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For every child, Hope

Purpose of Activity/Assignment
Urban areas in West and Central Africa face significant challenges in accessing safe water, adequate sanitation, and proper hygiene facilities (WASH). Rapid urbanization, coupled with inadequate infrastructure and services and climate changes impacts on services, exacerbates these challenges, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations such as children, women, and marginalized communities.
UNICEF aims to conduct a comprehensive landscape analysis to better understand the current status, gaps, and opportunities for urban WASH programming in the region.
Contrary to the general notion that children in rural areas live in poverty while children in urban areas are relatively well off, not all children benefit from the ‘advantage’ that cities provide. This was evident during the COVID-19 pandemic and in its aftermath, where children and their families in urban areas were in some countries hit harder.

Children living in cities are particularly vulnerable to climate change- almost 70 percent of cities are already dealing with the effects of climate change, and nearly all are at risk. Climate change is a threat multiplier, disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable. Much of the world’s urban population lives in coastal cities and in slums and informal settlements, often in low lying areas. Unplanned urban expansion is a key driver of environmental degradation and risk. Children in urban settings are exposed to environmental pollutants in air, water and soil. Industrial growth and urbanization contribute to air pollution, which affects over 90 per cent of children around the world. Children living in urban areas are also vulnerable to a broad range of toxic metals and chemicals due to improper household, industrial and electronic waste (e-waste) management and disposal, and hospital waste incineration. Urban settings, especially large urban areas tend to be more complex and fragmented and have people from different ethnic, linguistic and socio-economically diverse groups living side by side.

Even within a single urban setting, there can be multiple contexts, from highly developed city centers to slums and informal settlements. Several actors are involved in delivering infrastructure, utilities and services, while competing for public attention and resources: public sector, private sector, resident collectives and social groups, but often do not address issues of equity and quality of such services. City governments with different layers and multiple structures is complex and often lack the capacity to plan for urban growth strategically and equitably. Even when they have the capacity, planning lags, with people coming to cities faster than the planning process can incorporate them. Dealing with slums and informal settlements remains one of the main challenges for many urban governments globally. Urban governments either do not have the planning tools to deal with rapid urbanization, or the tools in place are not sufficiently responsive. Urban planning function in many countries have been relegated to market forces with services and infrastructure development privatized and splintered between affluent and poorer areas.

The overall aim of UNICEF urban programming is to make cities safe, resilient, inclusive and sustainable for children. Delivering results for children at scale in urban settings requires a differentiated and targeted approach to address the complex challenges outlined above. The 2019 UNICEF Global Framework for urban WASH programming and UNICEF WASH strategic plan 2022-2025 are the reference documents that provide baseline for UNICEF programming in Urban areas, considering UNICEF’s niche and added value.


The primary objectives of this landscape analysis are two-fold:
• Assess the status of urban WASH programming in West and Central Africa, focusing on:
• Identifying urban WASH challenges associated with the specific context of the region: public health, climate change, governance, emergencies, and any others as identified.
• Identifying key stakeholders, including government agencies, non-governmental organizations, private sector entities, and community-based organizations, involved in urban WASH initiatives and analyze their strategies and financial / investment policies.
• Compile and analyze UNICEF urban WASH programing initiatives in the region, evaluating their effectiveness and relevance to contribute to on health outcomes, gender equality, and social inclusion and climate change adaptation, identifying challenges and barriers hindering the implementation of urban WASH programs, such as funding constraints, governance issues, and institutional capacity gaps and opportunities based on successful practices, innovations, and lessons learned.
• Develop strategic document for UNICEF WASH programming.
• Document good examples and lessons learned (field note or reference guide template)


How can you make a difference?
Scope of Work
The landscape analysis will cover the West and Central Africa Region of UNICEF. The analysis will include desk research, key informant interviews and data collection from primary and secondary sources. It will involve collaboration with government agencies, UN agencies, international organizations, academic institutions, and civil society groups working on urban WASH issues in the region as per guidance from UNICEF regional and specific country offices.

The methodology for conducting the landscape analysis will include the following:
• Desk review of relevant literature, reports, policies, and program documents related to UNICEF urban WASH programming in West and Central Africa.
• Key informant interviews with representatives from UNICEF and as required government agencies, UN agencies, NGOs, private sector entities, and community-based organizations.
• Data analysis to synthesize findings, identify trends, and draw conclusions regarding the current state of urban WASH programming in the region.
• The following deliverables are expected from the landscape analysis:
• Inception Report: Providing a detailed work plan, methodology, and timeline for the study within two weeks of the commencement of the consultancy.
• Draft Landscape Analysis Report: Presenting preliminary findings, key insights, and recommendations for review and feedback within eight weeks of the consultancy.
• Final Landscape Analysis Report: Incorporating feedback received and presenting a comprehensive analysis, including an executive summary, findings, conclusions, and recommendations, within twelve weeks of the consultancy.


Work Assignments Overview Deliverables/Outputs Delivery deadline
• Provide a detailed work plan, methodology, and timeline for the study within two weeks of the commencement of the consultancy.
• Draft Landscape Analysis Report: within eight weeks of the consultancy.
• Final Landscape Analysis Report: Incorporating feedback received and presenting a comprehensive analysis, including an executive summary, findings, conclusions, and recommendations, within twelve weeks of the consultancy. Inception report 15.04.2024
• Presenting preliminary findings, key insights, and recommendations for review and feedback Draft Landscape Analysis Report 01.06.2024
• Incorporating feedback received and presenting a comprehensive analysis, including an executive summary, findings, conclusions, and recommendations Final Landscape Analysis Report 30.06.2024

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
• Advanced (Master) University Degree in Public Health, Engineering, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Communications Sciences, International Relations, or related fields.
• A Bachelor’s degree with 8 years of relevant work experience in lieu of a Master degree is acceptable.
• A minimum of 8 years’ experience in the WASH sector, related with management of water and/or sanitation programmes in developing countries.
• Expertise in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programming, with a focus on urban contexts and development issues in West and Central Africa.
• Experience in conducting landscape analyses, assessments, or evaluations related to WASH or similar sectors.
• Strong analytical and research skills, including proficiency in qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis methods.
• Familiarity with the socio-economic, cultural, and political context of West and Central Africa, particularly regarding urban development and WASH challenges.
• Excellent communication and report writing skills in English or French,
• Fluency in English or French, with proficiency in both languages preferred.


Other Requirements
• Completed profile in UNICEF’s e-Recruitment system /Resume
• Academic credentials/certificates
• Consultancy proposal

Financial proposal that will include:
• Costs for each deliverable and total all-inclusive (lump sum) fees for the whole assignment
• Travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per ToR
• Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable
• Previously relevant consultancy products & final evaluations (if available)
• Indicate your availability
• At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.
• Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.


For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).
To view our competency framework, please visit? here.
UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.
UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.