Summary

Purpose / To strengthen the WASH Sector in Sierra Leone for more effective service delivery, and to enable rural and urban communities, especially the poorest women and children, to adopt safe hygiene and sanitation practices and consume safe water.
Expected fee / P-4 level
Location / Freetown, Sierra Leone
Duration / 11 Months
Start Date / 01April 2011
Reporting to / First: Minister, Ministry of Energy and Water Resources
Second: WASH Manager, UNICEF

Background

Sierra Leone is now ranked 158 in the Human Development Index, an improvement demonstrating Government efforts to reduce maternal under-five mortality rates; however this highlights the amount of work required to reduce child mortality; one of the major militating factors against national human development. Under- five mortality rates are estimated at 267 per 1,000 live births. 70% of communities have no access to safe drinking water and those with safe drinking water are at risk of contamination through poor hygiene practices. The disparities in use of improved sanitation are also great between urban and rural populations with figures at 64% and 17% respectively. Only 13% of the population has access to improved sanitation. One in five people use the bush, fields, streams and rivers for defecation; which is a cause for concern. The importance of proper hygiene practices is a key component for ensuring improved health—especially for children and mothers. Combined with adequate access to water and sanitation facilities, improved health practices will directly contribute to reducing morbidity and mortality rates caused from water-and sanitation-related diseases, particularly among children.Malaria, respiratory and diarrhoeal diseases account for more than 75% of the country’s under-five mortality. Malnutrition is also an underlying cause of 57% of child deaths. All these illnesses are closely linked with water and sanitation.

It is thus vital that water and sanitation interventions are based on a holistic approach, targeting the root causes of poor hygiene through interventions which impact whole communities. The UNICEF WASH unit is highly integrated within the Child Survival and Education programmes, since it is believed that a reduction in child mortality and an increase in school enrolment and completion cannot be achieved without adequate consideration given to water, sanitation and hygiene. The DfID supported Hygiene, Sanitation and Water Supply Programme also uses an integrated approach focusing on water, sanitation and hygiene, hence allowing whole communities to adopt key sanitation and hygienic practices. The programme focuses also on strengthening the water and sanitation sector in view of improving national co-ordination and building the capacity of district councils to effectively manage activities within their jurisdiction.

Justification

Improved access to basic services, including water and sanitation, is the focus of Pillar 3 of the Government of Sierra Leone’s Poverty Reduction Strategy in order to achieve basic human development goals, and is fundamental to achieving progress on economic growth and job creation (Pillar 2).

The WASH pillars underpinning the UNICEF strategy include; access to WASH facilities using a package of appropriate, low-cost sanitation, water and hand washing facilities; creating an enabling environment to equip communities with the knowledge and skills to effectively manage their own facilities and empower them to demand high-quality service from duty-bearers and; increase hygiene awareness with specific focus on behaviour change by communicating key hygiene practices.

UNICEF-SL is planning to support the MEWR in the implementation of the recently launched National WASH Policy for effective service delivery in order to enable rural and urban communities, especially the poorest women and children, to adopt safe hygiene and sanitation practices and consume safe water. UNICEF wishes to utilize part of resources available for the WASH Programme on this contract.

The weak Institutional Framework for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene sector is currently undergoing change; the sector is in a process of decentralisation, and in transition from a supply-driven relief approach to a longer-term developmental approach. The Minister is also in the process of restructuring the entire Ministry. Implementation of the National WASH Policy is therefore one of the key upstream goals to improving the poor health, water and sanitation indicators the country currently has. It will result in a reformed service for the provision of WASH services nationwide which will in turn have a positive impact on the social and economic wellbeing of all Sierra Leoneans.

Specific Tasks

While the proposed tasks for the consultant are based in the Objectives providedbelow, these are neither complete nor exhaustive. The tasks involved may change from time to time depending on the circumstances and priorities of the MEWR and UNICEF. However, based on professional opinion, the consultant may introduce some changes in consultation with the Minister and UNICEFHead of WASH Programme. TheOverall Objectives of this consultancy are to:

  • Provide institutional and technical support to the Ministry of Energy & Water Resources (MEWR) to facilitate the implementation of the National WASH Policy and Implementation Strategic Plan
  • Translate key policy and strategies in line with UNICEF scope into an action plan and following up on monitoring the implementation of the action plan.
  • Provide technical advice and analytical support for MEWR’s WASH programmes in Sierra Leone.
  • Provide support to the Minister in the reform process as appropriate.

Specific Tasks in this consultancy will be to:

  1. Provide advice to the Minister on options and recommend approaches to develop a WASH policy Implementation Framework and action plan
  2. Support the Ministry’s efforts to coordinate and align donor support.
  3. Contribute to the Structural Reform of the MEWR
  4. Act as a key facilitator between the MEWR, MOHS, UNICEF and DFID’s SP during the Inception Phase of DFID’s WASH programme.
  5. Provide support to the MEWR Directorate of Planning and DFID’s SP to ensure costed plans are in place, including a costed capacity building plan, to deliver the National WASH Strategy, capturing funding from Government and all development partners.
  6. Provide oversight of UNICEF’s engagement in the MEWR. When requested provide briefing and corporate information for UNICEF.
  7. Keep abreast with all Donor activities in the sector and provide a link between donors and the MEWR
  8. Provide summary monthly briefs and more detailed quarterly reports to UNICEF on progress and blockages. The Minister and his Senior Management Team should also be able to receive regular feedback on the same cycle.
  1. Improve close liaison between the Ministry of Health and Sanitation and Ministry of Energy and Water Resources in translating into action, sanitation policy strategies.
  2. Monitor and report on District WSD and Council’s preparations of Water and Sanitation Development Plans

Methodology

Thisconsultancy will be carried out under the direction of the Minister and UNICEF – Chief of WASH Programme. Through working with various teams and project staff at the MEWR and UNICEF, this consultancy will focus on the following areas:

Following the official launching of the National WASH Policy and Implementation Strategic Plan, the consultant will carry out an assessment of capacity gaps existing at the central level and District Levelsin the MEWR and work with the DFID’s Service Provider (DFID’s SP) to ensure that they are addressed.

  • Offer solution to blockages and institutional constraints in the reform process.

Facilitate the interface between the Minister, UNICEF and Partners to identify the opportunities for reform and constraints to delivery of services

Provide an accessible interface for the Minister and Senior Staff to engage with UNICEF and Partners

Maintain an excellent operational relationship with the Minister

Provide expert advice to the implementation of the WASH Policy as appropriate. You do not implement a policy. You hope a policy will be well distributed and adopted and in line with policy and strategy an operational plan is developed and implemented (ideally for central and district and community level)

Facilitation of the engagement process as the interface between the Minister, UNICEF, and the DFID’s-SP

Expected Deliverables

  1. Written monthly briefs of not more than 2 pages
  2. Briefing to Minister and UNICEF as requested.
  3. Information and briefing for all WASH Donor Partners as requested
  4. Written, more detailed reports for UNICEF quarterly progress reports (max 4 pages)
  5. A link between the GoSL (MEWR) and the UNICEF’s – WASH Programme
  6. Development of an effective relationship with the Minister and senior teams
  7. Ensure the Ministry’spreparation of a jointSector working groups and WASH Development Partners Group.
  8. Development of District WASH Development Plans as per National WASH Policy Implementation Strategy:
  • Costed Capacity Building Plan
  • Costed Implementation Plan for the delivery of the Strategy
  1. Final report in consultation with UNICEF’s WASH Programme management.
  2. Human Resource mapping and Development of a training strategy for the Ministry as per WASH sector reform

Time Schedule of Tasks and Report

This consultancy will be carried out between 01 April 2011 and 29 February 2012.

There will be continuous monthly reports therefore the Final Report will be produced in consultation with the Minister and UNICEF’s WASH Programme towards the end of this assignment.

Qualifications & Expected Background and Experience

The consultant being sought should have the following profile:

  • At least a Master’s Degree or comparable level in social-economics and planning, natural science /environment, engineering or other related fields.
  • A demonstrable technical knowledge and understanding of the WASH Sector and key development partners working in the Sector
  • High level managerial, interpersonal and negotiation skills
  • Demonstrable ability to work in multi-cultural teams and establish effective working relationships
  • At least 10 years progressive experience in planning, management, and coordination mainly in the development of sector strategies and plans.
  • Strong relevant national and/or regional and international experience
  • Experience in programme planning, data processing implementation/management, organizational and capacity building skills.
  • Good analytical and planning skills and ability to think strategically
  • Capacity for multidisciplinary analysis of trends on policy, planning, resource economics, institution and capacity building
  • Excellent facilitation, presentation and writing skills
  • Experience in the use of computers and common office software packages

General Conditions

Procedures and Logistics

Due to the nature of this assignment, the consultant is expected to work independently with minimum supervision. UNICEF will not provide a laptop and it is expected that the consultant have a personal one.Upon request, a temporary office space will be provided for meetings at the MEWR or UNICEF.

Travel

Apply UN guidelines and rules.

Terms

The consultantwill be paid on a monthly basis on the satisfactory progress in this assignment (refer deliverables above). No advance payment shall be made against the fee.

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