Consultancy - Market-Based Water Supply and Sanitation Services - Mercy Corps

Duration:  3.5 or 4 months
Start: late November/ early December 
 
Applications will be reviewed on-rolling basis 

Background:

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.Our Program Department supports field-led work that delivers measurable impact.

Mercy Corps’ Technical Resources and Quality (TRaQ) Tam is a key part of the Program Department. TRaQ subject-matter experts help set agency strategy and provide consultation – from assessment and design through project implementation and results measurement – to field offices worldwide, in some of the world’s toughest places. TRaQ team members lead research, foster organizational learning, represent Mercy Corps to external audiences, and develop partnerships. The TRaQ team is also integral to global business development and revenue. Within TRaQ, there is a team committed to safeguarding water resources, promoting sanitation, and ensuring hygiene practices – the Water Security, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WSSH) team. Comprising a dynamic mix of professionals, this team unites the realms of water security and WASH to address the diverse facets of water-related challenges. The WSSH team is a mosaic of dedicated individuals, each contributing unique skills and expertise to tackle the multidimensional aspects of water security and WASH. At its core, the team is driven by a shared vision: a world where communities and economies thrive with access to clean water, safe sanitation services, and hygienic practices, while ensuring sustainable development and environmental management, and resilience to water-related hazards.

Purpose:

In 2022, Mercy Corps completed its new 2030 Global Strategy. The new strategy elevates Water Security to one of four key outcome areas for the agency, along with Food Security, Economic Opportunity, and Peace and Governance. This new focus combines Mercy Corps’ historical strengths in emergency WASH programming, with a desire to further build upon our impact in water resource management, productive water, and market-based water supply and sanitation service provision as part of the agency wide mission to build resilient and inclusive communities. In close collaboration with the Climate & Water Security Senior Director, Senior WASH and Water Security Advisors, country and regional teams, and other TRaQ members, the Market-based Water Supply and Sanitation Services Consultant is responsible for executing and further shaping the water security strategy.

The Consultant will play a crucial role in designing, implementing, and evaluating innovative global projects and programs aimed at strengthening water supply and sanitation service delivery in diverse contexts worldwide. You will work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to design and support the implementation of water supply and sanitation delivery approaches and models in both fragile and non-fragile contexts, strengthen water supply and sanitation governance systems, and document key learnings while developing resources to help scale effective approaches/models.

The Consultant will be responsible for helping country and program teams design and conduct assessments, analyze their water security and WASH issues, and identifying opportunities and solutions for intervention. Initial efforts will focus on providing technical support to two USAID flagship market-based WASH projects, USAID/Indonesia Urban WASH (IUWASH) Pasar and USAID/DRC SWASSA. As a technical expert, you will have the expertise to advise and guide project teams, partners, and program participants in at least two of the following areas of WASH, including:

•Market-based water supply and sanitation service delivery

•Utility management and performance optimization

•Sanitation marketing and business services development

•Financial and economic analysis of water and sanitation services

•WASH policy, governance, and regulations

•Sustainable WASH financing

•Digital innovation in water and sanitation services

Success in this role will require a deep understanding of global water security and WASH challenges, along with proven experience in facilitation of global water security and WASH program design and implementation. The successful candidate will possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills, as well as excellent communication and facilitation abilities. The ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders, from government agencies to local communities, will be crucial. Moreover, the Consultant should demonstrate a commitment to promoting gender equality, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability in all water security interventions.

Consultant Objectives:

This consultancy has three primary objectives:

1. Program Design and Strategic Leadership: Lead and support the design, assessment, and development of innovative market-based WASH models/approaches, concept notes, and proposals, ensuring alignment with Mercy Corps’ 2030 Global Strategy.
2. Technical Support – Planned and On-Call Program Implementation Support:Support the implementation of market-based WASH programs across the program cycle through technical contributions, monitoring, and continuous improvement, ensuring effective project delivery in diverse contexts.
3. Knowledge Management and Capacity Building: Provide technical guidance and capacity strengthening for field teams and local partners, ensuring the quality and performance of water security programs, while promoting learning and knowledge sharing. This will include the development of key global resources and learning notes (outlined in greater detail in the deliverables section).

Consultant Activities:

Program Design and Strategic Leadership

Program design is a key influence point for the global TRaQ team. The Consultant will look to align technical leadership with donor priorities, engage in strategic prepositioning, and support the identification, tracking, and analysis of opportunities and proposal development. Key tasks include:

-          Serve as a lead writer and/or technical lead on 1-2 strategic, high-profile proposals. This includes leading pre-positioning efforts, capture trips, design workshops, designing and conducting needs assessments, and developing the concept notes and/or proposals.

-          Lead the development of capability statements and discussions with potential primes for new opportunities (anticipated 1-2 opportunities)

-          Review concept notes and proposals as requested by country and regional teams.

-          Advise and collaborate with country teams on strategic pre-positioning, including designing assessments, engaging in strategic donor interactions, and positioning projects.

-          Work intentionally with country, regional, and funding teams to identify, track, and prepare for donor-funded opportunities.

-          Support country and project teams in designing and conducting needs assessments, feasibility studies, and context analyses to inform program design. Lead the design and implementation of these assessments where needed.

-          Ensure compliance with design and construction standards in collaboration with the Infrastructure team, as appropriate.

-          Ensure WASH programs incorporate principles of inclusivity, gender sensitivity, and community engagement.

Technical Support – Planned and On-Call Program Implementation Support

TheConsultant will support program implementation across the project lifecycle with specific focus on our flagship market-based WASH programs. Key tasks include:

-          Support the implementation of WASH and water security programs and projects, ensuring technical quality and strong program performance. Specific programs of focus include:

• USAID/Ethiopia RIPA-N Water Security Add-on
• USAID/Indonesia Urban Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (IUWASH) Pasar
• Hilton Ethiopia RISE
• USAID/DRC SWASSA
• Fragile Waters buy-ins (as awarded and within scope of this consultancy)

-          Support and provide technical contributions to Mercy Corps’ Fragile Waters core and buy-in activities as requested by the Fragile Waters PM. This may include:

• Leading or supporting the development and/or review of technical deliverables and contribute to subsequent learning;
• in tandem with the Fragile Waters PM and relevant technical staff, generate buy-in scopes of work and budgets as needed.

-          Take leadership in identifying and addressing program quality needs. Collaborate with field leaders to problem solve.

-          Provide on-call technical guidance and support to project teams, partners, and partner communities on water security-related issues, including market-based water and sanitation services delivery, water governance, and water finance.

Knowledge Management and Capacity Building

Focusing on local leadership, the Consultant will support program implementation through accompaniment, emphasizing capacity strengthening, knowledge sharing, and maintaining an ongoing relationship with key program teams. Key tasks include:

-          Aggregate and disseminate technical knowledge, guidance and lessons learned from Mercy Corps’ global, regional, and country teams and other partners in the industry.

-          In collaboration with country teams, establish the foundational technical skills needed for specific roles related to market-based WASH, and support recruitment of people with those skills. This will include the development of a Field Recruitment Guide for Market-based WASH programming.

-          Lead the development of practical and accessible (as defined in collaboration with program teams) knowledge products, tools, and resources, and supporting their dissemination and use. This will include the development of three critical documents and accompanying webinars including: 1) Water Security Guide for Mercy Corps Corporate and Foundations Team (CFT) and Communications Team, 2) Learning Note or Guidance Note on private sector engagement in WASH service delivery with an accompanying webinar; and 3) Learning Brief: What is market-based WASH?

-          Promote learning and knowledge sharing among project teams and partners, documenting and disseminating best practices, lessons learned, and innovative approaches.

-          Support the technical strengthening of program teams and local partners through encouraging and facilitating spaces for team members to share their technical expertise, and through in-person and remote training, guidance, and mentorship.

-          Facilitate spaces for reflection and adaptive management with program teams. Foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement within the organization and among project teams.

Consultant Deliverables:

The Consultant will:

-          Develop an inception report and detailed workplan

-          Provide program support to key flagship market-based WASH programs. Anticipated program support will include USAID/DRC SWASSA, USAID RIPA-N Water Security Add-on, and Ethiopia Hilton RISE. However, initial focus will include working with our USAID/IUWASH Pasar team in-country to refine their implementation plan. This will include providing technical support to the following, but not limited, activities:

• Developing a business model for expansion of household connection services by PDAMs and KPSPAMs
• Review and refine the project’s financing strategy
• Assess and strengthen PPP mechanisms to support water and wastewater infrastructure and service improvement
• Assess and support advocacy initiatives with local government officials related to integrated FSM model

-          Serve as a technical lead and/or lead writer for 1-2 anticipated market-based WASH proposals or concept notes

-          Develop, at a minimum, four products with accompanying webinars:

• Water Security Guide for Mercy Corps’ Corporate and Foundations Team (CFT) and Communications Team. This should be a water security primer for non-expert communication professionals.
• Field Recruitment Guide for Market-based WASH programming. This will outline the anticipated roles on market-based WASH programs, scopes of work, interview questions with anticipated response guidance, and sample profiles.
• Learning Note or Guidance Note on private sector engagement in WASH service delivery (ideally with Mercy Corps program examples)
• Learning Brief: What is market-based WASH? The brief should provide an overview of the concept of market-based approaches to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), highlighting how private sector engagement, service delivery models, and financial mechanisms can improve access and sustainability of WASH services. It should also include case studies or examples illustrating successful market-based WASH interventions in various contexts.

-          Deliver on-call technical support to other market-based WASH programs as requested by the Senior Director for Climate and Water Security

Timeframe / Schedule: 

The consultant will work with the Senior Director for Climate and Water Security to develop a detailed inception report in the first week of the consultancy that will outline the anticipated work plan, milestones, and further define deliverables.

TheConsultant will report to:

Senior Director for Climate and Water Security

The Consultant will work closely with:

WSSH team (WASH Advisors, Water Security Advisors); TRaQ sub-teams; country and regional teams; Research and Learning team; and New Initiatives.

Required Experience & Skills:

Must-have Qualifications

-          Bachelor's degree in economics, business, environmental economics, environmental management, hydrology, environmental engineering, or a related field.

-          At least 5 years of progressive experience in WASH that includes:

• Designing, implementing, and/or evaluating water security and WASH programs and projects.
• Preparing writing and analysis for proposal development.
• Producing and publishing influential articles and blogs.
• Leading all aspects of large and complex proposals and managing integrated proposal teams.
• Demonstrating strong theoretical and applied knowledge of the field of expertise.
• Using integrated approaches and applying systems thinking.

-          Strong business development experience and track record with major donors, such as USAID, FCDO, EC, BHA, ECHO, among others.

-          In-depth understanding of global water security and WASH challenges and relevant global frameworks, policies, and guidelines related to WASH, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the United Nations International Decade for Action "Water for Sustainable Development" (2018-2028), the UN Resolution on Human Rights to Water and Sanitation, the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene (JMP), the Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking-Water (GLAAS), the WASH in Health Care Facilities Global Baseline Report, UN-Water GLAAS, Sanitation and Water for All (SWA), and Sphere Standards for humanitarian response.

-          Strong technical knowledge and practical experience in at least two of the following areas of water security and WASH, including:

• Market-based water supply and sanitation service delivery
• Utility management and performance optimization
• Sanitation marketing and business services development
• Financial and economic analysis of water and sanitation services
• WASH policy, governance, and regulations
• Sustainable WASH financing
• Digital innovation in water and sanitation services

-          Practical field experience in diverse geographic settings, typically over the course of 2 years, that includes:

• A combination of successful temporary duration field assignments (under two weeks), longer-term field assignments (two or more weeks), and/or living in a field location for an extended period to work in a country or field office.

-          Demonstrated experience in designing, implementing, and evaluating WASH and water security programs and projects.

-          Understanding of social inclusion, gender equality, and environmental sustainability principles in water security programming.

-          Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and facilitation skills.

-          Strong written and verbal communication skills in English.

Nice-to-have Qualifications

-          Master's degree in economics, business, hydrology, environmental engineering, or a related field.

-          Strong business development experience and track record with non-traditional donors, such as foundations or corporations.

-          Managing and implementing successful programs in the field.

-          Delivering capacity building curriculum or other processes for field teams

-          Working-level proficiency in French, Arabic, Spanish, or other relevant language.

-          Experience working with government agencies, NGOs, community groups, and private sector partners.

-          Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation methodologies.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives. 

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity
We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our stakeholders and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.