Re-advertisement - National Consultant (Documentation and Systematization of CLTS Experience in Afghanistan)

The aim of the consultancy is to document and systematize the Afghan CLTS experience and story, highlighting the key aspects that make it unique and successful, considering the context. This will include the main achievements, the specific adaptations of CLTS methodology to the Afghan context, the challenges encountered so far and how these have been addressed, etc. This work will finally contribute to strengthen the way forward of the process, and to make CLTS in the country a successful story, significantly contributing towards achieving an Open Defecation Free Afghanistan by 2025. To do this, an important amount of documentation from UNICEF, its partners, MRRD and all the other partners involved, will have to be considered and carefully analyzed (secondary information). At the same time, all the stakeholders that have been engaged since the beginning of the “CLTS journey” in Afghanistan, will be actively involved to collect all the relevant information and data (primary information). A specific methodology, including ad-hoc tools for the consultations (i.e. interviews, focal group discussions, etc.) will be developed by the consultant in close coordination with UNICEF Afghanistan. This will be part of the inception phase, in which all the detailed methodology for the elaboration of the study will be developed and agreed.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, a healthy environment

Clean water, basic toilets and good hygiene practices are essential to the survival and development of children. In Afghanistan, diarrheal diseases are the second most common cause of death for children under the age of five, after acute respiratory infections.

One of the most effective ways to save children’s lives is by teaching them proper hygiene practices – especially regular hand washing with water and soap – and guaranteeing them clean drinking water and adequate sanitation. Without these, children can suffer from diarrhea and stunting (which means low weight for age and delayed cerebral development). In Afghanistan, two out of five young children are stunted. 

More than 65 per cent of Afghans have clean drinking water through ‘improved drinking water sources’ that are protected from outside contamination – a marked progress from a decade ago when drinking water reached only 20 per cent of people. However, although a little more than 80 per cent of families have toilets or latrines, only about 40 per cent are improved and safe – meaning they hygienically separate human waste from human contact.

Open defecation continues to be a dangerous challenge in Afghanistan because human waste near waterways and living environments spreads diseases quickly and puts children and their families at risk. 

For more information, please visit our website: https://www.unicef.org/afghanistan/wash-water-sanitation-and-hygiene

How can you make a difference?

The aim of the consultancy is to document and systematize the Afghan CLTS experience and story, highlighting the key aspects that make it unique and successful, considering the context. This will include the main achievements, the specific adaptations of CLTS methodology to the Afghan context, the challenges encountered so far and how these have been addressed, etc.  This work will finally contribute to strengthen the way forward of the process, and to make CLTS in the country a successful story, significantly contributing towards achieving an Open Defecation Free Afghanistan by 2025.

To do this, an important amount of documentation from UNICEF, its partners, MRRD and all the other partners involved, will have to be considered and carefully analyzed (secondary information).  At the same time, all the stakeholders that have been engaged since the beginning of the “CLTS journey” in Afghanistan, will be actively involved to collect all the relevant information and data (primary information). A specific methodology, including ad-hoc tools for the consultations (i.e. interviews, focal group discussions, etc.) will be developed by the consultant in close coordination with UNICEF Afghanistan. This will be part of the inception phase, in which all the detailed methodology for the elaboration of the study will be developed and agreed.

Potential areas to document

The CLTS in Afghanistan has a number of unique and possibly appealing attributes which are considered worth for a detailed documentation and systematization. This will allow UNICEF Afghanistan to share with other partners and countries its experience. Being a country in conflict with specific historical, geographic, social and cultural nuances, the country can represent a valuable experience and lessons for other countries and people who may live in similar situations and contexts.

Following are some of the nuances that could be included in the documentation and share widely, being potentially of interest to many:

Very high coverage of exiting latrines / toilets: As mentioned earlier, the Afghan people has been using toilets for centuries, therefore the toilets (or latrines) coverage in the country reaches up to 85%. That’s why the ODF protocol in the country not only includes new toilets by people but also having people to improve their existing toilets if not improved. This might be a different situation from many south Asian countries where use of toilets has not been part of the local traditions.

Harsh Geography:  Afghanistan, located in south and central Asia, has a very harsh geography which encompass deserts, mountains and plain land. When it comes to climate, the country has areas where the weather gets either very cold or hot. The central highlands and northeast is highly mountainous and have cold weather and snow during almost half of the year. On the other hand, south and east has warm and dry weather. Implementing CLTS in various geographical locations and climates require different programming approaches and could produce the results in different ways.

Insecurity and conflict: Afghanistan has been overwhelmed by war and conflict for almost four decades. Due to prolonged war, many people migrated outside, especially in neighboring countries, and many more have been internally displaced. Significant number of migrants have returned over the last 5 years. It is evident from the field observation that many of the returnees have also acquired safe sanitation and hygiene behaviors. Likewise, people moving from conflict-affected rural areas to urban or peri-urban settings has also some positive exposure to hygiene practices. It is very likely that there are numerous negative impact of insecurity and conflict in hygiene and sanitation practices as well, e.g. none-functional market leading lack of access to hygiene and latrine materials.  Being in conflict for such a long time, the population of Afghanistan seem to have also developed some resiliency to cope with the situation and move ahead.  Hence, it is also important to document the nuances in sanitation and hygiene linked to insecurity and conflict.

Deliverables/Outputs:

1) Inception phase:

1. Review of existing secondary information, from all stakeholders involved in CLTS journey in Afghanistan (provided by UNICEF).
2. Definition of the stakeholders to be involved in the study as key informants, in coordination with UNICEF.
3. Development of the final structure of the study.
4. Development of the tools to be used for the collection of the primary information, in close coordination with UNICEF (key informant interviews and focal group discussion templates, etc.).

Timeframe: 15 working days

Payment Schedule: 20 %

2) Field work and draft report:

1. Conduct the planned interviews and focal group discussions, with key informants in Kabul and in (at least) 3 different locations (Provinces/regions).
2. Develop the first draft of the study report, to be presented to UNICEF for review and inputs.

Timeframe: 20 working days

Payment Schedule: 40 %

3) Final report:

1. Review the study report and make the suggested changes, to produce the second draft to be submitted to UNICEF.
2. Receive the final comments and inputs from UNICEF (CO and RO) and elaborate the final study report.

Timeframe: 10 working days

Payment Schedule: 20 %

4) KM products:

1. Develop one Technical Paper, one Field Note, one Factsheets and 2 human interest stories, in coordination with ROSA.

Timeframe: 15 working days

Payment Schedule: 20 %

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

Education:

• Master's degree in public health, hydrogeology, or any related discipline is required.
• A Bachelor's degree with two additional years of relevant work experience is acceptable in lieu of a master degree.

Experience and Skills:

• A minimum of five years’ experience in the WASH sector, related with management of water and sanitation programmes in developing countries is required.
• Experience in editing and writing on different topics related to the WASH sector and social science.
• Excellent writing skills in English and demonstrated record of high quality publications on WASH, social science and development issues.
• Knowledge and demonstrated experience of review, editing, report writing and proofreading.
• Previous experience editing and writing for UNICEF and familiarity with UNICEF’s style guidelines would be an asset.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Familiarity with Community Approaches for Total Sanitation.