Consultancy - WASH Innovative Finance Specialist

WASH is a capital-intensive sector; however numerous studies have identified global underinvestment as a significant constraint on achieving sustainable, universal access to safely managed WASH services. IF offers the potential for additional investment to address some of the investment shortfalls. Leveraged together with innovative solutions to WASH problems, IF offers a potentially catalytic approach to addressing several of the world’s WASH challenges. Accordingly, demonstrating pathways to accelerate scaling of IF in WASH in development and humanitarian contexts is one of the key focal areas of the Hub.

In the context of this role, IF refers to financing approaches, tools, and mechanisms that: (a) leverage additional resources for children through new financial instruments or apply existing instruments in a new way; (b) make resources work more effectively and efficiently in the interest of children; and/or (c) make resources more results-oriented to accelerate programmatic and operational solutions for children.

This role is focused on supporting the implementation of IF demonstration projects in WCAR. The successful candidate will report to the Senior Adviser responsible for IF in the Hub and assist in driving projects to scale in close collaboration with the WCAR Regional Adviser WASH and the Hub Portfolio Manager. The successful candidate will also work collaboratively with the New York WASH Program Group WASH Specialist (Finance and SS) and country and regional office WASH teams.

How can you make a difference ?

1. Contribute to the development and execution of the Hub’s strategic vision for integrating IF into WASH programming in WCAR.
2. Conduct detailed financial analysis and modelling to assess the viability of innovative financing solutions in WCAR.
3. Support the development of business models that attract investment into climate-resilient WASH solutions, ensuring they are scalable and sustainable in WCAR.
4. Provide technical support and guidance to regional and country offices on innovative financing strategies that can enhance WASH programs in WCAR.
5. Develop financial reports for internal and external stakeholders, summarizing the performance of IF initiatives and their impact on WASH outcomes in WCAR.

Your main responsibilities will be :

Task 1 : Strategic Planning and Financial Innovation Support (Supervision: OOI)

Task 2 : Provide technical support in the implementation, scaling, and replication of IF solutions. (Supervision: OOI)

Task 3 : Financial Analysis and Modelling (Supervision: OOI)

Task 4 : Financial reporting and development (Supervision: WCARO)

Task 5 : Capacity Building and Knowledge Sharing (Supervision: WCARO)

Task 6 (optional) : development of National Financing Strategies (Supervision: WCARO)

Desirable

• Five years working experience in Sub Sahara Africa.
• Previous experience with the UN, National and Regional entities, as well as with donors is desirable.
• Experience working in innovation-focused environments or scaling new financing models country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset. 
• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset. 
   

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

Remarks :  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. 

Job no : 581197
Contract type : Consultant
Duty Station : Dakar
Level : Consultancy
Location : Senegal, Denmark
Categories : WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene), Innovation, Financial Management

Advertised : 12 May 2025 Romance Daylight Time
Deadline : 25 May 2025 Romance Daylight Time.