Job Overview

UNICEF is recruiting a WASH Officer in Nigeria. Applicants need a relevant bachelor’s degree and at least 1 year of WASH experience. Deadline: Aug 14, 2026.

WASH Officer at UNICEF – Nigeria

Support Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Programmes Across Nigeria

UNICEF is recruiting a WASH Officer to support programmes that improve access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene for children and communities in Nigeria.

The position combines programme planning with field-level implementation, monitoring, reporting and coordination. It is particularly relevant to professionals with experience in WASH, water supply, sanitation, hygiene promotion or related public health and technical programmes.

The vacancy lists several possible duty locations, including Abuja, Bauchi, Borno, Enugu, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos and Sokoto, with Maiduguri identified in the listing as the city. Depending on programme requirements, the officer may also travel to field locations.

Job Details

Job Information	Details
Position	WASH Officer
Organization	UNICEF
Job Type	Contract
Level	National Officer, NO-A
Locations	Abuja, Bauchi, Borno, Enugu, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, Sokoto
Listed City	Maiduguri
Experience	Minimum 1 year
Qualification	Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
Job Field	Engineering / Technical
Posted	August 8, 2026
Application Deadline	August 14, 2026
Salary	Not specified

What the WASH Officer Will Do

The officer will provide technical, operational and administrative support throughout the WASH programme cycle.

This includes helping with programme planning, implementation, monitoring, documentation and reporting. The position also contributes to emergency preparedness and response, particularly where communities face challenges related to water, sanitation and hygiene services.

The role reports to a WASH Specialist at Level 3 for supervision and technical guidance.

Supporting WASH Programme Planning

One part of the position involves researching and analyzing information that can help UNICEF and its partners plan appropriate WASH interventions.

The officer will support activities such as:

• Reviewing national and sub-national WASH trends.
• Analyzing health, social and economic information relevant to WASH programming.
• Collecting and verifying programme information.
• Supporting situation analysis and programme planning.
• Contributing to WASH strategies, indicators and workplans.
• Preparing technical reports and programme documentation.

Strong research and writing skills will therefore be useful, particularly for candidates who have experience turning field information into clear programme documents.

Monitoring Programme Progress

The officer will also help monitor whether WASH activities are being implemented as planned.

Responsibilities include working with colleagues and partners to:

• Identify implementation challenges.
• Document routine bottlenecks.
• Discuss possible solutions.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises.
• Support programme and sector reviews.
• Prepare meeting notes, reports and follow-up actions.
• Maintain records of assessments and monitoring findings.
• Provide accurate information for programme and donor reports.

Attention to detail matters because programme decisions and donor reporting depend on reliable information.

Field Visits and Technical Support

This is not exclusively an office-based position.

The vacancy includes field visits and surveys, during which the officer may collect information, assess programme activities and share findings with relevant partners and stakeholders.

The officer will also help government counterparts, NGO partners, UN agencies and other stakeholders understand and apply relevant UNICEF policies, strategies and WASH practices.

Applicants who have previously worked directly in communities or project sites should make that experience visible in their CV.

Humanitarian WASH Preparedness and Response

The position includes responsibilities related to humanitarian WASH preparedness and response.

This is especially relevant in settings affected by emergencies, displacement or other conditions that can disrupt access to essential water and sanitation services.

The officer may support preparedness activities, programme monitoring and response efforts while working with partners and government counterparts.

Experience in emergency response or humanitarian programmes is desirable but is not listed as the minimum requirement.

Working With Government and Implementing Partners

WASH programmes typically involve several organizations working together.

The WASH Officer will build working relationships with:

• Government counterparts.
• National stakeholders.
• NGOs.
• UN system partners.
• Other implementing organizations.

The position also involves participating in inter-agency meetings and WASH events to support coordination and alignment with wider sector plans.

Good interpersonal and communication skills are therefore important.

Supporting Communication and Resource Mobilization

The officer may also help prepare communication and information materials used for:

• WASH advocacy.
• Awareness activities.
• Partnership development.
• Resource mobilization.

The vacancy also mentions researching potential donors and preparing briefs or other materials that can support partnership development.

Applicants with experience writing proposals, preparing project briefs or supporting donor communications can highlight that work in their CV.

Education Requirements

Applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent first-level university degree in a relevant field.

The vacancy specifically mentions areas such as:

• Public Health.
• Social Sciences.
• Behaviour Change Communication.
• Sanitary Engineering.
• Other related fields.

Candidates should clearly state their degree, institution and field of study on their CV.

Professional Experience Required

The minimum requirement is at least one year of relevant work experience.

Relevant experience may include work in:

• WASH programmes.
• Water supply.
• Sanitation.
• Hygiene promotion.
• Programme management.
• Related public health or technical activities.

The vacancy is therefore suitable for early-career professionals who already have some relevant practical experience.

Skills to Highlight in Your CV

The employer identifies several skills that are important for this position:

• Proposal writing.
• Report drafting.
• Planning.
• Programme monitoring.
• Delivering results.
• Partnership and cooperation.
• WASH programme implementation.
• Field data collection.
• Programme documentation.

If you have experience using data to monitor WASH activities, preparing reports for donors or partners, or coordinating field activities, include specific examples where possible.

Presenting technical experience clearly is especially important for UNICEF and other international development roles. Your CV should show not only your qualifications but also the projects, field activities, reporting responsibilities and results you have contributed to. See our guide on How to Write a Professional CV in Nigeria for practical advice on structuring your experience and highlighting relevant achievements.

Desirable Experience

Several additional qualifications and experiences may strengthen an application.

These include:

• Knowledge of another official UN language such as Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish.
• Knowledge of a relevant local language.
• Experience working with government partners.
• Development-partner experience.
• Emergency-response experience.
• Field monitoring.
• Data collection.
• Rural or urban sanitation programmes.
• Experience working at country level.
• Experience in development, fragile or humanitarian settings.

These are listed as desirable rather than minimum requirements, so applicants should still assess themselves primarily against the mandatory criteria.

Is This Role Suitable for You?

This opportunity may suit an early-career WASH or public health professional who wants to work on programmes serving vulnerable communities.

It could be particularly relevant to someone with a background in sanitary engineering, public health, water supply, sanitation, hygiene promotion or behaviour change communication.

The role also requires flexibility. Field travel may be necessary, and the officer may work with government officials, NGOs, UN partners and communities across different programme settings.

How to Prepare Your CV

A strong application should connect your experience directly to WASH programme work.

Where applicable, highlight:

• Water supply projects.
• Sanitation programmes.
• Hygiene promotion activities.
• Community outreach.
• WASH assessments.
• Field surveys.
• Data collection.
• Monitoring and evaluation.
• Emergency response.
• Government or NGO coordination.
• Proposal writing.
• Technical and donor reporting.

Instead of listing only general skills, describe what you actually did. For example, if you participated in a field assessment covering several communities, explain your role and the type of information you collected.

The same approach should be used throughout your application documents. If a cover letter is required, connect your WASH experience, technical skills and motivation directly to the position. Our guide on How to Write a Winning Cover Letter for Jobs in Nigeria explains how to create a focused cover letter that supports your CV.

Application Deadline

The stated deadline is August 14, 2026.

Because the vacancy may attract applicants from several professional backgrounds, eligible candidates should review the requirements and prepare their application before the closing date rather than leaving submission until the final day.

Prepare for the UNICEF Interview

Applicants who progress beyond the initial application stage may need to demonstrate their technical knowledge, communication skills, problem-solving ability and experience working with partners and communities. Preparing for likely interview questions can help you explain your experience more effectively. See Common Job Interview Questions in Nigeria (With Sample Answers and Expert Tips) for practical interview preparation and guidance on answering employer questions confidently.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified candidates should apply through UNICEF on jobs.unicef.org