Vacancies

CONSULTANT VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

 

                                                                               Issued on 26th April 2019                                     

ORGANIZATIONAL LOCATION:	UN-Habitat
PROJECT / PROGRAM TITLE	WASH in DPCs
DUTY STATION:	Accra
FUNCTIONAL TITLE:	Programme Management Consultant
DURATION	7 months
CLOSING DATE:	5th May 2019

 

 I. BACKGROUND / PROJECT DESCRIPTION 

 

The joint UN WASH in Disaster Prone Communities (WASH in DPC) in the three Northern Regions involved four Partner UN Organizations (PUNOs) viz. UN-Habitat, UNICEF, UNDP and WHO.  The Programme was implemented over the period from June 2014 to May 2017 with the overall objective of improving health and livelihoods in selected disaster-prone communities and schools by increasing access to good drinking water and proper sanitation facilities on a sustainable basis. Specifically, the programme assessed, identified, and implemented resilient WASH facilities and services for communities within the geographic scope of the 3 Northern Regions, viz., Northern, Upper East and Upper West. The provision of services targeted about 200,000 people in 265 communities including about 50,000 school children in these communities.

 

This was accompanied with the promotion of measures to ensure resilience of the facilities to climate related disasters, as well as measures to promote behavior change towards proper water, sanitation, and hygiene practices. The capacities of relevant WASH National institutions and community structures have been strengthened to create an environment for better planning, delivery, and sustainability of WASH services, and assure the full benefit to the beneficiary communities of the interventions.

 

The PUNOs worked in close collaboration with the relevant national institutions as well as private sector and non-governmental organizations involved in the WASH and Disaster Management sectors in the country. The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) led the coordination for the implementation of the Project in close collaboration with the Ministry of Water Resources Works and Housing (MWRWH) and the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) who were involved with aspects of the project relevant to their mandates on WASH and the management of disasters and emergencies. The Joint UN team’s role was also to provide technical assistance, facilitation and funds management support.

 

The WASH in DPC provided a change in all the 265 targeted communities. In general, the programme strengthened resilience in 265 communities reaching around 323,416 people through the construction of flood-resilient water supply in communities and institutional sanitation facilities in schools complemented by appropriate software activities. 

Sanitation facilities were constructed in 202 (a total of 224 schools in the compounds including Kindergarten) (target 167) beneficiary schools, which would also serve as safe havens during flooding.

 

The programme delivered:

• A technological assessment of available WASH infrastructure with recommendations for appropriate technology options for water supply and institutional and household sanitation infrastructure.
• Facility Management Plans (FMPs) for a total of 364 schools (all schools within the targeted communities including ones that did not receive infrastructure support)
• Demand for household toilets was generated in all 271 DPC communities (target 265) through the Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) process of triggering.
• Under the resilient water supply component, all the 265 communities have 100% access to sustainable and safe drinking water sources, through 659 interventions including the development of 169 new water points and the rehabilitation of 396 existing facilities.

 

The provision of services was accompanied with the promotion of measures to ensure resilience of the facilities to climate related disasters, as well as measures to promote behavioral change towards proper water, sanitation and hygiene practices.

 

A final evaluation of the Programme conducted from June to August 2018 concluded that despite some very significant achievements, some areas of the delivery require follow up so that the beneficiaries could reap the full benefits of the facilities and services that had been delivered. These included a need for:

• Remedial actions to reinforce district and local stakeholders’ capacity to effectively operate, maintain and ensure the sustainability of the facilities provided,
• Further activities to enhance the visibility of programme outcomes through branding all water facilities and institutional latrines provided, and using appropriate media channels to highlight the results achieved under the Programme
• Further actions that seek to emphasize knowledge management activities, and to extract lessons for wide dissemination, including presentations during water and sanitation sector events.

 

II. SCOPE OF THE WORK

 

The objective of this consultancy is to implement the management responses to the recommendations from the final evaluation of the WASH in DPC Programme. The scope of work includes:

 

1. Minor defects and damaged infrastructure are repaired and made fully resilient to flooding and the capacity of District and community support stakeholders are enhanced to sustain operation and maintenance of facilities.

• To update Operation and Maintenance tools for the communities and train them on their use (use the 24 points O&M guide into sketches community members can understand, due to their limited schooling level – cannot read or understand English).
• To conduct refresher training and guidance to district level staff and key community stakeholders on Operation and Management of flood prone WASH facilities using the illustrated tools developed under activity 1.1
• To utilize the tools and trainings provided to RTTs, DTTs and WSMTs in Activities 1.1 and 1.2 to practically identify and repair minor defects and damages to a number of WASH infrastructure, and follow up with the monitoring of the functionality of the systems that have been put in place.

 

1. The facilities developed under the WASH in DPC programme are well branded with due visibility provided to Canada’s role in funding the Programme.

• To enhance Canada visibility as stated in the Amendment N0.1 of the Standard Administrative Agreement between GAC and the PUNOs.

 

1. The Ghana water policy document is reviewed with suggestions based on experiences from the WASH in DPC implementation.

• To support efforts to mainstream the policy dimensions of the programme into national strategies and policies as they relate to the development of resilient WASH facilities.

 

1. The outcomes of the programme are capitalized, documented and disseminated to reach a wider target audience.

• Approved strategies, guide/standard/instructions documents and technical design will be edited and printed on all the components of the programme. They will be part of the knowledge management of the WASH in DPC outcomes.

 

III. EXPECTED OUTPUTS AND DELIVERABLES  

 

The consultant will provide the following deliverables:

1. An Inception Report with a work plan highlighting how S/He will approach the assignment. Once approved, it will become the key document for the programme management support in accordance with the expectations of the Partner UN Organisations and the GoG counterpart partners.
2. Reports

a - Identification of minor defects and damages to a number of WASH infrastructure and preparation of contractual documents to repair the damages and correct the defects

b - Ghana water policy document is reviewed with suggestions based on experiences from the WASH in DPC implementation

1. Reports

a - Operation and Maintenance tools updated and refresher trainings and guidance to district level staff and key community stakeholders on Operation and Management of flood prone WASH facilities

b - Facilities developed under the WASH in DPC programme are well branded with due visibility provided to Canada’s role

c - Knowledge management: guide/standard/instructions documents and technical design are updated and shared as part of the knowledge management of the WASH in DPC outcomes.

 

IV. INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT / REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS  

 

The Consultant will report directly to the Coordinator of Urban Basic Service Branch, UN-Habitat. Progress reports will be submitted to the Branch Coordinator on a monthly basis. S/He will liaise closely with Partner UN Organizations, national partner institutions and target communities on requests for consolidated information/database on WASH activities.

 

V. LOGISTICS AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TO PROSPECT IC (if any)  

 

This consultancy will be based in Accra.  The consultant will be expected to travel to project sites in northern Ghana. Travel costs, including air tickets use and DSA will be provided from the project budget.

 

VI. DURATION OF THE WORK   

 

The duration of the consultation is appraised to 7 months (21.75 working days per month).

 

VII. QUALIFICATIONS OF THE SUCCESSFUL INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTOR (IC)

 

Education:

Advanced University degree (or at least a first degree with the relevant combination of professional and academic qualifications) in Engineering, Urban and Regional Planning/ Management, Urban Economics, or in another related field with a focus on the WASH sector.

 

Experience:

At least ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in the area of urban basic services with a focus on the WASH sector; Project or programme development and management. 

The post requires experience backed by a sound understanding of public policies and reform processes in the water and sanitation sector.  Experience in applying knowledge of area of specialization at national and global level. Formal education complemented by at least 15 years of relevant work experience in the WASH sector is required. Understanding of the specific needs and conditions of delivery of services to residents in human settlements in general is desired. Candidates must have demonstrated skills in developing and implementing related programmes. The post also requires strong analytical skills. Either by experience or education, candidates are expected to have acquired ability to work with specialists from various fields and lead a consultative process to achieve intended goals.

Language:   

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this assignment, fluency in oral and written English is required.  

 

Functional Competencies:

• Sector experience: Knowledge and experiences of working in Ghana; in-depth understanding of the water and sanitation policy environment at local, intermediate and national level Ghana; established network to key stakeholders in the water and sanitation sector; established network to relevant government agencies, as well as to relevant specialised agencies at national level.

 

Core Competencies:

• Ability to work independently, task-based and result oriented.
• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism; and
• Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

 

Important Note:

The Consultant is required to have the above mentioned professional and technical qualifications. Only the applicants who hold these qualifications will be shortlisted and contacted.

 

VIII. PAYMENT MILESTONES AND AUTHORITY

Payment will be made in three instalments upon submission of outputs below;

Instalments	Deliverables
1	Inception Report with a work plan highlighting how S/He will approach the assignment
2	Report- Identification of minor defects and damages to a number of WASH infrastructure and preparation of contractual documents to repair the damages and correct the defects Ghana water policy document is reviewed with suggestions based on experiences from the WASH in DPC implementation
3	Report on Operation and Maintenance tools updated and refresher trainings and guidance to district level staff and key community stakeholders on Operation and Management of flood prone WASH facilities Facilities developed under the WASH in DPC programme are well branded with due visibility provided to Canada’s role Knowledge management: guide/standard/instructions documents and technical design are updated and shared as part of the knowledge management of the WASH in DPC outcomes

 

Applications should include: •   Cover memo (maximum 1 page) •   Detailed CV indicating the following information: 1. Educational Background (incl. dates) 2. Professional Experience (assignments, tasks, achievements, duration by years/ months) 3. Other Experience and Expertise (e.g. Internships/ voluntary work, etc.) 4. Expertise and preferences regarding location of potential assignments   All applications should be submitted to:   UN-HABITAT P.O. Box 30030, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya Email: helda.wandera@un.org      Deadline for applications:  5th May 2019   UN-HABITAT does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process. If you have any questions concerning persons or companies claiming to be recruiting on behalf of these offices and requesting the payment of a fee, please contact: recruitment@unon.org