Consultancy: SWA 2020 High Level Meeting: Scoping Paper and Concept Note, SWA Secretariat, OED - NYHQ, Requisition #523247

SWA 2020 High Level Meeting: Scoping Paper and Concept Note

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Background & Rationale

Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) is a global partnership with over 200 partners including national governments, donors, civil society organizations, private sector organisations and other development partners, working together to increase political commitment to water, sanitation and hygiene, and to strengthen mutual accountability and effectiveness within the sector. The goal of SWA, as defined in its current strategy (2016-2020), is sanitation, water and hygiene for all, always and everywhere.        

SWA is sharply increasing its in-country focus on collaboration and mutual accountability, reflecting that the ultimate accountability for achieving SDG targets lies with national governments, supported by a range of development partners. There is also growing recognition that to accelerate access in line with the ambition of the SDGs, the sector needs to do much more to reach out to and mobilize political leaders (including Ministers of Finance, as well as Sector ministers) and to better use existing resources, but also attract an increasing volume of domestic funding from commercial as well as public sources, moving from a focus on projects and programmes to longer-term strategic investments in system strengthening.  

Following SWA’s Sector Minister’s Meeting in Costa Rica in April 2019, which focused on leave no one behind and elimination inequalities in water, sanitation and hygiene, the partnership is preparing for its next set of High-Level Meetings. Based on current thinking, these are likely to include:

1. A finance ministers meeting (FMM) on water and sanitation, co-convened by the World Bank and SWA, hosted by the World Bank, as part of the official agenda the World Bank’s Spring Meetings in Washington DC, in April 2019.
2. If confirmed: Associated with the Finance Ministers meeting (and held just after or before it), a mini Sector Ministers Meeting (mini-SMM) of selected Sector Ministers, focusing on one or more aspects of sector finance.
3. As an alternative to (2), it may be possible to include a small number of Sector Ministers in the FMM – the resulting dialogue may add to the quality and impact of the meeting, without overloading the SWA Secretariat in terms of organizing the event.  

To meet these requirements, SWA requires the services of an individual consultant with an in-depth understanding of the sector, sector finance, and the likely needs and expectations of both sector and finance ministers. An understanding of the structure, objectives and work of its Water Global Practice would be useful.

Purpose

The purpose of this consultancy is to scope out options for the 2020 High Level Meetings (i.e. the FMM and a possible SMM that might be associated with it), and to develop a related concept note.  

Expected results: (measurable results)

Advice on the scope, objectives, format and content of the FMM and the mini-SMM that may be associated with this. Working closely with the Task Team, the consultant is expected to produce:

1. Scoping paper (3-4pages). An initial scoping paper, setting out possible options and objectives for the FMM and the potential and objectives for a complementary mini-SMM. The scoping paper will include an assessment of advantages and disadvantages of the options proposed and a recommended way forward. The paper will be shared with the FMM Task Team by the first week of July. If necessary, key decisions will be referred back to SWA’s Steering Committee. 

1. Initial Concept Note for FMM (10-15 pages). Informed by the feedback received, the consultant will go on to develop an initial concept note, describing the context, objectives, format, participation, structure and core content for the FMM and mini-SMM (this assumes that the SC has agreed that there will be a mini-SMM in 2020), and the focus of in-country preparation.  The initial concept note will be finalised by the consultant after it has been presented to SWA’s Steering Committee’s virtual meeting in September 2019. 
2. Final concept note for FMM (10-15 pages): To be confirmed: the consultant will present the concept for the FMM to a reference group including 4-6 Finance Ministers during the World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington DC in October 2019.  Based on the feedback received the consultant will finalise the concept note by 31 October.

Duty Station : The consultant will work remotely, with some international travel (see below)

Timeframe

Start date: 15 June, 2019                     
End date: 31 October, 2019

This consultancy may be extended (by both time and cost) to support the further development or review of materials related to the HLM, subject to mutual agreement.

Key competences & experience   

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in international development, public administration, business administration or relevant social sciences;
• SWA requires the services of a senior international consultant with at least 15 years of relevant experience in the water and sanitation sector, in particular in the area of policy, planning and sector finance and the context of developing countries progressing towards SDG 6 targets. 
• Very strong interpersonal, negotiating and communication skills, as well as flexibility and ability to work with a decentralised secretariat and partners. first language should be English. a second UN language is desirable but is not critical.     
• Knowledge of world bank / water global practice culture, relationships and programming desirable.
• Experience in coordinating work of multiple actors at the global and regional level, including government representatives, UN agencies, CSOs, etc;
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment and commitment
• Excellent communication skills
• The consultant must declare any potential conflict of interest that could potentially arise from undertaking this work.

Please indicate your ability, availability and daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above (including travel and daily subsistence allowance, if applicable). Applications submitted without a daily/monthly rate will not be considered.

Remarks

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.  

At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.

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

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at : Here

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.