Individual Consultant: Climate Resilient WASH Consultant - Kathmandu, Nepal Country Office ( Only for Nepalese National)

Contract

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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, result.

UNICEF since 2020 has also clearly spelled out the need for shift in WASH programme as climate change is one of the fundamental threats to development, particularly for the poorest children so it demands new perspective and innovative solution to this problem. At the same time COP 26 has identified climate crisis as a child rights crisis and climate change is directly connected to the water cycle meaning impact to water, which is the foremost child right for survival. UNICEF’s core commitment to children has pointed out the importance of coherence and complementarity of development and humanitarian programming and made commitment to incorporate environmental sustainability into the design and delivery of UNICEF’s humanitarian actions and strengthen communities’ resilience to climate change. Thus, it has perceived that more guidance and serious engagement is needed in WASH sector to integrate climate resilience within development and humanitarian actions through clear policies, strategies, and development plans.

In case of Nepal, UNICEF Nepal office has made some significant milestones to bring climate agenda forward in WASH sector. UNICEF undertook a study on climate change impact on WASH services that was conducted in 2016-2018. Moreover, UNICEF is supporting government to make local level WASH Plans that are climate and disasters sensitive. UNICEF initiated a formal dialogue with Ministry of Forestry and Environment on how UNICEF can be formally engaged to support National Adaptation Plan (NAP) based on which UNICEF was invited to the second National Adaptation Plan drafting discussion and was officially notified to be part of three thematic areas- Health and WASH, DRR and Gender. This led to the strategic engagement to support Government in development of National Adaptation Plan for WASH. There is still a huge task of working together with the sector stakeholders together to work on integration of climate agenda in the WASH programmes including enhancing the capacity of government counterparts and multi- sector partners on climate resilient WASH programming which is critical to the overall achievement of SDG 6.

In addition to “climate resilient WASH service delivery” and “system strengthening on climate sensitive WASH policy environment”; UNICEF Nepal has proposed one specific output in relation to “Climate Change, Environmental Sustainability and Disaster Risk Management” in its WASH Programme Rationale in order to advocate and support the government and other stakeholders to address the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation on children especially in the area of climate change mitigation and adaptation; low carbon growth, and environmental sustainability including reducing pollution and integrated water resource management. UNICEF will enhance the availability of data and evidence across these dimensions to facilitate child focused and risk-informed programming while engaging children, adolescent, and youth as agents of change in environmental and climate action.

Further, UNICEF Globally has made a collaboration agreement with Global Water Partnership (GWP) to implement a country level support programme named Global Water Leadership (GWL) for which Nepal is also a part of this programme. The main objective of this partnership is to support Government of Nepal on bringing water resources and WASH service delivery agenda together to collectively address the overall water sector and water security issues of Nepal and address bottlenecks that impede progress on water resource management and WASH to improve sector performance. Additionally, UNICEF Nepal has been proactive in engaging with the Government contributing to national commitment under National Adaptation Plan (NAP) which is the major plan of the Government Nepal in the context of making every sector climate resilient starting from sector policy reforms to implementation of climate sensitive WASH programs.

How can you make a difference?

This consultancy is aligned with UNICEF’s global Strategic Plan for 2022-2025, under which Goal Area 4 states that UNCIEF will work to ensure that ‘every child, including adolescents, has access to safe, resilient water, sanitation and hygiene services and lives in a safe and sustainable climate and environment’.

The consultancy aims to ensure:

a. Identification and systematic removal of bottlenecks and financial constraints hampering the scalingup of inclusive and resilient WASH services

b. Identification of the critical elements of climate resilient WASH and how are these integrated with other aspects of development

c. Supporting the Government of Nepal in building their capacity on integrating climate agenda in WASH sector

d. Defining “climate resilient WASH” in the context of Nepal with clear indicators, ways to measure and be able to report at national and sub-national level

e. Facilitating the integration of WASH climate resilience in relevant WASH policies, strategies and plans

f. Enhancing the capacity of UNICEF to effectively scale-up climate resilient programme in line with the shift towards climate resilient WASH programming in both the development and humanitarian actions.

Duration of Contract: The total duration of the contract is for 180 working days within a period of 9.5 months tentatively starting from 15 October 2022.

Work Assignment Overview

Tasks****Deliverables****Timeline****Proposed Fee (Nepalese Currency)- In collaboration with SIWI under the Global Water Leadership Programme, support the Government to undertake WASH Bottleneck Analysis/Climate analysis using specific module on climate resilience and water resource management to identify bottlenecks and conduct sector consultation (Based on desk reviews undertaken by SIWI on climate analysis) on climate resilient WASH aiming to plan mitigation options

Report on WASH BAT & Sector consultations and analysis, conducted in collaboration with SIWI, highlighting bottlenecks and mitigation optionsOctober 2022 November 2022 (20 days Support in development of climate rationale and Advocacy brief providing the scientific underpinning for evidence-based climate decision making and improving climate actions in WASH- Climate Rationale drafted and consulted with sector stakeholders - Advocacy brief drafted on climate Resilient WASH for prioritizing it within government

NovemberDecember2022 (20 days) Based on climate rationale, develop a climate resilient WASH framework both for rural and urban settings, as a guiding document, for repositioning WASH programming to be climate resilient with identification of indicators to measuring resilienceClimate resilient WASH framework developed December – January 2022 (20 days) Engage with UNICEF team to review and analyze existing climate resilient WASH initiatives and activities/ indicators in each field offices and propose a “Climate Resilient Service Delivery Model” providing strategic guidance for identifying and prioritizing relevant climateresilient WASH activities and technologies for water and sanitation that are suitable for the local contextClimate Resilient Service Delivery Model finalized providing quick programming guide for NCO to be used during programme design and implementationJanuary- February 2022 (20 days) Based on consultation with the government and sector partners, support in developing WASH climate proposals to use climate financing opportunities to help mitigate risksAt least two climate proposals developed for climate financing avenue such GCF readiness, GEF or leveraging domestic and private funding to increase access to reliant WASH services in close coordination with UNICEF and MOWS teamFebruary – March 2022(20 days) Development of climate resilient/ sensitive WASH monitoring framework for Climate resilient WASH contributing to sector monitoring under SDG- Consultative meeting conducted with sector players and relevant stakeholders to develop the CRWASH monitoring framework, also in line with global monitoring frameworks  - CRWASH monitoring frameworks available with indicators defined for WASH sector in consultation with CC/DRR thematic group and sector stakeholder and pretested for reporting

March - April 2022 (15 days) Support approach for establishing/strengthening early warning system for multiple hazards particularly water scarcity/ security in collaboration with relevant stakeholders including ministries such as MOWS, MWEI, MOFE, DoHM, WECS, DGW, ICIMOD etc. to track and link inter-related issues and joint areas of work- Inventory of all the inter-sectoral information on ground water and surface water for development water sector early warning system - Conduct sector dialogue on water scarcity and security to support systematic tracking and early warning

April- May 2023 March (20 days) Support in capacity building of the Provincial and local governments on Climate resilient WASH to support planning, programming and monitoring of CR WASHHold Seven provincial level trainings on Climate Resilient WASH and its integration in Local level plans and programmes in close coordination with Federal and Provincial Government and UNICEF teamMay – June, 2023 (20 days) Tracking and documentation of Climate Resilient WASH best practices, youth led engagement and private sector engagement in Nepal for protecting children from climate change and environmental riskBest practices of CRWASH collected, reviewed and consolidated in a handbook on good practices of CRWASH in NepalJune- July, 2023 (20 days) To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education:

Advanced university degree in one of the disciplines relevant to the following areas: Environment Science, Environmental/Sanitary/water Resource/DRM Engineering, Water management, Climate sciences, Public Health or another field relevant to WASH, environment and climate change

Experience:

• A minimum of 10 years of professional experience in climate change, climate resilience and WASH programming and/or research
• A good working knowledge of recent developments and approaches on climate change adaptation, mitigation, and climate resilient WASH.
• Demonstrated experience implementing climate resilient WASH approaches in different programme and climate contexts
• Experience in designing and implementing innovative climate resilient WASH approaches, would be a considered advantage
• Experience of working with Government system is an asset
• Proven skills in analysis, synthesis, and ability to communicate complex issues clearly and succinctly both orally and in writing.
• Strong communication skills (written and oral) in English are required.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated experience working in a multicultural environment.
• Passion and demonstrated commitment to UNICEF’s mission and core values
• Background/familiarity with UNICEF’s WASH programme will be an asset.
• Fluency in English and Nepali is required.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

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 offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

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:

Request to submit financial proposal as per deliverable in Nepalese currency.

Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Candidates from under-represented ethnic groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

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

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.

Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment.