Field Associate (WASH Integration)

General Background

UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 by the UN General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and coordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to support States to ensure that everyone forced to flee can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country (www.unhcr.org).

The UNHCR Multi-Country Office for Representation in Zambia, covers Malawi and Zimbabwe national offices, and the representational office in Lusaka. UNHCR supports the Governments of the three countries to provide an enabling protection environment that allows asylum seekers, refugees and former refugees to be protected, be self-reliant and achieve durable solutions.

Malawi hosts over 60,500 refugees, asylum-seekers, and other forcibly displaced persons, mainly in Dzaleka Camp and surrounding host communities. Malawi is a state party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, as well as the 1969 OAU Convention. The national framework includes reservations which underpin the encampment policy, with Dzaleka designated as the official residence for persons of concern.

The national legal framework is governed by the Refugee Act of 1989, currently under review to align with international standards.

UNHCR Malawi, operating under the Zambia Multi-Country Office (MCO), focuses on strengthening government-led systems and integrated service delivery. Within this framework, WASH programming is transitioning toward sustainable, climate-resilient solutions.

The Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) Innovation Pilot introduces innovative groundwater recharge approaches to improve sustainability of water resources. The Water Reticulation Project focuses on improving efficiency and reliability of water supply systems within the camp.

These interventions require strong technical oversight, monitoring, and coordination to ensure quality implementation and sustainability, aligned with UNHCR WASH standards and a rights-based, community-centered approach.

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations

To view occupational safety and health considerations, please visit: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Purpose and Scope of Assignment

The position will report to the Head of National Office in Lilongwe and in close coordination with the Operations Associate and the Programme Officer. The position will support WASH infrastructure interventions including MAR and water reticulation projects. The incumbent will contribute across the full programme management cycle, including needs assessment, technical design, implementation planning, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting. S/he will support the application of results-based management approaches, ensuring that WASH interventions are informed by data, aligned with strategic priorities, and adapted to evolving operational and environmental conditions. The incumbent will work closely with district authorities, implementing partners, contractors, and communities to ensure effective planning, implementation, and monitoring.

Given the cross-cutting nature of WASH interventions, the incumbent will support technical design, procurement processes, construction supervision, monitoring frameworks, and evaluation activities.

The incumbent will support WASH related activities in the Dzaleka refugee camp, working closely with the multi-functional team from the Zambia MCO including colleagues from protection, supply and programme. The role will ensure strong coordination between UNHCR, partners, government entities, and communities, while contributing to reporting, programme monitoring, and project design. The incumbent will support the integration of WASH programming within broader multi-sectoral interventions, including protection, health, and community-based programming, ensuring coherence and complementarity across sectors. S/he will follow a rights-based and community focused approach to programme design and implementation. The incumbent will follow the five principles for protection, accountability and WASH as outlined in UNHCR’s WASH Manual. The incumbent will provide regular updates and support donor reporting requirements.

Position Purpose

The Field Associate (WASH Integration) will support the end-to-end management of WASH programmes under the MAR Innovation and JSB projects, including planning, design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. The role will contribute to evidence-based decision-making through data analysis, performance tracking, and reporting, ensuring alignment with UNHCR standards and results-based management principles.

The incumbent will ensure technical quality assurance, sustainability, and compliance of WASH infrastructure interventions, while strengthening coordination with stakeholders and promoting community engagement through inclusive and accountability-driven approaches. The position will also support risk-informed programming, donor reporting, and documentation of lessons learned to enhance programme effectiveness and sustainability.

Specific duties and responsibilities

· Support implementation of MAR and JSB WASH activities.

· Provide technical support on design, cost estimation, and Bills of Quantities to ensure quality, cost-effectiveness, sustainability and environmental sound WASH interventions.

-Support validation of technical designs, ensuring compliance with UNHCR standards, environmental safeguards, and climate-resilient approaches.

-Contribute to lifecycle cost analysis and sustainability planning of WASH infrastructure.

· Support procurement processes and contract management.

· Conduct field monitoring and verification of WASH projects and related interventions, maintain the records of WASH performance indicators and support the review of performance.

- Analyse monitoring data and performance indicators to support evidence-based decision-making and adaptive programme management.

· Track progress and prepare reports for internal and donor requirements.

· Liaise with partners, contractors, and government stakeholders.

· Promote community participation and strengthen accountability mechanisms.

· Support Water User Associations and capacity building activities.

· Contribute to data collection, analysis, and reporting.

· Support overall programme design, planning, and documentation of lessons learned.

· Maintain proper documentation and reporting systems.

. Participate in general field monitoring of activities and periodic reporting.

- Provide project management support for UNHCR WASH activities employing typical PM tools for design control, procurement, implementation and monitoring, and contract administration including evaluations to support progress certificates.

- Facilitate integration of WASH interventions with protection, health, and community-based programming.

· Any other duties assigned.

CANDIDATE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS, SELECTION CRITERIA

7. Required qualifications, language(s) and work experience:

Degree:

Required |X|

Agriculture, Civil Engineering, Environment , Natural Resources Management, Hydrology, Project management, Public Health, Community Dvpt/Social Work, Social Sciences, Urban Planning , Water resource development, Water/Sanitation Management

Field of expertise, competencies:

· WASH infrastructure and engineering

· Project management and field operations

· Stakeholder coordination and liaison

· Monitoring and evaluation

· Community engagement and capacity building

Required/Mandatory Competencies

· Operational knowledge, field experience and monitoring for displaced populations.

· Knowledge of refugee protection.

· Demonstrated ability to coordinate multi-stakeholder projects.

· Knowledge of inclusion and integrated programming.

· Excellent communication and reporting skills.

· Familiarity with national systems.

· Proficiency in data collection and M&E tools.

Desirable Competencies

· Experience working with refugee populations.

· Ability to train and mentor partners.

· Experience engaging with government.

· Proven experience in WASH programming.

· Ability to support monitoring missions.

Minimum years of work experience:

3 years (Diploma) or 2 years (Bachelor)

Language: Required: English Desirable: Chichewa

Skills

Education

Certifications

Work Experience

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted and may be required to sit for written test and/or oral interview. Written test may/or may not be part of the selection process.This position doesn't require a functional clearance