UNICEF WASH Program is centered around 3 priorities as per the TEM Agua strategy developed in 2022: WASH for indigenous and traditional territories, WASH in schools and Municipalities capacity building. In addition to regular program activities, UNICEF WASH also respond to emergencies when relevant. The proposed consultancy will provide a technical support to UNICEF's response to the drought emergency in the Amazon region: since October 2023 in Brazil, all the 62 municipalities in Amazonas state are currently facing a drought emergency. As of 25 October 2, the State of Pará, also declared 20 of its 144 municipalities in emergencies.
UNICEF will give technical support for DSEIs, and priority municipalities which have been affected by drought to develop reverse engineering diagnostics and climate-resilient water safety plans, including technical, and operational support for drilling strategic deep wells in public facilities, and pilot’s projects for rainwater storage systems, and aquifer recharge methodologies.

SCOPE OF WORK:
The aim of this position is to provide technical support and guidance for the implementation of the emergency response strategy in the Amazon.

WORK ASSIGNMENTS OVERVIEW

1.1. WORK ASSIGNMENT 1: Providing technical contributions to the development of a handbook to be used in the training of indigenous sanitation agents in the Amazon region.
1.2. Deliverable: 1 booklet of approximately 50 pages produced.
1.3. TIMELINE - 01 month from the date of contract signature
1.4. ESTIMATE BUDGET – 20,0%

2.1. WORK ASSIGNMENT 2: Recording to UNICEF the experience of applying the WASH-FIT methodology in 3 health facilities in the state of Amazonas affected by drought.
2.2. Deliverable:1 document containing the record of the experience produced..
2.3. TIMELINE- 02 months from the date of contract signature
2.4. ESTIMATE BUDGET – 20,0%

3.1. WORK ASSIGNMENT 3: Recording to UNICEF the experience of implementing a Water Safety Plan (WSP) for the community water supply system of an indigenous community in the state of Amazonas affected by drought.
3.2. Deliverable: 1 document containing the record of the experience produced.
3.3. TIMELINE - 03 months from the date of contract signature
3.4. ESTIMATE BUDGET – 20,0%

4.1. WORK ASSIGNMENT 4: Recording to UNICEF the experience of implementing 3 cisterns and implementing community monitoring strategies for 5 wells in indigenous communities in Amazonas affected by drought.
4.2. Deliverable: 1 document containing the record of the experience produced.
4.3. TIMELINE – 04 months from the date of contract signature
4.4. ESTIMATE BUDGET – 20,0%

5.1. WORK ASSIGNMENT 5: Developing a report containing lessons learned regarding the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) component of the Emergency Response to Drought in the Amazon, considering response and preparedness actions, aiming for the resilience of community water supply systems.
5.2. Deliverable: 1 report recording the experience produced.
5.3. TIMELINE - 05 months from the date of contract signature
5.4. ESTIMATE BUDGET – 20,0%

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED
• University degree, in a subject area relevant to the sector: water and sanitation program management, hygiene promotion, public health.
• Extensive work experience relevant to this consultancy may be considered as a replacement for formal qualifications.
• Experience of emergency humanitarian response an asset.
• Technical knowledge in the agenda related to the rights of children and adolescents.
• Experience in the development of projects focused on access to WASH services for indigenous communities and capacity building of municipalities.

LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY
Portuguese fluent.

TRAVEL PLAN

There will be three 5-day trips, two to Tabatinga and one to São Gabriel da Cachoeira, all departing from Manaus. The travel plan should include 3 days of boat travel to indigenous villages, covering all costs such as boat rental, boatman, fuel, personal protective equipment, insurance, etc. The proposal should encompass costs like airfare, ground transportation within cities, river logistics for travel to villages, and Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA).

COMPETENCIES REQUIRED
• Capacity to work in a high paced environment and to deliver quality and timely results.
• High sense of confidentiality, initiative and good judgment.
• Ability to work effectively with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
• Training and experience using MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other software such as SharePoint.
• Experience using Project Management tools.

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.

GENERAL CONDITIONS: PROCEDURES AND LOGISTICS 

• • Consultant will work from home using own equipment and stationery. UNICEF will provide office space for consultative meetings when needed.
  • Consultant’s, travel costs should be included in the consultant’s fee.
  • No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant and mandatory courses are completed.
  • Consultants will not have any representative, certifying, or approving authority, or supervisory responsibilities or authority on UNICEF budget.
  • The consultant will work remotely on a delivery basis.

FINANCIAL PROPOSAL

• • Costs indicated are estimated. Final rate shall follow “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee.
  • A financial proposal including the fee for the assignment based on the deliverables and number of days must be submitted. Consultants are asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum, administrative cost, travel cost and subsistence costs, as applicable.
  • The payment will be based on submission of agreed 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.

INSURANCE AND HEALTH COVERAGE

• • The contractor is fully responsible for arranging, at his or her own expenses, such life, health and other forms of insurance covering the term of the contract as he or she considers appropriate.
  • The contractor is not eligible to participate in the life or health insurance schemes available to UNICEF and United Nations staff members.

RESTRICTIONS

• • Consultants may not receive training at the expense of UNICEF. Notwithstanding, consultants must complete the applicable mandatory trainings before the signature of the contract;
  • In case of government officials, the contract cannot be issued without prior written clearance by the Government, or unless on leave without pay.

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.