UNICEF Consultant Job Vacancy

Ref: UNSOM/2011/012

Title: Consultant - UN Joint Programme on Local Governance for Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH Sector)

Type of Contract: Special Service Agreement (SSA)

Duty Station: Puntland (with frequent travel within Somalia)

Duration: 50 Days

Date of Issue: 21 March 2011

Closing date of Applications: 31 March 2011

Qualified candidates are invited to apply for a Consultancy position to support UN Joint Programme on Local Governance to support decentralization of water sector in Puntland.

Purpose and Objective

The specific objective of this assignment is to identify the current service delivery practices within the Water sector as well as the current response to Law Number 20 of 2003 by the PSAWEN (Puntland State Agency for Water Energy and Natural Resources) and based on this determine if any functions within the remit of the Agency can be devolved to the districts.

More specifically, using the Sector Guidelines developed by the JPLG as the main tool for analysis, this assignment will aim at:

A. Documenting, describing and analyzing how water services are currently being provided by PSAWEN including laws/acts, systems, structures, procedures, regulations, staffing, staff profiles, staff development initiatives, and fund flows (including national budget and external resources) at all levels - central, regional and district level as well as service providers (see scope below).

B. Based on the above assessment, describe and document how the PSAWEN currently responds to Law Number 20 in the provision of Water services,

C. Document and define the proposed roles and organization of PSAWEN following devolution of services to the districts in consultation with PSAWEN Authorities.

D. Make recommendations on the following:

• PSAWEN existing policy/guidelines Strategies.
• Functions to be transferred to various levels -regions, district and zonal
• Identify laws and regulations within PSAWEN which need to be amended, changed or drafted in order to harmonize the legal framework.
• Costing of all the key requirements including staffing needs for delivery of assigned functions and responsibilities following the devolution
• Proposed roles of PSAWEN, staffing, and budgets in accordance to the new function responsibilities proposed plan including small scale pilots to address the assignment of functions to districts.

Consultant Scope of Work

Following the sector guidelines provided, the consultant will be expected to carry out the following tasks in order to achieve the above objectives:

• Prepare an appropriate and acceptable methodology for the assignment that will include qualitative and quantitative information in consultation with UNICEF / JPLG team, PSAWEN and other stakeholders.
• Develop appropriate and acceptable data collection tools in consultation with PSAWEN , and other stakeholders
• Collect data and do analysis based on the proposed methodology and data collection tools
• Compile a draft report of findings, lessons learnt and best practices, and challenges
• Present and disseminate the study findings to UNICEF /JPLG and other stakeholders, and validate with PSAWEN for inputs
• Finalize report based on comments from UNICEF/JPLG, MOE and other stakeholders.

Methodology and Technical Approach

To achieve the above, the consultant will use the methodology below:

• Conduct a desk review of key documents related to the assignment including the relevant existing laws and PSAWEN guidelines and policies
• Set up a technical group in the PSAWEN or Ministry of Public Works
• Undertake a desk review on past studies and existing documents on the provision of water services in Puntland as well as decentralization in Puntland and water policies- the national sector policy, and Law 20.
• Conduct a workshop and focus group discussions with PSAWEN officials at central, regional and district levels
• Conduct in depth interviews with key informants including Executive Chief of PSAWEN the Director OF Water Resources Division, , key officials in Regional Coordinators, Water Sanitation and Hygiene Committee , other relevant departments etc and other relevant stakeholders supporting Water Programme in Puntland (eg. UNICEF, UNDP, Save the Children, Horn Relief, Care International).

Expected Deliverables will include

Inception report before commencement of the assignment, outlining the interpretation of TORs and the proposed methodology, detailed budget and work plan

Draft report covering but not limited to the following topics:

• Review of the existing organizational functions and service delivery of PSAWEN, which are performed at subnational levels. Identify:

1. Services delivered in the sector.
2. Role of PSAWEN, Regions/, Districts, NGOs and donors in planning, funding and delivering these services.
3. Costing of services.
4. Laws and regulations defining the service and its delivery.

• Staffing needs, structure and redeployment in accordance with transfer of tasks
• Phasing of transfer of tasks.
• Long term view on future transfer of tasks [second phase of tasks to be transferred.
• Define any proposed role of PSAWEN , staffing/budget in accordance with new division of functional responsibility in consultation with the PSAWEN
• Define the role of the Region [only if they already using the regional level or have plan to do so].
• Sector devolution guidelines, which may include standard issues to be handled: Procedures for transfer of tasks and staff, funding issues, legal issues, etc.
• Final report (soft copy and three hard copies) incorporating inputs and reactions from PSAWEN, Stakeholders and UNICEF/JPLG team.

Qualifications and experience:

• Master’s Degree in Engineering, Communications, Public Relations and Administration, Planning, Sociology or related field.
• Extensive experience in behaviour change communication, adult education in complex and conflict or post conflict settings.
• Minimum 5’ experience
• A sound knowledge of and sensitivity to the social-political environment in which the programme will be conducted, including the environment and its key actors;
• Good knowledge and understanding of facilitation and training, mediation and other process skills
• Significant professional experience in rural communities of Africa.
• Demonstrated strong analytical, writing and problem solving skills required.
• Experience working in Somalia an advantage or East African experience.
• More than five years’ experience in communications/adult education, programme design. Production of sample work is required.
• Willing to travel to Somalia.
• Fluency in written and spoken English

Interested and qualified candidates should send their applications including technical and financial proposals ( in US Dollars) indicating their understanding and interpretation of the terms of reference , budget and capability statement, updated UN Personal History Form (P11), updated CV, copies of academic certificates to the following email address.

UN staffs are requested to provide last two Performance Evaluation Reports (PERs).

Please quote the vacancy number in your application.

Email: somaliahrvacancies@unicef.org

Please note that documents submitted along with your applications will not be returned.

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted

Qualified female candidates are especially encouraged to apply

UNICEF is a non-smoking environment

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