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How can you make a difference?

Background and Purpose:

The UNICEF Uganda Country Office (UNICEF UCO) seeks to hire a highly competent national consultant to design a popular version of the sanitation design manual which is - regional specific (geographical and cultural appropriate) and user friendly for sanitation players at the lowest level.

These terms of reference include the background of UNICEF’s WASH in institutions programme, a description of the design expectations including purpose, objectives, scope, questions, methodologies, timelines, deliverables, management arrangements, required competencies, as required to prepare a proposal for the evaluation. The expected final design will be agreed between UNICEF and the consultant once the contract is awarded

Justification

Access to safe, sustainable, and culturally acceptable appropriate sanitation solutions remains a challenge for the households in Uganda, particularly in rural and peri-urban settings. While the Sanitation Design Manual provides comprehensive technical guidance, its length, complexity, and technical language limit practical use by frontline implementers - especially masons, local builders, and community artisans.

Many sanitation facilities fail or underperform because designs do not sufficiently reflect Uganda’s diverse geographical (soil type, climate, water table) and cultural contexts (privacy norms, gender considerations, taboos). There is a need for a short, simple, highly visual resource that distills the Manual’s key elements into a practical form for direct field use.

This consultancy seeks to create, learner-friendly, fully illustrated booklet with design options that cater to the various regions of Uganda. The resource will serve as a “go-to” field guide for masons and local sanitation practitioners in both rural and urban areas.

Objectives

UNICEF will support the Government of Uganda to develop a concise, easy-to-use, and fully illustrated popular version of the Sanitation Design Manual that incorporates regional geographical realities and cultural practices, enabling masons and local implementers to construct safe, sustainable, and acceptable sanitation facilities with minimal reliance on technical supervision.

Programme Objective:

To enhance the usability and practical uptake of sanitation design guidance by producing a short, illustrated, and regionally adapted booklet that masons can easily apply in the field

Description of the assignment:

1. Review the key designs, specifications, and recommendations most relevant to field application, based on the available materials and document.
2. Provide a variety of design options tailored to Uganda’s different geographical conditions and cultural sensitivities.
3. Integrate practical tips for addressing local cultural norms, beliefs, and taboos that may influence sanitation adoption.
4. Explain the illustrated steps for construction to guide by adapting technical content into clear, step-by-step instructions supported by culturally sensitive illustrations.
5. Field test and refine the resource with input from masons and community representatives.

Detailed scope of the assignment:

The consultant will:

• Review and analyze the existing documents, manuals and all other relevant national/regional WASH policies, and design standards.
• Engage stakeholders (through brief consultations) to identify key topics, priority content, and preferred presentation styles for the popular version.
• Simplify technical content in plain language with essential technical accuracy.
• Incorporate Regional Context:
• Adapt designs, specifications, and recommendations to reflect local climatic conditions, materials availability, and cultural preferences.
• Include examples and case studies from the regions – regional technical options will be defined, and the national manual will be a comprehensive collection of all regional options.
• Develop Illustrations & Visuals:
• Create region-specific drawings, infographics, and photo-based visuals.
• Ensure visuals are culturally sensitive and easy to interpret.
• Design layout for print and digital formats, ensuring:
• Logical flow of sections.
• Clear headings, call-out boxes, tips, and step-by-step guides.
• High-resolution images and accessible font sizes.
• Produce a draft of the abridged version for review by the Ministry of Water and Environment and other stakeholders
• Incorporate Feedback from stakeholders and finalize the document.

Major Tasks:

1. Inception meeting to brief the consultants about the design
2. Desk Review
3. Conduct field visits to collect data
4. Data analysis and presentation of draft design manual
5. Conduct a validation meeting
6. Finalize the Final Abridged Design Manual Incorporating inputs and addressing comments from stakeholders. Submission of report to UNICEF.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Technical Qualifications:

1. Advanced Degree in Civil Engineering, Water and Sanitation Engineering, Environmental Health, or a related field.
2. Excellent writing and communication skills, with a track record of developing compelling reports, case studies, briefs, and advocacy materials.
3. Proven ability to translate technical insights into actionable policy and program recommendations for diverse audiences, including government and donors.
4. Strong collaboration and relationship-building skills to build and nurture relationships and partnerships.
5. The consultant should have more than 10 years of experience in design of WASH documents and guidelines and interventions in developing countries.
6. The consultant should have proven experience in technical content simplification and development of popular/illustrated versions of manuals or guides.
7. The consultant should have knowledge of WASH sector and sanitation design principles.
8. Familiarity with regional/local context in sanitation practices and infrastructure.
9. A sound and comprehensive understanding of the Uganda Water and Sanitation sector and its policy framework at various levels.
10. A good understanding of the fundamentals of School and health facility WASH and applicability of the approach for adequate participation of children.
11. A sound understanding of the dynamics of the WASH sector in Uganda in context of cross cutting issues such as gender, Human rights, PWDs among others.
12. Understanding of the SDG’s and provisions of the UNCRC that address the rights of children to access potable water, sound hygiene and sanitation facilities.
13. Demonstrated experience in conducting surveys, especially in health facilities and school contexts as well as working with children.

Skills and Abilities:

• • Good documentation and report writing skills.
  • Ability to work in a multicultural environment.
  • Adaptability to changing environments and demonstrated flexibility in work style.
  • Production of high-quality deliverables on time.
  • Excellent English written and oral communication skills.
  • Excellent analytical, research and report writing skills.
  • Good communication and relationship-building skills.

Desirable:

• Previous experience working with UNICEF
• Expertise in graphic design, illustration, and layout for print and digital publications is an added advantage

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 committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. 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 for ensuring 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.