GENERIC CONSULTANT ROSTER – WASH ENABLING ENVIRONMENT, SYSTEMS STRENGTHENING AND CLIMATE-RESILIENT WASH (ISLAMABAD, LAHORE, PESHAWAR, QUETTA, KARACHI) NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

The purpose of this Terms of Reference is to establish a Generic Consultant Roster of technically qualified individual consultants who can be considered for future specialized WASH consultancy assignments supporting UNICEF Pakistan's programme at national and provincial levels.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture., coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to play!

UNICEF Pakistan supports the Government of Pakistan and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector partners to strengthen the enabling environment, systems and institutional capacities required for sustainable, equitable and climate-resilient WASH services.

UNICEF's WASH programme focuses on WASH enabling environment, systems strengthening and climate-resilient WASH, including policy and strategy, regulation and standards, governance and institutional arrangements, sector coordination, capacity strengthening, monitoring and accountability, and climate-resilient WASH planning and programming.

To respond to periodic requirements for specialized technical expertise, UNICEF Pakistan intends to establish a Generic Consultant Roster (GCR) of pre-vetted individual consultants with relevant expertise in these areas. Rostered consultants may subsequently be considered for specific, temporary and deliverable-based assignments at national or provincial level.

Inclusion in the roster does not constitute a commitment or guarantee of engagement. Any subsequent consultancy will be subject to a specific approved ToR, availability of funding, appropriate selection and completion of applicable contracting and compliance requirements.

How can you make a difference? 

The individual consultant will provide specialized technical expertise in one or more of the following areas which apply to the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector and/or UNICEF programming where appropriate. Specific 'scope of work' will be defined through assignment-specific ToRs:

WASH Strategy, Policy, Planning and Regulation: Legislation, policy, strategy, planning, guidelines, standards and regulation and/or other policy instruments for WASH services.

WASH Financing and Project Development: Public, private and blended financing, including public financial management, budgeting, costing and project development.

WASH Institutional Arrangements and Accountability:  WASH institutional governance, accountability, and service delivery models for equitable and sustainable WASH services, rural and urban.

WASH Monitoring and Evaluation: Monitoring, evaluation, innovative digital tools and information management, survey and assessment design and development, indicator and result framework development, data collection and analysis, data quality assurance, data visualization, evidence generation and knowledge learning.

WASH Community Engagement and Social and Behaviour Change:  Social & behavioural diagnostics and design of evidence-based SBC and community engagement approaches to promote safe water, sanitation, hygiene and climate-resilient WASH practices.

Climate-Resilient WASH: Climate risk and vulnerability assessment, climate-resilient planning and design, application of the climate resilience frameworks, tools, standards, guidance and integration of climate resilience into WASH systems and programmes.

Consultants may be considered for one or more of the above areas based on their qualifications, technical specialization and demonstrated professional experience. 

APPROACH TO INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANCY ASSIGNMENTS

The Generic Consultant Roster is intended to facilitate access to specialized expertise for specific and clearly defined assignments. For each subsequent consultancy, UNICEF will develop an assignment-specific ToR, as appropriate, defining:

• the specific technical requirement and objective;
• scope of work and methodology;
• expected deliverables and outputs;
• timeframe and level of effort;
• location and travel requirements;
• applicable safeguarding and compliance requirements; and
• evaluation and financial arrangements.

A rostered consultant may therefore be engaged for one or more specific assignments within their demonstrated area(s) of expertise. The assignment-specific ToR will determine the consultant profile and expertise required for each engagement.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CONSULTANT

The consultant will:

1. Undertake the assigned consultancy in accordance with the approved ToR, agreed methodology and workplan.
2. Apply relevant technical knowledge, evidence, international good practices and applicable national/provincial frameworks.
3. Undertake the required analysis, assessments, consultations and technical work necessary to achieve the agreed outputs.
4. Prepare and submit agreed deliverables within the specified timeframe and incorporate consolidated technical feedback.
5. Maintain confidentiality of information and materials obtained during the assignment and comply with UNICEF's applicable policies, procedures and contractual requirements.

Consultants will use their own equipment and resources required to perform the assignment unless otherwise specified in the assignment-specific ToR. All technical products developed under a consultancy will be subject to the applicable UNICEF contractual provisions concerning ownership, confidentiality and use of materials.

INDICATIVE DELIVERABLES / OUTPUTS

The exact deliverables, timelines and level of effort will be defined in the ToR for each individual consultancy assignment. Depending on the nature of the assignment, indicative work assignments and outputs may include:

DURATION AND LOCATION

The roster will be valid for a period of three years. Inclusion in the roster does not guarantee engagement. Individual assignments may vary in duration, level of effort, location and modality, with travel requirements specified in the assignment-specific ToR.

Technical Evaluation Criteria:

• Academic qualifications and relevance to the area(s) of expertise.
• Demonstrated technical expertise in the roster area (to be scored individually in the categories in the TOR).
• Demonstrated experience in advising governments in the relevant areas.
• Written communication skills.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

Minimum requirements:

Candidates may apply for one or more roster areas based on their qualifications and expertise.

Education: 

• Advanced university degree in WASH, water resources, water engineering, environmental sciences/engineering, civil engineering, public health, health sciences, climate sciences, climate change, disaster risk management, natural resources management, development studies, international development, economics, social sciences, public policy, public administration, law, governance, institutional development, or another relevant discipline.

Required Experience:

• Minimum 10 years of relevant professional experience in one or more roster areas, including WASH policy and strategy, regulation and standards, governance and institutional strengthening, systems strengthening, sector planning and coordination, climate-resilient WASH, or development of WASH frameworks, guidelines, tools and knowledge products.
• Ability to translate technical analysis into practical recommendations;
• Experience developing technical reports, policies, frameworks, standards, guidelines, tools or knowledge products;
• Strong stakeholder engagement and facilitation skills; and
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work independently and deliver quality outputs within agreed timelines.

Language:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of Urdu and/or relevant provincial/local languages is an advantage.

Desirables:

• Experience with government, UN agencies, development partners or other WASH sector institutions is desirable.
• Experience working in Pakistan, especially with federal/ provincial authorities and/or communities is highly desirable.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. 

Remarks: 

• Candidates should submit 1) a CV, 2) a short cover letter, 3) 2 writing samples and one sample of a presentation (PPT or other) 4) three contacts for recent client/supervisor references.

• Applicants must submit a financial quotation indicating the consultant fee their daily rate. Direct costs will be determined according to assignment-specific TORs and paid according to actual costs or other negotiated direct costs.

• Travel may be required for selected assignments, including travel to provincial or field locations for technical assessments, stakeholder consultations, workshops, validation exercises or other approved activities.

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

• Consultant needs to produce a copy of their health insurance coverage at the time the contract is awarded.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Inclusion in the roster does not constitute a commitment or guarantee of engagement.
• Each consultancy will require a specific approved ToR, funding and completion of applicable selection, contracting and compliance requirements.
• Consultants may be included in one or more roster areas based on their qualifications and expertise.
• Consultants will be engaged in their individual capacity and subject to UNICEF's applicable contractual conditions, safeguarding and conflict-of-interest requirements.

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this role, eligible and suitable females, persons with disabilities and suitable candidates from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for a consultancy with UNICEF are required to obtain necessary clearances from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if necessary, requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.