Country: Madagascar
Closing date: 12 Apr 2017
If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you.
For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.
The Madagascar WASH sector has many challenges to confront but is actively working to move forward. The challenges arise from a combination of low coverage of WASH services, a low knowledge base within sector institutions, extreme low levels of sector finance including as an enduring impact of the flight of donors subsequent to the 2009 Coup d'état, rapid population growth and – critically - the all-encompassing poverty and WASH related awareness of the overwhelming proportion of its population. The most recent data (for 2015) from the Joint Monitoring Program (JMP) of WHO and UNICEF[1] reveals the current situation whereby barely half (51.5%) of the population has access to safe water and a mere 12% have access to improved sanitation, a figure that actually reduced in the past three years. Breaking this down slightly, 65% of rural residents use unsafe water sources, the figure for urban residents being 18%; while over half of the rural population practices open defecation (OD).
However, the current efforts of Government of Madagascar and the leading actors in the WASH sector are leading to a situation in which increased forward momentum is possible. The Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (Min EAH), with the support of UNICEF and other sector partners, initially took stock of the enabling environment for progress, using the WASH BAT (Bottleneck Assessment Tool), and it also oversaw a research assessment of the situation regarding sustainability (Sustainability Check) of WASH service provision. It also provided a comprehensive input in to the most recent GLAAS analysis and has been undertaking significant policy development. Additionally, many of the main agencies that work in the sector have been carrying out other assessments of their own work and/or of significant items in the sector itself.
In September 2015 the report "Sustainable WASH Services and an Effective WASH Sector in Madagascar" was published by the Min EAH. In that report, the authors set out a broad strategy for achieving sustainable rural water and sanitation services in Madagascar, through creating a more effective, harmonised and coordinated WASH sector. The first steps along that road have since been taken, with the establishment of a Sector Development Task Force (SDTF), under the auspices of Min EAH, which is taking ownership of the program of numerous short-term, medium-term and long-term recommendations which the Report set out. Further work was then commissioned regarding four of the short-term recommendations, namely:
These pieces of work have all been completed. As a result the Madagascar WASH sector is in a stronger position to take forward on sustainable delivery of WASH. To do so, there are major issues which still need to be addressed, such as equity and gender:
The Madagascar's Min EAH has recognized this as key issues to study and, via UNICEF, is looking for assistance in carrying out studies to produce evidence on how confront these issues.
The above are only examples, there will be many more dimensions of each of these issues (equity, gender and accessibility). The work of this consultancy assignment, in summary, is to:
These are to be undertaken in relation to UNICEF's programs in its seven operational WASH regions[3], and are to be disseminated outside UNICEF too, in order to spread the benefit of the work across the Madagascar WASH sector. UNICEF also wishes to compile field notes in relation to its activities around sustainability and equity of WASH service provision.
Through this Terms of Reference, UNICEF is seeking to contract a consultancy assignment to undertake these pieces relate to the seven regions in which UNICEF implement WASH programs. The elements of the assignment are summarized as follows:
Regarding the point 3 – Sustainability field note, the data, strategies and programmatic approaches are mainly existing and can be improved through interviews in WASH team and partners. Based on that, the consultant will set up the field note.
Each of the three main tasks require a set of activities to be undertaken by the appointed consultant in order to reach the objectives of the work. Applicant should set out in more detail their anticipated approach to each element, separately.
Some combination of desk work / field research consultation will be expected in each case; applicant should also allow some time for liaising with the Ministry and other sector actors as needed. The consultant will also need to link with UNICEF HQ and with global partners to provide relevant question on the equity and gender piece of work.
For field research, the government research agency INSTAT as well the Master Ingenierie et Science de la Terre et de l'Eau (MISTE) from University of Antananarivo will be consulted. They have the expertise and resources to carry out qualitative and quantitative research and to conduct high quality data analysis. Previous experience has shown that engaging them under the auspices of an externally led team works very well. Cost of field work and data analysis (if required) will be subject to a separate arrangement between UNICEF and INSTAT.
The duration and planning of the consultancy is defined as follow:
Consultant will be based in Antananarivo.
The Consultant's team will report to Silvia Gaya, Chief of WASH, UNICEF Madagascar. A formal review will take place every month, in which progress on each piece of work is compared against an agreed timetable of inputs (actions) and outputs (deliverables). Such reviews will serve as the determinant of payments, and retentions if required, according to the consultant's schedule of payment.
A specific, agreed, number of days per month will be agreed for liaison and communications with the Minister of EAH and his Ministry staff. All written deliverables should be provided in English and French. Workshops are usually conducted in Malagasy and French. Simultaneous translation can be provided at no cost to the consultant if required, for large set piece events only.
UNICEF will provide one working space in its WASH office, including access to the internet, printers; it will also provide support for workshop and symposium conduct, including paying for venue hire, refreshments etc. The consultant will provide his/her own computing equipment. All travel within the Antananarivo area will be paid for by the consultant. Flights to/from the consultants' home base should be identified and include in the budget of the consultant. Travel within Madagascar for field work purposes will be paid for by UNICEF.
Payment Schedule will be specified and agreed but will be related to completion of the specified deliverables. So, the contract signed with the winning bidder shall include a payment plan associated with the surrender of deliverables to UNICEF.
A first payment of 30% of the total amount of the benefit will be paid after signing the contract and the submission and validation of the Inception Report.
A second payment of 30% will be done after production and validation of a set of deliverables that will be proposed by the consultant accordingly to their planning of intervention, then negotiated and validated by Unicef.
A final payment of 40% will be withheld until all of the deliverables have been signed off by UNICEF.
No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant.
Grant No: SC 130518/SC149905
Project/Sub-Project Name: 2670/A0/06/200/101/007
Applications are requested from suitably qualified consultants for this contract, as follows:
How to Apply
Interested candidates are requested to apply only online via the link https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job= and attach a cover letter, detailed CV, a copy of the national identity card or passport, a copy of the highest accredited diploma a technical offer and financial proposal in US Dollar
Please indicate your availability and monthly fees (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above (including travel and daily subsistence allowance, except in-country travel cots). Applications submitted without a monthly rate will not be considered.
Incomplete or late submission after the deadline (12 April 2017) will not be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and will receive an official response to their application. Our job applications are also available on the site http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/
* See the list of accredited institutions on the link: www.whed.net
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization.
[1] Source: UNICEF/WHO Joint Monitoring Programme ("JMP") 2015; http://www.wssinfo.org/data-estimates/tables/.
[3] Androy, Anosy, Atsimo Atsinanana, Atsino Andrefana, Analamanga, Boeny, Analanjirofo
How to apply:
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization. To apply, click on the following link http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=503928