Operation & Maintenance/Sewage Treatment Plants Consultant-Short Term

SOW Title: Work with Sewage Directorates and Relevant Entities to Engage the Private Sector in the O&M of Existing Sewage Treatment Plants.              

Estimated LOE: 120

Job Classification: (1) Local STTA    

Reporting to: Service Improvement Lead               

Estimated Start Date: 02 July 2024  

Estimated End Date:   27 Feb 2025  

Duty Station: Baghdad with frequent travel to the other locations in Anbar, Najaf, and Basrah  

A. Project Background:

The USAID Iraq Together/Ma’an (معاً) activity (Ma’an hereafter), supports select Iraqi government entities at the national, regional, provincial, and district levels to improve service delivery performance through the use of technology and process standardization while increasing the availability of and access to information, particularly related to public services. Ma’an also fosters improved and inclusive relationships and engagement between the Government and the communities they serve. Ma’an’s goal is more equitable, efficient, and sustainable public services.

Ma’an’s objectives are:

1- Targeted Iraqi government entities improve and are more inclusive in service delivery. The government improves service delivery through responsiveness to citizen needs, consultation with citizens, improved transparency, and the use of green practices technology.

2- Strengthened democratic and participatory governance of targeted Iraqi service delivery institutions. Citizen perception of government changes through increased participation in governance, improved access to government information, and stronger role of Iraqi NGOs in advocating for communities as well as increased public education regarding citizen roles and responsibilities.

3- Response to windows of opportunity for change. Gaps in expertise and information required to improve government service delivery and increase citizen participation are addressed.

Ma’an utilizes an Accountability ecosystem approach grounded in inclusion and localization to improve service delivery and build trust. The approach mobilizes Iraqi government entities, civil society organizations, emerging civic movements, issue-based groups, media, and the private sector to co-create interventions. This approach allows diverse local partners to exercise their rights and responsibilities, learn by doing, analyze performance data, and scale what works.

B. Purpose:

Iraq had limited sewage coverage and the GOI is currently expanding sewage networks and the capacity of wastewater treatment plants to treat additional sewage water. Sewage directorates do not have the capacity to operationalize and maintain the additional sewage networks and treatment plants that are coming online due to the limited resources, resulting in low performance in the O&M area which lead to an inefficient treatment process.

To address these challenges, Ma’an will support the provincial sewage directorates (PSDs) in the 4 targeted provinces (Baghdad, Anbar, Najaf, and Basrah – the 4 provinces hereafter), Governor Offices (GOs), and the Coordination Commission among Provinces (CCP) in engaging the private sector in the O&M of selected sewage treatment plants (STPs). This intervention aims to alleviate pressure on sewage directorates and enhance the efficiency of STPs. Additionally, these pilot STPs will serve as successful models for replication in other districts and other provinces. CCP will encourage provincial governments across all 15 provinces of federal Iraq to conduct field visits to these pilot STPs to adopt similar approaches.

To implement this intervention, Ma’an will engage one local STTA consultant in the procurement area and one local STTA consultant in the operation & maintenance/Sewage Treatment Plants (O&M of STPs) who will both work with (PSDs) and contracts departments in (GOs) in targeted provinces to develop the term of reference (TOR) and all the relevant contractual documents. These two documents will include technical specification, conditions, and commercial instructions where the private sector will be in charge of the O&M area at selected STPs. The two consultants, in collaboration with each other, will develop one model of TOR and the relevant contractual documents to be used by the four targeted provinces and later shared with all the provincial governments in federal Iraq through (CCP). In addition, the two consultants will develop guidance and provide technical support to PSDs and contracts departments in GOs to use the models of TOR and the relevant contractual documents for selected STPs that are in the Ma’an targeted districts or supplying to them. The two consultants will provide onsite technical support to targeted sewage directorates’ staff to replicate the model at other non-targeted STPs.

C. Objectives:

The main objectives of the consultancy are:

1. Engage the private sector in the delivery of services and expose the provincial government to the private sector’s contribution to improve service delivery.
2. Support provincial government in targeted provinces to outsource the O&M of selected STPs to improve operations, reduce the burden off the PSDs, and improve the provision and quality of the sewage services in targeted districts in the four targeted provinces.
3. Support provincial governments in the four targeted provinces to identify the appropriate mechanism to engage the private sector.

D. Responsibilities and Key Tasks of the Advisor:

Under this Scope of Work, the O&M of STPs consultant shall perform the following tasks:

– Task 1: Work with Ma’an Team to Identify Specialized Team Selection Criteria.

The O&M of STPs consultant will consult with Objective (1) lead, sewage advisor, and field staff to develop a selection criterion for selecting specialized team members.

– Task 2: Hold Introductory Meetings with Stakeholders to Introduce the Intervention obtain buy-in and Create a Specialized Team.

In coordination with Ma’an field team, The O&M of STPs consultant will hold meetings with relevant stakeholders to introduce Ma’an activity, the interventions, and the results that will be achieved upon the completion of the intervention. The O&M of STPs consultant will obtain buy-in from all the relevant stakeholders and will request the formation of a specialized team per a pre-defined selection criterion.  

– Task 3: Provide Technical Support to the Specialized Team to Start the Data Gathering Phase.

• In coordination with Ma’an field team, The O&M of STPs consultant and the procurement consultant will conduct a one-day workshop to provide orientation session on the approach of developing the TOR based on the instruction of MOP. The O&M of STPs will present the developed data collection tools related to the O&M of STP to be finalized in cooperation with a specialized team.
• In coordination with Ma’an field team, the O&M of STPs consultant will provide on-site technical support to the specialized team to start the data-gathering phase. The data gathering shall consist of all technical specifications, environmental regulations, and training requirements that is essential for the proper operation and maintenance of the equipment and facilities, including monitoring of sewage quality.

– Task 4: Support the Specialized Team to Develop the Terms of Reference to Engage the Private Sector in the O&M of the Existing STP. 

The O&M of STPs consultant in collaboration with the procurement consultant will conduct a 2-day workshop to support the specialized team to develop an effective TOR aiming to engage the private sector to take the role of O&M works for exiting STPs. This will involve also assessing the plants and analyze of the challenges and obstacles facing the existing STPs and how they will be improved. 

– Task 5: Support the Sewage Directorates and the Senior Official at the GOs to Develop the Appropriate Contractual Documents. 

• The procurement consultant in collaboration with the O&M of STPs consultant will conduct a 2-day workshop to support the selected entities in developing the appropriate bidding documents in cooperating with the TOR developed in task 4 above. Ma’an team will support the relevant entities to introduce the appropriate model of the bidding documents for all the relevant entities (CCP, sewage directorates, and GOs in targeted provinces). Ma’an team will define a specific mechanism for the implementation and financing of the pilot STPs to engage the private sector in addressing the deficiencies in the O&M area.  
• The procurement consultant will build the capacity of contracts departments’ staff at the GO in targeted provinces on bid announcement, bid analyses and awarding.

– Task 6: Support the Sewage Directorates and Senior Officials in the GOs to Develop the TOR and Bidding Documents for the Selected STPs.

The O&M of STPs consultant will provide technical assistance to the targeted sewage directorates to develop specific TOR for the selected STPs. At the same time, the procurement consultant will provide technical assistance to contract departments in the GOs to develop the specific bidding documents for the selected STPs.

– Task 7: Develop the Final Report.

The O&M of STPs consultant in collaboration with the procurement consultant will develop a final comprehensive report including all supporting documents developed during the implementation of the intervention. The report will include a general description of the developed Term of Reference (TOR). The report will highlight achievements and results accomplished for each task, recommendations and next steps, challenges, lessons learned, and proposed future interventions (if any). The report should be submitted in English.

Application Instructions:

To apply please fill out this form: Iraq Together Job Application Form (smartsheet.com)

Chemonics is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factors.

Applications reviewed on a rolling basis. Position closes upon candidate selection. Early submissions encouraged for best consideration.