National Consultant for the review and update of the Market-based Sanitation (MBS) and Sanitation Finance approaches. (Remote -7months)

The National Consultant will review the existing strategies for market-based sanitation and sanitation financing approaches and provide recommendations for improvement. They will also support the development or update of key tools that will be used to guide the program implementation moving forward. The National Consultant is expected to closely collaborate with State Ministries of Water Resources, Ministries of Environment, WASH institutional mechanisms, line ministries, departments and agencies, sanitation businesses, Adashes and MFIs, and other relevant stakeholders involved in MBS and sanitation finance program. They will report to the UNICEF WASH Manager.

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, Hope

In Nigeria, UNICEF works in a complex humanitarian and development setting to fulfill and protect children’s rights in partnership with government, civil society, children, and families.  UNICEF Nigeria is one of the largest UNICEF Country Offices globally – click the link to learn more about UNICEF in Nigeria: https://www.unicef.org/nigeria/.

Organizational Context and Purpose for the job

The Clean Nigeria Campaign (CNC) aims to make Nigeria open defecation-free by 2025, with UNICEF providing crucial support to the government of Nigeria (GoN). Significant progress has been made, with one state achieving ODF status and others making strides. However, 23% of the population still practice open defecation and 46% lack basic sanitation services, while only 18% have safely managed services (SMS). Nigeria is far from meeting Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.2 on sanitation by 2030. Achieving SDG 6.2 requires evidence-based approaches, and engagement with a range of stakeholders, including the private sector, to accelerate change.

UNICEF Nigeria has supported the government to strengthen the supply of sanitation products and services through market-based sanitation (MBS) and sanitation financing approaches. This support included capacity development for sanitation businesses known as Toilet Business Owners (TBOs), and the use of financing strategies including sanitation micro-credit via the Sanitation Revolving Loans (SRL) and Adashes (community savings and loans groups) to increase the ability of households to pay for sanitation.

While there has been consensus among the Nigeria WASH sector stakeholders that the strategies employed to strengthen supply for sanitation have been largely successful, a clear understanding and evidence of why, how, and what factors have made these approaches work is lacking. There is also limited data on the reach of these sanitation businesses outside of the UNICEF-supported projects, the viability of these businesses, and their contribution towards the safe management of fecal waste (e.g. via pit emptying services). The sector will benefit from this information with concrete evidence and data to modify the approaches as needed and enable them to go to scale.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

The UNICEF market-based sanitation program will be rapidly reviewed through this consultancy. This includes programmes in Bauchi, Benue, Enugu, Jigawa, Katsina, Kano, Yobe, Zamfara, Kaduna, Adamawa, Oyo, Zamfara, Kebbi, Sokoto states and the FCT.  Through a thorough collection of qualitative and quantitative data, this review will provide an update on the progress and results of MBS in the country – both those directly supported by UNICEF and indirectly supported. Some of the key questions to be answered include insights into the key strategies and business models used by profitable TBOs, MFIs and Adashes, factors for success, and key challenges to the viability and sustainability of the businesses and MFIs. Recommendations for strengthening and scaling up the MBS and sanitation financing programs will also be provided, and training/orientation tools will be updated or developed where appropriate. Based on this consultancy, UNICEF aims to improve the implementation of the MBS program and strengthen the monitoring of these approaches, with a view to strengthen the whole market system and catalyze change that will produce benefits beyond UNICEF’s directly supported programs.  

Key responsibilities:

The National Consultant will review the existing strategies for market-based sanitation and sanitation financing approaches and provide recommendations for improvement. They will also support the development or update of key tools that will be used to guide the program implementation moving forward. The National Consultant is expected to closely collaborate with State Ministries of Water Resources, Ministries of Environment, WASH institutional mechanisms, line ministries, departments and agencies, sanitation businesses, Adashes and MFIs, and other relevant stakeholders involved in MBS and sanitation finance program. They will report to the UNICEF WASH Manager.

With guidance from the WASH Manager and the WASH Specialist, in close collaboration with sector stakeholders, the following are the key assignments of the consultancy:

• Develop an inception report detailing the approach to the assignment, key deliverables, and associated timelines for completion (among others), in consultation with the supervisor and other WASH section staff.
• Review the existing market-based sanitation and sanitation finance initiatives by:

1. providing updated data on the progress of the market-based sanitation and sanitation finance in the country, and their effect on sanitation uptake (both direct and indirect results), and the ability to accelerate sanitation coverage
2. ascertaining the viability of sanitation businesses, including businesses under the public-private partnerships structure, and the MFIs, and the service delivery/institutional arrangements that govern this relationship (using the WASH accountability triangle of the policy maker, consumer, and service provider)
3. determining the success factors and gaps to strengthen the mechanism and set it up for scale, and
4. providing recommendations to improve the viability and ability to scale of both approaches.

• Update and/or develop guidance materials and tools for the approaches, including:

1. monitoring tools for the UNICEF program and the sanitation market system,
2. training and orientation materials related to the MBS and sanitation finance approaches,
3. tools to be utilized by the sanitation businesses, MFIs and Adashes (e.g. business record keeping, consumer tracking, etc.).

• Test updated guidance materials, monitoring system and tools in the field with the sanitation businesses and MFIs,
• Develop four (4) knowledge products that result from the review and assignment (e.g., case studies, briefing notes, field notes, policy brief, sanitation business or MFI profiles; specific products to be determined in consultation with UNICEF).

Given the UNICEF shift towards climate-resilient WASH services, the review, program recommendations and orientation/guidance materials must integrate mitigation and adaptation to climate change in all aspects of the work. The consultant is also expected to refer to the global UNICEF Guidance on Market-Based Sanitation as they conduct assignment, the Sanitation Enterprise Viability and Sustainability Toolkit, and other relevant, existing guidance for market-based sanitation and sanitation financing approaches.

Throughout the assignment, the National Consultant is expected to:

• Keep continuous contact, engage with, and provide language support to UNICEF field and country office staff managing/collaborating on the consultancy.
• Maintain communication and good working relations with stakeholders, serving as a liaison and facilitating consultations between the International Consultants and stakeholders.
• Organize briefings with the UNICEF WASH manager and WASH Specialist to provide status updates and reports.
• Consultant will be required to have and utilize their own IT and Communications equipment.

Task/Milestone

1. Develop an inception report with detailed workplan, in consultation with the supervisor and relevant WASH team members.
Deliverables/ Outputs: Inception report

2. Conduct a desk review of all relevant documents, surveys, reports, and knowledge products related to the assignment, and produce a synthesis of the background information and context for the market-based sanitation and sanitation financing approaches (Adashes and sanitation revolving fund)
Deliverables/ Outputs: Desk review

3. Review the market-based sanitation and sanitation financing approaches (SRL and Adashes) through a mixed-methods approach, using both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods.
Quantitative analyses should include, among others, information on pricing, sales, revenue and profit, number of consumers, products and or services sold, and other key market indicators.
Qualitative analyses should include key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and other types of consultations as needed with key stakeholders at the state level. These include government and UNICEF staff, and Adashes and Toilet Business Owners, MFIs, and community members.
Deliverables/ Outputs:
• Review methodology and draft data collection tools
• Raw data (compiled for UNICEF team)
• Draft and Final Report of market-based sanitation and sanitation finance review

4. Update and develop guidance materials and tools for market-based sanitation and sanitation financing approaches.
Deliverables/ Outputs:
• Monitoring tools for: a) market-based sanitation, b) sanitation revolving fund, c) Adashes
• Training and orientation tools (updated or developed, based on need)
• Tools to be utilized by sanitation businesses, MFIs and Adashes to adequately manage their businesses/ services.

5. Test updated guidance materials, monitoring system and tools in the field with the sanitation businesses and MFIs.
Deliverables/ Outputs:
• Testing methodology
• Report on field test in at least 4 states that include feedback from recipients on the utility of the materials and areas for improvement.
• Updated guidance materials, monitoring system and tools as needed.

6. Develop four (4) knowledge products that result from the review (e.g. case studies, briefing notes, field notes, policy brief, sanitation business or MFI profiles).
Deliverables/ Outputs: 4 knowledge products (Format to be agreed with UNICEF, but can include UNICEF field notes, case studies, sanitation or MFI business profiles, or briefing notes).

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

Education:

Advanced degree in Business Administration, Public Health, Development Studies, Community Health, Public Administration, WASH, Social and Behaviour Change Communication and any other specialist field related to WASH is required.

Experience:

The Consultant shall have a minimum of 8 years’ experience in the development sector, ideally with a focus on WASH or in market-based approaches/private sector engagement for development outcomes.

The following are also required qualifications:

• Previous experience in the WASH sector.
• Experience conducting quantitative and qualitative research, program reviews or assessments.
• Evidence of solid knowledge of stakeholders in the country, with a focus on the private sector for development outcomes.
• Experience with facilitation and consultations.
• Previous experience developing guidance materials and tools for development programs.
• Solid writing skills in the English language.

Desirable qualifications include:

• Experience with market-based approaches for WASH and financing approaches for consumers (microfinance and community savings and loans), ideally for sanitation.
• Knowledge and understanding of the national and state level policy, institutional, regulatory, and legal frameworks for sanitation.
• Understanding of climate-resilient sanitation services.
• Understanding of the Clean Nigeria Campaign and drive to eliminate open defecation.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English (verbal and written) is required. Fluency in Hausa language is an asset, and an added advantage.

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 for ensuring 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. 

Please submit your all-inclusive financial and technical proposal along with the application. Application without these will not be entertained.