WASH TECHNICAL DESIGN CONSULTANCY

Background

Founded in 1994, Triangle Generation Humanitaire (TGH) is an International Non-Governmental Organisation (INGO), registered in Lyon, France. TGH designs, implements and monitors Emergency response, Recovery and Development programs in the following sectors: Water Sanitation Hygiene (WASH), Food Security and Livelihood (FSL), Protection and Education. TGH currently works in 10 countries of Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

TGH has been working in Myanmar for 11 years, mainly on Emergency Response, Protection and Food Security & Livelihoods programs. In recent years, TGH has only worked in Chin State, mainly in Matupi Township. In view of the extension of the Rakhine conflict to southern Chin State, TGH has been implementing three multi-sectoral Emergency Response projects for over 2 years in Paletwa Township. Two emergency projects were funded by the Myanmar Humanitarian Fund (MHF) and one by the Humanitarian Assistance and Relief Program Facility (HARP-Facility -UK Aid). Activities are being implemented with a Paletwa-based Organization, Raiki Community Development Foundation (RCDF).

There are currently approximately 8,000 IDPs in Paletwa Township, mainly gathered in Samee Town and Paletwa Town. Paletwa is the poorest township of Chin State and is very hard-to-reach. Access to Samee from neighbouring township takes at least one day of travel (and 2 to 3 days from Yangon when no COVID-19 restrictions). Paletwa Town is very much isolated, as well as villages alongside the Kaladan River; the humanitarian access is very restricted for those areas.

As part of the multi-sectoral support to crisis-affected communities in Paletwa Township, TGH and RCDF support IDPs and HC on access to WASH services for IDPs and HC, including WASH in Schools and IPC measures on COVID-19 quarantine and health facilities.

Justifications and Objectives

While TGH Myanmar has developed many Emergency WASH activities in the past 2 years, there is the need for enhanced technical delivery for WASH Services and for strengthening local capacity onsite (remote management context, very limited communication means, etc.), in line with the WASH Cluster objectives and guidelines. This Consultancy Service will provide TGH and RCDF with high-level technical insights that include technical review based on collected field assessments, a selection of technical solutions adapted to Paletwa context, the integration of Operations and Maintenance (O&M) considerations and the respect of WASH Cluster standards and guidance.

Building upon 2 years of experience working in such a hard-to-reach area, the WASH Technical Design Consultancy will develop new technical designs to a variety of WASH activities, including recommendations to be further aligned with Governmental and WASH Cluster requirements, but within the specific context of Paletwa Township.

In addition, this consultancy will assist in technical WASH capacity building to TGH, RCDF and local authorities key WASH staff. It is therefore expected the development of some technical training documents about selected technical options and designs, associated with a technical orientation to TGH WASH Project Manager and WASH Technical Surge Support (to disseminate to Paletwa staff, partners and other stakeholders eventually).

As much as possible, O&M considerations and longer-term WASH technical and management capacity should be part of the expected consultancy outcomes.

At last, recommendations from the WASH technical Design Consultancy will bring an additional insight on potential perspectives for next projects in the context of Paletwa Township (IDP crisis and COVID-19 threats in a very isolated rural area).

Expected Outcomes and Deliverables

This consultancy for WASH Technical Design aims at attaining the following key outcomes:

Technical Design for Community Water Supply System – 25%

• Quick Technical Review of field assessment and based on coordination with other agencies (ICRC, Municipality, etc.), Samee Town (less than 10,000 inhabitants)

• Compiling gathered information from HC, IDPs and local authorities about technical, social and financial water supply management in Samee Town (before and during the IDP crisis) – this implies technical coordination with ICRC and other WASH actors (local charities) – and review based on Gov. requirements and WASH Cluster guidance (nexus-oriented approach)

• BoQs and Drawing Review for one 30,000 gallons Water Tank for Samee Town (in close collaboration with TGH WASH Support staff (engineer background)

• Quick Assessment of existing options to access water for domestic use (fetching water from the river and ‘watermotorbiking’ in dry season and Emergency Rain Water Collection Systems in rainy season)

• Assess and recommendations relevant, affordable and sustainable Water Treatment options for Samee Town (for HC, IDPs, Schools and Health Services), at community-level and/or points-of-use.

• Develop a plan of Action for Water Quality Monitoring within the context of Paletwa Township.

Improved Technical Design for Emergency Sanitation – 25%

• Enhance Technical Design of Emergency Latrines for more suitable, gender-based and inclusive usage and within WASH Cluster guidelines.
• Assess local capacity for regular latrines cleaning, O&M and eventually decommissioning, and recommend most relevant options for proper excreta management, vector control and optimized usage rate.
• Assess options for improved Solid Waste Management for IDP camps, based on existing solutions and local capacity.
• Recommend efforts to develop to further enhance WASH & Inclusion in TGH & RCDF Emergency Projects in Paletwa Township

Enhanced Strategy for Hygiene-related Behaviour Change – 25%

• Based on review of existing HP activities in Paletwa Township, highlight the main components of an adapted BCC Strategy in IDP Camps, in line with WASH Cluster recommendations
• Assess the opportunity to start Menstrual Health Management activities in Paletwa Township

COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control – 15%

• Based on TGH Report on integrated COVID-19 Approach in Paletwa Township, review Technical Design of IPC actions in COVID-19 Quarantine, Health Facilities, IDP Camps and Schools.
• Provide guidance for development of IPC Training content for other actors (teachers, community volunteers, …)

Learning from WASH in Schools Activities – 10%

• Assess TGH & RCDF technical approach and quality delivery of WASH in Schools activities and propose recommendations for technical improvements – This may also include Temporary Learning Spaces.

At the end of the consultancy, the consultant will:

• Submit a Technical Report: Findings and Recommendations will be presented in (minimum) 3 to (maximum) 10 pages Technical Report per presented Topic, with appropriate Standard Shemes and BoQ in Appendixes of the Consultancy Report.

• For all presented topic, develop rapid PPT Training Documents to TGH WASH Project Manager and WASH Technical Surge Support in English and facilitate 1-day training (to 2 or 3 managers only).

Methodology

To be proposed in the technical Offer.

Working Conditions and Timeframe

Due to COVID-19 and security restrictions, the consultant will not be able to travel to Myanmar (neither to Paletwa Township if already based in Myanmar). Most likely, the Consultant might work from remote: from home-based, which therefore requires proper computer and internet access.

The Consultant will receive an overall briefing from HQ WASH Advisor and is expected to present preliminary findings to HQ and Country Office before submitting the final deliveries. He will also be in close coordination with Paletwa Emergency Response Project Manager, in charge of the Paletwa Township Programs Coordination.

The consultant will directly liaise with TGH WASH Project Manager and TGH WASH Surge Technical Support (with engineering background) to present the main findings of the survey, validate technical orientations and designs,…

Both are national staff based in Yangon, with good technical capacity and English levels, and have conducted field investigations (therefore having a good knowledge on the situation on the field). They will support the consultancy with English/Myanmar translations if needed as well as regarding liaison with authorities. They will also support the coordination of TGH and RCDF field team to contribute to the data collection on the field to complete the assessment.

Tentative Schedule

• Consultancy Announcement: 13 January 2021

• Application Deadline: 25 January 2021

• Selection of the most valuable candidate: 28 January 2021

• Contract Signature: 01 February 2021

• Submission of deliverables (final versions): 31 March 2021

Consultant Qualifications

The consultant must have the following skills and experience;

• 5-10 years of proven experience on WASH in Emergencies, with senior expertise on Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene;

• Familiar with Sphere Minimum Standards and WASH Cluster requirements;

• Proven experience in remote technical support;

• Excellent capacity to provide quick review and to communicate to local stakeholders for capacity building;

• Former WASH experience in South Asia, preferably in Myanmar.

• Fluent in both speaking and written English, including WASH technical terms.

Commitment to TGH’s Child Protection Policy, TGH Anti-fraud and Anti-Corruption Policy as well as Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse is a formal requirement for consultancy.

WASH Experts (National and International) based in Myanmar are strongly encouraged to apply. Applications from experts team are also welcomed, as long as detailed sharing of roles, relevance and value of such a team design is fully justified in the application. Women are fully encouraged to apply to this consultancy.

Please note that the Consultant should be legally registered. Certificates of professional insurance should be requested before signing the contract.

Budget

The WASH Technical Design Consultancy is funded by HARP-Facility Project.

• First installment (30%) of total consultancy fees upon invoice at the signature of contract
• Second Installment (70%) of total consultancy fees upon invoice and satisfactory completion of all deliverables.

The total budget cannot exceed 15,000 USD. The financial offer must be in USD and must consistently include all mandatory costs for a successful assignment. TGH will consider the best Value for Money offer based on usual evaluation grid criteria.