**1. DETAILS OF THE PROGRAMME****2.1 Introduction
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Working in close collaboration with local authorities and stakeholders, ACF has launched an ambitious 2-year OFDA/USAID funded WASH project in 2 counties of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State focused on building resilience for rural communities to self-manage their water supply infrastructure and to develop strong hygiene and sanitation improvements that will contribute to better health and development of their communities.
In Northern Bahr el Ghazal State the rural water supply infrastructure consists mostly of boreholes equipped with hand pumps, with a major of them constructed free of charge by various NGOs and Aid Groups over the years. Existing data shows that 30 to 50 percent of the existing hand pump infrastructure is non-functioning at any given time and that there is currently little to no investment from communities for maintaining these water points. To address this challenge ACF has developed a community mobilization model that focuses on increasing a community’s organizational capacity and financial savings capacity to sustainably manage the water point and overcome regular breakdowns. This includes a one-time cost-sharing subsidy to repair broken hand pumps that is aimed at incentivizing communities to move to a subscription-based model for community contributions for maintaining and repairing water points. ACF has targeted 152 communities for water supply improvements, by directly developing the capacity of Water User Committees (WUCs).
For hygiene and sanitation, ACF is working in 20 “focus communities” which are targeted for sanitation improvements using a community total-led sanitation (CLTS) approach and a village level hygiene promotion program using PHAST and CHAST methodologies. Both of these activities are engaged through participatory approaches involving leaders, gender based groups and volunteers to mobilize the community members towards achieving sustainable sanitation and hygiene for their villages. This also includes mobilization campaigns in local health and nutrition facilities as well as local primary schools.
The success of this project is large dependent on the ability of ACF WASH program staff to use community mobilization tools and participatory methodologies to encourage self-management of community water, sanitation and hygiene improvements. Therefor ACF seeks a senior level consultant(s) with extensive experience in strategic communications, community mobilization and local leadership development to improve the quality of ACF’s WASH intervention in this area.
3 Specific objectives:
3.1) Training of Facilitators (ToF) for community mobilization: Provide an exclusively designed, training of facilitators (ToF) workshop for ACF Staff and Volunteers, to develop the capacity for effective behavior change communications and strategic communications methodologies that can be used during implementation of the WASH program activities. The ToF should include the following components in the design of the training:
a. Inclusion of WASH methodologies such as CLTS, CHAST and PHAST and how to use community mobilization principals when working with these methodologies.
b. Both the theory of strategic communications as well as the practical use of these methodologies related to the specific project objectives. A mix of both classroom work and field based practical trainings with a small select group of communities.
i. Theory component should be no more than 5 working days
ii. Practical component should be no less than 5 working days
c. Application of gender and age specific tools for communication. Specific focus on the inclusion and roles of women and children in the program activities
d. Inclusion of existing WASH sector communication tools for village level WASH programs. A minimum of 3 standard IEC toolsets should be introduced during the training to demonstrate how to incorporate different communication tools into program activities. These tools should include:
i. Flip books for sanitation and hygiene communication
ii. Game(s) for children related to CHAST
iii. Use of theater, songs, or role-playing in communications.
3.2) Training of Trainers (ToT) for community leadership mobilization: Provide a short Training of Trainers (ToT) for high level WASH program staff on communication strategies for engagement of local leaders, government authorities and community based organizations The ToT should include the following:
a. Basic principles and tools for increasing participation and empowerment of community leaders and local authorities
a. How to leverage and benefit from inclusions of gender specific groups in the implementation of program activities, and more specifically on increasing leadership from organized women’s groups working in the communities
b. Both theory and practical components of training
i.Theory component should be no more than 3 working days
ii.Practical component should include a 1 day, participatory workshop with local leaders and authorities that is facilitated by the consultant and ACF team leaders
3.3) Develop and produce custom IEC materials: (home-based work, after in-country work)
- Large format Flip Chart, minimum of 20 unique pages: Community Water Point Management
- Large form (poster) advertisements for:
- CLTS Campaign focused on latrine construction (3 different but similar posters)
- Community contribution (financial) for maintaining handpumps (3 different but similar posters)
- School hygiene club progress tracking tool: Series of posters used in schools to track school hygiene activities
b. Project Brief: (home-based work, after in-country work)
A short external communication document on the main activities and trainings undertaken in the
- Supervisory Responsibility
This consultancy is managed by the ACF South Sudan Country Director. All substantial changes to the scope should be agreed in advance with ACF South Sudan Technical Coordinator and New York South Sudan Technical Pool.
- SCOPE OF THE CONSULTANCY
Users of the consultancy
ACFTechnical adviser HQ Desk officer Mission Country Director, Field Coordinator, Technical Team, Support Team Others Local Partners, donors
- Expected results
The result of this evaluation should be presented in a written report and through several oral presentations:
· One on the mission
· One at HQ (in person or via teleconference).7. GENERAL REPORT
At the end of the community mobilization and strategic communication consultancy in SOUTH SUDAN, the consultant will have to produced a final report. It will include an executive summary as well as sections on the background and context, the methodology of work, all analyses, relevant models and descriptions of diets calculated, (including their costs and affordability) and recommendations that can be used to direct future integrated programming.
In addition to the written report, the consultant will share findings with ACF and other stakeholders at the national level.
The report shall follow the following format.
· Cover Page
· Table of Contents
· Executive Summary: must be a standalone summary, describing the programme, main findings of the evaluation, and conclusions and recommendations. This will be no more than 2 pages in length.
- Main Body: The main body of the report shall elaborate the points listed in the Executive Summary. It will include references to the methodology used for the evaluation and the context of the action. In particular, for each key conclusion there should be a corresponding recommendation. Recommendations should be as realistic, operational and pragmatic as possible; that is, they should take careful account of the circumstances currently prevailing in the context of the action, and of the resources available to implement it both locally and in the commissioning HQ. Annexes: Listed and correctly numbered. Format for the main body of the report is:
- Background Information
- Methodology
- Findings & Discussions
PROFILE OF THE CONSULTANT
Qualified Candidates will possess the following:
· Master degree in Social studies, community development, WASH or a related field
· Proven experience leading successful community mobilization and strategic communication.
· Team training, capacity building and management skills
· Proficient in Microsoft Office
· Excellent written and spoken English or willingness to work with an interpreter.
· Strong communication and presentation skills
· Previous experience working in low-resource settings
· Flexibility, cultural sensitivity and adaptability
· Previous experience in the South Sudan and
· Previous experience with ACF desirable
- CONDITIONS
· To have an insurance policy, and details of the coverage to be shared with ACF before departure.
· The consultant is responsible for ensuring he/she has a valid visa before entering SOUTH SUDAN:
o The consultant is responsible for acquiring and paying for their entry visa(s) to SOUTH SUDAN prior to arrival. The cost of the visa(s) will be reimbursed by ACF SOUTH SUDAN, upon presentation of receipt(s). An invitation letter will be provided and paid for by ACF SOUTH SUDAN to assist the consultant in acquiring the entry visa. Be aware the SOUTH SUDAN visa process can be long and requests anticipation (1 to 3 weeks for invitation letter, up to 2 weeks for the visa itself).
o If there is no SOUTH SUDAN Embassy in the consultant’s country of residence, the mission will be responsible for acquiring and paying for the entry visa (visa volant). The process for acquiring a visa volant is complicated and time consuming.
· His or her own computer.
· The Consultant is responsible for any and all administrative costs that do not derive from ACF’s responsibility (for example: passport renewal, photos, penalties or administrative fees related to prior stays in SOUTH SUDAN, among others.)
· The Consultant is responsible to cover the costs of his or her food during the stay in SOUTH SUDAN. If meals are taken at the ACF guesthouses, then the Consultant will have to reimburse ACF based on the daily rate for the corresponding ACF base.
· The accommodation in SOUTH SUDAN will be provided for and covered by ACF. Transport in SOUTH SUDAN and the other costs directly related to the consultancy (daily workers, local translator, etc.) will be covered by ACF
- RIGHTS
The ownership of the draft and final documentation belong to the agency and the funding donor exclusively. The document, or publication related to it, will not be shared with anybody except ACF before the delivery by ACF of the final document to the donor.
ACF is to be the main addressee of the evaluation and its results might impact on both operational and technical strategies. This being said, ACF is likely to share the results of the evaluation with the following groups:
· Donor(s)
· Governmental partners
· Various co-ordination bodies
- Intellectual Property Rights
All documentation related to the Assignment (whether or not in the course of the consultant’s duties) shall remain the sole and exclusive property of ACF.
HOW TO APPLY:
Interested parties must submit their applications by email referenced under title;
Community Mobilization and Strategic Communication Expert
Deadline for submission: Friday 31st July 2015 at 17.00 (GMT+3).
Consultants are requested to submit a proposal with a cover letter and must mention their expected total remuneration for this assignment.
Applications should include:
- A proposal to the above Terms of Reference including methodology, schedule, budget.
- A financial offer including daily fees in US Dollars
- Up-to-date curriculum vitae(s) of the lead consultant and relevant team members (if any),
- Evidence of past experience in undertaking similar assignments (three most recent documents preferred) of similar works done,
- Three (3) references of previous assignments.
Only shortlisted applications will be contacted.
The final selection will be done by Action Against Hunger USA
For more information, prospective consultants may contact Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm (GMT+3) at the following email address or by phone:
Email: tender.lsc@acf-international.org.
