Position Title: Emergency WASH Specialist
Receiving Agency: UNICEF
P Level: P3
Location: Bujumbura, Burundi
Duration: 3 months
Language: French and English required
 

Background

The Great Lakes region is experiencing a high-risk public health emergency due to concurrent Ebola outbreaks in the DRC and Uganda since May 2026, with spread toward major urban centres and increasing cross-border transmission risks. With over 1,000 suspected cases reported in DRC and the situation classified as a global and continental public health emergency, the threat of regional escalation remains significant.

Burundi is particularly vulnerable due to its proximity to affected countries, porous borders, and intense population mobility, including over 66,000 DRC refugees and substantial undocumented cross-border movements. These dynamics significantly increase the risk of Ebola importation and local transmission.

The country’s health system is already overstretched by multiple recent and ongoing outbreaks (cholera, measles, polio, Mpox), limiting preparedness and response capacity. There is an urgent need to reinforce surveillance, rapid response, Infection Prevention and Control /Water Sanitation and Hygiene (IPC/WASH), laboratory capacity, and risk communication, while ensuring continuity of essential services.
A multisectoral national preparedness and response plan, validated in May 2026, provides the strategic framework to strengthen coordination, mitigate risks, and enhance national resilience against potential outbreaks.
 

Purpose

In the context of ongoing public health emergencies (EVD and cholera), UNICEF seeks the support of an Emergency WASH Specialist to reinforce preparedness and response capacities through strengthened planning, coordination, and implementation of WASH interventions. The role will contribute directly to the national task force strategy by ensuring, timely and effective delivery of targeted WASH and Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures to prevent, detect, and respond to outbreaks across affected communities, health care facilities, and schools.
 

Duties and Responsibilities:

Under the technical guidance and managerial responsibility of the Chief WASH & CEED, and in close collaboration with UNICEF emergency coordinator, the Emergency WASH/IPC Specialist will be accountable for the quality and effectiveness of UNICEF’s WASH/IPC interventions within the integrated public health emergency (EVD, Cholera) response. This includes ensuring access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene services in institutions such as healthcare facilities and schools, as well as at the community level including refugee settlements.

• Assess WASH and IPC needs in entry points, health care facilities, schools and community in priority area 1 and 2;
• Identify key preparedness actions to be implemented in line with global EVD preparedness strategy;
• Provide technical and program development support to field response teams and partners engaged in WASH/IPC for Ebola Virus Diseases (EVD), cholera response and other epidemic diseases;
• Familiarize her/himself with the current epidemic situation and context of EVD outbreak in DRC, including the extent of the current cholera outbreak,
• Support all SitReps and other relevant reports produced;
• Prepare WASH/IPC supply plans in line with the UNICEF EVD Response Plan and coordination with the relevant government at the national and district level and other partners and relevant stakeholders to the refugee and cholera response.
• Support the preparation of donor proposals/concept note in support of the preparedness and response and donor updates and reporting as and when required;
• Visit affected/target districts to support field coordination and monitoring of the EVD and cholera WASH/IPC response;
• Support IPC/WASH commission coordination both at the national at field (provincial) level (hotspots);
• Ensure regular and timely processes and impact evaluations are done regarding UNICEF IPC/WASH-related interventions in healthcare facilities;
• Provide technical guidance to develop partnerships agreements and collaboration mechanisms with international and national NGOs that have relevant expertise, implementation capacity and know how in the management of responses to WASH/IPC emergencies as well as in the development of community-based surveillance systems;
• Also facilitate a synergic collaboration with the Government of Burundi represented by the WASH sector coordination response, Cholera outbreak Team, the World Health Organization, other UN Agencies, Civil Society Organizations, and other partners for all aspects related to WASH/IPC;
• Support systematic and timely reporting of WASH activities to the chief WASH in close collaboration with the WHO emergency coordinator and UNICEF emergency coordinator
• Provide any other support as determined by the Chief WASH coordinator and UNICEF emergency coordinator

 

Minimum qualifications:

 

Education:	Advanced university degree in Water and Sanitary Engineering or equivalent experience in Public Health, Environmental Health, and Social Sciences or related fields.
Experience and technical qualification:	At least 5 years of experience in the relevant areas of Public Health, Environmental Health, Civil & Water/Sanitary Engineering and Social Sciences; Previous experience in proving emergency WASH responses in complex environments essential; Previous experience in emergency preparedness/response (such as refugee response, Cholera, Ebola, COVID, …) is strongly advised; Knowledge of Infection Prevention Control protocols (WHO, CDC); Previous experience in preparing donor proposals and reporting; Experience in building consensus and brokering partnerships; Experience in facilitating participatory approaches and coordination of partners;  Previous UNICEF WASH emergencies experience is an advantage.
Language Requirements:	Fluency in French and working knowledge of English

 

Duty Station and Travel:

Bujumbura (Burundi), with frequent travel to priority 1 and 2 sanitary districts, as well as affected/high-risk cholera sanitary districts, as required.


CANADEM and its partners have a no-tolerance policy for inaction to prevent, respond to and follow up on alleged cases of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (SEAH). For this reason, we adhere to all policies, procedures and training of the United Nations on The Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (PSEAH). CANADEM mandates all deployees successfully complete the PSEA online course. This e-learning course is composed of a set of lessons designed to raise awareness about SEAH, become familiar with a range of measures to combat SEAH, understand the impact on victims and the consequences for UN Personnel who commit Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment.