International Consultancy: Developing National Guidelines for climate-resilient WASH in Schools in Uzbekistan

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, clean water!

Every child is entitled to a high-quality education, which encompasses access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities at school. Given that children spend a significant part of their day at school, WASH services can have a profound impact on their learning, health, and dignity, especially for girls. The inclusion of WASH in schools in the Sustainable Development Goals (targets 4.a, 6.1, 6.2) underscores their importance as integral elements of a ‘safe, non-violent, inclusive, and effective learning environment’ and as part of ‘universal’ WASH access, emphasizing the need for WASH beyond the home. School-based WASH interventions worldwide aim to: (i) decrease the prevalence of diarrhea and other hygiene-related diseases; (ii) enhance school enrollment, performance, and attendance; and (iii) influence the hygiene practices of parents and siblings, with children serving as change agents in their households and communities.

There is mounting evidence that inadequate WASH in schools (WinS) can hinder children’s attendance and performance, particularly for girls, and especially for adolescent girls when their menstrual hygiene and health (MHH) needs are not met. Children with disabilities are denied access to education when WASH facilities are not accessible or inadequate. The SDGs explicitly include disability and persons with disabilities, making it crucial to promote disability inclusion to ensure access to water and sanitation for all, including people with disabilities, by 2030.

In Uzbekistan, the WinS situation reveals disparities between urban and rural areas. While 88% of urban schools have basic water services, only 65% of rural schools enjoy the same privilege, leaving a significant proportion (19%) without access to water services. A similar discrepancy is seen in sanitation, with 86% of urban schools having basic sanitation services compared to 63% in rural areas. Addressing these disparities is crucial for ensuring equitable access to WASH services for all students.

The primary objective of this consultancy is to develop comprehensive “National Guidelines for climate resilient WASH in Schools in Uzbekistan”, which must address current WASH challenges including in relation to inclusion – needs of learners with disabilities and MHM for school girls. These Guidelines should be comprehensive, covering various infrastructural, behavioural, and institutional strengthening and capacity development components that would further enable progress for results in climate resilient WinS and the approval of new WinS standards at national level. The Guidelines will establish the coordination and policy environment for the government, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), private sector, and development partners to work together to achieve practical and timely national goals that align with global standards and targets. It should provide guidance on coordination of WinS at national, district, and community levels, as well as across sectors (Education, Health, and Water).

UNICEF jointly with the Ministry of Pre-school and School Education, Ministry of Health, the Scientific-Research Institute of the Ministry of Construction has set up a Technical Working Group on revision of WASH Standards for schools, pre-school education facilities and healthcare facilities. The Technical Working Group has developed work plan for revision of WASH standards and identified 12 Building Codes and 4 Sanitary Procedures and Norms for revision, as well as develop typical designs of schools, pre-school facilities and healthcare facilities.

The main objective of this consultancy is to support the Ministry of Pre-School and School Education and other key sector players in developing comprehensive “Guidelines for WASH in Schools in Uzbekistan” to accelerate access to basic WASH services in schools in Uzbekistan. The guidelines must address Disability-Inclusive WASH and Menstrual Hygiene and Health. The consultant should review and revise the existing WASH standards (including Building Codes, Sanitary Norms and Procedures) jointly with team of national consultants and members of Technical Working Group from relevant ministries and affiliated institutions.

The specific objectives expected:

• Enhance the enabling environment for WinS, in Uzbekistan through the development of WinS Guidelines specifically in terms of
  Establishing clear guidelines and quality standards for both hard and soft components (including all aspects related to climate resilient WASH), that are endorsed by key stakeholders, including the government, to be used nationwide and in schools of different locations (urban, rural), levels (ECD, Primary and Post Primary) and ownership structures (private and public) etc
  Stimulating the development of market-based solutions for WinS
  Enhancing education and promotion of WinS services by identifying suitable approaches for WASH services promotion in schools
• To provide recommendations for effective coordination (national, district and school level; across ministries; development partners and CSOs) and strategic positioning of WinS in different sectors (Education, Health, Nutrition, WASH) in Uzbekistan, and relevant roles and responsibilities of relevant departments and authorities of the Government of Uzbekistan and partners.

Activities and Tasks

• Conduct a review on global, regional and national documents, including recent national WinS guidelines, developed in similar settings, which have taken into account recent health pandemics, climate-resilient technologies, and climate/natural disaster considerations to develop a synthesis of existing and current WASH information for better positioning of WASH across different sectors, government and developing partners. The consultant will be supported by 3 national consultants in data collection.
• Engage in wide consultations and discussions with various key actors including line ministries (Ministry of Health, Ministry of Pre-School and School Education, Ministry of Construction, Ministry of Economy and Finance, Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change, etc), UN agencies, key donors and other major bilateral stakeholders, International Financial Institutions, Private Sector, Research and Development actors and NGOs, both at national and sub-national level to gather information that could better contextualize the guidelines as well as increasing awareness on the guidelines.
• Develop draft Guidelines for climate-resilient WinS, along with operational manuals/toolkits addressing various components including: Minimum Standards for climate resilient School WASH; Institutional arrangements for climate resilient School WASH; Technical options for climate resilient WASH infrastructure; Education and promotion of WASH services; Maintenance and operation for School WASH Facilities and Financing WASH in Schools. The guidelines should be comprehensive and cover both soft and hard aspects related to WASH in schools, with a focus on UNICEF’s WASH in Schools Three Star Approach. They should specifically address climate resiliency, disability-inclusive WASH and menstrual health and hygiene (MHH) or specifically have toolkits for Disability inclusive WASH and MHH. The Consultant will conduct several consultation meetings and present the Guidelines, along with the operational manuals, in a formal consultation workshop (can be done virtually) with key stakeholders for inputs. Afterwards, incorporating the inputs in the draft plan, the consultant will present the final Guidelines, along with the operational manual, in a formal consultation workshop with the key stakeholders for validation and further present the final updated Guidelines the Local Education Group.
• Provide technical support rolling out in the WinS guidelines, including training of sector stakeholders (MoH, CSOs, private sector etc.), on how to use the operational manual/toolkits. The consultant will be supported by 3 national consultants.

Performance indicators for evaluation of results:

The performance of work will be evaluated based on the following indicators:

• Completion of tasks specified in ToR.
• Compliance with the established deadlines for submission of deliverables.
• Quality of deliverables.
• Demonstration of high standards of work.

Contractual modalities:

• Location: The consultant will be mainly home-based, with one travel to Uzbekistan – validation workshop
• Payment: UNICEF will issue a contract in USD. The payment will be made in USD by bank transfer following the acceptance of the deliverable by the supervisor.
• Reporting: The Consultant will work under the overall supervision of the Programme Officer (WASH) at UNICEF, but will work collaboratively with the Chief of Health and Development and the Education Specialist.

Work Assignments Overview – Timeline

1. Develop workplan in consultation with supervisor with monthly deliverables – 5 working days
2. Review of relevant WinS knowledge – 10 working days
3. Conduct two consultations with key stakeholders and develop national guidelines for climate resilient WinS, including operational manual – 40 working days
4. Technical support in rolling out the national WinS guidelines, including supporting training of Trainers at national level – 10 working days
5. Completion of final report -5 working days

Deliverables/Outputs

1. Inception report with detailed methodology, workplan, timelines and milestones, proposed options for structuring and content of the
   final document
2. Literature based synthesis of up-to-date knowledge on WinS, including disability-friendly WinS
3. Final WinS Guidelines, accompanying PowerPoint presentation, operational manual, and consultation workshop report with WinS stakeholders in Uzbekistan
4. Technical support/training reports
5. Final report submitted and approved

Travel to Uzbekistan is required.

Final rate shall follow the “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee. Consultants will be asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable.

Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

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

• Advanced university degree in Health Sciences or a field relevant to international WASH related development assistance. Additional training in Health Education, Inclusive WASH or Communication for Development (Programme Communication), an asset.
• Minimum 5 years working experience in the WASH Sector, in developing contexts. Experience in Central Asia is considered an asset. 
• Previous experience in supporting countries in developing disability inclusive WASH related policies, guidelines strategies and implementation plans.
• Familiarity with SDGs, WinS and other related global trends and priorities, most up-to-date country experiences. 
• Strong analytical, writing and communication skills.
• High standard of written and verbal English language skills.
• Familiarity with the local social and cultural context is highly recommended.
• Ability to conduct online consultations.

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/individual contractors 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.