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For every child, hygiene
In Nigeria, UNICEF works in a complex humanitarian and development setting to fulfill and protect children's rights in partnership with the government, civil society, children, and families. UNICEF Nigeria is one of the largest UNICEF Country Offices globally - click the link to learn more about UNICEF in Nigeria: https://www.unicef.org/nigeria/
Background:
Benue State, like many other states in Nigeria, faces significant challenges in providing sustainable and equitable access to Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) services to its population. While considerable efforts have been made by the State Government, development partners, and communities, the sustainability and effectiveness of these interventions often depend on the institutional capacity of the various actors involved, particularly at the local government level. Notably, the State Governor had approved the reviewed State WASH Policy and Water Law which recognizes WASH Departments in Local Government Areas (LGAs). However, Benue State is still carrying out final bureaucratic processes for the upgrade of LGA WASH units to department status.
LGA WASH Units are critical in coordinating, implementing, and monitoring WASH programs at the grassroots level. Their effectiveness directly impacts the delivery of services to rural and peri-urban communities including the attainment and sustainability of Open Defecation Free (ODF) status. However, these units often operate with varying levels of human, financial, technical, and logistical capacities, which can hinder their ability to effectively fulfill their mandates.
This Institutional Capacity Assessment aims to comprehensively evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) of the 23 LGA WASH Units in Benue State as they are upgraded to departments. The findings will inform strategies for targeted capacity building, institutional strengthening, and improved coordination to enhance WASH service delivery across the state.
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Specific Objectives:
- To map the current organizational structure, staffing, and functional responsibilities of each LGA WASH Unit.
- To assess the human resource capacity of each LGA WASH Unit, including qualifications, skills, and training needs of personnel.
- To evaluate the financial management systems and resource allocation for WASH activities at the LGA level.
- To assess the technical capacity of the LGA WASH Units in key areas such as WASH planning, project implementation, water quality monitoring, sanitation promotion, hygiene education, and data management.
- To review the existing operational procedures, tools, and equipment available to the LGA WASH Units.
- To identify the inter-sectoral coordination mechanisms and partnerships of the LGA WASH Units with relevant stakeholders (e.g., Ministry of Water Resources, RUWASSA, Water Board/Corporation, health departments, community-based organizations, CSOs, private sector).
- To conduct a comparative analysis btw ODF LGAs and those not ODF, for evaluating potential institutional factors contributing to ODF success and inform targeted capacity-building strategies for non-ODF LGAs.
- To identify key challenges, gaps, and opportunities for strengthening the institutional capacity of the LGA WASH Units.
- To provide actionable recommendations for capacity building interventions, institutional reforms, and resource mobilization strategies to enhance the performance of the LGA WASH Units.
Work Assignment Overview:
Task/Milestone
1.Initial consultation/engagement with stakeholders, UNICEF and inception meetings with the stakeholders at the state level and to clarify the requirements of the consultancy.
Deliverables/ Outputs
Detailed workplan and Inception report submitted
Task/Milestone
2.Produce and share the workplan that clearly outlines the objectives, key activities, and timeline for the consultancy and initiate the process.
Deliverables/ Outputs
Detailed workplan and Inception report submitted
Task/Milestone
3.Conduct a desk review of all relevant documents, surveys, reports; prepare the process and tools; and produce a synthesis of the background information and context for LGA WASH Units in Benue. This will include review of policies, plans, protocols, strategies, stakeholder (roles and responsibilities) and related documents, markets to proffer appropriate strategies institutional strengthening in Benue state.
Deliverables/ Outputs
Summary synthesis of the available background information of Benue
Task/Milestone
4. Conduct Situational Assessment on the existing situation in 6 ODF LGAs and 6 non-ODF LGAs: This will include research and other analysis such as stakeholder, institutional analysis. Surveys, key informants’ interview (KII), Focus Group Discussions and consultative studies can be used to collect and document information at the state, LGAs and communities.
Deliverables/ Outputs
Sample of tools used for the survey, KII and data collection Draft outline of assessment report (for review by UNICEF team) Summary of the findings of the assessment.
Task/Milestone
5. Conduct a review Workshop with relevant stakeholders to validate the assessment report.
Deliverables/ Outputs
Report of the stakeholders’ workshop
Task/Milestone
6.Finalize assessment report, including pictures of key activities, lessons learnt, and results of consultancy.
Deliverables/ Outputs
Final assessment report
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Minimum requirements:
An Advanced degree in Sanitation, Development Studies, Public Health, Community Health, Public Administration, WASH Engineering, Social and Behavior Change Communication and any other related field with at least 5years of experience.
A university degree in public health, social sciences, social and behavior change communication, sanitation and water supply engineering, M&E for WASH or other specialist field related to WASH is required with at least 10years of experience.
Institutional capacity assessments, organizational development, or similar evaluations, preferably in the WASH sector in Nigeria or West Africa. Strong understanding of the WASH sector in Nigeria, particularly at the state and local government levels. Expertise in qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, data collection, and analysis. Proven experience in developing and applying capacity assessment tools. Familiarity with governance structures and public administration at the LGA level in Nigeria. Excellent analytical, report writing, and presentation skills. Ability to work independently and as part of a team, and to deliver high-quality outputs within agreed timelines. Experience in stakeholder engagement and facilitation of workshops.
S/he should also have a solid writing skill in English language, with experience in producing written analysis of WASH issues and evidence of having done similar kind of work at the sub-national level in the focus region.
For every Child, you demonstrate...
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
The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…
(1) Builds and maintains partnerships
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with others
UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.
We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
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 is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.
All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.
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.