Scope of Work: Under the direct supervision of UNICEF’s WASH focal point, and in close cooperation with the Institute of Public Health of Montenegro (IPH), national and local health authorities, municipalities, and water utilities, the consultant will be responsible to deliver the following services:

• Conduct a situational analysis and capacity assessment for WSP implementation
• Develop and pilot WSPs in at least 3 selected priority locations / municipalities, including healthcare facilities and/or water supply systems.
• Build the capacity of national and local authorities for WSP implementation, monitoring, and review through onsite training of trainers for WSP.
• Provide technical recommendations to support the development of a regulatory and policy framework for WSP institutionalization and development of a national WASH and IPC Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for PHC facilities.
• Develop a national roadmap for the scale-up and sustainability of WSPs, in line with Montenegro’s international obligations and EU accession requirements

Objective: To strengthen Montenegro’s national and local capacities for risk-based water safety management through the development, piloting, and institutionalization of Water Safety Plans, contributing to improved drinking water quality, public health protection, and compliance with EU and international standards.

Review of Legal and Regulatory Framework

• Analyze the existing legal and policy framework related to drinking water quality and WSP implementation in Montenegro, including alignment with EU Directive 2020/2184 and WHO guidelines
• Identify gaps in legislation, standards, and institutional mandate

Situational Analysis and Capacity Assessment

Development of Water Safety Plans (WSPs) for Pilot Sites

• Together with national stakeholders identify and select at least three pilot sites
• Conduct hazard and risk assessments for the entire water supply chain at each site (source to point-of-use)
• Develop WSPs in accordance with WHO and EU standards​
• Ensure WSPs include climate-resilient risk mitigation and emergency response components​

Capacity Building for WSP Implementation

• Develop and deliver tailored training for trainers coming from national and local stakeholder institutions on WSP methodology, water quality monitoring, and corrective action protocols
• Support staff training for rapid water quality testing on selected chemical and microbiological parameters in healthcare facilities

Integration and Institutionalization of WSPs (Month 4-5)

• Provide technical input for integrating WSP requirements into national water legislation and health system regulations
• Support the institutionalization of WSPs by aligning them with the national WASH and IPC Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for healthcare facilities​
• Draft a national roadmap for the scale-up of WSPs, including priority areas, resource requirements, and timelines​

Education:

• Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering, Public Health, Water Resource Management, or a related field.

 Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in water safety planning, WASH, or public health, with a focus on risk-based water management.

• Proven expertise in developing and implementing Water Safety Plans (WSPs) in alignment with WHO guidelines and EU directives.

• Experience in capacity building, including training of trainers and stakeholder engagement in water quality monitoring.

• Familiarity with Montenegro’s water management context or similar settings is an advantage.

• Previous work with UN/UNICEF or other international organizations is preferred.

Language:

• Fluency in Montenegrin / Serbian / Croatian / Bosnian and English is required.

Payment schedule

The payments will be made upon successful completion of the deliverables and submission of invoices.

Please indicate payment schedule in instalments (separately for travels, professional fee, etc.)

1st tranche: 70% Upon receiving: Legal and Policy Review Report with recommendations for area improvement; Situational Analysis and Capacity Assessment Report and Three validated Water Safety Plans for pilot sites as well as report on the training of national stakeholders and partners with recommendations for further human resources strengthening provided. 2nd tranche: 30% Upon receiving final deliverables: National Roadmap for WSP Scale-Up and Final Consultancy Report summarizing activities, outcomes, challenges, and recommendations for future WSP implementation. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs is incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines.

Mandatory E-learning

Upon conducting the recruitment process and prior to the signing of the contract, the consultant will be required to complete the following online courses. All certificates should be presented as part of the contract.

1. Ethics and Integrity at UNICEF
2. Prevention of Sexual Harassment and Abuse of Authority-PSEAA
3. Prevention of Sexual Exploitation Abuse-PSEA

Before commencement of any travel on behalf of UNICEF, the Consultants must complete course on General Information Security Awareness Course. In addition to above, any consultant who is issued a UNICEF email address must complete the following courses no later than 30 days after signature of contract:

1. Fraud Awareness.
2. General Information Security Awareness Course (only for consultants with a UNICEF email address).

The above courses can be found on Agora through the following link: AGORA: Log in to the site (unicef.org). Course completion certificates should be shared and retained with the human resources unit of the hiring office.

Selection methodology

All applicants will be screened against qualifications and requirements set above. Candidates fully meeting all the requirements will be further evaluated based on the criteria below. The proposal will be evaluated against the following criteria:

 A) Technical criteria – Technical evaluation process/Maximum points:70

Desk review of CVs -70 % of total evaluation– max. 70 points.

• Education:25
• Previous experience:30
• Technical questions at interview:15 

Only candidates who obtained at least 70% of points from the technical part (who will score at least 49 points) will be qualified for considering for financial proposal evaluation.

B) Financial criteria – evaluation of financial proposal - Maximum points:30

The applicants are requested to submit their financial proposal as a separate document, consisting of all-inclusive professional fee for the services and travel to be provided.  Financial scores will be calculated using the formula [lowest offer / financial offer of the candidate x 30].

Remarks

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

 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.

Job applicants can disclose their disability and accommodation needs in the application form, which will be seen by the recruiter. If you are a candidate that has been shortlisted for a position at UNICEF and you need accommodation during the hiring process (namely, for a written test or a job interview) and you have not disclosed it in the applicant form, make sure you raise it with the recruiter once you are invited to an assessment.

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.

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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. 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.