Request for Expression of Interest (Individual Consultant) The African Development Bank

Water Development & Sanitation Department (AHWS)

Rural Water Supply & Sanitation Initiative (RWSSI)

Rural Water Supply & Sanitation Expert

 

1         BACKGROUND

1.1 The African Development Bank (AfDB) is the premier multi-lateral development finance institution fostering economic growth and social progress in Africa. The AfDB’s primary goal is to reduce poverty and improve living standards by mobilizing resources in and outside Africa, and providing financial and technical assistance for development projects and programs in Africa.

1.2 The Water Development and Sanitation Department (AHWS) is part of the AfDB’s Agriculture, Human and Social Development Complex (AHVP). AHWS is responsible for the coordination of the Bank’s water development and sanitation-related activities and to contribute to achievement of the High 5s: Light up and Power Africa; Feed Africa; Industrialize Africa; Integrate Africa; and Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa. Through its two Divisions: AHWS.1 for water coordination and partnerships, and AHWS.2 for water security and sanitation, and the African Water Facility (AWF), the Department supports regional hubs and country offices in the development and promotion of new knowledge, approaches and tools for green and inclusive water resources development and management, and for improved sanitation. The Department is also responsible for the origination of Non-Sovereign Operations (NSOs). In so doing, the Department leads the scaling-up of the Bank’s contribution to Africa’s efforts to attain water security and sanitation for sustainable socio-economic transformation.

 

1.3         AHWS hosts three key water sector initiatives managed by the AfDB:

  1. the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Initiative (RWSSI);
  2. the African Water Facility (AWF); and
  3. the Multi-Donor Water Partnership Program (MDWPP).

 

1.4 The Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Initiative (RWSSI) was launched by AfDB in 2003 as a focused regional response to the rural water supply and sanitation subsector to help African governments meet the targets of the African Water Vision and the Millennium – respective Sustainable- Development Goals. The RWSSI objective up to the year 2025 is to contribute to improved quality of life in rural Africa through universal, affordable and safe water and sanitation services as well as good hygiene practices.

 

1.5 At the first International Conference on Rural Water Supply and Sanitation in Africa held in Paris in April 2005, African Governments and development partners adopted RWSSI as the common framework for resource mobilization and investment for rural water and sanitation delivery in Africa. It was also agreed to establish the RWSSI Trust Fund (RWSSI-TF) to raise additional resources to be managed by the Bank for the financing of RWSSI activities.

 

1.6 By 31st December 2017, the Bank has approved 67 rural water supply and sanitation projects and programs in 35 countries, that in collaboration with other development partners have contributed to access to drinking water for about 135 million people and to improved sanitation for about 90 million people.

 

1.7 In response to the African Water Vision and the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – since then the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the African Development Bank Group, in collaboration with the African Ministerial Council on Water (AMCOW) hosts the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Initiative (RWSSI) aiming to accelerate access to rural water supply and sanitation services in rural Africa.

 

1.8 A recent external evaluation of RWSSI (2016) found the Initiative to be relevant and effective but needed stronger ownership, visibility and participation especially among RMCs. The mission of the Initiative, as outlined in the Draft Strategic Plan (2018-2025) is to provide the framework for partners to invest in RWSS and to act as a partnership coordinator to mobilise the finance, knowledge and capacity needed to achieve the RWSSI vision, which is universal access to sustainable rural WaSH in Africa. The following strategic pillars for the Initiative are contained in the draft 2018-2025 Strategic Plan:

  1. Strengthen RWSSI by refocusing the Initiative, mobilizing funding, enhancing capacity, advocacy and communication.
  2. Improve the enabling policy and institutional environment for increased and sustained access to rural WaSH services. This will be achieved through developing sector wide approaches, institutional development, M&E and information systems.
  3. Increase investment for rural WaSH by mobilizing finance and addressing backlog, especially for countries in transition.
  4. Enhance sustainability of rural WaSH through improved operation and maintenance of WaSH facilities, enhanced cross-sectoral linkages and promotion of sanitation and hygiene.
  5. Build sector knowledge and capacity for rural WaSH at country level through knowledge products for policy reforms and evidence-based decision making.

 

1.9 The implementation of the RWSSI Strategic Plan 2018-2025 and taking forward the key decisions and outcomes of the 2nd RWSSI Forum 2017 (especially on the functionality of the RWSSI Coordination Committee and the Working Groups), call for significant support from the Secretariat.

 

1.10      With  the  coming   into  force  of  the  SDGs  and   emergence  of  collaboration  and Contract – Individual Consultant – 2017 partnership as a major means of addressing the existing rural WaSH challenges, in November 2017 in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, the 2nd RWSSI Forum was held with the overall objective of providing a learning and advocacy platform and to improve ownership, visibility, impacts and sustainability of the Initiative towards achieving the Africa Water Vision (AWV), the Ngor Declaration on Sanitation and Hygiene and the WaSH Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The key outcomes from the 2017 Forum were:

 

  1. The RWSSI Forum, the RWSSI Coordination Committee and the RWSSI Working Groups were formally established to provide opportunities for countries to take lead, participate, share and collaborate to work towards achieving universal access to RWSS However, they now need to be operationalized;
  2. The Forum brought together partners from across the Initiative and in doing so demonstrated the importance and value that the partners place on having a successful RWSSI. This energy and activity now needs to continue online and through other meetings so that the exchange and learning can lead to outcomes and impact; and
  3. The materials presented and deliberations held during this Forum provided a rich source of knowledge and experiences from which the outputs of the Forum were created. These include a plan of action to promote South-South learning and knowledge management that will scale up access and equity in rural WaSH facilities and services rural WaSH services on the African continent and report on the three learning areas.

1.11 The above requires significant support, facilitation and leadership through a strengthened RWSSI Secretariat. AHWS therefore wishes to hire the services of a rural water supply and sanitation expert (English as principal language/ French as principal language).

 

2         OBJECTIVES OF ASSIGNMENT

2.1 The overarching objective of the assignment is to make significant contribution to RWSSI’s mission in ensuring that rural WaSH receives prominence in the Bank’s High 5 agenda, particularly in transforming lives in rural Africa where about 60% of the population stay. The specific objectives are to:

  1. Support the  implementation  of  RWSSI  2018-2025  Strategic  Plan  and  the Secretariat’s Annual Work Plans;
  2. Enhance regional collaboration and ownership of RWSSI;
  3. Facilitate and support Working Groups constituted during the RWSSI Forum 2017 to deliver on their work programs.
  4. Support the development of knowledge products, learning and knowledge management; and
  5. Support the planning and organization of 3rd RWSSI Forum (2019). Contract – Individual Consultant –2017

 

3 SCOPE OF WORK

3.1 Under the direct supervision and guidance of the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Focal Person for RWSSI, the Consultant shall provide the following services in the RWSSI Secretariat:

3.2 Support implementation of RWSSI 2018-2025 Strategic Plan and Annual Work Plans:

  1. Incorporate comments from Departmental staff, donors, RMCs and partners for the finalization of the RWSSI 2018-2025 Strategic Plan;
  2. Support launching of RWSSI 2018-2025 Strategic Plan, dissemination and resources mobilization;
  3. Collaborate with Task Managers in the Bank’s Country Offices and Regional Hubs to develop and implement a project pipeline in line with the RWSSI 2018-2025 Strategic Plan
  4. Contribute to the compilation and implementation of annual RWSSI work plans and progress reports.

 

3.3 Facilitate stakeholders’ participation through supporting the functioning of the RCC and the Working Groups

  1. Provide RWSSI Secretariat support to RCC & WGs to make them functional i.e. engagement arrangements and development of action plan,
  2. In collaboration with AMCOW, establish linkages with existing sector platforms such as SWA & RWSN, AfricaSan, Africa Water Week; and
  3. Liaise with research and learning partners to support RCC and the established Working Groups, and where feasible as co-conveners.

 

3.4 Support the development of knowledge products, learning and knowledge management

  1. Promote or create platforms for sharing experiences and lessons,
  2. Promote the scaling up innovations in a robust and well documented way,
  3. Support the preparation of RWSSI knowledge products; and
  4. Promote south-south learning on how countries have strengthened their sector enabling environments to enhance performance of rural WaSH.

 

3.5         Support the work of the RWSSI Secretariat

  1. Support resources mobilization to secure the implementation of the Strategic Plan,
  2. Prepare technical reports and briefing notes,
  3. Prepare the convening of RWSSI Forum 2019, and
  4. Undertake ad-hoc assignments as may be requested Contract – Individual Consultant – 2017

 

4         REPORTING LINE

4.1 The consultant will be reporting to the Focal Person of RWSSI and will coordinate with the Bank’s Water Development and Sanitation Department (AHWS and AWF), within the Bank’s Agriculture and Human Development (AHVP) Complex.

 

5  DELIVERABLES

5.1 The consultant is expected to produce the following deliverables:

  1. Reports and documents pertaining to the operations of the RCC and the WGs;
  2. Briefing notes related to the above-specified scope of works;
  3. Mission reports and Aide Memoires;
  4. Contributions to Annual Work Plans and Progress Reports;
  5. Monthly reports on activities and results of the assignment; and
  6. Other deliverables as may be required.

 

6   QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

6.1 The assignment will be undertaken by an individual Consultant who meets the following criteria:

  1. At least a Master’s degree (or its equivalent) in relevant discipline related to assignment;
  2. Minimum of ten (10) years professional experience in rural WaSH, rural development and international development cooperation;
  3. Proven ability to constitute and lead teams composed of geographically dispersed partner experts originating in various organizations,
  4. Good organizational skills with ability to prioritize and deliver assignments in a timely manner,
  5. Good analytical and numerical skills with ability to quickly review documents and portfolio data to prepare briefing notes and issue papers,
  6. Ability to apply innovative approaches, to work independently and efficiently and solution oriented;
  7. Ability to work under high pressure and in time-sensitive situations;
  8. Ability to deal with sensitive issues in a multi-cultural environment and to build effective working relations with colleagues;
  9. Provision of three (3) references;
  10. Competent in the use of Bank standard software (word, excel, power-point) and internet including online meeting and teleconferencing tools; and Contract – Individual Consultant – 2017
  11. Fluent in French / Fluent in English, with preferably a very good working knowledge of the other language.

 

7    TIME FRAME AND PLACE OF WORK

7.1 The Consultant will commence the assignment in September 2018. The assignment is anticipated to last for a period of twenty-four (24) months. The assignment takes place at the Bank’s headquarters in Abidjan and requires full-time presence in the Bank’s offices and may require occasional mission travel.

 

8         REMUNERATION

8.1 The Consultant will receive a monthly all-inclusive fee to be negotiated upon contract signature, and in compliance with the Bank’s established remuneration scale, considering requisite qualifications and experience. No additional benefits or per diems will be paid while in Abidjan. The Bank will cover full costs of any required missions and provide per-diem in accordance with rules governing consultant mission travel. The Consultant is responsible for his/her own health insurance and accommodation costs.

 

9         ELIGIBILITY

9.1 The position is open to nationals of one of the Member Countries of the African Development Bank Group. Interested applicants are encouraged to send an updated Curriculum Vita and samples of past professional assignments, noting level of involvement and impact. These samples should either be hyper-links on the internet or zipped files not exceeding 5 MB.

 

9.2 Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. The call for proposal will require the same elements as the expression of interest. Both expression of interest and proposal may be submitted in either English or French language.

 

9.3 Candidates are encouraged to register in the AfDB’s Consultant Database (DACON), if they have not yet done so. Newly registered on DACON, please communicate the processing number after your DACON registration to the e-mail addresses below, so that your registration can be followed-up and confirmed. Registration on DACON requires Internet Explorer (exclusively).

 

9.4 The eligibility criteria, the establishment of a short list and the selection procedure shall be in conformity with the Bank’s Rules and Procedures for the Use of Consultants, available on the Bank Website. Please note that interest expressed by a Consultant does not imply any obligation on the part of the Bank to include him/her in the shortlist.

 

9.5 Expressions of interest must be received by e-mail at the addresses below no later than 8th August 2018 at 3 pm UCT and should mention – RWSSI WaSH Consultant – in the subject line of the email. If you do not receive a confirmation email by 8th August 5 pm UCT, your EOI might have not been received and you are invited to contact us by email for follow-up. Contract – Individual Consultant – 2017

 

Attn: Jochen Rudolph, RWSSI Focal Person, AHWS

E-mail: J.RUDOLPH@AFDB.ORG and J.ELLO@AFDB.ORG

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