WASH Consultant (Lessons Learnt Documentation)

WASH Consultant (Lessons Learnt Documentation)

Duty Station:  Office base-BCO / FO

Contract Duration:  November 2024 (35 days)

Number of Vacancies: 01

Contract Type: Contract with E-Zone.          

Contract Start Date:  Immediate

Reporting to: Cluster Coordinator-WASH in Emergency Specialist

A.    Purpose

The overall purpose of this consultancy is to assess the overall WASH-related  quality  of  response and  the  perceived  impacts  of  UNICEF’s anticipatory action on the communities who experienced monsoon flooding, with a particular focus on WASH, document lessons learnt and make recommendations for strengthening our anticipatory action.

B.    Background

Anticipatory actions aim at interrupting the severity of flood impacts on vulnerable households by targeting the populations most at risk. The targeting of populations through anticipatory action is therefore distinct and different from targeting for humanitarian response, which is determined by existing and contemporary needs.

Poor households in the northern Bangladesh are at risk of losing their lives, houses, latrines, water points, assets, food grains, and income from livestock because of lack of resources and means for mitigating the disaster impact through early actions in the event of flooding. They may also be forced to adopt negative coping strategies, skip meals, drink contaminated water, practice open defecation, compromise personal hygienic behavior, reduce food portions and eat lower quality food in the aftermath of the disaster. All these practices may have long-term impacts on communities, exacerbate susceptibility to future shocks and erode development gains.

Through anticipatory action, beneficiaries can better minimize the loss of life, household structures, assets, food grains, and income from livestock.

 Moreover, they can avoid negative coping mechanisms, reduce psycho-social stress, water borne diseases, and recover more rapidly and build resilience against future risks. Evidence also shows that early interventions are an effective way of curbing the deterioration of food security and reducing distress migration.

In this innovative approach, interventions have been selected based on various parameters rooted in the current operating environment, including agency capacity to deliver, ability to mitigate the impact of floods, and learning from past experiences.

Rationale for Anticipatory Action:

There is broad agreement within the international humanitarian sector to move from a largely responsive approach to an anticipatory approach that anticipates a disaster. Planning in advance for the next disaster includes putting the response plans and funding in place before a disaster and releasing the funds beforehand to quickly act to reduce the impact of a disaster, all of which can limit humanitarian needs. An anticipatory approach leads to a more effective, efficient, and dignified response. It also protects hard-won development gains.

Monsoon Flooding in Bangladesh:

Bangladesh is highly vulnerable to climate-related shocks and stresses, including monsoon flooding events. According to the government’s Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan, “in an ‘average’ year, approximately one quarter of the country is inundated.” Every four to five years, “there is a severe flood that may cover over 60% of the country.”

Approximately 80% of Bangladesh’s yearly rainfall occurs during the main monsoon season between June and October. Monsoon floods usually occur from March to September with peaks between June and September, although research shows that the monsoon season is moving earlier due to climate change. These floods have devastating humanitarian effects.

With the support of the Government, Bangladeshi society has developed a remarkable level of resilience and adaptation to seasonal flooding. However, in some years, flooding is more intense and surpasses the ability of communities to cope, leading to deaths and the destruction of key infrastructure, livelihoods and homes including WASH facilities. This in turn creates widespread humanitarian needs with longer term development consequences.

Project Description:

Bogra, Sirajganj, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Jamalpur in low lying areas near rivers are particularly vulnerable to monsoon flooding and have been earmarked for piloting of anticipatory action in the five districts based on in-country vulnerability analyses and past flood analyses (INFORM Risk Lesson learnt reports). Independent daily Dhaka Tribune reports that the United Nations Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) has disbursed $6.2 million to 400,000 vulnerable people in five districts of Jamuna basin through the anticipatory action initiative. This will support the most vulnerable families and mitigate the impact of the floods. The pre- arranged funds were provided to four UN agencies: The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and World Food Program (WFP) to reach people before the forecasted floods occur. By using early warning systems and scientific advances in disaster prediction, this CERF enabled implementing partners to reach 400,000

 people in the northern Bangladesh districts of Kurigram, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Bogra and Sirajganj, including 92,089 men, 127,290 women, 159,121 children and 6,045 people with disabilities before the flooding occurred.

Anticipatory Action Components:

The delivery of anticipatory action is time critical. Agencies have agreed to develop a common beneficiary database enabling the joint targeting of households so these may benefit from a comprehensive intervention. In addition, all agencies agree to work jointly on distribution and content of targeted early warning messages.

Given the short lead times, unconditional cash is a major component of the pilot. Bringing together the reach of WFP and Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS), some 78,000 vulnerable households will receive 4,500Taka (~US$53) each ahead of severe peak flooding either through mobile transfers (bKash) or the post office. In addition to cash, FAO will support 25,000 households with (1) animal feed at evacuation points and (2) with flood-proof storage of agricultural and productive assets (e.g. tools, seeds). UNICEF is complementing the anticipatory intervention with the provision of safe drinking water and early warning and hygiene promotion messaging to some 120,000 people through the distribution of jerricans, water purification tablets and a communication campaign. Also, through the deployment of ten mobile water treatment units at evacuation points, some 20,000 people will be able to access safe drinking water.

UNFPA-led interventions will reach more than 16,300 people: 9,688 women, adolescent girls and third gender / transgender will receive dignity and menstrual hygiene management kits. Safe delivery space will be made available to about 3,800 pregnant women. 20 newly trained midwives will support approximately 100 safe births. An additional health center will be equipped with the capacity for clinical management of over 50 rape cases, and up to 1,600 couples will benefit from receiving emergency family planning supplies.

In addition to cash, BDRCS through a sub-agreement with WFP, will provide additional evacuation support based on need, last mile early warning dissemination for 100,000 households and first aid support based on need of the people and households during the operations.

As one component of the anticipatory action, UNICEF will use its existing monitoring & evaluation systems to collect and track data on implementation progress and outputs achieved. All findings will be shared with OCHA. A set of questions are including:

·         Early warning system - are in place and functioning?

·         Preparedness capacity - which seems missing - preparedness with necessary resources /action plan;

·         Coordination & Collaboration - with related agencies at various levels / communication channels

·         Community engagement / community participation has the anticipatory action had any contribution on the survival or quality of life of the recipients, and if so, what was it?

·         Did the timing of the intervention make a difference?

·         How do the results of the anticipatory action compare with traditional responses in the past, which occur after the disaster?

·         Are there any multiplier or spillover effects?

·         What were the key challenges and lessons learnt from the anticipatory action implementation?

·         What key recommendations can be made for future interventions in anticipatory action?

C.    Objectives, Purpose and Expected Results 

The specific objectives of the Lessons Learnt Documentation of Anticipatory Action include:

1.      To assess the relevance (including timeliness, adequacy of data, consultation with local authorities and identification of target beneficiaries) of the anticipatory actions in terms of WASH specifically

2.      To determine the effectiveness of the anticipatory action in improving the affected communities’ ability to cope, reducing water borne diseases like diarrhea and destruction of key infrastructure including water points and latrines, livelihoods and homes in comparison with households receiving traditional support after the flooding.

3.      To understand whether the anticipatory action had any contribution on improving the recipient household’s quality of life during, immediately after, considering gender, age, and ability differences and documenting any spillover/ multiplier effects.

4.      To evaluate and document challenges, lessons learned and make recommendations for the improvement of anticipatory action in future emergencies.

The outcome from this lesson learnt and documentation will provide documentation and actionable recommendations to improve future anticipated action in this specific location of Bangladesh as well as possible applicability in other climate-affected and disaster-prone areas nationwide.

D.    Key Tasks and Responsibilities:

 Key Tasks:

The contractor will be responsible for carrying out the following key tasks:

·         Gather and review existing background documents, reports, data, guidelines and literature relevant to anticipatory action; and provide written overview in the final report.

·         Finalize methodology in collaboration with UNICEF SPEAR team.

·         Prepare training/ materials, implementation plans, and analysis frameworks.

·         Travel to affected areas to collect data and conduct interviews.

·         Based on the primary data, write the report with key findings and analysis.

·         Analyze data and present information from primary data collection as well as secondary data review and analysis of documents

·         Prepare presentation of key preliminary findings, lessons learned and recommendations for validation and refinement by beneficiaries and UNICEF.

·         Incorporate feedback from stakeholders and produce a visually appealing, digestible, draft and final report (25 pages max), summary report (10 pages) and accompanying PowerPoint and four (human interest) case studies.

E.    Deliverables:

Scope:

The scope of this lessons learnt documentation includes all 25,425 households (men, women, and children) across the five districts targeted for pilot anticipated action – Gaibandha, Kurigram, Sirajganj, Bogura and Jamalpur. The documentation will focus on UNICEF’s anticipated action (WASH specifically) not the full support provided by other agencies as well that collaborated in the pilot districts.

Methodology:

The methodology for this lesson learnt will be mixed methods and will involve literature review and secondary data analysis of monitoring data as well as primary data collection ex. KII and FGDs. Once the pilot has commenced, UNICEF staff (WASH Officers and Emergency Officers) will visit project sites regularly and conduct post distribution monitoring in cooperation with the Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE). This data will be focused on service provision and will be provided to the contractor for inclusion in the Lesson learnt analysis. The contractor will propose a detailed methodology for the primary data collection with beneficiaries (recipients) and anticipatory action implementing organizations along with UNICEF including Executive Engineer, Sub-Assistant Engineer of DPHE, Union Parishad representatives, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and District Commissioner (DC) and should include comparative data. The beneficiary sample should strive to be random but must be designed in light of the need for quick Lesson learnt findings and recommendations, and limited budget.

The contractor should anticipate a maximum of 15 days of data collection, 20 days of data analysis, validation workshop and report writing following the monsoon flooding. For safety and budgetary reasons, the contractor can suggest the Lesson learnt team with a number of people and roles. As a key result of this Lesson learnt focused on learning and improvement, the contractor will need to include beneficiaries in the validation of draft findings and formulation and refinement of recommendations for the future. In the proposal, the contractor should outline the anticipated risks and limitations and mitigation strategies for each.

Ethical and other considerations:

This Lesson learnt will be held to the highest standards employed by UNICEF. This means, the agency will abide by the following:

•   UNICEF Procedure for Ethical Standards in Research, Evaluation, Data Collection and Analysis and UNICEF Strategic Guidance Note on Institutionalizing Ethical Practice for UNICEF Research
• The contractor is expected to explain ethical considerations for the Lesson learnt, specifically spelling out how these above guidelines will be followed/met including training of data collectors in terms of guidance on ethics and communication skills.
•  Special focus should include ethical considerations/ strategies to prevent or avoid COVID-19 infection and spread.
•  Any sensitive issues or ethical concerns arising during implementation should be raised with UNICEF right away.
•  The final report should include a section that describes the exact way ethical considerations were identified and addressed as part of design, implementation, and analysis/writing.
• All data collected through this Lesson learnt as well as reports and dissemination materials are the intellectual properties of UNICEF and shall not be used for purposes other than those listed in the informed consent.
• Additionally, the Lesson learnt should be human and child rights-based and gender sensitive. All applicable data will be disaggregated by sex, age, and ability level.

The six main deliverables of this ToR are the following:

F. Payment

Payments for the contracted work will be executed in accordance with the following schedule:

• 30% of total fee upon submission and approval of the methodology.
• 30% of total fee upon submission and approval of the draft Lesson learnt report and validation workshop
• 40% total fee upon submission and approval of the final Lesson learnt report, accompanying PowerPoint Presentation and all final (English and Bangla) data collection tools and raw and analyzed data

G.    Administrative issues:

•         For timely payment by the HR service provider, the Supervisor will forward the certified attendance sheet and confirmation of received deliverables for the respective period.
•         Stationery and other office equipment will be borne by the community mobilizer.
•        The contractor/consultant will be responsible for paying all taxes as per government rules.

H.     Qualification requirement of UNICEF

Given the new anticipatory approach in 2024 Monsoon Flood, the contractor conducting this
Lesson learnt should have: 
• Master’s degree or equivalent academic degree in Public Health, Behavioral and other 
social sciences, Engineering, Industrial Design, Public Policy, International Development,
Business Administration, or another field relevant to international WASH related
development assistance, sanitation, hygiene or innovations.
• No less than 8 years of experience in programmed evaluation in monsoon flood context,
with an in- depth understanding of WASH interventions.
• No less than 8 years of experience in designing, planning, organizing, managing and
c o n d u c t i n g Lesson learns, with at least 4 years in humanitarian contexts or
emergencies.
• Demonstrated expertise in small- and large-scale qualitative and quantitative research
design, methodologies, data validation, analysis methods, and data quality assurance.
• At least 5 years of experience in monitoring and evaluation, preferably of humanitarian
programmed
• Experience with anticipatory action, preferably in South Asia
• Technical expertise and experience in applying gender equality and human rights,
including child rights to programming, monitoring and evaluation.
• Previous experience with UN agencies, large NGOs and Government
• Very strong communication and presentation skills with government and community
members
• Demonstrated experience of collecting data in the field on tablets using online platforms, 
telephonically, and other traditional and non-face-to-face modalities.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Bangla is required.
• Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of relevant policies and action plans of the
Government of Bangladesh is an asset.

I.    Desirable:

·         The lesson learned documentation consultant with number of people and roles (3-4 people) team leader and members.

·         Working language should be English and Bangla.

·         Master’s degree or equivalent academic degree in Public Health, Behavioural and other Social Sciences, Engineering, Public Policy, International Development, or another field relevant to international WASH related development assistance, sanitation, hygiene or innovations.

J.     Language Requirements :

·         Fluency in Bangla and good English communication skills are required.

This position is open for Bangladeshi Nationals only. All candidates, irrespective of gender, religious and ethnic backgrounds can apply for the vacancies.

The UN Agency prides itself as fostering a multicultural and harmonious work environment, guaranteed by a zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse, and on any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment and discrimination. All selected consultants will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Candidates with the required profile and proven experience, who meet these qualifications, are invited to submit their application in English clearly mentioning the Job Title along with a meaningful cover letter, updated CV, recent PP size photograph by uploading their application.

Last Date of Application: 1 September, 2024

No phone calls please. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. All applications will be treated according to the merit and with strict confidentiality.