Senior WASH Consultant - WASH Programme Development and Technical Support , 7.5 Months, OfficedBased, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (Open only for Mongolians) Req#596744

************************************************************************************

Contract Duration:  7.5 Months

Working arrangement: OfficeBased

************************************************************************************

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

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 dedication.

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF Mongolia seeks to engage a Senior WASH Consultant to provide specialized technical assistance to the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programme.

UNICEF Mongolia's WASH programme is experiencing a temporary convergence of intensified programme implementation, emerging strategic commitments and reduced internal technical capacity, creating a need for additional specialized, deliverable-based support during the remainder of the current Country Programme cycle (2023–2027).

The UK Eleva-funded WASH project is entering its peak implementation phase in its second year, generating increased requirements for technical analysis, results documentation, donor reporting and related technical products. Concurrently, the outcomes of UNCCD COP17, hosted by Mongolia in August 2026, have generated significant momentum and opportunities to advance water security for children, requiring targeted technical inputs for policy advocacy, partnership development and resource mobilization. These demands coincide with preparations for the next Country Programme (2028–2032), including the development of evidence-based WASH strategies and technical inputs.

At the same time, the WASH team's technical capacity has been reduced following the retirement of its WASH Specialist. Due to prevailing funding constraints, the position cannot be replaced. Existing programme staff must prioritize their core responsibilities for programme implementation, government and partner coordination, technical oversight and accountability for results. Consequently, the additional specialized analytical, drafting and documentation assignments cannot reasonably be absorbed within existing staff capacity without compromising these core responsibilities.

The proposed consultancy is therefore designed to address a clearly identified, time-bound requirement for specialized technical outputs, rather than to replace the functions of the former WASH Specialist or provide ongoing programme management support.

The consultant will be engaged on a part-time basis, with an estimated level of effort averaging up to three working days per week, and payments linked to the satisfactory completion of predefined, measurable deliverables.

UNICEF staff will retain full responsibility for programme management, implementation oversight, partner engagement, decision-making and approval of technical products.

This arrangement provides a proportionate and cost-conscious means of securing additional technical expertise during a period of exceptional workload, without establishing a continuing staff function or long-term staffing obligation.

The consultancy will conclude with the completion of the agreed outputs by the end of the current Country Programme cycle.

************************************************************************************

Scope of Work:

Under the supervision of the WASH Officer, the Senior Consultant - WASH Programme Development and Technical Support will provide specialized technical expertise and quality assurance for selected WASH programme development, resource mobilization and knowledge products.

The assignment will focus on addressing specific technical gaps and strengthening the quality of strategic deliverables, complementing rather than duplicating the routine responsibilities of the WASH Officer and existing programme team.

A. Technical Proposal and Concept Note Development

• Provide technical drafting and editing support for WASH-related project proposals, concept notes, funding applications and resource mobilization documents.
• Conduct targeted reviews of relevant national policies, strategies, programme documents, technical studies and available evidence to inform proposal development.
• Support the development of programme objectives, expected results, implementation approaches, indicators, target groups, risks and sustainability considerations.
• Ensure that proposals reflect UNICEF priorities, child rights, gender equality, disability inclusion, climate resilience and the needs of disadvantaged populations.

B. Technical Reporting, Analytical Studies and Policy Support

• Draft and revise designated technical and narrative sections of progress and donor reports for the WASH projects, ensuring technical accuracy and timely delivery.
• Conduct technical reviews of analytical reports, assessments and studies prepared by national government institutions, consulting firms or other external organisations with UNICEF support, providing expert comments on technical soundness, evidence, conclusions and recommendations.
• Provide technical analysis and recommendations on WASH-related policies, strategies, technical standards and guidelines, including their alignment with relevant national and international guidance and standards.
• Prepare evidence-based analysis of technical achievements, implementation challenges and recommendations to inform programme improvement and policy dialogue.

C. Technical Inputs to Knowledge Products and High-level Advocacy and Policy Engagement Materials

• Provide specialized technical analysis and substantive inputs to selected WASH knowledge products requiring advanced technical expertise, particularly on water quality, wastewater treatment, greywater management and climate-resilient WASH solutions.
• Review draft technical publications and knowledge products prepared by UNICEF staff or consultants for technical accuracy, evidence-based conclusions and consistency with relevant standards and guidance.
• Draft or propose high-level advocacy and policy engagement materials, such as advocacy briefs, key messages, concept notes and briefing materials, to support the Government of Mongolia and UNICEF in high-level policy dialogue, global and regional events, and partnership development and resource mobilization.
• Ensure that materials are evidence-based, technically accurate and aligned with agreed UNICEF priorities and policy positions.

D. Water Quality, Greywater Management and Wastewater Treatment

• Provide technical inputs to WASH interventions addressing drinking water quality, greywater management and wastewater treatment.
• Provide technical inputs for the assessment and selection of context-appropriate, technically feasible and sustainable greywater collection, treatment, reuse and disposal solutions, particularly for schools, kindergartens and other child-serving facilities.
• Contribute to the preparation of technical specifications, design considerations, implementation approaches and operation and maintenance recommendations for selected water quality, greywater and wastewater management interventions, in coordination with relevant technical specialists and implementing partners.
• Develop technical recommendations and documentation to strengthen the integration of water quality monitoring, safe wastewater management, resource efficiency and climate resilience into WASH project proposals and implementation approaches.

E. Targeted Field Visits and Technical Documentation

• Undertake provincial field visits, when requested and approved by UNICEF, to support specific project documentation, technical assessments, stakeholder consultations or evidence collection needs.
• Prepare concise field visit summaries and technical recommendations and incorporate validated findings into the relevant project reports, proposals and knowledge products.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here:  Terms of Reference TMC0008017.pdf

************************************************************************************

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

Minimum requirements:

Education:

An advanced university degree in Environmental Engineering, Water Resources Management, Public Health, Environmental Science, Civil Engineering, Development Studies or another relevant field.

Work Experience:

At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in WASH, water supply, sanitation, public health, environmental management, climate resilience or a closely related development field.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in written and spoken Mongolian.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:

• Good understanding of WASH programming, including water supply, sanitation, hygiene promotion and WASH services in schools, health facilities and communities.
• Familiarity with climate-resilient WASH, water security, sustainable technologies and environmental challenges in Mongolia
• Demonstrated experience drafting or editing technical proposals, concept notes, donor reports, programme reports or other substantive technical documents.
• Strong analytical, research, technical writing and editing skills.
• Demonstrated ability to develop clear, evidence based proposals and results-oriented reports.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple assignments and deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and coordinate effectively with programme teams and partners.
• Understanding of child rights, gender equality, disability inclusion and safeguarding principles in development programming.

Desirables:

• Previous experience supporting UNICEF or another UN agency on WASH, climate change, environmental health or related development programmes.
• Experience supporting provincial development programmes is desirable.
• Experience working with government institutions, development partners, international organizations or NGOs is an asset.

************************************************************************************

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 TMC0008017.docx
• A detailed technical proposal - Candidates are requested to share/ describe up to two relevant examples of technical documents they have drafted or edited, indicating the purpose of each document and their specific role in its preparation. Candidates are not required to submit the full documents.