Individual consultancy to support monitoring of borehole rehabilitation and Covid-19 preparedness of selected schools through access to safe water and hygiene enabling facilities.

UNICEF Zimbabwe is seeking to hire an innovative Individual Consultant to support monitoring of borehole rehabilitation and Covid-19 preparedness of selected schools through access to safe water and hygiene enabling facilities.

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.

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UNICEF has been operating in Zimbabwe since 1982. We are a team of passionate professionals committed to the protection and fulfillment of children’s rights. 

The current UNICEF-Government of Zimbabwe Country Programme of Cooperation (2016-2020) aims to support Zimbabwe to sustain and build upon the gains achieved for children during the 2012-2015 Country Programme of Cooperation. The programme focuses on improving the quality of social services, increasing access to services, and helping to build national and sub-national capacities to provide low-cost, high-impact interventions for all children, especially the most vulnerable.

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UNICEF Zimbabwe is seeking to hire an innovative Individual Consultant to support monitoring of borehole rehabilitation and Covid-19 preparedness of selected schools through access to safe water and hygiene enabling facilities.

Consultancy Terms of Reference 

Objectives

 Overall objectives

• Provision of technical support to schools and monitoring correct rehabilitation of their water sources such as boreholes and wells and restoration/rehabilitation of WASH infrastructure in schools.
• To provide quality assurance in the utilization of SIG funding for WASH outcomes making sure funds have been used according to the agreed criteria. that will lead to preparedness against Covid-19 in schools ahead of schools opening.
• To enhance local capacities in water and personal hygiene management in selected schools.
• To provide a final detailed report on schools monitored and provide recommendation for improving this modality.

BACKGROUND

The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) which is raking havoc the world over was declared a global pandemic on the 11th of March 2020. As a result, there was a need for rigorous infection prevention and control practices in healthcare facilities and other high-risk congregate settings, including schools. This led to the early closure of schools, colleges, and universities on the 24th of March 2020 in Zimbabwe. In this light, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is currently seized with preparations for the “back to school” program to enable learners to resume their classes during this COVID-19 era. Public Exam classes (grade 7, form 4 and Form 6) have gone back to school to continue learning and prepare to write exams before the end of 2020. 

The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is planning a phased approached for getting learners back to schools. A key pre-requisite for re-opening for all schools is having access to water. MoPSE has also developed a checklist for schools readiness for re-opening, where progress on availability of water is being monitored.

The planned phased approach for returning to school enables the Ministry to assess the prevailing situation with regards to the behavior of the pandemic and its risks before the next group of learners is introduced. There is need to fully prepare to receive learners safely and this includes preparation of physical space for learners, PPEs, provision of hygiene facilities and social distancing consideration.  all learners are to be in school by 9 November.

To ensure the safety of learners and teachers when schools open, the following must be met:

2.1  Promotion of best hand-washing and hygiene facilities (clean source of water, soap, hand washing stations, and buckets)

2.2  Provision of information on how best learners can protect themselves, Information Education Communication (IEC) materials.

2.3  Disinfecting and cleaning of school buildings including water and sanitary facilities 3 times from August to December 2020)

2.4  Increasing airflow and ventilation in all buildings.

With funding from the Global Partnership for Education, UNICEF with approval from MoPSE has distributed USD$3,000 to 950 schools to rehabilitate their water source to ensure access of water within the school premise.  With this fund, the schools are to fix their broken pumps, fix any other problem that is preventing the access to water source.

For schools receiving this fund, a utilization criteria for Emergency WASH School Improvement Grant has been developed as follows:

In order to implement Emergency WASH SIG, MoPSE together with UNICEF agreed on a set of eligible and ineligible items. Emergency WASH SIG is to be used to support the WASH aspects at the School that are consistent with the utilization criteria (set out below).  Schools to be guided by the general comments provided for each component for quality assurance. Every expenditure is subject to approval by DSI.

Hand washing with soap or a chlorine based solution has been identified as a critical life saving intervention in the fight against Covid-19 and restoring access to water for the targeted schools will go a long way in improving the preparedness of schools against the pandemic. In the planned utilization of funds under the SIG modality, the schools will need WASH technical backstopping and there is need to engage a technical consultant to guide the schools in the technical implementation.  MoPSE therefore seeks a suitably qualified and experienced consultant to provide quality assurance services for WASH in Schools during the restoration and construction of WASH facilities.

Objectives

Overall objectives

• Provision of technical support to schools and monitoring correct rehabilitation of their water sources such as boreholes and wells and restoration/rehabilitation of WASH infrastructure in schools.
• To provide quality assurance in the utilization of SIG funding for WASH outcomes making sure funds have been used according to the agreed criteria. that will lead to preparedness against Covid-19 in schools ahead of schools opening.
• To enhance local capacities in water and personal hygiene management in selected schools.
• To provide a final detailed report on schools monitored and provide recommendation for improving this modality.

Utilization criteria for Emergency WASH School Improvement Grant

*Note the following

• Pre-delivery inspection by government is prerequisite before payment and delivery to ensure that schools will not procure sub-standard materials.
• Funds to be expended within 3 months and acquittal and report to be submitted to district office
• Funds not exhausted or not able to use are to be returned to UNICEF
• Any transaction not supported by invoices will be treated as amounts owing by the accounting officer (school head) to the schools.
• Any ineligible purchase will be treated as amounts owing by the accounting officer and reimbursement of the funds will be required.

ASSIGNMENTS:

The consultant will be responsible for the following

• Assisting whenever possible selected schools to come up with BoQs for water and hygiene enabling infrastructure.
• Support the prioritization of rehabilitation works in collaboration with local councils, DDF and schools
• Assist selected schools in understanding and unpacking eligible and ineligible costs under the SIG arrangement.
• Co-ordinating with government on supervising the water point repair works. This includes linking schools to relevant service providers within their wards where they are available or within district if not available at ward level.
• Coordinate the pre-delivery inspections for materials procured by selected schools
• Monitor the  rehabilitation works (including small piped water systems, borehole repairs, solar systems) and ensure quality assurance and conformity with standards.
• Reinforcement of the committees’ and officials’ capacities to maintain the WinS infrastructure.
• Assist in the awareness of the school communities (in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Child Care relevant officials) to use and maintain WinS facilities and to have better hygiene practices. Hygiene promotion should specifically target children in schools and among the community.
• Prepare and submit Monthly reports.
• Prepare and submit minutes of meetings with selected schools and district education officials (Monthly meeting, special meetings)
• Analyze contractor’s/ service providers claims from technical and contractual point of view. This includes the works that will be done by Pump mechanics, solar pump installers, electricians and other service providers as may be required by the schools.
• Prepare final report.

Description of expected deliverables and payment schedule.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in the area of WASH, health promotion, public health, planning, public policy.
• A minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience in
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Skills in facilitation of stakeholder engagements/workshops.
• Evidence of having undertaken similar assignments.
• In-depth knowledge and experience of the WASH, public and school health environment at the global level , particularly  focusing on  the African continent, SADC and in Zimbabwe would be an a distinct advantage.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and any local indigenous languages required.

Other Consultancy Costs and Payment Modalities

Competitive market rates will apply. 

If interested and available to undertake the consultancy, please submit your application online and attach the required documents including the technical and an all-inclusive financial proposal (detailing professional fees, DSA, airfare etc where necessary).

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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 be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.