National Consultant to support climate-resilient WASH Program in Uzbekistan

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, safety!

In recent years, Uzbekistan has significantly improved access to water and sanitation services. According to the latest available data from the UNICEF Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) in 2021-22, 96.8% of the household population is utilising improved drinking water sources, reflecting the nation's commitment to ensuring clean and safe drinking water for its citizens. However, challenges persist, as 25.9% of household members still lack drinking water on their premises, and 17.9% do not have access to handwashing facilities within their dwellings, yards, or plots. This indicates a need for targeted interventions to address these disparities in access to basic necessities at the community level.

UNICEF Uzbekistan has been actively working to address these challenges through its climate resilient WASH programme. The programme aims to improve access to safe drinking water, promote proper sanitation practices, and enhance hygiene awareness and behavior among communities. Key components of the programme include infrastructure development, capacity building, community engagement, and advocacy for policy changes.

The Republic of Karakalpakstan has been identified as a priority area due to its high vulnerability and need for sustainable WASH interventions. In this context, the consultant will play a critical role in supporting the implementation of UNICEF's climate-resilient WASH projects in the region.

UNICEF requires a national consultant to support the Government of Uzbekistan and proactively address water, sanitation, and hygiene challenges, operationalise new WASH initiatives, and ensure relevant national and subnational authorities have adequate capacity to implement, monitor, and sustain these interventions.

Scope of Work: Under the supervision of the Chief of Health and in close coordination with the Programme Associate, the consultant will support the implementation of UNICEF Uzbekistan’s climate-resilient WASH programme, focusing on activities in the Republic of Karakalpakstan. The consultant will provide technical assistance, project management, and coordination to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of climate-resilient WASH interventions.

Key activities include:

1. Project Implementation Plan A detailed plan outlining the strategy, activities, and timelines for implementing climate-resilient WASH projects in Uzbekistan, with a focus on the Republic of Karakalpakstan.

2. Progress Monitoring and Reporting Monitoring and reporting on the progress of climate-resilient WASH activities, ensuring alignment with program goals and timelines. Monitoring and progress reporting will be done at a monthly basis

3. Climate-Resilient WASH Service Delivery Reports Reports documenting the delivery of climate-resilient WASH services, including water supply, sanitation facilities, and hygiene promotion, in the targeted areas.

4. Consultancy Planning Support Documentation Documentation supporting the planning of consultancy services, including international and national consultancies on WASH.

5. Technical Guidance Documentation Documents providing technical guidance and support to local government partners, NGOs, and community groups involved in WASH projects.

6. Training Session and Workshop Materials Materials for training sessions and workshops aimed at building local capacity in climate-resilient WASH management and practices updated

7. Meeting Minutes and Reports Minutes and reports from coordination meetings and relevant forums where UNICEF's involvement and contributions are documented.

8. Field Visit Reports Reports documenting findings from regular field visits to monitor the implementation and quality of WASH activities submitted every month.

Work Assignments Overview - Deliverables/Outputs - Timeline

1. Project Implementation Plan

Develop a consultancy workplan articulating linkages with the work of already undertaken under climate resilient WASH to ensure synergies, as well as a draft consultancy report layout.

- Develop detailed workplans/project implementation plans for WASH activities, including those in the Republic of Karakalpakstan - 16.5 working days

- Consultancy report layout - 5 working days

2. Technical Assistance and Capacity Building

- Provide technical support and coordination in the development of WASH in Schools and WASH in HCF Guidelines - Monthly progress report - 53.5 working days

- Oversee the training on WASH in Schools and WASH in HCF Guidelines - Training Report Developed - 32 working days

3. Monitoring and Evaluation

- Draft Donor Reports - Donor Reports submitted (3) - 15 working days

- Provide technical support to project coordination boards and quarterly board project monitoring - Project Coordination Board Minutes - 12 working days

- Conduct field visits (twice per month) - Field Visit Reports provided - 21.5 working days

Total: 129 days

Final rate shall follow the “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee. Consultants will be asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable.

Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

Travel:

The consultant will be required to travel twice a month (18 in total) to the fields to monitor vaccine management, and provide training/supportive supervision.

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

• University degree is required (Advanced degree an advantage), preferably in relevant field (e.g. Civil Engineering, Public Health, Environmental Science, or a related field.
• At least 3-4 years of professional experience in WASH programme management
• Strong project management skills, technical expertise in WASH, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Proven experience in climate resilient WASH programming
• Experience in writing proposals, and donor reporting
• Experience in training, planning and delivery of technical assistance
• Effective presenter, including ability to adapt the message and visual aids for multiple audiences to deliver concise, impactful presentations
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment
• Proven track record in interfacing with national ministries
• Fluency in written and spoken in English and Russian. Knowledge of Uzbek or Karakalpak is an added value

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

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:

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.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. 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. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.