Position Title: IPC/WASH Expert
Receiving Agency: UNICEF
P Level: P4
Location: Juba, South Sudan
Duration: 3 months
Language: Fluency in English is essential.

Background
On 17 May 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) determined that the ongoing Ebola Disease epidemic caused by the Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) under the International Health Regulations (2005). The outbreak presents significant regional and international public health risks due to confirmed cross-border transmission, ongoing epidemiological uncertainties, high population mobility, insecurity, and humanitarian challenges in the affected areas.
As of 16 May 2026, the DRC had reported eight laboratory-confirmed cases, 246 suspected cases, and 80 suspected deaths across multiple health zones in Ituri Province, including Bunia, Rwampara, and Mongbwalu. In Uganda, two laboratory-confirmed cases, including one death, were reported in Kampala among travelers arriving from the DRC. The outbreak is further complicated by suspected healthcare-associated transmission, including deaths among healthcare workers, indicating critical gaps in infection prevention and control (IPC) measures within health facilities.
South Sudan remains at high risk of Ebola disease importation and potential outbreaks due to its porous borders, frequent cross-border population movement with neighboring countries, humanitarian crisis, weak health systems, climate-related shocks, displacement, and limited IPC/WASH capacity in high-risk areas. The risk is particularly elevated in border states, points of entry, refugee and returnee hosting areas, transit corridors, and densely populated urban and peri-urban settings.
In response to the heightened regional threat, UNICEF, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, WHO, and other partners, is supporting national and sub-national Ebola preparedness and readiness interventions. These include strengthening surveillance, Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) systems, risk communication and community engagement, healthcare facility readiness, safe water supply, environmental cleaning and disinfection, waste management, and rapid response capacities in high-risk locations.
The IPC/WASH Expert will provide technical leadership and operational support to strengthen Ebola preparedness, readiness, and response interventions in line with national guidelines, WHO recommendations, and international standards, with particular focus on reducing transmission risks, protecting frontline workers, and enhancing community resilience and rapid response capacity.

Purpose
The IPC/WASH Expert will support the planning, coordination, implementation, monitoring, and quality assurance of Ebola-related IPC and WASH interventions in South Sudan, with a strong focus on preparedness, rapid response readiness, health facility support, and community-level prevention measures.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Technical leadership and coordination

• Provide technical guidance on Ebola IPC and WASH preparedness and response activities.
• Support national and sub-national IPC/WASH coordination mechanisms and technical working groups.
• Contribute to development/update of:
  • preparedness plans,
  • SOPs,
  • technical guidelines,
  • contingency plans,
  • and response strategies.
• Ensure alignment with Ministry of Health, WHO, UNICEF, and global standards.

2. Health Facility IPC/WASH Preparedness

• Conduct rapid assessments of health facility IPC/WASH readiness.
• Support establishment and strengthening of:
  • triage systems,
  • isolation areas,
  • hand hygiene stations,
  • environmental cleaning systems,
  • waste management systems,
  • and safe water supply.
• Provide technical support for:
  • healthcare waste management,
  • chlorine preparation/use,
  • disinfection protocols,
  • and safe patient flow arrangements.
• Support quality assurance and compliance monitoring in supported facilities.

3. Capacity Building

• Develop and deliver trainings for:
  • healthcare workers,
  • hygiene promoters,
  • rapid response teams,
  • cleaners,
  • WASH technicians,
  • and community volunteers.
• Support Training of Trainers (ToT) approaches for scale-up.
• Conduct simulation exercises and preparedness drills.

4. Community WASH and Risk Reduction

• Support community-based Ebola prevention interventions including:
  • hand hygiene promotion,
  • safe water practices,
  • household disinfection guidance,
  • and safe sanitation practices.
• Support installation of handwashing infrastructure in high-risk public spaces.
• Coordinate with SBC/RCCE teams to ensure harmonized messaging.

5. Points of Entry and Border Preparedness

• Support IPC/WASH preparedness activities at prioritized points of entry and border crossings.
• Ensure availability of:
  • handwashing facilities,
  • water supply,
  • disinfection systems,
  • and waste management arrangements.
• Support orientation/training of frontline staff.

6. Supplies and Logistics

• Support forecasting, specification, and prepositioning of Ebola-related IPC/WASH supplies.
• Monitor utilization and stock status of:
  • PPE,
  • chlorine,
  • hygiene kits,
  • cleaning materials,
  • and WASH equipment.
• Contribute to supply planning and distribution tracking.

7. Monitoring, Reporting and Documentation

• Conduct field monitoring and supportive supervision missions.
• Prepare technical reports, sitreps, updates, and mission reports.
• Document lessons learned and best practices.
• Support monitoring of partner implementation quality and compliance.

Deliverables
The expert will deliver:

• IPC/WASH preparedness assessment reports.
• Technical guidance notes and action plans.
• Training materials and training reports.
• Monitoring and supervision reports.
• Monthly progress updates and final assignment report.
• Recommendations for strengthening Ebola preparedness and response systems.

Minimum qualifications:

Education:	Advanced university degree in one of the following: Public Health, Environmental Health, WASH Engineering, Epidemiology, Infection Prevention and Control, or related field.
Experience and technical qualification:	Minimum 8 years of relevant experience in emergency WASH and/or IPC programming. Demonstrated experience in Ebola preparedness/response or other infectious disease outbreaks. Experience supporting humanitarian response operations in complex emergencies. Experience working with UN agencies, NGOs, and government counterparts. Strong field coordination and training experience.
Technical Skills	Strong knowledge of: IPC standards healthcare facility WASH Ebola preparedness and response emergency public health interventions and humanitarian coordination mechanisms. Familiarity with WHO and UNICEF technical guidance. Excellent analytical and reporting skills.
Language Requirements:	Fluency in English required. Knowledge of local languages is an asset.

Core Competencies:

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with Others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drive to Achieve Impactful Results (1)
• Manages Ambiguity and Complexity (1)

Duty Station and Travel

• Based in Juba with frequent travel to field locations required.
• The expert will comply with UNICEF security and safeguarding requirements.
• UNICEF reserves the right to modify deployment locations based on operational needs.