CHARITY JOBS IN AFRICA

Organization: Concern Worldwide
Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Closing date: 10 Jan 2015

DRC WASH Consortium: Terms of Reference for operational research on improving access to drinking water through “Small Doable Actions” in DRC

1. Summary

The DRC WASH Consortium which is comprised of five agencies, Action Against Hunger (ACF); Agence d'aide à la Coopération Technique et au Développement (ACTED); Catholic Relief Services (CRS); Concern Worldwide (as lead agency) and Solidarités International, seeks a consultant or team of consultants to:

1. Review the “Small Doable Actions” for improving access to drinking water for rural households promoted by the Consortium so far, such as basic household water treatment (e.g. boiling or SODIS) and local improvements to existing sources (e.g. protecting springs with bamboo ‘pipes’), which do not require an external hardware subsidy.
2. Assess the relevance of other existing approaches in DRC and internationally for improving access to drinking water for the most vulnerable populations which represent alternatives to the options defined as “improved sources” by the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme.^[1] These alternative options should also be potential “Small Doable Actions” for communities which may include:
3. Household water treatment options such as boiling, SODIS, filtration and chlorination.
4. ‘Self-supply’ options where household or small groups of households improve or develop their own water points such as improved traditional wells, rope pumps and rainwater harvesting (some of these options may meet JMP standards).
5. Delivery options such as a cart with a small tank or drum.
6. Local improvements to existing sources such as protecting springs with bamboo ‘pipes’.
7. Additional options for improving hygienic transport and storage of water.
8. Pilot, test and market the most promising options identified through a participatory approach with users in key intervention sites of the Consortium, starting in January 2015.
9. Estimate the Value For Money of the different options reviewed and piloted (cost-benefit analysis and cost effectiveness) and make recommendations based on this to the Consortium and the programme donor (DFID) that can be applied from July 2015 to June 2017 and beyond.

This operational research recognises that technical options for improving access to drinking water exist which provide an improved service to the user (in terms of quality, quantity, reliability or accessibility) even if they do not necessarily confirm to the definition of “improved sources” according to the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme. In some contexts the option of a communal improved source may not be feasible or desired in terms of local management, technical and financial capacity to maintain the water point in the long-term. This can apply especially in extremely small, isolated and/or vulnerable communities, which are typical in rural DRC, or communities which already have access to sufficient quantity of water (e.g. next to a river) and therefore may not be willing to pay for services from a communal improved water point. This consultancy seeks to identify the most promising alternative options for piloting in the Consortium programme in rural DRC.

2. Background to WASH in DRC and the Consortium

Despite the country’s relative wealth in terms of water resources, access to clean drinking water in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) remains low. Based on current trends, the DRC will miss the water target under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to halve by 2015 the proportion of its population without sustainable access to safe drinking water. The water and sanitation sector is also in a state of change amidst ongoing reforms relating to decentralisation and the implementation of new laws such as the Water Code, while implementation capacity at all levels remains weak.

In this context, the DRC WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) Consortium is working to increase the coverage of sustainable water and sanitation provision and hygiene behaviour in rural areas of DRC. The Consortium is funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) through a grant of £23.9m from 2013-2017 as part of DFID’s 2013-2019 WASH programme in DRC.

In total, the DRC WASH Consortium aims to support 461 villages and 554,122 beneficiaries in up to 17 health zones in rural DRC through a 12-step process which lasts eighteen months in each village, followed by additional monitoring and evaluation for a further six months. Programme activities include the promotion of good hygiene behaviours through “Small Doable Actions”, support to the construction of household and institutional latrines, and (where judged technically and economically feasible for long-term sustainability) the development of water points such as spring protections, protected wells, and boreholes. The Consortium also works with local health services, local authorities, the private sector and civil society to develop their capacity to support communities and promote the sustainability of WASH services. The Consortium aims to use its experiences, innovation and research to produce and disseminate evidence for sustainable, community based solutions to WASH needs in the DRC.

• For more background on the DRC WASH context, see Annex A.
• Full details on the Consortium’s Theory of Change are included in Annex B.
• The Consortium’s 9-point strategy and 12-step process are summarised in Annex C (note that the 12-step process is currently being revised and the detailed new version will be available in January 2015).
• The full logical framework is included in Annex D, with baseline data from the first phase.
• A map of the Consortium’s areas of intervention is included in Annex E.
• Role of the consultancy in the context of the Consortium programme

The approach of the DRC WASH Consortium is designed to be flexible enough to integrate learning during the programme in line with the need for adaptive programming expressed by DFID and others,^[2] especially if evidence produced shows that parts of the original Theory of Change may not be valid.

The programme therefore proceeds in a sequence of different phases of villages and conducts additional research and innovation projects to enable learning to be fed back into the programme. During the first two years of the programme, extra information becomes available from:

• Field experiences and results from the completion of the first phase of villages (Sept 2013 – Feb-March 2015) and ongoing experiences from the second and third phases (in progress between April 2014 – Oct 2015). The fourth phase of villages is due to start in July 2015.
• Research projects on: spare parts and supply chains for handpumps; community mobilisation and behaviour change.
• Innovation projects on: preparation and rapid response for cholera outbreaks; WASH mapping.
• Sharing of experiences with other sector actors through six-monthly Technical Reviews.

Key developments to the programme approach so far include:

• More detailed development of an economic approach to better define, estimate and measure life-cycle costs and first steps in using this information as part of informed decision-making for investment in drinking water infrastructure.
• Revision of the selection process for intervention areas and villages to increase the likelihood of success given the extremely challenging context in rural DRC.
• Initial review of the Consortium’s approach to community mobilisation and behaviour change.

This consultancy forms part of the operational research component of the Consortium to enable learning from the first phases of the programme to feed into the ongoing second and third phases and the fourth phase which is due to start in July 2015.

4. Objectives of the consultancy

Note: although the focus of this research is on the national norm of “access to drinking water”, the research will require collaboration with others (either Consortium staff or consultants) who are developing approaches for promoting and monitoring “Small Doable Actions” relating to the 6 other norms defined by the national programme “Villages Assainis” (on sanitation, hygiene and community mobilisation) in order to ensure a comprehensive and consistent approach.

1. Review the “Small Doable Actions” for improving access to drinking water for rural households promoted by the Consortium so far, such as basic household water treatment (e.g. boiling or SODIS) and local improvements to existing sources (e.g. protecting springs with bamboo ‘pipes’), which do not require an external hardware subsidy. This review should include:
2. User perceptions of improved services in terms of quality, quantity, reliability or accessibility, as well as their ideas for other options to be tested.
3. Additional external assessment of results in terms of water quality.
4. Estimates of the life-cycle costs of these options and user willingness to pay.
5. Estimates of the cost-benefit analysis and cost-effectiveness of these options.
6. Feasibility for large scale promotion of these options by village committees or other leaders, local health services and NGOs, including the local availability of the materials required.
7. Assess the relevance of other existing approaches in DRC and internationally for improving access to drinking water for the most vulnerable populations which represent alternatives to the options defined as “improved sources” by the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme.^[3] These alternative options should also be potential “Small Doable Actions” for communities which may include the following. The assessment should evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each option in the context of the different areas of intervention of the Consortium in DRC, including the views of potential users (to identify the most promising options for more detailed testing as part of Objective 3).
8. Household water treatment options such as boiling, SODIS, filtration and chlorination.
9. ‘Self-supply’ options where household or small groups of households improve or develop their own water points such as improved traditional wells, rope pumps and rainwater harvesting (some of these options may meet JMP standards).
10. Delivery options such as a cart with a small tank or drum.
11. Local improvements to existing sources such as protecting springs with bamboo ‘pipes’.
12. Additional options for improving hygienic transport and storage of water.
13. Pilot, test and market the most promising options identified with users in key intervention sites of the Consortium, starting in January 2015.
14. ‘Market test’ the most promising options from the Consortium, DRC and internationally through piloting and rapid user feedback.
15. Set up a longer term strategy for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of these options throughout the rest of the Consortium programme.
16. Estimate the Value For Money of the different options reviewed and piloted (cost-benefit analysis and cost effectiveness analysis) and make recommendations based on this to the Consortium and the programme donor (DFID) that can be applied from July 2015 to June 2017 and beyond.
17. Develop a concept note and support the writing of a funding proposal for attracting suitable additional funding to integrate these recommendations into the programme.
18. Outline methodology and timetable

The operational research should be completed during the period Jan-March 2015.

The detailed methodology will be developed by the consultant and approved by Concern Worldwide. The methodology must uphold DFID’s ethical principles for research and evaluation. At a minimum, theoperational research should draw on:

• Reports on previous research projects (spare parts and supply chains for handpumps; community mobilisation and behaviour change; climate and environment assessment).
• Interviews / workshops with key internal and external stakeholders in Kinshasa.
• Fieldwork in at least two different areas of intervention, ideally more, including the views of direct programme participants.

Note that field visits to project sites typically require at least a week per project site including travel time (e.g. 2-4 days travel + 3-5 days at or near the project site).

Other key events to be considered as part of the timetable include:

• The Consortium’s six-monthly external Technical Review in mid-March 2015 (date TBC). The consultant will present the recommendations from the research as part of this workshop.
• Expected products
• Draft methodology as part of proposal.
• Inception report and final methodology for approval after XX days of the contract (to be agreed).
• Preliminary presentation of findings and proposed structure of final report for feedback in country, including presentation during the external Technical Review in March 2015.
• Draft ‘catalogue’ / ‘how-to guide’ of the most promising options which is suitable for dissemination in communities (the consultant is responsible for drafting the technical content of this material; additional support will be available for final editing, formatting and graphics).
• Final report, including:

o Stand-alone executive summary of 2-4 pages (in English and in French), which highlights the key lessons learned and key recommendations. (This will be used by the Consortium as the basis for a briefing note for the sector).

o Specific list of recommendations at different levels (strategic, programmatic, operational) targeted to different groups.

o Annex of all data, references and analyses undertaken.

• Concept note for seeking future funding for the recommended options.
• Skills and experience of the consultant

Note: The DRC WASH Consortium expects to engage one consultant for this operational research (international or local). However, the consultant may be required to collaborate with other local consultants and staff engaged by the member NGOs of the Consortium to ensure effective learning across other field sites in addition to those where the consultant conducts fieldwork directly. The details of this collaboration will be discussed as part of the contract negotiation.

Essential

• Relevant academic and professional background in rural development and WASH, including experience in fragile states.
• Technical knowledge and experience of promoting household water treatment options; ‘self-supply’ options where household or small groups of households improve or develop their own water points; and other ‘alternative options’ for improving access to drinking water.
• Experience in approaches for community mobilisation, social marketing and behaviour change.
• Knowledge of water quality testing.
• Excellent communication and report-writing skills in English.
• Ability to speak French.
• Willingness and ability to work long hours in a difficult environment.

Desirable

• Experience in DRC.

7. Management, reporting and quality assurance arrangements

The consultant will be contracted by Concern Worldwide as the lead agency of the DRC WASH Consortium and will report to the Consortium Director and the Consortium WASH & M+E Coordinator. To ensure quality, the timing of payments will be made according to the delivery of key outputs, to be agreed in the contract. The inception report and final methodology will be approved by Concern Worldwide before proceeding to detailed fieldwork. The proposed structure and contents of the final report will be approved by Concern Worldwide before proceeding to the completion of the final report.

8. Expressions of interest and enquiries

Please submit an Expression of Interest by January 9^th 2015toemily.bradley@concern.net outlining exact availability in line with the approximate timeline. The expression of interest should contain: (a) a technical offer and (b) a financial offer, comprising:

A. Technical offer:

· Up to date CV of the consultant explaining how the consultant meets the skills and experience required.

· Technical proposition detailing proposed methodology and resources needed (max 3 pages).

· At least one example of similar work undertaken.

B. Financial offer:

· A list of all expenses expected to be incurred by the consultant(s) including a daily rate.

· Costs of transport in-country and accommodation while on field visits outside Kinshasa will be covered directly by the Consortium and should not be included.

The following additional information is available in the Annexes to this TOR:

· Annex A – Context of WASH in DRC

· Annex B – The Consortium’s Theory of Change

· Annex C – The Consortium’s original 9-point strategy and 12-step process

· Annex D – Logical Framework with baseline data for Phase 1

· Annex E – Map of the Consortium’s Area of Intervention.

Please contact emily.bradley@concern.net for all queries.

[1] See: http://www.wssinfo.org/definitions-methods/watsan-categories/

[2]DFID’s 2013 “end to end review” of programming (led by the Deputy Head of DFID DRC at the time) concluded that the conventional approach to programme management needs to change and that programmes need to be flexible to adapt to changing realities and emerging opportunities (for more info see presentation by Pete Vowles on Adaptive Progamming at “Hard to Measure Benefits” workshop at DFID in London, October 2013).

[3] See: http://www.wssinfo.org/definitions-methods/watsan-categories/

How to apply:

Applications should be made by sending a copy of your CV to emily.bradley@concern.net.