REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP)) FOR THE PROVISION OF WATER POINT EXPLORATION SURVEY IN NIGERIA At Evidence Action

Project Background

Evidence Action is a 501(c)3 not for profit registered in Washington D.C. with a mission to scale evidence-based and cost-effective programs to reduce the burden of poverty. Evidence Action’s Safe Water programs currently provide over 9.8 million people, including over 1.3 million children under five, with access to safe drinking water. Across rural Kenya, Malawi, and Uganda, Evidence Action provides water treatment to areas not reached by municipal systems–and at no cost to users or their communities. As a result of these Safe Water programs, over 2.8 million cases of diarrhea among children under five are estimated to have been averted between 2015 and 2021. More information on Evidence Action can be obtained from the organization’s website at www.evidenceaction.org

One of Evidence Action’s newest initiatives is the expansion of its Safe Water programs, for which the organization has implemented a rigorous process to determine promising geographies. Through this process, Bauchi, Oyo, and Sokoto states (Nigeria) have been identified as geographies of interest for Safe Water programs due to factors such as 1) strong commitment from government and non-governmental actors; 2) variable access to safe water, particularly in rural communities; and 3) high mortality rates among children <5 years due to diarrheal disease.

To generate reliable estimates of the water point market size in the three states of interest, Evidence Action has developed a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) strategy for a Water Point Exploration activity to collect data on the number, location, and types of communal water points suitable for the organization’s Safe Water programs.

Water Point Exploration

Understanding the landscape and characteristics of communal water points at the aggregate level is a critical component with which Evidence Action can properly target and implement Safe Water programs in new contexts. The first step in garnering a better understanding of this information is the Water Point Exploration activity, through which a sample of communities in the three states of interest will be visited to collect information on water point numbers, locations, and types.

Therefore, the objectives of the Water Point Exploration activity are:

1. To estimate the total number and types of communal water points that are currently in operation in Bauchi, Oyo, and Sokoto states.
2. To understand the characteristics of communal water points, such as community size, water point type, and eligibility for Evidence Action’s Safe Water programs.
3. To estimate the proportion and types of existing water treatment schemes or practices at communal water points.
4. To evaluate the differences between rural and urban water points and their community structures.

We have developed an M&E framework for the Water Point Exploration activity, but plan to iterate on it with our data collection partners prior to the start of the activity

Objective of the RFP

Evidence Action seeks competitive bids for advisory and data collection services pertaining to the implementation of the Safe Water Expansion-Water Point Exploration activity in Bauchi, Oyo and Sokoto states in Nigeria.

Description of Services

Evidence Action is seeking to contract a monitoring and evaluation firm to provide input to and implement the surveys that will help the organization estimate the number and type of communal water points in the selected states in Nigeria. The survey results will further inform Evidence Action’s decision-making about the proportion and types of safe water interventions appropriate for each state.

While we have not finalized the scope of the activity, it will likely include the following phases:

• Stakeholder sensitization and water point nomination meetings: Within selected wards under the three states, trained enumeration staff will conduct meetings with community leaders, community health workers, water extension workers, and other community stakeholders to 1) garner support and approval to visit communities to survey communal water points; 2) collect the number and types of water points nominated by each community; and 3) compile a list of communities and water points to visit.
• Water point verification data collection: Trained enumeration staff will visit all communities with nominated water points to conduct a survey at each water point which incorporates observation- and interview-based components.
  • Observation: Water point source and type, infrastructure, functionality, and water turbidity, etc.
  • Interview (with community stakeholder): Water flow intermittency, water point ownership and management, existing treatment, community use, etc.
• Water quality testing at communal water points: At some water points, the water point verification survey will prompt enumeration staff to conduct water quality testing for the presence of chlorine and chemical contaminants (e.g., iron, lead, arsenic, etc.).

Evidence Action seeks to enter into an agreement with scopes of work to be developed as the need arises. Likely activities include:

1. Support for government approval for surveys
   1. Identify and provide information on the government approval process.
   2. Garner government approval for activity implementation.
2. Advisory services in the design of the activity and surveys
   1. Participate in discussion sessions with Evidence Action to finalize the scope and design of the Water Point Exploration activity.
   2. Provide written feedback and input on:
      1. Survey scope.
      2. Survey attributes (i.e., survey format, question content, consent and question wording, question flow, and question variety).
      3. Survey implementation guidelines (i.e., minimum standards and requirements for quality data collection), protocols, and training materials.
   3. Advise on the operational feasibility of the desired survey sampling and data collection methods.
   4. Estimate the cost and time implications of the activity scope and strategy.
   5. Identify and provide information on the local Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval process (if needed).
3. Procurement of all materials required for the surveys, including but not limited to:
   1. Materials for digital data collection using SurveyCTO, including mobile devices and/or tablets.
   2. Materials for field work and transportation.
   3. All materials needed for field chlorine testing and chemical testing (e.g., test strips, color discs, etc.) of water sources
4. Pilot testing of the survey (as needed) to identify areas of success and challenge before full survey roll-out
5. Implementation of the survey in Q1 of 2024

Evidence Action will select a representative sample of wards in the three states in which all communities and identified water points will be visited for surveys. Successful activity implementation of the Water Point Exploration activity will require the vendor to:

1. Identify and engage local stakeholders to garner approval for activity implementation.
2. Utilize survey tool(s) in Evidence Action’s Survey CTO platform for data collection.
3. Collaborate with Evidence Action to train enumeration staff to collect data using Survey CTO, as per survey implementation protocols.
4. Deploy enumeration staff to the sampled communities, and ensure sufficient supervision is in place.
5. Submit a field report highlighting observations, challenges, successes, and recommendations that could contribute to improved planning and execution of a similar activity in the future.

How to apply

CATEGORY NO; EAN/RFP/SWE/150823/04

CATEGORY DESCRIPTION; Provision of Water Point Exploration Survey in Nigeria

Interested and eligible firms can obtain a complete set of the request for proposal documents by requesting through the email address [email protected] . The documents must be submitted in pdf or soft copies through the email address above.

Your intention to bid is due by: August 21, 2023