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The Amazon region faces persistent challenges in access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), aggravated by territorial dispersion, low service coverage, and climate change impacts such as severe droughts, extreme floods, and land erosion. These conditions directly affect the health, food security, and education of traditional and rural populations, especially children and adolescents, who face logistical and financial barriers to obtaining basic WASH services.

Limited rural WASH data, weak governance, and scarce technical and financial resources hinder effective public policy. Addressing these gaps requires resilient, participatory, and low-cost solutions that ensure the human right to water and sanitation in the Amazon.

UNICEF Brazil, through the Manaus Zonal Office, supports state and municipal governments and community organizations in advancing integrated WASH solutions aligned with the TEM ÁGUA Strategy. Efforts include strengthening policies, promoting social technologies, expanding access to safe water, and increasing climate resilience in communities across Amazonas, Rondônia, and Acre.

Key initiatives include Brazil’s first Climate-Resilient Water Safety Plan (WSP) in the Indigenous village of Tauaru (Tabatinga-AM), establishing a participatory model for climate risk management; and the WASH in Schools Project in Manaus, which expanded access to safe water and sanitation from Colônia Antônio Aleixo to the Tupé Reserve and now covers all riverside schools in the municipality.

UNICEF also supports the Amazonas State Government in developing a rural water and sanitation agenda and technical tools to mobilize climate finance.

This consultancy aims to systematize and scale-up these experiences, generating evidence, replicating models, and strengthening governance—positioning the UNICEF Manaus Office as a reference in integrated climate-WASH solutions for children and adolescents.

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SCOPE OF WORK

The scope of this consultancy is to provide specialized technical support to the UNICEF Manaus Zonal Office to consolidate, systematize, and scale up WASH initiatives within its area of operation, through the development of technical tools, diagnostics, reports, and methodologies tailored to local contexts.

The consultancy will encompass six interconnected workstreams aimed at generating evidence and strengthening the climate resilience and human rights agenda within the water and sanitation sector:

• Development of an assessment tool to evaluate the climate resilience sensitivity and the extent to which Municipal Water and Sanitation Plans (PMSBs) address the needs and rights of children and adolescents, validated through a case study in the municipality of Careiro da Várzea-AM.
• Development of a WASH Strategy Document for the UNICEF Manaus Zonal Office;
• Formulation of a technical proposal for the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Readiness Programme;
• Systematization of the WASH in Schools Project, consolidating methodologies, results, and public policy recommendations;
• Development and validation of a Rural Water and Sanitation Diagnostic Tool for the Basic Sanitation Micro-Region (MRSB) of Amazonas;
• Interinstitutional mobilization and engagement for the replication of Climate-Resilient Water Safety Plans (WSP);

These deliverables constitute a coherent set of measurable and interdependent products designed to systematize evidence, foster innovation, and strengthen technical and institutional capacity for the implementation of climate-resilient water and sanitation public policies that are responsive to the needs and rights of children and adolescents in the Amazon.

DELIVERABLES

1. Work Assignment overview: Develop a Tool to Assess Climate Resilience and the Inclusion of Children and Adolescents in Municipal Water and Sanitation Plans (PMSB).

Develop an assessment tool (checklist) to identify climate resilience elements and the inclusion of children and adolescents in Municipal Water and Sanitation Plans (PMSB). The work will include a technical alignment meeting with the municipality of Careiro da Várzea-AM and institutional partners, the development of the checklist, and a pilot test in the municipality’s PMSB.

1.1. Deliverables/Outputs: 1 validated assessment checklist and 1 summary report on the pilot application in the PMSB of Careiro da Várzea-AM.

1.2. Deadline: 1 month from the date of contract signature.

1.3. Estimated Budget: 19.05%.

2. Work Assignment overview: Systematize the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Schools Project implemented in Manaus.

Systematize the experience of the WASH in Schools Project (Colônia Antônio Aleixo and RDS do Tupé). Collect and analyze records, reports, and materials produced throughout the different phases of the project. Conduct interviews and systematize methodologies, results, and innovations, generating evidence and recommendations for replication and the formulation of public policies on school WASH.

2.1. Deliverables/Outputs: 1 technical systematization report.

2.2. Deadline: 2 months from the date of contract signature.

2.3. Estimate Budget: 21.43%

3. Work Assignment overview: Develop a Project Proposal for the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Readiness Programme.

A Support the State Secretariat for Urban and Metropolitan Development (SEDURB) in systematizing information on energy matrix and water supply in rural communities across five municipalities of Amazonas, and in coordinating with the Federal Government. Develop a technical document to support a project proposal for the GCF Readiness Programme, strengthening access to climate financing and generating evidence on energy transition in water supply systems in the state.

3.1. Deliverables/Outputs: 1 consolidated technical document with the project proposal.

3.2. Deadline: 2.5 months from the date of contract signature.

3.3. Estimate Budget: 14.29%

4. Work Assignment overview: Support the Development of a Tool and Systematization of a Methodology for Conducting a Rural Water and Sanitation Diagnostic in a Municipality of the Sanitation Micro-Region (MRSB) of Amazonas for the UNICEF Manaus Zonal Office.

Review applicable methodologies; structure and validate a diagnostic tool for assessing rural water and sanitation conditions with institutional partners; and systematize the methodology for conducting the diagnostic.

4.1. Deliverables/Outputs: 1 validated diagnostic tool and 1 summary report with methodological technical note.

4.2. Deadline: 3 months from the date of contract signature.

4.3. Estimate Budget: 11.90%

5. Work Assignment overview: Develop a WASH Strategy Document for the UNICEF Manaus Zonal Office.

Develop a synthesis document that clearly and strategically presents WASH actions led by the UNICEF Manaus Zonal Office, highlighting initiatives, results, evidence, and opportunities for scaling. The work will include mapping and analysis of WASH initiatives implemented by UNICEF and partners in the region, identification of synergies, and strategic recommendations to strengthen programme implementation and resource mobilization.

5.1. Deliverables/Outputs: 1 synthesis document (max. 10 pages) presenting the WASH Strategy of the UNICEF Manaus Zonal Office.

5.2. Deadline: 3.5 months from the date of contract signature.

5.3. Estimate Budget: 9.52%

6. Work Assignment overview: Support the Application and Systematization of the Tauaru Climate-Resilient Water Safety Plan (WSP), Tabatinga-AM.

 Systematize the evidence generated during the development of the Water Safety Plan (WSP), one of the first WSP experience in an Indigenous community in Brazil. Consolidate lessons learned and recommendations for scaling-up.

6.1. Deliverables/Outputs: 1 technical report containing evidence systematization, records of meetings and community feedback sessions, and recommendations for scaling Climate-Resilient WSPs.

6.2. Deadline: 4 months from the date of contract signature.

6.3. Estimate Budget:  23.81%

DURATION OF CONTRACT

4 months

TRAVEL PLAN

• 2 trips to the municipality of Tabatinga (AM), for community feedback, engagement of local stakeholders, and follow-up on the implementation of the Water Safety Plan (WSP) in the Indigenous village of Tauaru. Each trip will last an average of 5 days, including required river and logistical travel. Each travel will include a three-day river expedition to Indigenous villages,  the financial proposal must include all associated costs, such as boat rental, boat operator, fuel, personal protective equipment, insurance, and ground transportation.
• 3 trips to the municipality of Careiro da Várzea (AM), for field application and validation of the assessment tool on climate resilience and the inclusion of children and adolescents in Municipal Water and Sanitation Plans (PMSB), including data collection, , technical meetings, and local feedback sessions with municipal authorities and institutional partners, to serve as technical guidance for the UNICEF Manaus Zonal Office. Each trip will last an average of 1 day, considering river travel from Manaus.

The financial proposal must include all costs related to air, land, and river transport, accommodation, meals, safety equipment, fuel, and insurance.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENT

• A university degree in sanitary engineering, environmental engineering, civil engineering, public health, biological sciences or relevant technical field.
• A minimum of 5 years of professional work experience in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) related programmes for developing countries.
• Knowledge of national government WASH policies, plans and strategies including rural and indigenous water and sanitation practices.
• Experience in WASH-in-Schools.
• Experience in projects focused on access to WASH services for indigenous communities and traditional peoples in the Amazon region.
• Experience with solar pumping systems.
• Experience with climate-resilient WASH technologies and methodologies.
• Experience with Water Safety Plans.

LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

Portuguese

UNICEF’S CORE VALUES

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

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 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:  

Individuals engaged under a consultancy 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. Consultants 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.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.