Objectives

Support the most vulnerable families with improved, equitable, and sustained access to safe WASH services.

Background

Lebanon has experienced prolonged political and economic instability; however, recent developments have had unprecedented consequences for children and their families. Since October 2019, the country has faced a series of overlapping crises, including economic collapse, the COVID 19 pandemic, and the Beirut Port explosion in August 2020. These shocks have severely weakened public services and infrastructure.

The situation in Lebanon has further deteriorated following the escalation of hostilities in late 2024 and again in March 2026, triggering a large-scale humanitarian crisis. As of April–May 2026, more than 1.1 million people have been displaced nationwide, including over 390,000 children, representing one of the largest displacement crises in Lebanon’s modern history (UNICEF SitRep, April 2026).

At the peak of the crisis in March 2026, displacement exceeded 1.2 million people. Over 134,000 individuals accommodated across more than 630 collective shelters; while the figures remain fluid due to ongoing population movements and partial returns. Meanwhile, the majority of displaced families remain hosted outside formal sites in increasingly precarious conditions (OCHA Flash Update, May 2026; UNICEF SitRep, April 2026). While figures remain fluid due to ongoing population movements and partial returns, displacement continues to place immense pressure on essential services, particularly water supply, sanitation systems, and solid waste management.

UNICEF and partners are responding by delivering critical WASH assistance, including the installation of emergency sanitation facilities (latrines and showers), water trucking, rehabilitation of water systems, distribution of hygiene kits, and operation and maintenance (O&M) of WASH services. These interventions are being implemented across Beirut and Mount Lebanon, Bekaa/Baalbek Hermel, North Lebanon, Akkar, and South Lebanon.

In parallel, Lebanon continues to host one of the largest refugee populations per capita globally. As of early 2026, there are approximately 1.12 million displaced Syrians in the country (registered and unregistered), despite ongoing returns. In addition, since late 2024, an estimated 150,000 Syrians have newly arrived in Lebanon, further increasing pressure on already fragile services and infrastructure.

The combined impact of large-scale internal displacement, continued refugee inflows, and pre-existing vulnerabilities has significantly increased WASH needs across the country, particularly in collective shelters and underserved host communities.

Scope of Work

The main objective of the assignment is to monitor the WASH situation and the implementation of WASH interventions in IDP collective shelters.

The Monitoring Officer (MO) will be present in assigned areas/sites on a daily basis and will undertake the assignment in close collaboration with the UNICEF WASH Officer in the Beirut office and relevant partners.

The MO will report regularly to the UNICEF WASH Officer through established communication channels (e.g., WhatsApp and written reports). Reporting frequency may be adjusted by UNICEF as the situation evolves.

Responsibilities (Planning, Monitoring, and Reporting)

·         Develop weekly and monthly monitoring and field visit plans and submit them to the UNICEF WASH Officer for review and approval.

·         Conduct regular monitoring visits to all assigned UNICEF/Sector‑supported shelters and intervention sites, ensuring each site is visited at least once every two weeks.

·         Monitor the overall WASH situation in IDP shelters and collective sites, including the condition, functionality, utilization, accessibility, and adequacy of facilities (latrines, showers, water storage, drainage systems, and hygiene infrastructure).

·         Monitor the implementation of UNICEF/Sector‑supported activities, including rehabilitation, installation, construction, operation and maintenance of WASH structures, and WASH supply distributions.

·         Verify implementation progress, service quality, and partner presence on site, and support validation of completed works and distributions through field observations and documentation using Survey123, the WASH Sector Real-Time Accountability (RTA) platform, and other designated monitoring tools.

·         Create, update, and maintain RTA entries, documenting findings, recommendations, action points, responsible parties, and target deadlines. Track the implementation of agreed corrective actions, monitor progress against established timelines, and follow up with partners and focal points to ensure timely resolution and closure of identified issues.

·         Monitor working conditions at construction and rehabilitation sites, ensuring compliance with health and safety standards and Decent Work principles.

·         Identify operational gaps, delays, technical issues, community concerns, and protection risks, and propose timely corrective actions.

·         Follow up on pending issues, referrals, and corrective actions identified during monitoring visits. Create and update action points in the WASH Sector (RTA) platform, track implementation status and agreed deadlines, coordinate with partners and focal points on required actions, and escalate critical or overdue issues to the UNICEF WASH Officer as necessary to ensure timely resolution and closure.

·         Maintain accurate monitoring records by completing and updating agreed tools (online tools and/or paper‑based) for all sites and interventions.

·         Provide real‑time updates through established communication channels to report urgent issues, incidents, and operational needs.

·         Prepare and submit daily field visit reports, including key findings, required actions, and photo documentation.

·         Submit periodic reports, including weekly updates, monthly monitoring summaries, and a final end‑of‑assignment report outlining key findings, achievements, challenges, and recommendations.

·         Ensure timely submission of all reports and accurate data entry into relevant databases and tracking systems, in line with UNICEF requirements.

·         Maintain proper communication channels with focal points, partners, and shelter managers.

Key Outputs

·         Daily site monitoring reports with documented findings and required actions.

·         Timely reporting and follow up of identified issues, referrals, and risks.

·         Monthly monitoring summaries submitted in line with agreed timelines.

·         Final assignment report summarizing results, lessons learned, and recommendations.

·         Regular feedback to UNICEF on WASH service quality, implementation progress, and site conditions.

·         Updated RTA records with documented findings, action points, responsible parties, deadlines, progress updates, and closure status.

·          Monthly summary of outstanding actions, overdue items, and follow-up conducted with partners and focal points.

Additional Responsibilities

·         Support coordination and information sharing between UNICEF, partners, and relevant stakeholders.

·         Participate in coordination meetings, briefings, and field assessments as required.

·         Support emergency monitoring missions, rapid assessments, and ad hoc site visits.

·         Assist in maintaining updated tracking tools, monitoring databases, and referral systems.

·         Contribute to improving programme quality through documentation of lessons learned and practical recommendations.

·         Perform any other related tasks as requested by the UNICEF WASH Officer or supervisor.

·         The (MO) will participate in mandatory trainings as required by UNICEF/Sector, including Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), Gender-Based Violence (GBV), and relevant technical training on monitoring tools and reporting systems.

Minimum Qualifications Required:

Experience: Minimum of five years of work experience in relevant field, preferably from construction with a focus on Decent Work issues, and in facilitation of community engagement and/or community development. Previous experience and familiarity with the communities in the project location is considered an advantage

Years of Experience required:

5

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

Education: A minimum of a first level university degree in engineering with works supervision experience; Experience in social facilitation / community engagement or related fields is preferred.

Language: Excellent command of English and Arabic.