TITLE OF CONSULTANCY:Road mapping the establishment of theNational Institute of Sanitation and Hygiene (NISH) / International Consultant.

LOCATION:New Delhi

DURATION:Six (6) months

CLOSING DATE:18th May 2015

1. Purpose:

Prepare a detailed roadmap for the establishment of the National Institute of Sanitation and Hygiene (NISH) at the request of the Government of India (GoI).

2. Background:

The Government of India is committed to accelerating sanitation coverage to achieve an open defecation free India. This is a huge challenge given that 595 million people practice open defecation, hand washing with soap is not practiced habitually, and public hygiene norms are poor. Adding to this challenge is the fact that there is limited capacity and experience on sanitation in India meaning critical capacity and process gaps in the country that needs it most.

The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation (MDWS) is the nodal department for the overall policy, planning, funding and coordination of programme of rural drinking water and sanitation in the country. The flagship programme for sanitation is the “Swachh Bharat Mission - Gramin” (SBM-G) (2014) which has six main objectives:

a)Bring about an improvement in the general quality of life in the rural areas, by promoting cleanliness, hygiene and eliminating open defecation.

b)Accelerate sanitation coverage in rural areas to achieve the vision of Swachh Bharat by 2019.

c)Motivate Communities and Panchayati Raj Institutions to adopt sustainable sanitation practices and facilities through awareness creation and health education.

d)Encourage cost effective and appropriate technologies for ecologically safe and sustainable sanitation.

e)Develop Community managed environmental sanitation systems focusing on scientific Solid & Liquid Waste management systems for overall cleanliness in the rural areas.

The SBM also recognizes that to transform rural India into ‘Nirmal Bharat’ implementation strategies must be 'community-led' and 'people-centered'; without which toilets will continue to be constructed but without any guarantee of use. For this reason the emphasis by partners – including UNICEF - is on triggering demand before construction.

Realizing the SBM is a significant challenge that requires intellectual leadership based on credible evidence from around the globe and which reflects India’s reality; pan-India and within states. Given the SBM Guidelines there is an urgent need to demonstrate how data from the field can inform policy and practice so that households and communities – including those most vulnerable, are empowered to make informed choices in respect of the impact of sanitation on health, equity, dignity and rights.

Theoretical and operational research is also needed to access a range of stakeholders to new knowledge, innovations and sustainable solutions that will work at scale. Scientific evidence is also required to influence future social and public policy, the development of institutions, approaches to create new social norms and behaviours, and environmentally-friendly technologies that are acceptable to users.

Addressing these knowledge gaps in the complex Indian environment will require highly competent academics readily able to access national, regional and international expertise and resources. Intellectual leadership will require that the key sector stakeholders are availed of robust, peer reviewed knowledge products, tailored to suit their various needs. In the absence of a critical mass of sanitation thinkers, practitioners and policy makers there is an urgent need to provide quality education and applicable research that is world-class.

It is in this context the Government of India wishes to establish a National Institute of Sanitation and Hygiene (NISH) with the goal to be an international quality research institute to guide India toward open defecation free status but also to act as a global resource on sanitation. This institute plans to impact nationally and globally and so must be a centre of excellence to international standards. UNICEF was requested to support the scoping study of such an institute given our emphasis on quality and our ability to reach internationally to achieve the best output.

UNICEF engaged an agency to undertake a scoping study of the feasibility of establishing a NISH in the context of the rural water and sanitation sector in India and to make critical recommendations on its design and establishment. The completed the assignment in 2014 and produced two outputs. The first is a Needs Assessment Report which makes the case for a NISH and presents options on its structure and functions. The report has the following sections:

  1. Objectives and scope of the assignment
  2. Current status and emerging challenges in sanitation
  3. Stakeholders perspectives
  4. Assessment of knowledge, research, and skill development requirements in the sanitation sector
  5. Case for a National Institute for Sanitation and Hygiene
  6. Institutional design
  7. Way forwards

The second report is a Business Plan which has the following sections:

  1. Scope of work
  2. Methodology
  3. Rational and objectives of the institute
  4. Service offerings
  5. Organization (options for establishing a NISH)
  6. Human resource requirement (for the NISH)
  7. Location and infrastructure requirements
  8. Budget (to set up a NISH)

The GoI has now considered the reports and wishes to proceed with the establishment of the NISH.

The Role of Research

The GoI’s decision is that the NISH should be established as an institute within an existing academic institution for which there is a shortlist. It is envisaged that the NISH will have the following broad roles:

  1. Research and education – undertake multi-disciplinary research to answer sector problems. The research portfolio will cover a range of topics and formats
  2. Advocacy and support – to formulate policy and promote the role of sanitation in achieving public health
  3. Networking and partnerships – facilitating and connecting knowledge communities
  4. Clearing house- analyzing, disseminating research, good practice etc.

Further, the GoI considers that in the medium term and if the conditions are right, the NISH may evolve to become a stand-alone institute. Given the two reports, the next step required is the detailed planning for the establishment of the NISH. This will encompass the preparation of a detailed roadmap for the establishment of the NISH.

3. Scope of the assignment:

The consultants will undertake work to prepare a detailed roadmap for the establishment of the NISH.

Scope of Work

Under the supervision of the supervisor for this assignment and ensuring that all documents produced meet the requirements of the GoI through ongoing consultation between the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation and UNICEF, the consultants will undertake the following:

  1. Building on the two reports available, define the purpose of the institute including developing a mission statement and a framework for the Institute’s operation
  2. Develop a statement of expected value added to host institutions by hosting the NISH
  3. Secure interest from potential host institutions prepared to enter into negotiations with the MDWS over the terms to host the institute
  4. Establish an international academic reference group to advise on the process and peer-review decisions
  5. Working with the host institution and all stakeholders prepare a detailed roadmap of steps for the setup and launch of the NISH to include a timeline
  6. Describe the institute’s proposed broad activity areas
  7. Develop a framework for establishing strategic linkages with key international institutions working on rural sanitation
  8. Advise on an academic programme for the NISH (research and education) over its initial five years
  9. Develop an initial staffing plan for the NISH. This shall be at the level of identifying posts, outline job descriptions and profiles of post-holders
  10. Develop a governance structure for the Institute following the regulations of the parent institute. Formulate rules for the selection of the institute’s Director and term of office
  11. Develop a framework for the establishment of an advisory board including its duties, responsibilities, and membership
  12. Propose a business strategy for the development of the institute over its initial five-year period
  13. Develop financial mechanisms to guide the operations of the NISH within the framework of the host institution’s financial regulations. These should address issues of fund raising and modalities of receiving financial support from the GoI and other benefactors including through CSR. Provide estimates of the direct and indirect costs of setting up and running the institute

Relevant Information: The two reports mentioned in Section 1 will be made available to the consultants hired for the assignment; namely: (1) NISH Needs Assessment Report (2) NISH Business Plan

4. Products/ End product:

The following will be the deliverables for this assignment.

  1. An inception report agreed with UNICEF and delivered within one month of contract signing outlining the proposed approach and work plan (20%)
  2. Monthly progress updates
  3. Agreement secured between the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation and the institution selected to establish the NISH (30%)
  4. Draft roadmap report for the establishment of the NISH (20%)
  5. Final roadmap report for the establishment of the NISH with a standalone executive summary, one PowerPoint presentation outlining the roadmap for setting up the NISH (30%)

5. Duty Station and locations:

The assignment will be undertaken primarily in Delhi though some travel may be required to states.

6. Qualifications or specialized knowledge/experience required

This assignment will be carried out by a senior sector professionalwith significant WASH experience.

The international consultant will have:

  • A post-graduate degree in Public or Business Administration /Social Sciences /Engineering /with specialist knowledge and experience of rural water supply and sanitation
  • Proven talent and expertise in providing technical assistance through consultancy services
  • Experience of management in academic /higher education institutions
  • Knowledge of South Asia and relevant institutional networks (global; regional)
  • Experience of working with UNICEF
  • At least 15 years progressive WASH experience, with a strong emphasis on sanitation
  • Proven ability to communicate and advocate effectively
  • Proven ability to negotiate complex agreements / contracts
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills (English)
  • Excellent analytical, report writing and presentation skills
  • Proficiency in the use computer software. i.e. Windows 8, MS Office, Internet searches

7. Application Procedures

(1) Qualified female/male candidates are requested to please indicate their ability and availability to undertake the terms of reference above.

(2) Your application should be sent to y COB 18th May 2015 with subject line "Road mapping the establishment of the National Institute of Sanitation and Hygiene (NISH)/ International Consultant" in separate files consisting of -

a) An application letter including information on where you have seen this advertisement.

b) Curriculum Vitae (CV)

c) P11 form (available at our website -

d)Write-up on the proposed methodology

e) A financial proposal in PDF format mentioning your name and indicating deliverable based fee as per template attached.

3) Please mention your name in all the files while saving.

8. Selection Procedures:

1) The selection will be on the basis of technical evaluation & financial proposal evaluation in the ratio of 70:30.

2) The criteria for technical evaluation is as follows:

  1. Educational qualifications 15
  2. Relevant experience 15
  3. Technical expertise15
  4. Write-up on proposed methodology 25

Total Score –70 (Min.49)

3) Minimum qualifying mark for Technical Proposal will be 49.

4) The financial proposals of only those candidates, who are found technically responsive, will be opened.

5) Payment will be made against receipt and satisfactory acceptance of deliverables.

NOTE:

(i) Any attempt to unduly influence UNICEF’s selection process will lead to automatic disqualification of the applicant.

(ii) Joint applications of two or more individuals are not accepted.

(iii) UNICEF does not charge any fee during any stage of the process.

For any clarifications, please contact:

UNICEF, Supply & Procurement Section

73, Lodi Estate, New Delhi 110003

Telephone # +91-11-24690440

Fax # +91-11-24391410

Email: