Organization Mission

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 maintain 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.

This UNV assignment is part of UNICEF’s flagship WASH programming, integrated with the Climate, Environment, Energy and Disasters (CEED) programme. The position will advance technical coordination, capacity building for water utilities, evidence generation, and youth climate champions initiatives. The UNV will contribute to positioning Ukraine as a demonstration country for climate-resilient WASH services while ensuring equitable access to safe water and sanitation for children and communities.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for UN Volunteers 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 recruitment process and afterwards in your assignment.

Key Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the WASH Specialist (Climate), the UNV is expected to undertake the following:

1. CEED integration and inter-sectoral coordination

• Support mainstreaming of CEED considerations across WASH interventions spanning emergency response through development programming.
• Coordinate with UNICEF programme sections to identify opportunities for integrated CEED approaches.
• Facilitate coordination between WASH Cluster partners and technical working groups on climate-related priorities.
• Prepare technical inputs and coordination materials for inter-agency meetings, government stakeholders, and partners.
• Monitor climate policy and EU Green Deal developments, producing concise updates for UNICEF teams and partners.

2. Technical support for energy efficiency and climate resilience

• Support capacity building, technical assessments, and documentation of climate-resilient WASH management practices.
• Contribute to flagship projects including groundwater monitoring infrastructure.
• Assist in developing guidelines, protocols, and technical specifications for climate-resilient WASH interventions.
• Support quality assurance to ensure CEED integration in project designs and implementation plans.

3. Evidence generation, knowledge management and communications

• Document lessons learned, promising practices, and scalable models from climate-resilient WASH interventions.
• Develop case studies, technical briefs, and visual materials on innovative approaches including solar energy, smart metering, and circular economy solutions.
• Manage CEED-WASH knowledge platforms and databases.
• Prepare analytical reports, concept notes, and advocacy materials linking climate finance to WASH needs.
• Contribute to communications on children’s rights to water, environmental sustainability, and climate justice.

4. Youth engagement and capacity development

• Facilitate youth-led demonstration projects on energy audits, water monitoring, and sustainable WASH practices.
• Coordinate with SBC team to embed WASH-CEED messages in campaigns targeting children and young people.
• Support capacity-building for youth leaders, partners, and UNICEF staff on climate-resilient WASH and green skills.
• Document youth innovations and peer learning networks.
• Ensure safeguarding and inclusive participation of vulnerable youth groups in climate action activities.

Required Skills and Experience

• Environmental science, engineering, water resource management, climate change, sustainable development, social sciences, or other relevant programmes; experience with WASH, climate adaptation, energy efficiency, environmental programmes, or related areas in development or humanitarian contexts is an asset, as is experience working in the UN or other international development organization;
• Demonstrated knowledge of climate change impacts on water resources, energy-water nexus, and climate-resilient WASH approaches, including renewable energy integration, water safety planning, and nature-based solutions.
• Knowledge of EU environmental standards, Green Deal requirements, and climate finance mechanisms; familiarity with SDG 6 and SDG 13 frameworks.
• Proven ability in knowledge management, documentation of lessons learned, and preparation of technical briefs, reports, and advocacy materials.
• Experience in youth engagement, capacity development, or integration of climate education into existing programmes is an asset.
• Familiarity with UNICEF programming approaches, the humanitarian-development nexus, and conflict-sensitive programming is desirable.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in Ukrainian and English.
• Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills;
• Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing;
• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development;
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel;
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, among others), email, and internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment;
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines;
• Sound security awareness;
• Have affinity with or interest in environmental sustainability, children’s rights, and volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN system.

Core Competencies

• Accountability
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Creativity
• Judgement and decision-making
• Planning and organising
• Professionalism
• Self-management

Living Conditions

As it is a national UN Volunteer’s assignment, the UN volunteer shall organize his/her accommodation by themselves.

Entitlements of National UN Volunteer Specialist >> USD 1717

The contract lasts for the period indicated in the vacancy with the possibility of extensions subject to the 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 1717 (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 350 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 at the Commencement of Service and normally ceases on the last day of the UN Volunteer Contract.
• 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.