Consultancy: Developing National Guidelines for WASH in Schools in Lesotho

Contract

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Background and Justification

Every child has the right to a quality education, which includes access to drinking water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services while at school. Children spend a significant portion of their day at school where WASH services can impact student learning, health, and dignity, particularly for girls. The inclusion of WASH in schools in the Sustainable Development Goals (targets 4.a, 6.1, 6.2) represents increasing recognition of their importance as key components of a safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environment and as part of universal WASH access, which emphasizes the need for WASH outside of the home. Globally, school-based WASH interventions variously aim to: (i) reduce the incidence of diarrhoea and other hygiene related diseases; (ii) improve school enrolment, school performance, and attendance; and (iii) influence hygiene practices of parents and siblings whereby children act as agents of change in their households and communities.

There is growing evidence that inadequate WASH in schools act as barrier to children attendance and performance in schools, especially for girls, and particularly for girls post-menarche when their menstrual hygiene and health (MHH) needs are not addressed. Children with disabilities are denied access to a school education when accessible WASH facilities are unavailable or inadequate. Children with disabilities have the same rights as any other child, including the right to to clean water, hygiene and sanitation8, but they may also have specific needs and it is the responsibility of the WASH sector to meet the needs of ALL children, including children with disabilities. The SDGs explicitly include disability and persons with disabilities, so it is imperative to promote disability inclusion to ensure access to water and sanitation for all, including people with disabilities, by 2030.

The main purpose of this consultancy is develop comprehensive National Guidelines for WASH in Schools in Lesotho, with must address inclusion - needs of learners with disabilities and MHM for school girls. These Guidelines should be comprehensive covering the various infrastructural, behavioral as well as institutional strengthening and capacity development components that would further enable progress for results in WinS. The Guidelines will establish the coordination and policy environment for the government, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), private sector and development partners to work together to achieve practical and timely national goals that are aligned with global standards and goals. It should provide guidance on coordination of WinS at national, district and community levels, as well as across sectors (Education, Health and Water). The Ministry of Education will remain the lead Ministry and responsible for ownership of these Guidelines.

Scope of Work

*Goal and Objective*****:

The main objective of this consultancy is to support the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) and other key sector players develop comprehensive Guidelines for WASH in Schools in Lesotho to accelerate access to basic WASH services in schools in Lesotho. The guidelines must address Disability-Inclusive WASH and Menstrual Hygiene and Health. Â

The specific objectives expected:

• Enhance the enabling environment for WinS specifically in terms of
• Establishing clear guidelines for both hardware and software components, that are endorsed by key stakeholders, including the government, to be used nationwide and in schools of different locations (urban, rural), levels (ECD, Primary and Post Primary) and ownsership structures (private and public) etc
• Advocating for resource mobilization (from donors and other partners) and government allocations;
• Stimulating development of market-based solutions for WinS

• Enhancing education and promotion of WinS services by identifying suitable approaches for WASH services promotion in schools

• To provide recommendations for effective coordination (national, district and school level; across ministries; development partners and CSOs) and strategic positioning of WinS in different sectors (Education, Health, Nutrition, WASH) in Lesotho, and relevant roles and responsibilities of relevant departments and authorities of government of Lesotho and partners.

• To develop communities of practice that brings together diverse stakeholders to discuss innovations and best practices for WinS

  Activities and Tasks

• Conduct a review on global, regional and national documents, including recent national WinS guidelines, developed in similar settings, which have taken into account recent health pandemics and climatic emergencies to develop a synthesis of existing and current hygiene information for better positioning of hygiene across different sectors, government and developing partners.

• Engage in wide consultations and discussions with various key actors including line ministries (MOH, MoET, Ministry of Social Development, Ministry of Water etc), UN agencies, key donors and other major bilateral stakeholders, Private Sector, Research and Development actors and NGOs, both at national and district level to gather information that could better contextualize the guidelines as well as increasing awareness on the guidelines
• Develop draft Guidelines for WinS, better packaged in toolkits addressing various components including: Minimum standards for School WASH; Institutional arrangements for School WASH; Technical options for WASH infrastructure; Education and promotion of WASH services; Maintenance and operation for School WASH facilities and Financing the school WASH. The guidelines should be comprehensive and cover both software and hardware aspects. They should specifically address disability-inclusive WASH and MHH or specifically have toolkits for. Disability inclusive WASH and MHH. The Guidelines will be presented by the Consultant in a formal consultation workshop with key stakeholders (could be done virtual due to COVID-19 restrictions) for inputs. Afterwards incorporating the inputs in the draft plan, the consultant will present the final strategy in another formal consultation workshop with the key stakeholders for validation.

• Provide technical support rolling out in the WinS guidelines, including training of sector stakeholders (MoH, CSOs, private sector etc), on how to use the toolkits.

  Work relationships: The Consultant will work under the overall supervision of the WASH Specialist at UNICEF, but will work collaboratively with Staff members working on WinS in the Ministry of Health, Water, Ministry of Social Development and Education.

  Activities, Deliverables, Timelines and Payment

Activity

Deliverable

Timeline (Deadline)

Payment

Develop workplan in consultation with supervisor with monthly deliverables

Inception report with detailed methodology, workplan, timelines and milestones, proposed options for structuring and content of the final document

1 week (June 15)

10%

Review of relevant WinS knowledge

Literature based synthesis of up-to-date knowledge on WinS, including disability-friendly WinS

2 weeks (June 30)

20%

Conduct extension consultations with key stakeholders and develop national guidelines for WinS

Draft WinS Guidelines, accompanying PowerPoint presentation, and consultation workshop report with WinS stakeholders in Lesotho

1 month (July 30)

30%

Technical support in rolling out the national WinS guidelines, including supporting training at district level

Technical support/training reports

3 weeks (15 August)

20%

Completion of final report

Final report submitted and approved

1 week (31 August)

20%

Desired profile

• Advanced university degree in Health Sciences or a field relevant to international WASH related development assistance. Additional training in Health Education, inclusive WASH or Communication for Development (Programme Communication), is considered an asset.
• Minimum 5 years working experience in the WASH Sector, in developing contexts, ideally in Southern Africa.
• Previous experience in supporting countries in developing disability inclusive WASH related policies, guidelines strategies and implementation plans.
• Familiarity with SDGs, WinS and other related global trends and priorities, most up-to-date country experiences.
• Strong analytical, writing and communication skills
• High standard of written and verbal English language skills
• Familiarity with the local social and cultural context is highly recommended
• Ability to conduct online consultations (if COVID-19 restrictions may not allow face-to-face meetings).

Administrative issues

The candidate selected will be governed by and subject to UNICEF General Terms and Conditions for individual consultants and contracts

• The consultant will work on their own computer(s) and materials in the execution of this assignment.
• The work of the consultant can be done virtually with regular consultations, and onsite meetings when required. For one week the consultant will have to be in-country to do face-to-face presentation of the draft report and have final discussions with stakeholders.
• The consultant payment is all inclusive.
• As per UNICEF DFAM policy, payment is made against approved deliverables. No advance payment is allowed unless in exceptional circumstances against bank guarantee, subject to a maximum of 30 per cent of the total contract value in cases where advance purchases, for example for supplies or travel, may be necessary.
• Consultant will be required to sign the Health Statement for consultants/individual contractor prior to taking up the assignment, and to document that they have appropriate health insurance that covers COVID-19 as well as Medical Evacuation.

• Consultant will be required to complete online courses related to Ethics, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Security related trainings prior to taking up the assignment and/or travel.

  Risks

UNICEF Lesotho 2019-2022 Country Programme Document (CPD) was developed with a risk-informed programming lens to support sustainable programs, considering assumptions for the project success. The development of the CPD, through which this activity will contribute to, analyzed the vulnerabilities, systems, capacities, resources, and looked at the risks beneficiaries may face to prevent the risk or mitigate the impact. The risks associated with the implementation of this activity are minimal and below the global threshold set by UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office. The risks will be managed through constant monitoring, providing early warning of potential issues in programme implementation, and advocacy with GOL officials. All reasonable and likely risks should be identified and a relevant risk response and possible mitigating action defined.

How to Apply

Qualified candidates are requested to complete an application to the respective advertisement on https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/. The following information must be included:

1. A cover letter, CV and online consultants application form; indicating your qualification, ability and availability to complete the terms of reference.

2. A financial proposal indicating deliverable-based fee. Rates must be submitted in the local currency LSL (if national) or USD (if foreign), and include all expenses related to the assignment (e.g. consultancy fee, travel and living allowance, if applicable).

   Please note, offers without financial proposal will not be considered. Any attempt to unduly influence UNICEF selection process will lead to automatic disqualification of the applicant.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

If you have not been contacted within 2 months of the closing date please accept that your application was unsuccessful. Regret emails will be sent only to shortlisted/contacted candidates.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.