Rural Water Engagement Proposal Drafting (techinical and financial proposal)
Budget: $30 – $250 USD
The Proposal is on how to review, assess the impact, and identify and document the lessons and evidence; and develop policies, guidelines, strategies, and toolkits that enable small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to engage effectively in the O&M of water facilities. From the USAID-funded IWASH project in Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara States, 67 water facility operators were engaged by communities to operate and manage their water supply facilities. The model has significantly improved the functionality of targeted water facilities, reducing downtime for solar-powered systems since 2023. This has saved communities an estimated 6,700 hours daily previously spent fetching water from distant sources. Additionally, about 130 direct jobs were created for SME technicians/Local Area Mechanics, with 60% filled by women and youth.
By identifying the success factors, the SMEs can then effectively engage with communities and the Government and remove the core barriers faced by these business owners, enabling them to better manage water supply facilities in rural communities.
2. OBJECTIVES
The overall objective of this consultancy is to strengthen the private sector (PS) or SMEs engagement in water facility management; this will be achieved through the following outputs:
• Review the private sector engagement model in the Northwest states to determine its ability to: a) improve access to improved water (and sanitation) services, b) contribution to improve sustainability of water services (FIETS - financial, institutional, environmental, technical, social), and c) improve overall community satisfaction.
• Compare the results achieved in communities where PPCP models were piloted vs. those that did not engage the private sector or are managed by WASHCOMs.
• Determine key success factors of PPCP model, and areas for improvement.
• Assess the potential of the model to scale to other parts of Nigeria.
• Draft guidelines for engaging PS in management of water supply facilities
3. SCOPE OF THE WORK (WORK ASSIGNMENT)
Task A: Evidence Generation
Develop a tool for qualitative and quantitative review of PPCP models in comparison with WASHCOM-managed models in rural water supply delivery. Evidence for PPCP will come from a sample of the 67 (at least 50%) communities where the SME operated model is in place, while the consultant will identify at least five ‘control’ cases with similar age and socio-economic characteristics. The tools will be used to guide discussions with stakeholders in those 50% PPCP sites including the SMEs, LGAs, communities, and State government authorities.
The Consultant will also design the data collection process, define the ‘control’ and ‘treatment’ groups, duration for quantitative and qualitative data collection, and geographic area to cover for the data collection. The Consultant will also analyze the data, draw lessons with evidence, challenges and best practices from the communities and produce an evidence report. As a part of the evidence report, at least 10 case studies (five from the control group and five from the treatment group), and a record of success factors and gaps in each of the case studies needs to be produced.
Task B: Strengthen the Private Sector Model
The next phase of the assignment is to work with UNICEF to strengthen the PS/SME engagement model for water supply facilities management. This will be based on challenges and gaps identified from the evidence generation phase and the identified needs of the private sector operators. The strengthening process must be tailored toward supporting the operators to be viable and sustainable (financial sustainability needs to assessed using realistic estimates of monthly expenditure and incomes), and to grow and scale, and possibly attract additional financing to support their business expansion. The Consultant will design the content and duration of the strengthening part of the programme, in consultation with the LGAs, communities, private operators and UNICEF team.
Part of the process of strengthening the private sector model by the Consultant will be handholding/follow-up support for at least four months. During this timeframe, the Consultant will carry out activities such as coaching and mentorship. Other support should also be provided based on the identified needs of the operators in the private sector.
Task C: Guidelines for Engaging the Private Sector
The Consultant will utilize findings from Task A and B to develop guidelines for the engagement of the private sector in the operation and management of water supply facilities that can be deployed anywhere in the country. Key components of the guideline will include framework for financial sustainability, water quality monitoring, gender and social inclusion and regular monitoring and reporting. The guidelines will clearly identify roles that will be played by different stakeholders – communities, the private sector, and the government/regulator – as well as steps to follow to engage the private sector. For this phase, the consultant is expected to visit another four states (e.g. Kaduna, Adamawa and other two states) where PS engagement models are being tried and are potentially feasible.
The draft guidelines will be shared in a workshop with the representatives of states where consultation took place and the FMWRS and subsequently improved based on their feedback received in the workshop.
4. EXPECTED DELIVERABLES
In line with the above objectives and tasks, the Consultant will produce the following deliverables:
Deliverable 1: An inception report with the preliminary design and methodology of PPCP review in Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara state, with proposed tools and report outline and the overall approach that will be adopted by the consultant to complete each of task A, B and C above. The tools and methodology needs to consider ethical and safeguarding standards, and approved by UNICEF.
Deliverable 2: A detailed evidence report, including methodology, the process and tools used, detailed findings, success factors, gaps and other relevant information on the private sector operated water facility management models in Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states. The documents should clearly assess the success against key sustainability parameters (FIETS1). This will include presentation and dissemination materials such as summary infographics, slide decks and other materials prepared for sharing the findings with UNICEF and other stakeholders. At least 10 case studies (5 that capture the success of PPCP in areas or facilities were it was used and 5 for areas or facilities were PPCP was not used or implemented) will be produced as a part of the evidence document, with analytical evidence, that can appropriately compare facilities with PPCP with the control facilities without PPCP.
Deliverable 3: Capacity building plan and technical content developed for strengthening of private sector operators in the Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states.
Deliverable 4: Capacity building support delivered as per plan and monthly reports on the progress of strengthening the 15 private sector operators documented and submitted. The 15
SME operated facilities will be identified in consultation with UNICEF team in Sokoto and Abuja.
Deliverable 5: Draft of guidelines for engaging private sector in managing rural water services for consultation state and federal level stakeholders. Following approval of the draft from UNICEF, agenda, PPTs and reference materials for the consultation workshop needs to be shared.
Deliverable 6: Presentation of the draft guidelines in the workshop to disseminate findings of the review and to seek feedback for stakeholders on the guidelines for engaging private sector in managing water facilities. Workshop costs and local coordination can be managed by UNICEF team.
Deliverable 7: Final draft of the guidelines for engaging private sector engagement in the management of water supply facilities in rural areas with clearly defined steps, roles, players/stakeholders, minimum standards etc.
Deliverable 8: Produce three knowledge documents in the form of UNICEF field note, a briefing paper, and a policy brief on PS engagement in water facility management, to be determined by the assessment findings and on consultation and approval by UNICEF.
By identifying the success factors, the SMEs can then effectively engage with communities and the Government and remove the core barriers faced by these business owners, enabling them to better manage water supply facilities in rural communities.
2. OBJECTIVES
The overall objective of this consultancy is to strengthen the private sector (PS) or SMEs engagement in water facility management; this will be achieved through the following outputs:
• Review the private sector engagement model in the Northwest states to determine its ability to: a) improve access to improved water (and sanitation) services, b) contribution to improve sustainability of water services (FIETS - financial, institutional, environmental, technical, social), and c) improve overall community satisfaction.
• Compare the results achieved in communities where PPCP models were piloted vs. those that did not engage the private sector or are managed by WASHCOMs.
• Determine key success factors of PPCP model, and areas for improvement.
• Assess the potential of the model to scale to other parts of Nigeria.
• Draft guidelines for engaging PS in management of water supply facilities
3. SCOPE OF THE WORK (WORK ASSIGNMENT)
Task A: Evidence Generation
Develop a tool for qualitative and quantitative review of PPCP models in comparison with WASHCOM-managed models in rural water supply delivery. Evidence for PPCP will come from a sample of the 67 (at least 50%) communities where the SME operated model is in place, while the consultant will identify at least five ‘control’ cases with similar age and socio-economic characteristics. The tools will be used to guide discussions with stakeholders in those 50% PPCP sites including the SMEs, LGAs, communities, and State government authorities.
The Consultant will also design the data collection process, define the ‘control’ and ‘treatment’ groups, duration for quantitative and qualitative data collection, and geographic area to cover for the data collection. The Consultant will also analyze the data, draw lessons with evidence, challenges and best practices from the communities and produce an evidence report. As a part of the evidence report, at least 10 case studies (five from the control group and five from the treatment group), and a record of success factors and gaps in each of the case studies needs to be produced.
Task B: Strengthen the Private Sector Model
The next phase of the assignment is to work with UNICEF to strengthen the PS/SME engagement model for water supply facilities management. This will be based on challenges and gaps identified from the evidence generation phase and the identified needs of the private sector operators. The strengthening process must be tailored toward supporting the operators to be viable and sustainable (financial sustainability needs to assessed using realistic estimates of monthly expenditure and incomes), and to grow and scale, and possibly attract additional financing to support their business expansion. The Consultant will design the content and duration of the strengthening part of the programme, in consultation with the LGAs, communities, private operators and UNICEF team.
Part of the process of strengthening the private sector model by the Consultant will be handholding/follow-up support for at least four months. During this timeframe, the Consultant will carry out activities such as coaching and mentorship. Other support should also be provided based on the identified needs of the operators in the private sector.
Task C: Guidelines for Engaging the Private Sector
The Consultant will utilize findings from Task A and B to develop guidelines for the engagement of the private sector in the operation and management of water supply facilities that can be deployed anywhere in the country. Key components of the guideline will include framework for financial sustainability, water quality monitoring, gender and social inclusion and regular monitoring and reporting. The guidelines will clearly identify roles that will be played by different stakeholders – communities, the private sector, and the government/regulator – as well as steps to follow to engage the private sector. For this phase, the consultant is expected to visit another four states (e.g. Kaduna, Adamawa and other two states) where PS engagement models are being tried and are potentially feasible.
The draft guidelines will be shared in a workshop with the representatives of states where consultation took place and the FMWRS and subsequently improved based on their feedback received in the workshop.
4. EXPECTED DELIVERABLES
In line with the above objectives and tasks, the Consultant will produce the following deliverables:
Deliverable 1: An inception report with the preliminary design and methodology of PPCP review in Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara state, with proposed tools and report outline and the overall approach that will be adopted by the consultant to complete each of task A, B and C above. The tools and methodology needs to consider ethical and safeguarding standards, and approved by UNICEF.
Deliverable 2: A detailed evidence report, including methodology, the process and tools used, detailed findings, success factors, gaps and other relevant information on the private sector operated water facility management models in Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states. The documents should clearly assess the success against key sustainability parameters (FIETS1). This will include presentation and dissemination materials such as summary infographics, slide decks and other materials prepared for sharing the findings with UNICEF and other stakeholders. At least 10 case studies (5 that capture the success of PPCP in areas or facilities were it was used and 5 for areas or facilities were PPCP was not used or implemented) will be produced as a part of the evidence document, with analytical evidence, that can appropriately compare facilities with PPCP with the control facilities without PPCP.
Deliverable 3: Capacity building plan and technical content developed for strengthening of private sector operators in the Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states.
Deliverable 4: Capacity building support delivered as per plan and monthly reports on the progress of strengthening the 15 private sector operators documented and submitted. The 15
SME operated facilities will be identified in consultation with UNICEF team in Sokoto and Abuja.
Deliverable 5: Draft of guidelines for engaging private sector in managing rural water services for consultation state and federal level stakeholders. Following approval of the draft from UNICEF, agenda, PPTs and reference materials for the consultation workshop needs to be shared.
Deliverable 6: Presentation of the draft guidelines in the workshop to disseminate findings of the review and to seek feedback for stakeholders on the guidelines for engaging private sector in managing water facilities. Workshop costs and local coordination can be managed by UNICEF team.
Deliverable 7: Final draft of the guidelines for engaging private sector engagement in the management of water supply facilities in rural areas with clearly defined steps, roles, players/stakeholders, minimum standards etc.
Deliverable 8: Produce three knowledge documents in the form of UNICEF field note, a briefing paper, and a policy brief on PS engagement in water facility management, to be determined by the assessment findings and on consultation and approval by UNICEF.