WaterAid is an international non-for-profit organization dedicated to helping people break free from poverty and disease, unlock their potential and change their lives for good through improved access to clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene. WaterAid started its operation in Nigeria in 1995. Since then it has successfully executed several intervention programmes as outlined by its objectives and has made impact in the lives of the very poor. WaterAid with the country office in Abuja currently works in Bauchi, Enugu and Plateau States with funding from various donors and partners.
We are recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Title: Consultant – WASH Specialist
Location: Yobe
Job Type: Contract
Background
- The guiding principles of the sector Monitoring and Evaluation are development-oriented. It is to address key development priorities of government and its citizens, undertaken ethically with integrity, utilization-oriented, to advance government’s transparency and accountability, to undertake in a way that is inclusive, participatory and to promote learning. In addition, the desire to achieve sustainable results in the sector remains the driving force of the monitoring and evaluation framework. These results should be evidence-based that will inform decisions that will ensure sustained sector performance. Other benefits include:
- It allows practitioners to learn from each other’s experiences, building on expertise and knowledge;
- It often generates (written) reports that contribute to transparency and accountability, and allows for lessons to be shared more easily;
- It reveals mistakes and offers paths for learning and improvements;
- It provides a way to assess the crucial link between implementers and beneficiaries on the ground and decision-makers; and
- It provides a more robust basis for raising funds and influencing policy.
In Yobe State, the WASH policy which was signed by the state government in 2010 and reviewed in 2021 recognizes a framework for monitoring and evaluation that encompasses monitoring of water supply and sanitation coverage and evaluation of service delivery. In particular, the policy states as follows:
- The M&E division or unit in the Ministry of Water Resources shall be empowered to develop a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation arrangement that will help in assessing the performance of sector institutions as well as the effectiveness with which services are delivered.
- The state shall maintain a monitoring network for urban, Small Towns and rural water supply and sanitation systems.
- WASH department at LGA level shall develop M & E framework to receive data from the rural communities and be sent to the agencies concerned.
- Community participation in M&E shall be promoted in line with current best practices.
- The state shall maintain a water, sanitation and hygiene database/information management system based on the national framework for monitoring and evaluation.
- In the meantime, the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework for the Water Sector in the state has been under review since 2010, it was supported by EU funded Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Reform Programme (WSSSRP II). Unfortunately, the review was not concluded before the exit of WSSSRP II and a draft M&E document was therefore not operationalized.
- Meanwhile, the draft National Water Resources M&E framework has been reviewed, finalized and approved for implementation. The expectation from the FMWR to the Ministries responsible for water supply and sanitation service delivery in the states is to adapt the framework with state context, targets and operational modalities.
- In line with this, meetings were held between the M&E Officers in the MWR, RUWASA and the USAID supported ST WASH Activity on plans to domesticate the M&E framework. The outcome of the meeting was a consensus to commence the process of the domestication of M&E framework for Yobe state. The STWASH Activity will support this process by engaging a consultant who will facilitate the domestication process under the leadership of the State Ministry of Water Resources. With the development of a new WASH Policy for Yobe state, developing an M&E framework that will track the performance of the policy is desired.
- This consultancy is therefore to support the state Ministry of water resources together with agencies and departments under the ministry and in the WASH sector in the process of the domestication of the National M&E framework in Yobe state.
Main Objective of the Consultancy
- To support Yobe State Ministry of Water Resources together with agencies and departments under the ministry and in the WASH sector in the process of the domestication of the National M&E framework in Yobe. The M&E framework is expected to provide transparency and guidelines for tracking performance on improved service delivery in the WASH sector.
- Specific Tasks of the Consultancy
The specific objectives of the consultancy are:
- Carry out a review of the draft M&E framework developed by WSSSRP II in order to identify gaps compared to the current context in WASH and possible alignment with the National Water Resources M&E Framework.
- Carry out a quick review of the approved National M&E Framework with a view to understand the context upon which it was developed, identify areas that need to be domesticated to fit the Yobe state M&E situation.
- Use the M&E section in the Yobe state WASH Policy to apply recommended processes that the M&E Framework should contain.
- To ensure a coordinated approach to the conception, implementation and reviewing of all sector M&E processes leading to the required change in the water resources sector.
- Facilitate the linkage of Small Towns Agency / Unit data to National Water Information Management System (NAWIS) and WASHIMS so that basic M&E data of the small towns can be processed and feed into the National database for Water resources.
- Hold series of meetings with relevant stakeholder groups including the State Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs), organized private sector, the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Community Based Organizations (CBOs) with a view to generating areas of concern and interest that may impact on their businesses, operations, maintenance, funding and general organization of the WASH sector.
- Facilitate a 1day stakeholders workshop where the draft M&E Framework is shared with them for their inputs, corrections and concurrence before it is taken to high-level State forum for finalization.
- Ensure that all comments and inputs received through stakeholders’ consultative engagements align with current thinking and realities around WASH from a global perspective to a contextual national, State, LGA and community perspective.
- Facilitate necessary workshops and meetings with relevant and identified stakeholders with a view to elucidating and sharing information and securing their consent to all provisions of the Framework.
- Develop an implementation strategy and action plan that would be used to actualize the Yobe State M&E Framework
- Submit end of consultancy report.
Methodology/ Approach:
- The consultant is expected to submit a proposal for carrying out the assignment. The proposal should contain among other things:
- A brief description of global M&E issues, especially with the global SDG agenda
- Brief description of the National M&E Framework, identifying in specific terms what the issues are
- Narrow down to M&E Issues in the State.
- Justify the operationalization of the M&E for the revitalization of the WASH sector of the State
- Methodology for carrying out the assignment, stating key milestones to be delivered and how
- Propose a work plan for carrying out the assignment stating the number of days required for each identified activity with the cumulative days, including meetings, workshops, retreats, and final validation workshops
- Propose a budget for carrying out the assignment, including fees and other expenses that need to be covered in the course of carrying out the assignment.
- Any other thing the consultant may consider necessary for the successful delivery of the assignment.
Linkage with Performance Indicator:
- This activity will facilitate the achievement of the following STWASH Activity performance indicator number:10: Number of policies, laws, agreements, regulations, or investment agreements (public or private) that promote access to improved water.
Gender Consideration:
- During the implementation of this activity, engagement of stakeholders across the different spectrums, specifically with gender lens will be ensured. Women, children, the physically challenged and other vulnerable groups will be considered.
CARM Consideration:
- Awareness will be created on the community accountability and reporting matrix framework. Stakeholders will be made to know that they will need to report any critical or emergency complaint through the CARM channels.
Duration of the Assignment:
- This consultancy will be for 30 days for fees calculation based upon which he/she will propose a budget for delivering the assignment. The successful candidate will be invited for negotiation to finally agree on fees and the number of days if necessary.
Deliverables:
Inception Report:
This is a short report of updates and possible amendments to the methodology and work plan. Other issues to be included in the inception report are:
- Any updates or changes to the work plan and give reasons for such changes.
- A summary of progress made by the consultant.
- Confirm the methodology for carrying out the assignment.
- Any important issue which will affect negatively the completion or content of the study shall be illuminated and necessary actions prescribed.
- Propose outline and structure of the M&E Framework.
- A draft template of how the final report shall be delivered under various headings.
Mid-point check-in meeting:
- Details on the progress of the consultancy will be discussed on a timely basis.
Powerpoint Presentation:
- Powerpoint presentation summarising the M&E framework and report of development should be used as a de-brief on the consultancy.
Final Report:
- The final report of the assignment, and the final domesticated M&E framework for the state. All scheduled reports will be submitted as soft copies in editable formats in Arial type font, size 12.
Staffing Requirement:
- This is a senior level individual consultancy. If the consultant however proposes to have an assistant to support him/her in carrying out the assignment, it should be considered in the workplan and budget of the consultant.
Qualification and Skills
- The proposed Consultant should have at least a Bachelor’s Degree in at least one of the following: Development Studies & Policy Strategy, Public Administration, Political Science, Statistics, Tests & Measurements, or other related disciplines, with vast knowledge of performance monitoring of the WASH issues globally and the Nigerian WASH sector in particular. A Post-Graduate Master’s degree will be an added advantage.
General Professional Experience:
- A minimum of 3 years post qualification experience in Policy and Regulatory Framework Development, Performance Management design, Partnership Agreement Drafting, Public-Private-Partnership Development & Modelling, development of Public Policy and Strategies at senior management level is required.
Specific professional experience:
- At least 3 years’ experience in the WASH Sector reform process with adequate knowledge of policy, institutional structure, regulatory framework including private sector engagement and PPP Agreement drafting.
- Must also be proficient in the use of the English language and computer skills, especially in MS Office.
- It will be of advantage if the consultant is resident in and familiar with the North-Eastern region.
- Fluency in spoken Hausa language will also be an advantage.
Application Closing Date
19th August, 2021.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should submit their proposals detailing their methodology, work plan, budget and updated CV to: [email protected] using the Job Title as the subject of the mail.
