results. • Support in preparing technical reports and inputs for programme preparation and documentation, ensuring accuracy, timeliness and relevance of information. • Provide technical and administrative support throughout all stages of programming processes by executing/administering a variety of technical programme transactions, preparing materials/documentation, complying with organizational processes and management systems, to support progress towards the WASH-related outcome and/or output results in the country programme. • Prepare required documentation/materials to facilitate review and approval processes. Technical and operational support for programme implementation • Undertake field visits and surveys, collect and share reports with partners/stakeholders. • Report critical issues, bottlenecks and potential problems to the supervisor for timely action. • Provide technical and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and other country office partners/donors on the application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes and best practices in WASH, to support programme implementation. Humanitarian WASH preparedness and response • Draft requisitions for supplies, services, long-term agreements and partnership agreements to ensure UNICEF is prepared to deliver on its commitments for WASH in case of an emergency. • Study and fully understand UNICEF’s procedures for responding in an emergency. • Take up support roles in an emergency response and early recovery, as and when the need arises.

Competencies and values

• Professionalism • Integrity • Teamwork and respect for diversity • Commitment to continuous learning • Communication • Flexibility

Living conditions and remarks

As it is a national UN Volunteer's assignment, the UN volunteer shall organize his/her accommodation by themselves. Entitlements of National UN Volunteer Youth >> USD 1270 The contract lasts for the period indicated in the vacancy with the possibility of extensions subject to availability of funding, operational necessity, and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment. This is a full-time contract. Allowances: • Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA): A Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) USD 1270 (equivalent in UAH) is provided monthly to cover housing, utilities, and normal cost of living expenses. This includes Well-Being Differentials for the period while the ICSC applies hardship classification to duty stations in Ukraine as “E”. • USD 400 entry lump sum, one-time payment. Medical and life insurance: • Medical insurance: The UN Volunteer and eligible PFU dependents will receive UNV provided medical insurance coverage. Coverage for UN Volunteers begins from the Commencement of Service and normally ceases one month after the last day of the UN Volunteer Contract date. • Life Insurance: UN Volunteers are covered by life insurance for the duration of the UN Volunteer assignment. If a UN Volunteer dies during the UN Volunteer assignment, the eligible designated beneficiaries will be entitled to receive a life insurance lump sum. Leave entitlements: • Annual leave: UN Volunteers accrue an entitlement to 2.5 days of Annual Leave per completed month of the UN Volunteer assignment. Unused accrued Annual Leave up to a maximum of 30 days is carried over in case of a contract extension within the same UN Volunteer assignment. Unused accrued Annual Leave may not be carried over in case of reassignment or a new assignment. • Learning leave: Subject to supervisor approval and exigencies of service, UN Volunteers may request up to ten working days of Learning Leave per consecutive 12 months of the UN Volunteer assignment, starting with the Commencement of Service date, provided the Learning Leave is used within the contract period. • Certified Sick Leave: UN Volunteers are entitled to up to 30 days of certified sick leave based on a 12-month cycle. This amount is reset every 12-month cycle. • Uncertified Sick Leave: UN Volunteers receive seven days of uncertified sick leave working days in a calendar year. This amount will be reset at the established interval period.