International Consultancy for functional analysis and develop capacity building plan for WASH sector in Lesotho, Maseru,Lesotho (40 working days spread over 2 months) (Office – based)

UNICEF Lesotho is looking for an experienced expert who will be a consultant responsible for conducting a thorough functional analysis and developing a detailed capacity building plan. The functional analysis will assess the efficiency and effectiveness of the rural WASH sector in fulfilling its mandates, focusing on how different units, departments, and district offices operate to deliver the overall mission among different Ministries

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, innovation

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Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

The Metsi a Lesotho project, funded by the European Union (EU), is dedicated to enhancing access to safe and sustainable water supply and sanitation services in rural areas of Lesotho. This project is designed to address critical challenges within the water and sanitation sector, such as inadequate infrastructure, limited access to clean water, and poor sanitation practices. To tackle these issues, the project will deliver inclusive WASH facilities in rural schools, healthcare facilities, and communities, while simultaneously establishing and implementing a decentralized framework conducive to effective rural WASH management.

Central to this project is the capacity-building of local, district, and national departments responsible for water supply, WASH in schools, WASH in healthcare facilities, and the promotion of sanitation and hygiene education. A particular focus will be on empowering women and persons with disabilities. The project also seeks to support and equip key stakeholders—including the Department of Rural Water Supply (DRWS), Ministry of Education and Training (MoET), Environmental Health Division (EHD) in the Ministry of Health (MoH), District Council WASH teams, and Water Service Authorities (WSAs) and Water Service Providers (WSPs) —to effectively utilize monitoring and evaluation frameworks, GIS data, and planning tools to ensure accountability, transparency, and timely reporting of both physical and financial progress in WASH initiatives across communities and institutions. Ultimately, the project aims to improve health outcomes, reduce poverty, and contribute to the overall socio-economic development of rural communities in Lesotho.

With this background, UNICEF Lesotho seeks a consultant to conduct a comprehensive functional analysis of the national WASH Departments and Councils related to WASH implementation at national, district, local council, and community levels. The consultant will identify existing gaps in organizational structure, service functionality, departmental capacities, and resource allocation (both human and financial). The consultant will then propose strategies for improvement, ensuring these entities can effectively and efficiently implement their mandates. Additionally, the assignment includes developing a comprehensive Capacity Building Plan to establish the necessary capacities for these entities to fulfil their responsibilities proficiently.

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the WASH SpecialistInnovatio. Based on this review, the consultant will make recommendations and develop a capacity building plan to improve functionality and strengthen the capacity of WASH sectors across different Ministries at both national and district levels.

The scope of work includes the following key activities and deliverables:

A. Functional Review

1. Assessment of DRWS Capacity Needs:
   • Analyze the capacity required within the Department of Rural Water Supply (DRWS) to effectively support Councils in their WASH responsibilities.
   • Recommend the most appropriate organizational setup for providing this support.
2. National Level Capacity for Area Water Schemes:
   • Identify and define the necessary DRWS capacities at the national level to support the implementation and functioning of area water schemes, including connections to bulk water systems and small-town water systems.
3. Coordination Mechanisms for National WASH Services:
   • Evaluate the responsibilities within water sector institutions for national planning and coordination between WASCo service areas, bulk water system connections, and standalone water services.
4. Capacity Needs in the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET):
   • Determine the capacity required within MoET to effectively support WASH in Schools programs.
5. Capacity Needs in the Ministry of Health – Environmental Health Division (MoH-EHD):
   • Analyze the capacity needed to support Councils in implementing hygiene education, enforcing environmental sanitation regulations, and conducting water quality surveillance of potable water systems.
6. Linkages Between National Departments and Local Councils:
   • Assess the linkages between national WASH responsibilities and the Ministry of Local Government (MoLG) concerning planning, implementation, and monitoring in Councils.
7. District Council Responsibilities for WASH:
   • Evaluate the WASH responsibilities of District Councils in supporting Water Service Authorities (WSAs) and planning, designing, and implementing rural WASH programs, including the integration of Integrated Catchment Management (ICM) approaches.
8. Service Provision Roles of WSAs and WSPs:
   • Define the roles and responsibilities of WSAs and Water Service Providers (WSPs) in ensuring sustainable and affordable service delivery.
9. Workload Analysis:
   • Conduct a workload analysis to determine the professional competencies and inputs required at national, district, and local council levels to fulfil these functions effectively.

Deliverable: The functional analysis shall result in detailed recommendations for the organizational setup necessary for effective WASH implementation at both national and district levels, including specifications of required positions and qualifications.

B. Capacity Building Plan Development

1. Structured Capacity Building Plan:

• Develop a phased and realistic Capacity Building Plan that guides the preparation of annual plans for capacity building activities and technical assistance within the Rural WASH Component.

• Ensure the plan includes potential capacity-building actions by the Government and other development partners. 

Deliverable: The Capacity Building Plan shall be comprehensive and actionable, ensuring the development of capacities at all levels to enhance WASH services.

Work Assignment Overview:  

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

• Enter Disciplines: A master’s degree in social science, Health, Engineering, Water Resources, Environmental Management, or a related field.

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset. 

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• A minimum of 10 years of experience in implementing WASH programs and capacity building within sector institutions, particularly in a decentralized environment.
• Demonstrated experience in conducting functional analysis and capacity development assignments, specifically in the context of rural WASH activities.
• Demonstrated experience in conducting at least one public sector capacity assessment or functional reviews in the last five years.
• Experience in institutional development within the WASH sector in Lesotho is a mandatory requirement.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and presentation skills
• Fluency in English (verbal and written).
• Proven capacity to quickly absorb new information and techniques and work under tight deadlines

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

 To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

 UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

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:  

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. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.