Background Information – Job-specific

The WASH KP and Sindh project

Funded by USAID, the project “Improved Access to Water and Sanitation Services in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh” was initiated in September 2021. The project aims at improving access to clean and safe water, hygiene and sanitation and increasing the resilience of communities affected by floods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh provinces. It is expected to last 5 years, until December 2026.

The project is articulated around three main components:

• Improve quality and reach of water supply services and increase access to community and household sanitation (Infrastructure);
• Provide more effective, gender-responsive, and transparent WASH services through enhanced capacity of government and communities (Capacity Building);
• Reduce waterborne diseases and improve the resilience of communities through improved community and household hygiene practices (Behavioral Change).
• The project is currently endowed with USD 7.5 million. It is expected that other donors will join and increase the budget and scope of UNOPS’ overall WASH program of activities in Pakistan.
• The project will start with a participatory needs assessment phase in coordination with all its stakeholders in view of identifying priorities and precising the specific outputs under each of the three components of the project.
• Among the first positions to be hired, WASH Specialist, based in Peshawar with frequent travels to Karachi, will be part of the backbone of the new project team.

Functional Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Project Manager or her/his Deputy, the WASH Specialist will perform the following tasks:

Liaison and relationship building with WASH stakeholders

• Increase UNOPS profile in the sector of WASH in Pakistan;
• Represent UNOPS in relevant WASH meetings and events, including UN coordination mechanisms;
• Liaise with WASH government and donor counterparts;
• Advise Country Manager and partnerships team on strategic direction and government priorities in the WASH sector.

Assessment of WASH needs

• Prepare, conduct, analyze and report on assessments of WASH needs for all three components of the project (infrastructure, capacity building, and behavioral change).
• Prepare needs assessments:
• Conduct secondary research.
• Conduct stakeholders mapping and analysis.
• Coordinate with all stakeholders to collect available data.
• Review and report on the data available (type, reliability, representativity, etc).
• Propose assessments’ goals, targets, scope, methodology, and tools.
• Prepare the assessments procedures and data collection protocols.
• Prepare the assessment tools (forms, interviews, questionnaires, etc.).
• Set up the assessment tools (data collection software).
• Support the procurement of data collection services (draft of TOR, evaluation of bids, etc.).

Conduct needs assessments:

• Train Data Collectors.
• Liaise with authorities and all relevant stakeholders to facilitate data collection.
• Supervise work of Data Collectors in the field.
• Conduct personally complex technical assessments of existing water and sanitation infrastructures.
• Identify and troubleshoot issues in the data collection.
• Perform quality control to ensure high accuracy during data collection.

Analyze data collected:

• Clean raw data collected.
• Organize, cluster, merge or separate data as necessary.
• Perform data analysis by applying analytical and statistical techniques.
• Develop dashboards, tables, graphs, and charts for data representation.
• Perform quality control to ensure high accuracy during data analysis.

Report on findings:

• Draft structured, concise, and comprehensive reports on assessments findings.
• Suggest possible courses of action for WASH interventions.

Conception and planning of WASH interventions

• Guide the conception and planning of the WASH interventions for all three components of the project (infrastructure, capacity building, and behavioral change).
• Conceptualize and plan interventions:
• Prepare log frames of WASH interventions (inputs, outputs, outcomes, impact).
• Plan the interventions (including a draft of proposals, design briefs, etc.).
• Prepare realistic and detailed interventions schedules.
• Advice on necessary resources and contribute to budget preparation.
• Provide guidance on the applicable regulatory framework
• Research and summarize the national legal and regulatory framework applicable to the planned interventions (on water and sanitation, environment, construction, etc.).
• Record, organize, and disseminate this information to all concerned stakeholders (Engineers, International Consultants, Design Firms, etc.).

Development of WASH infrastructure interventions

• Advise the engineering team in the design of the infrastructure interventions:
• Develop conceptual design and prepare design briefs related to water and sanitation works centered on the end user’s needs and which meet stakeholders’ requirements, UNOPS quality standards, project’s objectives, and budget constraints.
• Take into account the specific needs of users based on gender, age, disabilities, socio-cultural norms, etc. Maintain a strong focus on economies of resources and sustainability.
• Consider all stages of an infrastructure life cycle (design and planning, raw material acquisition, materials processing, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, decommissioning, recycling) and optimize the value for money of the infrastructure proposed.

Development of WASH capacity building interventions

• Prepare detailed tailored capacity-building plans based on the gaps identified in the needs assessment.
• Analyze partner’s policies and processes and propose modifications in view of improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the WASH services delivered.
• Conduct participatory workshops with partners to refine the understanding of the service gaps’ causes, their capacity-building needs, and their expectations.
• Develop/review capacity-building methods and material (courses, seminars, workshops, etc.).
• Identify potential trainers and relevant service providers. Prepare TORs for training providers.

Development of WASH community engagement interventions

• Prepare detailed tailored community engagement plans based on the gaps identified in the needs assessment.
• Analyze the community practices and dynamics and propose interventions in view of improving the management/maintenance of water supply/water sanitation facilities (e.g. improve access, ownership, operation & maintenance, revenue generation and funding of maintenance, etc.), hygiene practices, and resilience of the communities in terms of access to safe water and sanitation.
• Conduct participatory workshops with communities to refine the understanding of the issues they face, better understand their needs and their expectations.
• Advice on community engagement methods and material (activities, mobilization or creation of community groups, mass media campaigns, etc.).
• Prepare a call for proposals for NGOs.

Participation in WASH procurement processes

• Participate in the preparation of WASH services/works tender documents, advising the PM and other team members on the best selection criteria, and drafting documents in UNOPS e-sourcing procurement system.
• Participate in tender processes, including but not limited to conducting pre-bid meetings, providing clarifications to bidders, leading site visits, participating in bids opening, etc. (acting in full compliance with the provision of the Procurement Manual).
• Participate in the evaluation of bids, conducting detailed and substantiated technical evaluations and verification/assessment of the references submitted by the bidders (acting in full compliance with the provision of the Procurement Manual).

Monitoring, quality assurance, and reporting on WASH interventions

• Contribute to set up and manage remote supervision systems, including but not limited to the setup of remote monitoring systems based on the “UNOPS Sites” application, the design of implementation dashboards (in collaboration with Data Analysts and ICT Specialists), and the review and acceptance/rejection of completed WASH interventions).
• Conduct regular field visits of WASH interventions under all three components of the project, assess the quality of the interventions, and coordinate with other UNOPS and partners personnel (Lead Engineers, Site Engineers, Community Mobilizers, Trainers, Government Officials, Community Leaders, etc.) to address any potential issue.
• Perform quality assurance and quality control for all WASH interventions.
• Report timely and qualitatively on the progress of the WASH interventions, with a focus on impact, quality, risks, and issues, and lessons learned.

Business development

• Keep track of government and donor WASH priorities.
• Assist the Partnership team in developing new WASH project proposals.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education:

• Master Degree in Water Engineering; Water, Waste & Environmental Engineering; Water, Sanitation & Waste Engineering; Hydrology & Water Management or equivalent.
• A Bachelor’s Degree in Water Engineering; Water, Waste & Environmental Engineering; Water, Sanitation & Waste Engineering; Hydrology & Water Management or equivalent plus two additional years of relevant experience in lieu of a master’s degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of relevant and progressive professional experience in the field of Water Engineering or Water Management.
• Demonstrated experience in all three components of the project (WASH infrastructure, capacity building, and behavioral change) is an asset.
• Experience with NGOs or governmental agencies active in the WASH sector in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or Sindh province is an asset

Language Requirements:

• Full professional knowledge of English is essential.
• Fluency in Urdu and one or more Pakistan regional languages (in particular Pashto or Sindhi) is an advantage.

Source:https://jobs.unops.org/Pages/ViewVacancy/VADetails.aspx?id=22926#5