Comprehensive Assessment of Water Quality Monitoring Systems in Somalia
Terms of Reference - UNSOM/2013/045
Title: Comprehensive
Assessment of Water Quality Monitoring Systems in Somalia
Organizational
Unit: WASH
Type
of Contract: Short Service
Agreement (SSA)
Duration: 42 days
Level: P3/NOC Equivalent
Background
Poor
access to safe drinking water and lack of adequate sanitation facilities
coupled with poor hygienic practices are major threats for the survival and
development of children in Somalia. Overall, 71% of the population of Somalia
do not have access to safe water supply and 77% do not have access to safe
means of excreta disposal system. The
low coverage confirms the extent to which the water, sanitation and hygiene
sub-sectors have been affected by
the conflict.
Due to its arid environment, many parts of Somalia rely
heavily on water extracted from deep borehole water supply systems, shallow
wells (protected and unprotected), seasonal rivers, underground storage tanks
referred to as berkards and depressions referred to as pans. Drinking water
sources are under increasing threat from contamination, with far-reaching
consequences for the health of children and for the economic and social development
of communities and the nation.
Deteriorating water quality threatens the gains made in
improving access to drinking water. From 1990 to 2012 more than 2 million
people have gained access to improved water sources, but not all of these new
sources are necessarily safe. Unsafe handling and storage of water compounds
the problem. Water drawn from safe sources may be contaminated by the time it
is ultimately consumed in households. The chemical contamination of water
supplies – both naturally occurring and from pollution – is a very serious
problem. But more serious still is the microbiological contamination of
drinking water supplies, especially from human faeces. Faecal contamination of
drinking water is a major contributor to diarrhoeal disease, which kills hundreds
of Somali children every year. As populations, pollution and environmental
degradation increase, so will the chemical and microbiological contamination of
water supplies. Drinking water quality is therefore a growing concern
throughout Somalia.
As
water quality problems become more serious and widespread, water quality
monitoring becomes a more important component of national efforts in water
sector. These efforts can be complemented by community-level surveillance
systems, where regional and district authorities with support from NGOs and
other service providers are empowered with the knowledge and tools necessary to
monitor the quality of their own water sources. The UN and its partners are
playing an increasingly active role in supporting government and communities in
this important area
Study
Objectives
To develop a strategy framework for water quality
monitoring and management system in the three Regions of Somalia (South
Central, Puntland and Somaliland) in collaboration and consultation with the
line ministries of Federal Government of Somalia, line ministries of Somaliland
and Puntland and strategic WASH cluster/sector partners.
Specific Tasks
·
Conduct
an assessment of the existing drinking water quality monitoring and management
practices at national and zonal levels in Somalia through field visits to the
selected regions and districts (Bossaso, Garowe, Hargeisa, and
Mogadishu/Banadir) including other water and sanitation partners in the sector.
·
Evaluate
the existing water testing equipment used by various stakeholders, NGOs and
other water and sanitation development partners, in terms of their reliability,
accuracy, portability, robustness, number of water quality parameters it can
measure, easiness to learn and use, availability of the consumables and
reagents in country and the East African region. Recommend and specify standard
water quality testing kit, consumables and reagents to be used; elaborating the
number of water quality parameters it can do and what should be monitored and
tested at different stages.
·
Design
and initiate the process of development of water quality standards for Somalia
in collaboration with the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), regional
authorities, WHO and water and sanitation partners in Somalia.
·
Develop
a strategy framework for water quality monitoring and management system,
suggesting a definitive and hierarchical roles and responsibilities of key
government institutions and stakeholders, existing capacities in country
including academic institutions. This includes development of responsive water
quality monitoring protocols for each level.
·
Prepare
and facilitate two workshops (i) inception workshop to confirm the existing
situation on the ground; discuss the purpose and methodology of the assignment
and share the key informant questionnaire; (II) exit workshop to share the
finding and initial draft options for strategy frameworks and Water Quality
monitoring systems.
Expected Deliverables
·
Report
of assessment of water quality monitoring situation (practices, assets and
knowledge) in the following locations:
Hargiesa, Bossaso, Garowe and Mogadishu including Universities in the
respective locations.
·
Report
on the strategic framework for drinking water quality monitoring and management
system in Somalia.
·
Proceeding
of meeting/workshops on the development of water quality guidelines for
Somalia.
·
Compile
an operations manual on drinking water quality monitoring and management;
·
Final
Reports on the consultancy contract.
Scope of the Assessment
Water quality monitoring and
surveillance had been implemented prior to the conflict in Somalia but fell in
a state of disrepair soon after the conflict started. Some amount of monitoring
and surveillance continued in the autonomous regions of Somaliland and the State
of Puntland though. Given the current security context, the consultant may not
be able to visit all project sites and all implementation zones due to issues
of access.
In this regard, the consultant will be
expected to provide an overview of the water quality monitoring and
surveillance activities, based on a thorough in depth desk study,
interviews/meeting with partners and stakeholders in Nairobi and accessible
zones including Hargeisa, Bossaso, Mogadishu and support this with more
in-depth insight into/assessment of sites to which field visits can be
undertaken – South Central Somalia.
Work plan and tentative Time schedule
The consultant will be expected to sign
a contract, by 15th October 2013, which will commit her/him to
commission the actual study and providing the agreed upon services on agreed
upon dates falling between 15th October and 13th December 2013.
The consultant shall be expected to
confirm availability within this time frame and respond to the work plan and
schedule provided below, indicating whether and how s/he can adhere to or
improve on it. The consultant may propose alternative approaches to collecting
information and to carrying out the study in consultation with a local
Somali translator and or contextual expert. The proposed number of days for
each task includes travel to the respective locations.
Qualification
The consultant should
have the following qualifications:
·
Advanced university degree
preferably in microbiology, chemistry and related fields; public health, research
methodology and related fields, with extensive work experience (at least 5 years)
in developing countries.
·
Proven knowledge of the water
quality monitoring systems and strategies for strengthening of partnerships would be an added value.
·
Experience with participatory
processes and methods - ability to organize and facilitate planning workshops
is an added advantage.
·
Excellent analytical skills and
proven ability to formulate and articulate ideas clearly in English (writing
skills are critical);
·
Experience of the cultural setting
of Somalia and similar working environment, preferably with previous working
experience at other sector policy levels.
·
Ability to work with people from a
broad range of cultures - willingness to work in difficult circumstances;
Conditions of work, Logistics Support and Security
The consultant
will work in close collaboration with the WASH consortium. S/he will work under the direct guidance and
overall supervision of the Water quality steering committee at Nairobi.
The consultant will be based in Nairobi, with extensive
travel within Somalia. UNICEF shall provide office space in Nairobi and at the
zonal offices. Accommodation and DSA will be covered while in Nairobi and in
Somalia. DSA in Nairobi will not apply if the selected candidate is recruited
from Nairobi. The consultant should preferably use his/her own laptop to carry
out the required tasks.
No
hazard/danger pay shall be paid to the consultant whilst in Somalia. The contract will provide the consultant with
air ticket from and to the home country. The contract will also cover travel
to/from and within Somalia. The contract will cover costs related to security
matters.
Interested and qualified
candidates should send their applications with updated UN Personal History Form
(P.11) form, updated CV attaching copies of academic certificates to the email
below. UN staff are requested to provide the last two Performance Evaluation
Reports (PERs). Applications submitted
without a duly completed and signed Personal History Form (P11) will not be
considered. Please indicate your expected fee for providing the services of
the said assignment. Applicants must quote the vacancy number and
post title in the subject line of the application. Application to be received
by 9th October 2013.
Email to: somaliahrvacancies@unicef.org
Only short-listed applicants will be
contacted
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