UNICEF JOB: WASH EMERGENCY DROUGHT RESPONSE CONSULTANT
Job at Unicef
Organisation: UN Children’s Fund
Job Title:Wash Emergency Drought Response Consultant
Application Deadline: 30-11-2016
UNICEF Zimbabwe is inviting proposals from Individual National Consultants for provision of technical support, supervision and monitoring of the WASH Emergency Drought Response
Background & Justification
Zimbabwe is currently experiencing drought, following a low seasonal rainfall and a second year of failed rains in some locations. Based on extrapolations of the Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZimVAC) results of May 2016, approximately 42% of rural households, almost 4.1 million people are projected to be food insecure during the peak of the lean season (January-March 2017). According to the statistical information available from the past 3 years for the provinces of Matabeleland South, Matabeleland North, Midlands, Manicaland, Masvingo and Mashonaland Central where the 10 most food insecure districts are located, the access to improved water sources ranges from 63 to 74 %. The current drought situation is having a negative impact on the availability of safe water supplies which is contributing to an increased risk of diarrhoeal diseases and exacerbating the food and nutrition insecurity situation. The drought situation has negatively impacted surface and underground water supplies in the country as the average surface water storage capacity in the country is around 52.5% in the country’s 7 catchment areas, with three catchments, namely Gwayi, Runde and Save below 50% as of September 2016[1]. According to the Rural WASH Information Management System (RWIMS), around 30% of the groundwater supply sources in rural areas are of a seasonal nature. During the beginning of July, an estimated 11,000 sources (boreholes, deep wells, shallow wells) had reported a reduction on their yield with over 750 perennial sources also reporting reduction in their capacity or had dried up due to the drought thereby reducing access to safe water for over 2.3 million people. A preliminary assessment of access to safe water in institutions indicates that over 1,100 Schools and 125 Health Facilities were facing difficulties in accessing safe water through their regular means due to reduced water production caused by drought.
According to the ZIMVAC report of July 2016, a total of 12% of households had changed their main water sources during the period March to May 2016 to alternative sources which are mostly unprotected and unsafe, . Of these, 54% cited that the reason for changing the main water source was due to drying up of the main water. This situation is envisaged to get worse as the lean season progresses and water tables continue to recede. The reduction in water availability is leading communities to compromise on safe sanitation and hygiene practices, thus increasing the risk to WASH related diseases which exacerbate under-nutrition, these include common diarrhoea, dysentery, cholera and typhoid. WASH interventions focusing on reducing the incidence of diarrheal diseases to prevent under nutrition particularly amongst children under five and other vulnerable groups (such as pregnant women, and HIV patients) will be implemented.
The programme is targeting 10 districts with the highest acute malnutrition rates, Global Acute malnutrition (GAM) rate above 5%. UNICEF is responding to the ongoing drought through combined WASH and Nutrition Interventions in the 10 targeted districts. WASH section is responding to improve access to safe water and increase awareness of safe hygiene practices for women, children and men living in the 10 affected districts of Chegutu, Makonde (Mashonaland West), Gweru (Midlands), Mangwe, Matopo, Gwanda (Matabeleland South), Shamva, Guruve, Bindura (Mashonaland Central) and Chimanimani in Manicaland province.
Given the urgent and dynamic emergency situation described above, UNICEF Zimbabwe WASH Section requires a dedicated Emergency WASH Consultant for a period of 11 months for effective supervision, monitoring and implementation of the UNICEF WASH response. The consultant is also required to ensure complementarity of interventions between the WASH and Nutrition and offer support to the various stakeholders and partners (Rural District Councils, National Coordination Unit and NGOs) for quality implementation including rights based approach to programming, data reliability and timeliness of reporting to meet the tight DFID reporting timelines.
The selected Emergency WASH Consultant will have a good background and experience in WASH emergency preparedness and response, project monitoring skills, strong communication and report writing skills in addition to networking and coordination with existing WASH sector coordination mechanisms in the country. The Consultant will specifically have oversight and coordinate the WASH emergency response in the drought affected districts.
Objective (s)
The overall goal of the consultancy is to ensure effective coordination, monitoring, technical supervision and implementation of the emergency WASH response program in the 10 targeted districts of Chegutu, Makonde (Mashonaland West), Gweru (Midlands), Mangwe, Matopo, Gwanda (Matabeleland South), Shamva, Guruve, Bindura (Mashonaland Central) and Chimanimani in Manicaland province.
The specific objectives of the consultancy are:
- Working closely with the National Coordinating Unit (NCU), ensure effective coordination of the implementing partners, provincial and district Water and Sanitation Services committees (PWSSCs and DWSSCs) and RDCs in carrying out the emergency WASH response in the affected districts
- Ensure effective monitoring and timely support to implementing partners; Provincial and District Water and Sanitation Sub Committees (PWSSCs and DWSSCs) and RDCs for successful implementation
- Provide timely and accurate progress update reports in line with DFID and UNICEF ZCO requirements
- Provide high level technical support for the rehabilitation of identified piped water schemes including drilling of and equipping of new boreholes
- Monitor and track the distribution and utilization Of WASH NFIs, in collaboration with Information Communication Technology colleagues and other partners
Methodology & Expected Output
The Emergency WASH Consultant will be based at UNICEF, Harare. He/she will offer support to the WASH Sector in coordinating the emergency response interventions in the drought affected district that UNICEF is responding to. Reporting to the Chief of WASH, the post will have the following expected outputs:-
The position will be responsible for providing technical support to stakeholders in the sector to effectively plan, implement and monitor emergency WASH interventions.
- Responsible for UNICEF emergency response in Water and ensure affected populations have access to safe drinking water in sufficient quantities.
- Responsible for coordination of sectoral activities including liaison with Government stakeholders and implementing partners.
- Support the overall WASH Sector Information and Coordination Forum (WSICF) and the Emergency Strategy Advisory Group (ESAG) in the execution of UNICEF Zimbabwe’s responsibilities for coordination and oversight of the WASH response.
- Ensure effective links with other Cluster/sector groups.
- Prepare relevant WASH emergency situation reports, donor reports, briefing documents etc. as and when necessary.
- Provide support to the Implementing Partners (IPs) to conduct emergency response interventions & monitor activities on the ground.
- Provide technical assistance to the Implementing Partners, Rural District Council (RDCs), Provincial and District Water and Sanitation Services Committees (PWSSCs and DWSSCs), the National Coordination Unit (NCU) and other relevant Government stakeholders for timely quality WASH assessments in districts affected by emergencies. Analyse findings and recommended actions on priorities, technical options, including operations and maintenance with involvement of communities.
- Work closely with other UNICEF Sections to ensure an integrated response and promotion of key water, sanitation and hygiene-related messages are conveyed to the affected population.
- Provide technical inputs and guidance to implementing partner and other stakeholders for the sustainable rehabilitation of piped water scheme, drilling and equipping of new boreholes
- Facilitate donor visits to the affected areas of intervention as and when required
Major Tasks and Deliverables
Task: Conduct field visits to affected districts as required in coordination with the NCU, RDCs and other government counterparts and ensure dissemination of findings with the appropriate authorities for necessary action
Deliverable: Field trip report including issues, progress, recommendations and follow up actions
Task: Provide Emergency WASH situation reports, field reports and donor update reports as and when required with inputs from IPs and RDCs
Deliverable: Analytical Project Report based on fortnightly data including achievement towards project outputs. The format of the report to be approved by the supervisor
Task: Attendance & participation in WSCIF, ESAG and other national level WASH sector Technical Working Groups and forum as and when require including dissemination of progress updates with stakeholders
Deliverable: Reports to WSCIF and ESAG
Task: Provide overall technical guidance to Implementing partners, RDCs and NCU to carry out programme delivery, formulate, implement and monitor planned WASH activities while ensuring alignment with the country strategies and Quality of rights-based approach. The candidate will specifically be required to;
- provide technical oversight on the assessment, prioritization and implementation of hardware activities that include boreholes repairs, borehole drilling and rehabilitation of solar powered piped water schemes
- provide technical oversight on the dissemination of key hygiene messages and distribution of Non Food Item Kits
Deliverable: Documentation of technical support/guidance provided including emails. FTR and any other communication (as annex)
Task: Promote effective Knowledge management and communication through sharing good practice, lessons learned, including providing draft Human Interest Story for reporting and advocacy purposes
Deliverable: Three Human Interest Stories (3 draft and 3 final respectively)
Task: Provide technical support to the WASH section in emergency preparedness and response plans, based on WASH emergency programmatic requirements and ensuring synergies with the DFID intervention
Deliverable: Completed Tracking matrix of WASH Emergency Stock Items, to inform emergency preparedness
Reporting
- All documents referred to in the deliverables to be submitted in hard and electronic copy (both PDF and MS Word version)
Consultancy Requirements
Education
- Advanced University degree in any of the following disciplines; Civil/ Environmental/ Water/ Mechanical Engineering, Public Health or other technical sciences related to the WASH field
Work Experience
- At least 5 years of field experience in management and technical assistance to WASH programmes in developing countries, including emergencies.
- Knowledge & experience of WASH emergency activities & management of WASH Emergency response programmes
- Solid technical background in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Infrastructure including coordination, monitoring and managerial skills
- Demonstrable understanding and experience of gender equity issues and their relevance to humanitarian response work;
- Strong report writing skills
- In depth understanding of the WASH sector in Zimbabwe, particularly at provincial and district level
- Strong demonstrated experience and knowledge in data analysis and monitoring
- Possess strong interpersonal skills, organizational networking, the ability to communicate efficiently and effectively with a range of government and civil society partners
- Possess initiative and a drive to achieve results and ability to work with minimal supervision
- Demonstrated communication skills in English (both written and verbal) and Ndebele will be an added advantage
- Ability to work effectively in multicultural environment
- Previous experience in a UN agency will be an advantage
Timeframe
The consultancy will begin 15 December 2016 and end 14 November 2017
HOW TO APPLY:
Application Procedure
If interested and available, please submit your application letter, CV, a technical and all-inclusive financial proposal detailing monthly professional fees, the travel related costs (for an estimated 10 field travel days per month) and other miscellaneous consultancy costs to email address: hararevacancies@unicef.org by 30 November 2016. To quote “WASH Emergency Drought Response Consultancy” as the email subject heading.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
UNICEF does not charge a fee during the recruitment process