Consultancy Title: Research Consultant on the Protection of Water and Sanitation in Conflict

Section/Division/Duty Station: EMOPS/HPS

Duration: Tentative 15 Feb 2026 – 01 June 2026

Home/ Office Based: NYHQ / Remote

About UNICEF

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:

Since 2019, UNICEF has contributed actively to drawing global attention to how children are disproportionally affected by attacks on water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure (WASH) in situations of conflict. UNICEF’s engagement, which builds on UNICEF as Global Cluster Lead for WASH, has included sustained bilateral and multilateral engagement aimed at strengthening the normative framework related to the protection of water and sanitation, engagement with civil society and academia to reinforce knowledge production and exchange, and the publications of research and practice on the topic.

In that regard, three Volumes of the ‘Water under Fire’ series have been produced by UNICEF since 2019. Volume 1 (2019) was dedicated to the need for immediate action to accelerate water and sanitation service delivery in fragile and conflict-affected contexts, prevent water-related tensions between groups and political entities and ensure the right to water and sanitation for every child.  Volume 2 (2020) focused on the WASH sector’s capacity to deliver a predictable, quality humanitarian WASH response, and provided a change agenda and road map towards strengthening this capacity. Finally, Volume 3 (2021) delved into attacks on water and sanitation during armed conflicts and highlighted issues children face in accessing water in times of war.

Building on these contributions- which are regularly referenced by key stakeholders on the topic- and recognizing the continued disproportionate impact on children of attacks on WASH, UNICEF aims to release Volume 4 of the Water under Fire series in 2026. Based on initial research, Volume 4 will focus, among others, on 1). the direct and indirect impact on children of the use by parties to conflict of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (EWIPA) against WASH infrastructure, and the resulting consequences on their access to essential services, and 2). showcase a number of context-specific and/or thematic WASH innovations since the last report was published in 2021, to offer best practices and inspiration to other WASH actors on how to enhance the protection of WASH in conflict. The exact content of the report will be further shaped and validated during consultations with technical experts and will align with the strategic priorities of EMOPS/HPS and the UNICEF WASH Cluster. The report targets primarily Member States and donors, WASH practitioners in conflict settings, humanitarian policy and advocacy specialists and humanitarian programme managers/coordinators.

To bring this important work forward, UNICEF is engaging a consultant to facilitate and undertake consultations with key stakeholders, conduct research, analyze findings, draft Volume 4 of the Water under Fire series, prepare its publication and disseminate its results internally and externally.

Scope of Work:

The purpose of the consultancy is to produce Volume 4 of the Water under Fire series in consultation with key internal and external stakeholders. The publication will allow UNICEF to continue to advance the protection of WASH infrastructure, both from a normative and operational perspective.

Key Responsibilities:

• Consultations with key stakeholders: Engage with all relevant stakeholders- internal and external- to gather information and inputs to include in Volume 4. The consultation process may consist of both focus group discussions and/or individual interviews and other types of exchanges. A technical-level expert group may be convened at set moments during the process to discuss findings and validate results and analysis.
• Research and Analysis: Conduct complementary research and analyze relevant secondary sources, including academic papers, products published by I/NGOs and think tanks/policymakers, Security Council resolutions, and internal documents.
• Report writing: Compile a draft version of the report based on the abovementioned material (consultations, research, analysis).
• Solicit and incorporate feedback: Coordinate the internal and external review of the first draft by relevant actors and redraft based on received inputs and feedback.
• Finalize product: Incorporate all comments and feedback into a last version of the report for Senior Management review / approval.
• Support publication: Liaise with relevant parties (DGCA etc.) on the report layout, choice of images, editing etc. to ensure that the final report is completed for publication.
• Presentation: Preparation and undertake presentations on the key findings and recommendations of the report to relevant actors, including UNICEF staff.
• Evaluate: Conduct a short lesson learned exercise to take stock of the project for institutional learning.

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Qualifications

Education: Masters Degree

• Advanced university degree in Political Science, International Relations, International Law, Humanitarian Practice, Engineering, Environmental Science or related fields

Work experience:

• At least 8 years of progressive experience in humanitarian and emergency work, preferably in coordination, programming, protection, Water and Sanitation or related fields.
• Experience with developing organizational publications, including editing and layout, is desired.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:

• Excellent written communication, presentation, research and analytical skills
• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
• Excellent organizational skills, with the ability to independently track and follow-up on various tasks
• Ability to work in a highly collaborative and complex environment with minimal direct supervision

Requirements:

Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and

- Upload copy of academic credentials

- Financial proposal that will include/ reflect :

• • the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability

- Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.

- At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.

- Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

U.S. Visa information:

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: Here

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors 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 selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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. 

Remarks:  

Individuals engaged under a consultancy will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants. Consultants are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.