United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)

Joint UN Programme on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Disaster Prone Communities (WASH in DPC) of the 3 Northern Regions of Ghana

Call for Expressions of Interest from Consulting Firms:

 Developing Visibility and Communication Products for the WASH in DPC Programme in the 3 Northern Regions of Ghana

Date first published: 27th March 2017

Deadline for submission of EoIs: 9th April 2017

1.       INTRODUCTION

                The Government of Ghana’s progress in the development of the water and sanitation sector is adequately captured in key national and sector policies such as the Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda, as well as the National Water policy, Environmental Sanitation policy and related strategy and implementation plans such as the National Environmental Sanitation Strategy and Action Plan (NESSAP), and the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Strategic Plan. The UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) has also been developed to align with the aspirations of these key policy documents.

                Within the context of the national policy and strategy environment, and pursuant to the need to include water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) as an urgent and complementary need in UN’s overall support to disaster prone communities, a Joint UN programme on WASH in Disaster Prone Communities (DPC) in the Northern Regions of Ghana has been conceived. This joint programming approach is the collective effort through which Partner UN Organizations (PUNOs) in Ghana work together to prepare, implement, monitor and evaluate activities aimed at achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other international commitments in close collaboration with national institutional partners. The project was developed jointly by UN-Habitat, UNICEF, UNDP and WHO in close collaboration with the National institutional partners involved in the WASH and Disaster Management sectors 

                The overall objective of the WASH in DPC programme is to improve health and livelihoods in select disaster prone communities and schools by increasing access to good drinking water and proper sanitation facilities on a sustainable basis. Specifically, the programme assesses, identifies, and implements resilient WASH facilities and services for communities within the geographic scope of the 3 Northern Regions, viz., Northern, Upper East and Upper West. The provision of services targets about 200,000 people in the 265 communities including about 50,000 school children in these communities.

                This is accompanied with the promotion of measures to ensure resilience of the facilities to climate related disasters, as well as measures to promote behavior change towards proper water, sanitation, and hygiene practices. The capacities of relevant WASH National institutions and community structures are being strengthened to create an environment for better planning, delivery, and sustainability of WASH services, and assure the full benefit to the beneficiary communities of the interventions.

                The PUNOs work in close collaboration with the relevant national institutions as well as private sector and non-governmental organizations involved in the WASH and Disaster Management sectors in the country. The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) leads the coordination for the implementation of the Project in close collaboration with the Ministry of Water Resources Works and Housing (MWRWH) and the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) who are involved with aspects of the project relevant to their mandates on WASH and the management of disasters and emergencies. The Joint UN team’s role is also to provide technical assistance, facilitation and funds management support.

1           OBJECTIVE AND EXPECTED RESULTS

The main objective is to develop appropriate visibility and communication products to enhance the visibility of the WASH in DPC programme for dissemination to the relevant target audience. The target audience will include: key stakeholders (including GoG institutions); Partner United Nations Organizations (PUNOs); implementing partners involved in the Programme; and appropriate segments of the general public.

1.1          Expected Results

The main strategic result is for “an enhanced visibility of the WASH in DPC Programme in general”. Other expected results of the assignment include:

  • awareness and understanding of the WASH in DPC programme by the media and among the general public
  • an enhanced visibility of the impacts that the WASH facilities and related components are making in the lives of the beneficiaries
  • roles played by the following partners in achieving the objectives of the programme:
  • key GoG stakeholders with responsibilities for coordination with the UN, and who have oversight responsibility for the decentralized institutions at the local level;
  • the Partner UN Organizations (PUNOs) in jointly planning and coordinating the programme implementation;
  • other implementing partners involved in the programme;
  • segments of the general public with potential interest in the WASH sector and disaster management

1.2          Scope of Assignment - Tasks and Activities

The scope of the assignment and related tasks and activities highlighted below are indicative. The required tasks and activities to achieve the expected results may not be limited to this indicative list, and will be developed in accordance with a plan submitted by the consultant after approval by the Programme Manager and WASH in DPC coordination team.

                2.2.1: Tasks and Activities:

  • Gather the necessary documentation and collate data/information on component areas of the Programme of relevance to enhancing visibility
  • Interview stakeholders to gather their perspectives on the Programme;
  • Attend team meetings and larger stakeholder meetings or any other meeting relevant for the WASH in DPC Programme where there are interactions between programme stakeholders;
  • Take part in sample field activities (e.g. supervision missions, implementing partner field activities etc) and observe interactions and other process areas that could be of relevance to enhancing the visibility of the programme;
  • Where relevant, take pictures of and/or video tape process areas considered relevant for the visibility of the Programme;
  • Reflect on major changes achieved and interesting happenings in the component areas of the Programme;
  • Store information on all collated information, notes, observations and reports regarding the relevant process areas considered in a user-friendly format;
  • Synthesize the information and observations gathered and prepare compelling visibility/awareness/communication products highlighting key messages from the programme;
  • Organize modalities for the dissemination of these products using appropriate tools/media to reach out to target audiences.
  • Contribute to an objective analysis of the extent and reach of the visibility products developed in targeting the intended audience
  • Prepare a report of the process adopted, the activities undertaken and insights gained on the assignment;

2           Expression of interest

UN-Habitat wishes to invite Expressions of Interest from consulting firms with expertise in communication to assist enhance the visibility of the WASH in DPC Programme. The successful consultant/firm will be responsible for collating the necessary information on the Programme, preparing appropriate visibility and communication products from the information gathered, and organizing modalities for the dissemination of these products using appropriate tools/media to reach out to target audiences. The prospective consulting firm is expected to have expertise in the following areas:

  • information gathering, documentation and archiving;
  • good writing skills and ability to prepare communication and advocacy products (in English and local languages as appropriate)
  • tools and media (including internet, internet-based applications, posters, leaflets etc.) that facilitate seamless communication and access to target audiences.

The following attributes shall also be considered in the evaluation of proposals received from prospective consulting firms in response to this EOI:

  • good knowledge of the WASH sector in Ghana, and the geographical areas (Northern, Upper West and Upper East Regions) where the WASH in DPC Programme is being implemented;
  • knowledge of potential networks of relevance to the Programme in the three regions to facilitate the visibility actions;
  • demonstrated ability to develop and convey messages adapted to various audiences.
  • inclination towards openness to learning, intercultural sensitivity, and knowledge sharing.

Interested Consultants/Firms are required to provide a statement of their experience and capability, including a proposed work-plan, and an indicative budget for key activities to achieve the stated objectives in accordance with the guidelines below.

The statement of experience and capability and the indicative budgets should contain, but need not be limited to the following:

2.1          Institutional and Technical Information

  1. A description of the methodology to be adopted for the assignment;
  2. A proposed work plan to cover the period of the assignment;
  • Resumes of the proposed personnel that will be assigned to work on the programme;
  1. Copies of statements of annual reports of the previous 3 years;
  2. Copy of two latest audited reports, and
  3. Governance and organizational structure of the Organization
  1. UN-Habitat Support

UN-Habitat shall provide funds to cover this assignment from its portion of the Joint UN WASH in DPC Programme budget.

  1. Overall Timeframe

The scope of the assignment outlined in this EOI is scheduled to commence by beginning of April and be completed within eight (8) weeks.

  1. Submission Requirements and Guidelines

Expressions of Interest must be delivered in electronic format no later than 9th April 2017  to the following e-mail addresses: Eric.moukoro@unhabitat.org  and kennedy.kamau@unhabitat.org  

EOIs received on or before the 9th April 2017 shall be evaluated to select one of the respondents to be considered to enter into an Agreement of Cooperation with UN-Habitat for the assignment.

  1. Contact Information

Eric Moukoro, WASH in DPC Programme Manager,

UN-Habitat, Ghana

Phone: +233 544 7918 62

Email: Eric.moukoro@unhabitat.org

Kennedy Kamau, IT Officer, UN-Habitat

P.O. Box 30030-00100, Nairobi – Kenya

Phone: Mob. +254734892438; Off. +254207625064

Email: kennedy.kamau@unhabitat.org

Web: www.unhabitat.org