[Hiring] International Consultancy on Strengthening Cholera Preparedness and WASH Planning @AGORA

Role Description

The purpose of this consultancy is to consolidate lessons from the 2026 cholera response and strengthen evidence-based WASH planning for cholera prevention, preparedness and risk reduction in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States. The assignment will assess recurrent cholera risks, identify and prioritize strategic WASH investments, and inform government-led preparedness and coordination arrangements to mitigate future outbreaks. In the context of the transition of WASH Cluster coordination functions to government, the consultancy will define institutional roles and responsibilities, activation triggers and minimum operational capacities required for government-led cholera coordination, and propose a phased, actionable plan to address identified capacity gaps.

How can you make a difference?

• Work Package 1: After-Action Review (AAR)
  • Conduct an After-Action Review of the 2026 cholera response in Borno and Yobe States, adapting WHO AAR methodology.
  • Assess preparedness, coordination, surveillance, WASH interventions including CATI, resource mobilization, operational challenges and intersectoral collaboration.
  • Identify lessons learned, good practices and priority improvements.
  • Expected output: AAR report with key findings, lessons learned and prioritized recommendations, including responsible institutions and indicative timelines.
• Work Package 2: Cholera Hotspot Mapping and Risk Analysis
  • Apply the GTFCC Priority Areas for Multisectoral Interventions (PAMI) methodology to historical cholera surveillance data to identify priority hotspots in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States.
  • Supplement the analysis with WASH, population and environmental risk data where available.
  • Validate findings with government and partners and identify priority WASH actions for selected high-risk areas.
  • Expected output: Validated hotspot analysis, maps and concise risk profiles identifying priority locations and WASH prevention needs.
• Work Package 3: WASH Prevention and Investment Framework
  • Develop a prioritized WASH prevention and investment framework informed by the AAR and hotspot analysis.
  • Identify immediate preparedness actions and phased investments in water supply, water quality, sanitation and other relevant interventions.
  • Include indicative costs, institutional responsibilities and capacity-strengthening priorities where feasible.
  • Expected output: Prioritized WASH prevention and investment framework with phased actions, indicative costs and institutional responsibilities.
• Work Package 4: Government-Led Preparedness and Coordination Transition
  • Assess existing cholera preparedness and coordination arrangements.
  • Support government authorities in defining institutional roles, minimum operational capacities, early-warning and response activation triggers, information-sharing processes and coordination responsibilities.
  • Develop and validate a phased transition roadmap that builds on existing government structures.
  • Expected output: Validated government-led preparedness and coordination transition package, including institutional roles, activation triggers, capacity priorities and implementation roadmap.

Qualifications

• An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or higher) in Epidemiology, Public Health, Environmental Health, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), or a closely related field.

Requirements

• Minimum 8 years of relevant professional experience including:
  • Cholera epidemiology.
  • Water and sanitation programmes.
  • Disease surveillance.
  • Public health analytics.
  • Humanitarian and development settings.
• Fluency in English, with excellent written and verbal communication skills, including technical report writing, stakeholder engagement and group facilitation.
• Strong technical knowledge of cholera epidemiology, prevention, preparedness and response, particularly WASH interventions.
• Expertise in cholera surveillance data analysis, hotspot mapping and interpretation of epidemiological and environmental risk factors.
• Knowledge of WHO After-Action Review methodologies and GTFCC guidance on cholera prevention and control.
• Expertise in WASH programme planning, investment prioritization, indicative costing and risk-informed interventions.
• Understanding of government-led emergency preparedness, multisectoral coordination and institutional capacity strengthening.
• Strong analytical, technical writing, stakeholder consultation and facilitation skills.

Benefits

• UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does.
• UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence.
• Reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities is offered throughout the recruitment process.