Associate WASH Officer (National Professional Officer – NOB)

Organization: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Duty Station: Tanzania
Position Level: NOB (National Professional Officer)
Contract Type: Temporary Appointment
Assignment Period: 3 August 2026 – 31 January 2027
Target Start Date: 3 August 2026
Application Deadline: 8 August 2026
Hardship Level: D
Family Type: Family

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About the Position

The Associate WASH Officer will provide technical support and guidance on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programmes within UNHCR operations. The role focuses on planning, implementing, monitoring, and coordinating WASH activities for refugees and host communities while ensuring alignment with UNHCR standards, national WASH systems, and sustainable climate-resilient solutions.

The position supports the implementation of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Project FP218: Building Climate Resilience in the Landscapes of Kigoma Region, Tanzania, which aims to strengthen climate resilience and adaptive capacity among refugee and host communities in:

• Kakonko District
• Kasulu District
• Kibondo District

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Key Responsibilities

1. WASH Planning and Programme Support

• Support implementation of sustainable WASH programmes.
• Promote inclusion of refugees and host communities in national and local WASH systems.
• Collaborate with:
  • Government authorities
  • Humanitarian organizations
  • Development partners
  • Donors
  • Private sector stakeholders
  • Academic institutions
• Support emergency WASH response monitoring.
• Contribute to:
  • Refugee response plans
  • Emergency appeals
  • Resilience plans
  • Comprehensive response programmes.
• Support WASH contingency planning for:
  • Disease outbreaks
  • Refugee movements
  • Emergency situations.
• Support collection and analysis of WASH and climate data using Technical Information Management Systems (TIMS).

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2. Technical Assistance and Capacity Building

• Support development and implementation of WASH projects.
• Review partner project proposals and budgets.
• Provide technical guidance on WASH infrastructure and services.
• Promote community participation involving:
  • Women
  • Girls
  • Boys
  • Men
  • Elderly persons
  • Persons with disabilities.
• Develop information, education, and communication materials.
• Support training of UNHCR staff and partners on WASH activities.
• Strengthen community capacity in:
  • Hygiene promotion
  • Menstrual health management
  • Operation and maintenance of WASH facilities
  • Monitoring and reporting.

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3. Monitoring and Quality Assurance

• Monitor WASH programmes against:
  • UNHCR standards
  • Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicators.
• Ensure evidence-based programme implementation.
• Monitor WASH service access data.
• Support data collection, analysis, and reporting through WASH monitoring systems.
• Identify gaps in WASH services and recommend improvements.

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4. Reporting and Accountability

• Support community feedback and accountability mechanisms.
• Collect and analyse community satisfaction data.
• Prepare WASH sector reports.
• Provide updates and briefings to:
  • Donors
  • Management
  • Partners.

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5. Coordination and Partnerships

• Support coordination of WASH partners, including:
  • UN agencies
  • Government institutions
  • NGOs
  • Municipal authorities
  • Water utilities.
• Support integration of refugees into national WASH development plans.
• Develop partnerships for sustainable WASH service delivery.
• Engage stakeholders on:
  • Water supply
  • Sanitation services
  • Hygiene promotion
  • Climate resilience.

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Specific Project Responsibilities (GCF Project)

The National Water Officer will provide technical expertise for climate-resilient water interventions, including:

• Planning and supervising water-related activities.
• Supporting ecosystem restoration interventions.
• Preparing technical specifications and Bills of Quantities (BOQs).
• Providing technical oversight for:
  • Water harvesting systems
  • Irrigation infrastructure
  • Watershed management activities.
• Supporting land-use planning and stakeholder engagement.
• Monitoring engineering activities aimed at reducing:
  • Soil erosion
  • Flood risks.

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Minimum Qualifications

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in any of the following fields:

• Civil Engineering
• Environmental Engineering
• Hydrology
• Water Resources Development
• Public Health Engineering
• Water/Sanitation Engineering
• Other related fields

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Experience Requirements

For NOB level:

• 3 years of relevant professional experience with an undergraduate degree, OR
• 2 years of relevant experience with a graduate degree, OR
• 1 year of experience with a doctorate degree.

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Essential Experience

Candidates must have:

• Proven experience in WASH programmes.
• Experience in:
  • WASH surveys
  • Programme implementation
  • Monitoring and evaluation
  • Data management
  • Coordination.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a changing environment.
• Strong communication and analytical skills.
• Ability to work with people from diverse cultural and educational backgrounds.
• Good computer skills.

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Desirable Experience

Additional advantage:

• Knowledge of:
  • Water and wastewater hydraulics
  • Solid waste management
  • Vector control
  • Hygiene promotion
  • Behaviour change approaches.
• Experience supporting transition to local/national WASH service providers.
• Experience developing transition plans, budgets, and stakeholder coordination systems.

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Required Certifications

• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) certification.

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Functional Skills

Required skills include:

• Programme management and reporting.
• Environmental mainstreaming.
• Emergency field operations.
• Information management tools.
• WASH in refugee and out-of-camp settings.
• WASH emergency response.

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Language Requirements

For National Professional Officer positions:

• Knowledge of English.
• Knowledge of the local language required for the duty station.

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Core Competencies

Applicants should demonstrate:

• Accountability
• Communication
• Organizational Awareness
• Teamwork and Collaboration
• Commitment to Continuous Learning
• Client and Result Orientation

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Managerial & Cross-Functional Competencies

Managerial Competencies

• Judgement and Decision Making
• Managing Performance
• Empowering and Building Trust

Cross-Functional Competencies

• Innovation and Creativity
• Planning and Organizing
• Technological Awareness

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Important Notes

• UNHCR promotes a workplace free from discrimination, harassment, sexual exploitation, and abuse.
• Applicants must demonstrate integrity, professionalism, and respect for diversity.
• The position requires functional clearance.
• Recruitment will follow UNHCR standards and procedures.

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Application Deadline

8 August 2026

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How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit their applications through the official UNHCR recruitment portal:

CLICK HERE TO APPLY