National Wash Expert-Consultant at VIS (Volontariato Internazionale per lo Sviluppo), Ethiopia

Terms of Reference (ToR)

Position Title: National WASH Expert-Consultant

Projects:

Humanitarian Relief Operations and Protection in Emergency for vulnerable households and IDPs in Tigray (‘HOPEfT’), funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) in Mekelle, Adwa, Adigrat and Shire.

Food and Water Emergency in Tigray, funded by the Presidency of the Council of Ministers (8×1000) in Adigrat, Adwa and Mekelle.

Reporting to: Project Coordinator

Location: Tigray Region, Ethiopia – Mekelle, Adigrat, Adwa and Shire

1. General Responsibilities:The National WASH Expert will provide technical oversight, leadership, and support for the WASH activities in both the HOPE for Tigray and Food and Water Emergency projects. This will include the provision of safe drinking water, sanitation and water infrastructures rehabilitation, and hygiene promotion activities, ensuring that all activities are carried out in accordance with Sphere standards and project objectives.

HOPE for Tigray Project Overview:

The HOPE for Tigray project focuses on alleviating the immediate emergency needs of vulnerable households and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Tigray region, with particular attention to the needs of women, children, and pregnant and lactating mothers.

Outcome: The project aims to address the most pressing needs of conflict-affected households, focusing on nutritious food access, safe drinking water, education, and protection services for vulnerable groups, especially women and children.

Key Outputs:

1. Access to Nutritious Food and Basic NFIs: Improved through Multi-Purpose Cash Transfers (MPC) and food supplements for both IDP and host communities.
2. WASH:Equitable access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities for IDPs and host communities.
3. Education in Emergency: Increased formal and informal education opportunities in target areas.
4. Protection: Survivors of SGBV and other forms of violence will receive trauma-informed psychosocial support.

The WASH output will focus on rehabilitating water infrastructure and improving hygiene practices, ensuring that all vulnerable communities, especially women, children, and PWDs, have access to clean and safe drinking water, along with adequate sanitation.

8×1000 Project Overview:The 8×1000 project is focused on improving the living conditions of Ethiopian communities affected by the conflict in Tigray. The project specifically targets vulnerable groups, including women, children and pregnant and lactating mothers, aiming to improve health, sanitation, and self-sufficiency. It addresses critical needs by providing access to safe drinking water, enhancing hygiene practices, and ensuring food security to reduce malnutrition and disease risks.

Outcome: The project aims to improve the overall health and self-sufficiency of conflict-affected communities, particularly vulnerable groups, by: i) ensuring access to clean drinking water for 1,200 households ii) improving hygiene practices in 1,000 households iii) reducing waterborne diseases and malnutrition in target communities.

Key Inputs:

1. Water Distribution: Providing clean water through water trucks and rehabilitating water points/water schemes/handpumps in Adigrat, Adwa and Mekelle.
2. Hygiene Kits: Distributing essential hygiene materials to 1,000 families.
3. Hygiene Training: Conducting sessions to promote improved hygiene behaviors.
4. Monitoring and Evaluation: Regular assessments to track progress and ensure the effectiveness of interventions.

1. Key Responsibilities:

2.1. Technical Oversight and Coordination of WASH Activities:

• Field visits, data collection and technical feasibility studies.
• Preparation/Verification of BoQs, technical specifications and technical drawings (if needed).
• Oversee and ensure the quality of all WASH-related activities, including water distribution, water points/water schemes/handpumps rehabilitation, water quality monitoring, and hygiene promotion.
• Lead the design, implementation, and monitoring of water supply and sanitation interventions to ensure compliance with Sphere standards.
• Supervise the rehabilitation of water points/water schemes/handpumps, including site technical assessments and construction of ramps to improve accessibility for PwDs, rehabilitation of latrines, and installation/rehabilitation of solar pumping systems.
• Ensure the accessibility of WASH services for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), including infrastructures that meets the needs of all beneficiaries.
• Ensure regular water quality testing and compliance with safe drinking water standards for all distributions of water by trucks or rehabilitated water sources.
• Support the preparation of RFQs/Tenders for selecting external companies to carry out rehabilitation works, evaluate technical proposals, and validate progress and final reports submitted by contractors.

WASH Activities to be monitored and coordinated:

• Accessibility measures for 3 water points at SDB Centers Shire, Adwa, Mekelle (HOPEfT – 6.000 €)
  • Construction of 3 latrines near water points at SDB Centers Shire, Adwa, Mekelle (HOPEfT – 42.000 €)
  • Installation of solar pump for the water well in Adwa (60.000 €) and Rehabilitation of Water Wells in Shire (16.365,97 €) and Mekelle (27.003,85 €) (HOPEfT)
  • Water purification interventions in Tigray – after discussion with LAs and WASH Cluster (10.000 €)
  • Water point rehabilitation in Tigray – after discussion with LAs and WASH Cluster (20.000 € – 60.000 €)
• Represent VIS under the Works Contract, ensuring proper execution.
• Review and comment on contractor documents (performance security, work programs, method statements, etc.).
• Prepare and submit disbursement schedules and quality assurance plans.
• Organize inspections and testing of materials, and review test results.
• Monitor progress, ensuring adherence to the schedule and contract.
• Review contractor’s equipment, materials, and labor; verify adequate resources for project progress.
• Review reports and documents submitted by Contractor;
• Provide guidance on interpreting the Works Contract and compliance.
• Prepare reports on project progress, issues, and payments.
• Perform all other tasks, not specifically mentioned above, but which are necessary and essential to ensure the successful supervision and control of all the construction activities, in accordance with the terms of the Works Contract.

2.2. Construction Supervision:

As the Engineer responsible for supervising works (according to FIDIC guidelines and IFAD Conditions of Contract), the Consultant will:

2.3. Post-Construction Services:

• Inspect works during the Defects Liability Period, prepare final deficiency lists, and supervise remedial works.
• Coordinate the final inspection and issue a Final Acceptance Certificate and Final Payment Certificate.

2.4. Community Engagement and Stakeholder Coordination:

• Coordinate with local authorities, WASH clusters, and stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of WASH activities.
• Collaborate with local authorities to select beneficiaries for water distribution programs and ensure inclusivity.
• Compile and submit regular progress reports to donors and stakeholders, ensuring they align with agreed targets and indicators.

2.5. Reporting

The Consultant shall prepare and submit the following reports in English and in an approved format (Microsoft Office and PDF). All reports and documents related to the services, including maps, BoQs, drawings and survey notes, shall become the property of VIS.

1. Inception ReportThe Inception Report for the construction supervision services shall be submitted within after mobilization of the Consultant’s supervision team, and shall include at least the following:

• The Consultant’s state of mobilization;
• Any changes to the composition of the Consultant’s team;
• Proposed methodology for carrying out the services, including quality, progress and cost control, and ensuring compliance with environmental protection and other requirements;
• Proposed site communication procedures and recordkeeping;
• Detailed program of work, showing time, duration and personnel, as well as inter-relationship between activities;
• Format of Monthly Progress Reports.
• Physical and financial progress compared to the schedule.
• Quality of construction and materials.
• Environmental, health, and safety issues.
• Progress on variations and claims.
• Consultant and contractor activities.
• Financial and physical summary of the Works;
• Summary of contract data and variation orders;
• Engineering report;
• As-built drawings, in hard copies and CDs;
• Copies of important Project records, properly indexed and presented as annexes to the Main Report;
• Relevant comments on the Project that may help in the future implementation of similar projects;
• Picture album.

2.5.2 Monthly Progress ReportsMonthly Progress Reports shall be submitted during the construction period, within five days after the end of each reporting period. These reports shall cover:

2.5.3. Final Completion ReportWithin one month after completion of the Works, the Consultant shall prepare a Final Report which will form a comprehensive record of the construction works including any changes or modification of designs, problems encountered and solutions, recommended operational procedures, expenses and variations. The Final Report shall include the following among others:

2.5.4.Special ReportsIn addition to the above reports, the Consultant shall prepare and submit to VIS any other reports as necessary.

3. Deliverables:

Deliverable	Description	Content
1. Feasibility Study and Inception Report   8×1000	Conduct an initial needs assessment to identify specific water and sanitation access needs, hygienic conditions, and barriers for People with Disabilities (PWDs).	-Meeting and discussion with the WASH Cluster (Tigray regional level) to select the most vulnerable and needy areas and then with the local authorities of the selected areas (zonal and woreda level) to identify specific sites; -Technical visits of the sites for the final selection, according to the available budget; -Analysis of technical documents, if any, of damaged water systems/handpumps and feasibility study. -Preparation of BoQs and technical specification (drawings if needed) – Support in preparing the RFQs/Tenders for the selection of external companies responsible for the rehabilitation of the water schemes/water points/handpumps.
2. Bill of Quantities (BoQs) and Technical Specifications for Water Point Rehabilitation   HOPEfT and 8×1000	Prepare/Verification of BoQs and technical specifications for the rehabilitation of 3 key water points in the SDB compounds of Shire, Adwa, and Mekelle. Preparation of RFQs/Tenders and Evaluation of Technical Proposals.	– Technical specifications and cost analysis for rehabilitation works. – Technical specifications for rehabilitation (water points, ramps, latrines, solar pumping systems…). – Support in preparing the RFQs/Tenders for the selection of external companies responsible for the rehabilitation of the water points. – RFQs/Tenders and technical evaluation reports. – Identification of qualified contractors via competitive procurement. – Technical evaluation reports of the bids received. – Participate to the financial evaluation. Additionally, the expert will participate as a technical advisor in the evaluation of the technical proposals submitted by the companies.
3. WASH Activities Progress Report	Provide monthly progress reports on WASH activities, including water distribution, quality, and sanitation.	– Status update on water distribution (quantities, households). – Monitoring results of water quality testing. – Progress on rehabilitation works (water points, latrines). – Community engagement and feedback.
4. Water Point Accessibility and Quality Monitoring Report	Monitor accessibility of rehabilitated water points, ensuring equitable access for all, including PWDs.	– Technical supervision of the contractors responsible for the rehabilitation of water points (verification of the submission of technical progress reports based on the contract). The WASH expert will review and approve the reports so that payments can be made. The same procedure will apply upon the completion of the work, with a final inspection and approval of the completion report before processing the final payment. – Monitor and supervision of the work on-site to ensure it matches the Bill of Quantities (BoQs) and other specifications. – Regular reports on accessibility (ramps, latrines). – Water quality testing results ensuring safe drinking water. – Feedback and recommendations from the community, with a focus on PWDs concerns.
5. Endline WASH Evaluation Report	Conduct a final evaluation of WASH activities, including water point rehabilitation, water quality, sanitation, and hygiene practices.	– Assessment of the overall impact on access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene. – Lessons learned and recommendations for future WASH interventions. – Final validation reports of the works carried out by the companies at the end of the liability period. – Endline data analysis, comparing with baseline and midline results.

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