Consultancy - Research on Sanitation Market Analysis of selected Counties in Liberia, NO-C, Monrovia, Liberia (6 months onsite)

Mid Programme & Policy Medical & Health

Contract

This is a NO-3 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. More about NO-3 contracts.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. And we never give up!

For every child, WASH intervention!

How can you make a difference?

Background

Nearly 60% of the rural population out of five million population of Liberia has no access to safe sanitation. According to WHO-UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) 2020 report, only 75% of people nationally have access to basic drinking water services. Similarly, at national level, access to basic sanitation service is 18% and 44% of people have access to limited sanitation service, whereas 38% of Liberian still do practice Open Defecation. In view of the present sanitation status of Liberia it is clear that the country has to go a long way before declaring the entire nation open defecation free. As a part of the national plan of Liberia the country has been making all effort to achieve the ODF status to keep pace with the global initiative of reaching SDG 6.2.

In November 2021, A National roadmap of ending open defecation in Liberia was launched, marking progress in the commitment to achieve sanitation goals in the country. However, most sanitation interventions in Liberia continue to be focused on demand-creation in rural areas through Community-Led Total Sanitation and similar approaches with varying degrees of success. In particular, sustainability of results remains a challenge due to both behaviors change factors and the durability of toilets built by households with locally available materials – especially in the rural parts and areas most affected by climate hazards. Market-based approaches, largely in urban areas, have taken place and are ongoing but remain small-scale and the viability of business models remains to be seen. A detailed analysis of the market is essential to understand and quantify demand and product preferences, to map and segment consumers as well as available products and services, identify gaps and needs, and identify existing and potential suppliers and assess competitive dynamics.

Out of five million people of Liberia, only 18% have access to basic sanitation, meaning an untapped market of more than 4.1 million users and more than 600,000 toilets. Common market failures that prevent businesses to enter or expand their footprint in the sanitation market include low visibility on market opportunities, low visibility on return on investment, lack of scalable business acumen and limited access to finance for both consumers and entrepreneurs. The consultancy will inform how UNICEF, the government and other partners can influence the market, effectively create demand for durable sanitation solutions, and engage businesses to improve the supply situation and ensure a sustainable and local market at scale for communities in a long-term perspective. Leveraging its experience in sanitation and expertise in market shaping in other countries, UNICEF Liberia intends to work with the government and other partners to reshape the architecture and dynamics of sanitation markets or order to better reach the poorest households with high quality products and services. UNICEF seeks to promote equity and ensure that the poorest and most vulnerable are able to access and use basic sanitation services.

Goal and Purpose:

The overall aim of the research is to provide insights and recommendations on how to support domestic sanitation markets in a way that unlocks existing demand and incentivizes suppliers for higher levels of services in order to minimize ODF slippage rate and climbing sanitation ladder as well as accelerate progress towards the sanitation-related SDGs.

The research shall focus on household toilets (superstructures, sub-structures, and latrine components) and related services for on-site sanitation (pit-emptying, reuse) in both rural, urban and peri-urban areas. The assessment will identify demand-side and supply-side opportunities and market constraints and their root causes and provide initial recommendations to improve the supply landscape and ensure sustainable and vibrant sanitation market for communities.

The consultancy should analyze and provide recommendations on the sanitation market that are applicable throughout Liberia, considering that context varies widely within the country and disaggregating findings and tailoring recommendations when applicable. A combination of urban, peri-urban and rural markets should be analyzed. As the ultimate objective of the research is to promote equity and ensure that the poorest and most vulnerable households are able to increase access to basic sanitation, the focus should remain on poor and near-poor households.

Description of the Assignment:

The Consultant will work with a Technical Committee set up by the NWASHC to facilitate sub-sector and sector-wide reflections which will be pursuant to the following specific objectives:

• Desk review, based on the existing relevant quantitative and qualitative data and information, as well as related key documents of the government and other key stakeholders.
• In consultation with NWASHC and NPHIL, define consultative process with national stakeholders, and participation in relevant coordination meetings to present/consult on progress of work.
• To assess progress and performance of the sanitation market in relation to the agreed key performance indicators.
• To identify key emerging issues and provide policy and strategic guidance if necessary.
• Enhanced alignment within and across levels of government and development (and implementing) partners including the private sector, academia, and research institutions.
• Develop undertakings and list of priority actions across identified strategic areas.
• Facilitate the validation and sharing workshop.

• Final Sanitation Market Analysis Report, with a summary PowerPoint presentation, and a summary of key findings.

  Methodology:

The market assessment will be based on a combination of secondary data sources (national household surveys, existing market research and qualitative studies) and primary in-country data collection. The findings should be applicable at the national level and should reflect the nationwide situation to the extent possible.

Conducting a desk review of existing policies and regulations and conducting interviews with key informants (such as the National WASH commission, NPHIL, Ministry of Public Works, I/NGO, Private sector engaged in sanitation business etc.) will be necessary for analyzing the enabling environment and market dynamics. The industry consultation will also be an opportunity to not only present initial findings of the market assessment to key stakeholders but also to integrate additional findings into the final report based on inputs from participants.

In order to provide a solid grounding to the market assessment and complement existing data, the consultant will be expected to conduct primary qualitative consumer, supplier and regional enabling environment research. In order to limit the scope of the primary research while maximizing representation of different socioeconomic, cultural and hydrogeological realities in the country, the following study areas are to be included in qualitative data collection to be jointly decided with UNICEF during the inception phase:

• A rural community and the county headquarter of the Grand Cape Mount County;
• A rural community and the county headquarter of the Gbarpolu County;
• A rural community and the county headquarter of the Grand Gedeh County;
• A rural community and the county headquarter of the River Gee County;
• A rural community and the county headquarter of the Maryland County;
• A rural community and the county headquarter of the Grand Kru County;
• Monrovia, Ganta and Pleebo cities

The qualitative research plan should include a ‘stratified’ sample of consumers (toilet owners and non-owners from a range of households, including different livelihood sources and income levels, demographic profiles, and ethnic and cultural backgrounds) and businesses (by size, sanitation supply chain actor – mason, retailer, distributor, sales agent, etc). The sample of households and businesses should be spread across communities selected to represent different geographic ‘market proximity segments’(based on closeness to/remoteness from existing market infrastructure and supply chains) in different sanitation contexts.

Consult Chapter 3.1 Market Research from UNICEF’s Guidance on Market-Based Sanitation for detailed guidance on the types of questions that should be explored through this qualitative research.

Quantitative surveys are not expected for this consultancy, but analysis of secondary datasets from national household surveys and a recent market study will be required using Stata, SPSS or other statistical software.

Tasks and deliverables:

Tasks

Deliverables

Time

1.0 Inception Phase:

The inception phase is necessary to understand the

priority focus areas for the assessment.

Inception report with clear assessment & research methodology

5 days

2.0 Mapping the market system (Field work combined with key informant interview and literature review):

Mapping the market system involves studying the demand-side; supply landscape and product assessment; as well as to analyze product and supplier data.

2.1. Demand-side study:

The demand-side study collects information on:

• Levels of demand (current and potential) for sanitation products and services amongst certain groups of the population (e.g. based on income or geographic location);
• Preferences for different types of toilet amongst different types of customer (e.g. rural or urban, geographic location and different income groups);
• Barriers to accessing the sanitation market for low-income groups; and

• Affordability of certain toilet designs.

• Draft report on Demand-side study

• Availability of affordability report

22 days

2.2 Supply landscape and product assessment:

The aim of the supply-side study is to:

• Identify the actors involved in sanitation supply chains;
• Understand the roles of these actors, the scope of their work, their motivations, incentives, and challenges;
• Understand the type, volume, and nature of sanitation products and services available;
• Identify constraints in the market, particularly to improving access for low-income customers;
• Compile a database of suppliers and their products/services; and

• Compile a list of stakeholders who could be considered as invitees to the industry consultation.

• Draft report on Supply landscape and product assessment

• Availability of database of sanitation suppliers.
• List of stakeholders for the industry consultation.

15 days

3.0 Identifying constraints and provide recommendations for catalytic market systems changes:

Following completion of the mapping exercise of the market system, the main market constraints are identified. The focus here is constraints as they pertain to lower-income households accessing better sanitation facilities. The analysis focused on understanding what is preventing and or discouraging the supply side from offering appropriate, quality sanitation solutions at affordable prices.

Having identified the main constraints, in this step the constraints are prioritized in the order in which they can be tackled, and recommendations provided in line with the main components on the market analysis: demand side, supply side, and enabling environment.

• Submission of a draft final report

8 days

4.0 Validate findings, collate new insights, and begin action planning for improving sanitation markets:

National consultative workshop is held in

order to validate findings, collate new insights,

and begin action planning for improving sanitation

markets. This includes a prior step of helping to

identify the main stakeholders to be invited.

• Power point presentation
• Facilitate one day national workshop
• Workshop Report

3 days

5.0 Incorporate the comments and recommendations of the validation workshop and submit a final report

• Submission of a final report

7 days

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education: An advanced university degree (Masters) in one of the following fields is required: public health, civil engineering, water engineering, sanitation engineering, business administration, social sciences, research, or another relevant technical field.

Work Experience: A minimum of 5 years of proven work experience in research and analysis of WASH development and humanitarian programs, reviewing and summarizing both quantitative and qualitative data and information. Proven experience in the successful delivery of complex market analyses, experience related to sanitation markets in Liberia, or a similar country context is preferred.

Competencies: Strong analytical and conceptual thinking. Excellent writing skills. Excellent communication and presentation skills with stakeholders and the ability to work under pressure and commitment to work to a tight timeframe.

Language: Excellent working knowledge and communication in English is required.

For every child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

• Builds & Maintains Partnerships.
• Demonstrates Self-Awareness & Ethical Awareness.
• Drive to Achieve Results for Impact.
• Innovates and Embraces Change.
• Manages Ambiguity and Complexity.
• Thinks and Acts Strategically.
• Works Collaboratively with others-Establish.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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.

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.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

For every child, a future!

Apply now

Added 2 years ago - Updated 2 years ago - Source: unicef.org