UNICEF recrute un consultant national pour l’eau, l’assainissement et l’hygiène, Lesotho

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Background and Justification :

 Lack of access to safe, sufficient and affordable water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services has a devastating effect on the health, dignity and prosperity of billions of people, and has significant consequences for the realization of other human rights. For many governments, UNICEF and other stakeholders in the water sector around the world, achieving Sustainable development Goals (SDG) 6.1 and 6.2 remains a top priority. Lesotho envisions to achieve the SDG WASH targets by 2030.

UNICEF in Lesotho continues to work with the Government of Lesotho to increase access to WASH services in communities, schools and health care facilities. Even more critical, UNICEF is working with the Government to strengthen sector systems and human capacities as well as building resilience at community level so that WASH investments can be better managed and local populations can adequately cope with humanitarian shocks  both climatic like droughts and health epidemics like COVID-19. UNICEF’s work with the government goes beyond infrastructural development and provision of WASH services to building sector capacity for appropriate and sustainable use of services to optimize value of these investments.

In Lesotho, UNICEF implements programmes in close collaboration with the Government i.e. Ministry of Water  specifically The Water Commission, Department of Rural Water Supply on issues related to the Enabling Environment, Water Supply and Sanitation; Ministry of Health on all Hygiene related work and WASH in Health Care facilities; and Ministry of Education on WASH in Schools. UNICEF works in partnership with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) like World Vision International and Lesotho Red Cross Society in implementation. UNICEF also implements directly by contracting private sector, especially on construction and rehabilitation tasks.

UNICEF recently secured funding from UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office under a broad programme titled Supporting life-saving multi-sectoral interventions responding to the impact of climate shocks on children in Southern Africa, supports WASH, Nutrition and Child Protection in Eswatini, Lesotho and Madagascar. In Lesotho, the WASH funds will be used for rehabilitation/construction of climate resilient water systems and improving sector capacities in the management of rural water systems. UNICEF Lesotho Country Office is seeking a national individual consultant to support in the implementation of this programme, and also other UNICEF Lesotho WASH programme activities.

Purpose of the assignment :

The WASH National Contractor will provide professional technical, operational and administrative assistance for the implementation of the WASH component areas within the Government of Lesotho-UNICEF 2021-2022 rolling workplan especially providing technical support to our implementing partners Government, NGOs and Contractors, in execution of their tasks.

Goal and Objective :

The overall objective of this contractor is the provision of technical support for the implementation of WASH components of the joint GoL-UNICEF 2021/2022 rolling workplan. It would entail close work interactions with the DRWS, the Water Commission and other relevant CSO counterparts in the WASH sector.

Activities and Tasks :

1. Technical and operational support to programme implementation :

• Conduct regular programme field visits and surveys, and share information with partners and stakeholders to assess progress and provide technical support and/or refer to relevant officials for resolution. Report on critical issues, bottlenecks and potential problems for timely action to achieve results ;
• Provide technical and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners, and other country office partners/donors on the application of strategies, processes, and best practices on health-related issues to support programme implementation, operations and delivery of results ;
• Provide technical and operational support to partners in humanitarian situations.

2. Programme Monitoring and Reporting :

• Ensure timely implementation of projects, timely and quality reporting and support payments to implementing partners ;
• Generate knowledge products  including field stories ;
• Coordinate field visits from UNICEF and donors.

3. Support for capacity Building and Networking :

• Participate as a resource person in capacity building initiatives with the implementing partners and communities ;
• Create and/or strengthen partnerships with UNICEF implementing partners.

4. Other tasks as assigned by Supervisor :

Work relationships : In the execution of this assignment the contractor will work closely with the larger CSD team and other UNICEF Programme staff under the supervision of the WASH Specialist.

Outputs/Deliverables :

• Workplan with monitoring schedule, indicators and timeline for implementation and reporting ;
• Monthly reports indicating technical support provided to partners ;
• Monthly reports for capacity building related activites conducted and partnership created/strengthened ;
• Monthly reports for field monitoring activities conducted.

Payment : Monthly payments will be made each month upon submission of a report and invoice, based on the pre-approved workplan deliverable.

Desired profile :

• A university degree in one of the WASH related fields is required: Civil/Water/Environmental engineering; Environmental Health; or Project Management but with experience in monitoring WASH projects ;
• A minimum of two years of professional experience working in the WASH sector in Lesotho, especially in field monitoring ;
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization or government. Previous working relationship with Ministry of Water, particularly DRWS will be an asset ;
• Knowledge in climate-resilient WASH will be an asset ;
• Fluency in English and Sesotho is required.

Administrative issues :

• The candidate selected will be governed by and subject to UNICEF General Terms and Conditions for individual contracts ;
• The contractor will work on their own computer(s), internet/dataand materials in the execution of this assignment ;
• The work of the contractor is office based; but is required to visit districts for supervision and monitoring purposes ;
• The contractor payment is in monthly lump sum. Living allowance will be paid for field trips, estimated at 5 working days per month. Field travel will be supported by UNICEF ;
• 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 ;
• Please also see UNICEF Standard Terms and Conditions attach ;
• Contractors are not entitled to payment of overtime. All remuneration must be within the contract agreement ;
• Contractors are required to certify that they are covered by medical/health insurance. Medical/health insucrance should also cover COVID-19. Contractors who are required to travel beyond commuting distance to duty station(s) shall also certify that their medical/health insurance covers medical evacuations ;
• No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant or Contractor ;
• Contractor 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 pro-ject success. The development of the CPD, through which this activity will contribute to, analysed 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 including profile to the respective advertisement on  https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/ Please indicate your ability, availability and financial proposal/quote to complete the terms of reference above.

Rates must be submitted in the local currency and include all expenses related to the assignment (e.g. consultancy fee, travels, living allowance for field trips only).

Submission of proposals :

Interested persons will be required to submit the following documents :

1. A cover letter, CV and online consultants application form ;
2. Another letter, indicating monthly professional fees ;
3. The financial proposals of only those candidates, who are found technically responsive, will be opened ;
4. Please note, offers without financial proposal will not be considered ;
5.  Any attempt to unduly influence UNICEF selection process will lead to automatic disqualification of the applicant.

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 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.