International Consultancy Climate Resilient Water Safety Planning Guidelines for Lao PDR

UNICEF is a UN organization mandated by the UN General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. In Lao PDR, UNICEF is working with its partners to support the Government to realize children’s rights on survival, development, protection and participation.

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, support

UNICEF in Vientiane, Lao PDR is looking for an International Consultancy to support development partners, implementation of community-led water and sanitation interventions and supporting WASH activities in targeted provinces of Phongsaly, Houaphan and Savannakhet including provision of water and sanitation facilities. The duration of this assignment is 9 months starting from April to December 2024. The consultant will be based at the UNICEF office in Vientiane, Lao PDR.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

Technical assistance will be required to support communities, local and national government counterparts, and WASH sector development partners in resilience building through the application of climate resilient water safety planning approaches under the overall coordination of the Government of Lao PDR by Nam Saat. An International Consultant is being sought to support implementation of community-led water and sanitation interventions and enhance capacities of communities, NGO partners and local and national Government counterparts in climate resilient water safety planning.

UNICEF and SNV are supporting WASH activities in targeted provinces of Phongsaly, Houaphan and Savannakhet including provision of water and sanitation facilities. Communities are actively involved and are supporting these WASH interventions with capacity building provided by local Government counterparts to sustain systems through operation and maintenance, water safety planning and financing.

The consultant is expected to work closely with Nam Saat, Ministry of Health, Provincial and District Governments, SNV, WHO, UNICEF and other WASH sector development partner organizations, and provide technical assistance and training on water safety planning in line with climate adaptation approaches, reducing inequalities, and social and environmental protection standards.

Outputs foreseen under this consultancy include: i) establishment of a revised approach for Water Safety Planning (WSP) for national endorsement in Lao PDR with associated capacity building programmes for communities, NGOs and local governments including addressing aspects of community ownership, operation and maintenance, equity, sustainability and opportunities for community-level protection of source catchments; ii) assist implementation of WSP trials for water supply (and sanitation) schemes in selected communities; iii) provide guidance on community-based water quality monitoring; and iv) develop WSP templates, guidance manuals, tools and responsibility frameworks for WSP standardization in collaboration with Provinces and Districts, WASH Committees, and National Government.

The consultant will carry out the following activities:

1. WSP Tools Development and Capacity Building

1. 1. Comprehensive desk review of best practices, learnings and evidence on WSP – with special attention paid to aspects related to GEDSI, resilience and the Laos/Mekong context;
   2. Develop a climate resilient and inclusive approach to drinking water safety planning as part of the Lao PDR WASH Policy and Strategy;
   3. Develop a framework for identifying and addressing the specific natural hazards faced by rural communities in target communities;
   4. Develop practical training materials for provincial and district staff to undertake participatory WSPs in rural communities particularly ensuring the active participation of women in plan formulation and integrate gender, equity and disability inclusion action and learning approaches and tools;
   5. Develop practical and simple tools, worksheets and templates for community use;
   6. Undertake training of trainers sessions with local and provincial government on WSP concepts, framework and guidelines;
   7. Support districts and provinces to synthesize and analyse community level WSPs to inform area-wide priorities as a basis for catchment protection and WASH action planning.

2. Pilot WSP trials
1. Assist preparation of WSPs with water point committees of selected water supply and sanitation schemes linked to O&M strategies at local source level;
2. Develop a methodology for auditing or verification of community-based WSP approaches;
3. Develop guidance materials for water safety planning and strengthening of community resilience;
4. Provide ongoing technical support to government and partners;
5. Provide on-going monitoring and regular reviews of the WSP trials.

3. Community-based water quality monitoring
1. Provide technical support on enhanced water quality monitoring in communities;
2. Liaise with Nam Saat to enhance HAPiS practices on water safety and household water treatment and storage;
3. Develop guidance on community-based water quality monitoring.
4. WSP standardization
1. Consult with Nam Saat, Provinces and Districts and pilot communities;
2. Compile and synthesize feedback on WSP trials and recommendations for refinement;
3. Develop templates and guidance manuals for WSP standardization in line with the National Water Quality Standards Plan of the Ministry of Health;
4. Trial use of WSP materials in selected communities;
5. Liaise with WASH sector stakeholders on general WSP support linked to climate adaptation/disaster risk resilience;
6. Present WSP recommendations to Nam Saat and sector stakeholder groups in final workshop.

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

Qualification and experience:

• Advanced degree or equivalent experience in Environmental Public Health, Civil Engineering, Hydro(geo)logy, Water Management, Sanitation Engineering, or related field.

Knowledge and skills:

• At least five years of experience on rural WASH service provision in developing countries.
• Excellent technical knowledge and experience in water safety planning and operation and maintenance of water supply and sanitation infrastructure.
• Experience working with UNICEF and/or NGO in the field of WASH and demonstrated ability to work in complex environments.
• Experience in developing guidelines, manuals and tools for water safety planning and developing and delivering associated training.
• Proven experience supporting communities, government agencies and development partners for the delivery of water safety planning.
• Excellent communication skills including fluency in English (verbal and written).

Submission of applications:

Interested candidates are kindly requested to apply and upload the following documents:

• Letter of Interest (cover letter)
• CV or Resume
• Performance evaluation reports or references of similar consultancy assignments (if available)
• Financial proposal: All-inclusive lump-sum cost including medical insurance with medivac, travel and accommodation cost for this assignment as per work assignment.

Assessment Criteria:

1. Technical Evaluation (80 Points)   

 The passing mark of the technical evaluation 60 points

• Advanced degree or equivalent experience in Environmental Public Health, Civil Engineering, Hydro(geo)logy, Water Management, Sanitation Engineering, or related field (10 points)
• At least five years of experience on rural WASH service provision in developing countries (10 points)
• Technical knowledge and experience in water safety planning and operation and maintenance of water supply and sanitation infrastructure (10 points)
• Experience working with UNICEF and/or NGO in the field of WASH and demonstrated ability to work in complex environments. (10 points)
• Experience in developing guidelines, manuals and tools for water safety planning and developing and delivering associated training. (20 points)
• Proven experience supporting communities, government agencies and development partners for the delivery of water safety planning. (20 points)

2. Financial Proposal (20 points)

     The maximum number of points shall be allotted to the lowest Financial Proposal that is opened / evaluated and compared among           those technical qualified candidates who have attained a minimum 60 points score in the technical evaluation. Other Financial                 Proposals will receive points in inverse proportion to the lowest price.

    The Contract shall be awarded to candidate obtaining the highest combined technical and financial scores, subject to the satisfactory         result of verification.

Please find the TOR here: 

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 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 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.