Consultancy - Technical Support to WASH Joint Sectoral Review 2022, NO-C, Monrovia, Liberia (60 days onsite)

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 interventions!!

Background

The Government of Liberia conducted four major joint sector reviews (JSR) in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2018. The 2018 JSR recommended the creation of a ONE-WASH programme with clear priorities and costing. However, this is yet to be developed.

In 2017, the Government of Liberia passed an Act to establish the National Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Commission (NWASHC) and the Chief Executive Officer was appointed in 2018. The establishment of NWASHC narrows the long governance fragmentation of the sector that was characterized by multiple public institutions involved in the governance of the sector and placed all regulatory roles and responsibilities of the sector under the umbrella of the NWASHC. Since the establishment of the NWASHC, the sector is gradually progressing towards a more coordinated and harmonized approach for WASH service delivery. The Government of Liberia clearly indicated WASH as a priority sector in order to address the issues related to the poverty and development. As per the Pro-poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD) 2019-2023, the government aims to have equitable, safe, affordable and sustainable water supply and sanitation services for all.

Recently, the Government of Liberia has launched a roadmap on Ending Open Defecation in Liberia by 2025. Moreover, the World Bank conducted a diagnostic study in “Unlocking Service Delivery of Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene in Liberia”.

The NWASC is in the process of conducting a WASH Bottleneck Analysis workshop to develop a WASH Regulatory Framework. The WASHBAT will help to identify key issues and devise mitigation strategies specifically to improve coordination, planning, budgeting, implementation and monitoring. Therefore, it is an opportune time to prepare for and carry out WASH joint sector review of Liberia.

How can you make a difference?

Goal and Purpose:

The last WASH Joint Sector Review (JSR) of Liberia was conducted in 2018 and took a comprehensive stock of sector as well as addressed emerging issues over the past years. The purpose of the proposed 2022 JSR is to review performance of the sector over the past years, including progress in implementation of the undertakings developed during 2018 JSR.

The JSR outcomes shall inform prioritization of key interventions/activities to be included in the upcoming five years country WASH strategy plan 2023-2027. The recommendations of JSR will help ministries and other implementing organizations (development partners, CSOs and private sector) to incorporate the priorities in their work plans and budgets. The JSR also therefore serves as a platform to hold each other accountable on commitments and get consensus on priorities for the next period of implementation, for the next financial year.

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, 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 sector in relation to the agreed key sector performance indicators and the 2018 JSR undertakings.
• To identify key emerging sector 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.
• Benchmarking Liberia’s WASH sector against regional and international commitments.
• Develop undertakings and list of priority actions across identified strategic areas.
• Facilitation of joint sector review at national level using most recent findings of WASHBAT Workshop and other documents.
• Final Joint Sector Review Report, with a summary PowerPoint presentation, and a summary of key findings.

Methodology:

Methodology will include but not limited to:

• Desk Reviews and Consultative Meetings with stakeholders
• Key informant interviews and focus group discussion
• Workshop facilitation
• Report writing

It is expected that the tasks under this consultancy will be conducted in 45 days over two months. The specific tasks (to be further elaborated during implementation) are as follows:

1) Prepare for and design a result-based JSR process demonstrating how events will flow to achieve the expected deliverables. This includes the development of the 2022 Sector Status Performance Report (based on the recent WASHBAT and other reports) and conducting the 2022 National Joint Sector Review workshop. The basic structure of the JSR workshop should allow the following:

• Assessment of sector progress in relation to national, regional and international agreements, should be comprehended in the Sector Status Performance Report.
• Identification of challenges or bottlenecks; and
• Agreeing solutions (commitments) with agreed timeframes and agency ro

2) Facilitate stakeholder engagement processes to systematically achieve the specific objectives of the JSR (above), organize the event to allow for substantive discussions focuses on strategic level.

3) Ensure that outcomes of discussions (particularly issues for post-JSR attention) are captured within their appropriate context and response proposals are agreed.

4) Facilitate clear identification of necessary reform priorities separating them into policy and regulatory, funding or financial investments, organizational roles, operational structures and relation.

5) Facilitate the JSR workshop.

6) Produce comprehensive 2022 National JSR report, which will act as a point of reference for progress in future and contain actionable recommendations.

Tasks/Milestone

Deliverables/Outputs

Timeline (Person-days)

1. PREPARATORY WORKS

• Entry meetings, first with UNICEF and later with the JSR Technical Committee to clarify expectations and get a common understanding of the scope of the consultancy

• Develop the JSR operational plan indicating activities, implementing timelines, responsibilities, results indicators and all requirements to do the JSR process

• Minutes of entry meeting

• Draft JSR Process Operational Plan

7-days

2. PRODUCTION OF THE SECTOR STATUS PERFROMANCE REPORT

• Review progress on the sector indicators including actioning 2018 JSR Undertakings and other commitments.
• Review of WASHBAT, WASH Diagnostic and other sector reports.
• Document findings of the analytical review of sector performance over the past year,
• Develop Session Flow outline for JSR Workshop in accordance to agreed Thematic Areas.

• One day workshop sharing findings and getting input from NAC sub-committee members, Incorporating inputs in the report

• Report on review of the progress

• Draft Sector Status Performance Report
• Finalize the JSR sessions and list of participants
• Report of one day workshop

25-days

3. DRAFT REPORT PREPARATION AND FACILITATING THE NATIONAL JOINT SECTOR REVIEW WORKSHOP

• Prepare a draft version of the JSR Report, summarizing key issues identified at the JSR meeting and proposed actions for follow up, with an action plan.
• Identify key presenters and approaches/methodologies to be used, indicating domains of critique, ensuring national speakers are identified and are invited to present at the JSR workshop.
• Provide guidance on development of materials for presentation.

• Attend and facilitate a two-days JSR workshop for sharing and validation (ensuring smooth flow and ensuring active participation, allowing time for voices to be heard, even disagreement and drawing consensus, prioritizing and committing to responsibilities on issues/solutions and undertakings).

• Draft JSR report

• JSR Workshop agenda to guide the implementation of the JSR process drafted and JSR Workshop facilitated with report available.

18-days

4. Final JSR Report preparation and submission

• Incorporating comments from sector stakeholders and coming up with the final JSR report.

• JSR Reports including signed aide memoire

10-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, 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. Experience in undertaking Joint sector reviews and bottleneck analysis.

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!