Technical Advisor for WASH Data Integration Solutions

About UNICEF

UNICEF operates in over 190 countries and territories, dedicated to saving children’s lives, defending their rights, and fostering their potential from early childhood through adolescence. We are a committed, passionate organization, proud to promote the rights of every child—a true calling, not just a job.

UNICEF offers diverse opportunities for professional and personal development, reinforcing a sense of purpose while serving children and communities worldwide. We welcome individuals seeking to grow within a diverse and passionate culture, complemented by an attractive compensation and benefits package. Visit our website to learn more about our mission.

For every child, the right to innovate

UNICEF has a 70-year legacy of innovation for children. The Sustainable WASH Innovation Hub (the Hub), based in Copenhagen, identifies, demonstrates, and scales climate-resilient water and sanitation solutions. These solutions accelerate progress toward a water-secure future for children and young people. The Hub collaborates with partners and UNICEF country and regional teams to select high-impact, cutting-edge innovations, adapting them to context and expanding proven solutions from thousands to millions across multiple regions. This is achieved through an annually reviewed WASH portfolio focused on the greatest challenges and opportunities for impact.

One of the key global challenges the Hub addresses is the impact of climate change on WASH services. This Technical Advisor for WASH Data Integration Solutions consultancy will support two complementary components: a data integrator tool and a drought prediction/monitoring tool. The data integrator will connect with global and national databases, online web mapping services, in-situ sensors, and localized WASH infrastructure data, ensuring near real-time data integration, transformation, and visualization for direct use in WASH programming. The drought prediction/monitoring tool will assist with analysis and modeling of datasets to provide insights for early warning, water management, and climate-resilient WASH planning.

How you can make a difference

The consultant will lead the data integration approach, designing effective demonstrations and collaborating with country offices, such as Angola and Madagascar, to define fit-for-purpose solutions. This integration work will outline the approach for the drought prediction tool, built upon the integrated data, by defining the necessary global, national, in-situ, and WASH-related datasets required for a functional drought monitoring and modeling workflow. This role demands strategic leadership, aligning interdisciplinary teams and convening the Solution Advisory Group (SAG) to ensure coherent, cross-sector collaboration and shared ownership.

Additionally, the consultant will ensure strong alignment with ICTD and digital standards through close collaboration on system architecture, security, interoperability, and compliance with the Digital Principles and Digital Public Goods requirements. The consultant will also focus on enabling learning, evidence generation, and knowledge sharing across UNICEF and its partners to support informed decision-making and foster the scaling of solutions across countries.

Main Responsibilities

• Support the design and implementation of demonstration sites for data integration and drought data.
• Develop the integrated approach for the drought prediction tool, building on the data integrator.
• Ensure technical coherence with UNICEF systems (ICTD, DPAM, OOI) for both tools.
• Provide strategic leadership and coordination for the integrated solution.
• Coordinate externally to ensure alignment of the full solution with sector partners.
• Knowledge Management, Documentation, and Learning.

For more details, please review the complete Job Description here: TOR Solution Lead_ Data Integrator FINAL.pdf

Minimum Requirements

Education:

An advanced degree in modeling, ICTD, Service design, Systems thinking, Communication design, or other relevant fields. A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.

Work Experience:

• Advanced technical expertise in digital systems for climate/drought monitoring, including experience with system architecture, open-source platforms, and data governance.
• Strong service design and systems thinking background, with at least 3+ years as a service designer/systems thinker and 8+ years overall in relevant digital or design-led disciplines.
• Proven experience scaling digital innovations in development contexts, including stakeholder engagement and managing cross-sector digital projects.
• Experience handling, integrating, and interpreting climate, groundwater, or environmental datasets, plus familiarity with WASH sector digital tools and data systems.
• Experience working in developing, fragile, or emergency contexts, and comfort engaging both government and private sector innovation actors.

Skills:

• Strong coordination and facilitation abilities, including working with diverse technical teams and leading complex, multi-stakeholder processes.
• Excellent communication and analytical skills, with the ability to translate technical insights into guidance, documentation, and scaling strategies.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English, plus familiarity with tools like MS Office, PowerPoint, and Power BI.

Desirables:

• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings, and humanitarian contexts.

Travel Expectations

The financial proposal should include travel costs for:

• 2 trips from your home to Copenhagen for five working days each, including Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) rate.
• 1 trip to Angola for five working days, including DSA rate.
• 1 trip to Madagascar for five working days, including DSA rate.

All travel will be by the most economical fare, and reimbursement will follow UNICEF policy. Payment is made against approved deliverables; no advance payment is allowed unless under exceptional circumstances against a bank guarantee, subject to a maximum of 30 percent of the total contract value.

Payment details and further considerations

Payment of professional fees will be based on the submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment if deliverables are not up to the required standard or in case of delays.

How To Apply

Interested applicants must submit a technical and financial proposal with an all-inclusive fee. Please refer to the provided Financial Offer template. Technical proposals should not exceed 10 pages (excluding Annexes) and should outline the consultant's approach to the assignment. Financial proposals must include travel costs (economy class) and daily subsistence allowance, if travel is required as per TOR, and any other estimated costs such as visa or travel/health insurance. Applications without both a financial and technical proposal will not be considered.

UNICEF’s Core Values and Competencies

For every Child, you demonstrate UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). The UNICEF Competencies required for this post include: Builds and maintains partnerships, Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness, Drive to achieve results for impact, Innovates and embraces change, Manages ambiguity and complexity, Thinks and acts strategically, and Works collaboratively with others. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

Diversity and Inclusion

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of every child’s rights, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. We are committed to an inclusive environment, irrespective of race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other status. UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, including those with disabilities and neurodivergence, and offers benefits such as paid parental leave and reasonable accommodation. UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct incompatible with the aims of the United Nations, including sexual exploitation and abuse. All selected candidates undergo rigorous background checks and medical clearance. UNICEF does not charge fees at any stage of its recruitment process.

Key skills/competency

• Data Integration
• WASH Sector Expertise
• Climate Change Adaptation
• Digital Systems Architecture
• Drought Monitoring
• Service Design
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Project Management
• Data Governance
• Early Warning Systems