South Sudan: Youth Engagement in Relation to WASH

Oct 10, 2018 | Concern Worldwide
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Concern Worldwide is Ireland's largest aid and humanitarian agency. About 1.86 million people have been internally displaced across South Sudan, including over 215,000 seeking shelter in the Protection of Civilians Sites of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). Recent[1] head count reports shared by International Organization for Migration (IOM) camp management shows over 114,652 IDPs reside in the UN peacekeeping base in Bentiu, Unity State.

Concern began working in Unity State in January 2014 in response to the 2013 political crisis thanks to support from donors such as USAID, UNICEF, and DFATD/GAC. As people fled to Bentiu PoC, Concern’s team established WASH, shelter/NFI and nutrition activities in the PoC, expanding these more recently to locations in wider Unity as part of the Beyond Bentiu Response.

In Bentiu PoC, Concern operates WASH activities in sector 5, hosting the highest number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Bentiu PoC with 28% of reported PoC population settled in Sector 5. The actual numbers of IDPs in Bentiu PoC keep fluctuating depending on the political climate, insecurity situation and food insecurity in greater Unity state. As the conflict is not seen as decreasing in Unity State, the IDPs inside the PoC are provided with lifesaving services such as health, food assistance, shelter and WASH among others. WASH activities in sector 5 includes latrine constructions, solid waste management, hygiene promotion and water supply. From the recent reported IOM PoC population count, end of November 2017 there were 32,060 individuals and 4,571 households in sector 5.

Concern operates 2 boreholes serving sector 5 population with an estimated 400M3 daily water production. One borehole is located at PoC 4 with two ground Oxfam T-tanks (T-70 and T-75) served with motorized 8/9M3 yield borehole. Another borehole is situated at Sector 5 block 8 with three ground Oxfam T-tanks (T-90; T-70; T-75) served with motorised 26M3 yield borehole and two elevated 5000 and 10,000 litres distribution plastic tank respectively served with a booster pump. There are 16 water points each with 6 faucets/taps and being managed by a team of 32 tap stand attendants on a rotational basis. The estimated per capita is between 11-12l/p/.

There are 16 blocks in sector 5 each with one water point. There are a total of 630 stances of functional latrines are currently being maintained by a team of three operators and cleaned by 96 latrine cleaners. Solid waste management is being managed by a team of garbage collectors and delivered to a central location before being disposed off by a private contracted firm. Through the assessment, Concern aims with recommendations to intergrate the youth as beneficiaries and partners in the sustainability of the WASH services within and beyond PoC.

Concern’s WASH programme in the Bentiu PoC and beyond has benefited over 60,000 people by providing access to safe water, proper sanitation and hygiene promotion services as well as building capacities of target communities through training and equipping them with necessary tools, materials and information.

[1] IOM DTM figures-May 2018

Main Objective:

The Main objective of the assessment/study is to help Concern Worldwide design a community led all-inclusive approach on how to engage youth as protagonists in the design and implementation of WASH services in Bentiu PoC and the beyond Bentiu response to improve on the sustainability and ownership of the WASH projects. Also on how to build on the imagination, energy, opinions and talents the young women and men through their active participation in all phases of formulation and implementation of WASH service delivery.

1. Scope of work

The scope of the consultancy assignment shall include but not limited to the following;

1. In cooperation with youth and volunteers and considering gender and other minority group inclusion, develop a strategy (ies) that should promote the establishment of Youth health associations (YOHA) or Youth health groups (YOGH) in Bentiu PoC, Rubkona and greater Guit Counties to participate in promotion of good sanitation and hygiene programmes.

1. Develop at least two workable models (One (1) for the Bentiu PoC and one (1) for Guit and Rubkona Counties that will be adopted for ensuring effective, efficient and appropriate integration of Youth in WASH provision services.

1. Working with community leaders identify different methodology of increasing understanding of the growing importance of, and greater potential for, youth participation in WASH practice specifically for the community ownership and sustainability

1. Provide some initial practical guidance to assist Concern and other partners and community to work more effectively with and for young people.

1. Using the three-lens approach, propose methodologies and approaches of engaging the youth as

a) Beneficiaries

b) Partners and

c) Future service providers

1. Discuss with the State Government of Gender, Concern, UNDP, MC, UNHCR, Protection cluster and other agencies within PoC, Rubkona and Guit Counties to determine their current structure of Youth engagement to help in aligning the proposed strategy with current existing structures .

1. Propose on how the current implementation approach can be phased out and or be incorporated to ensure continuity of services in ensuring efficient service provision without any disruptions.

1. Provide preliminary cost estimates for the strategy including suitable implementation plan, schedule and phasing over.

1. Identify the strengths and challenges and assess the overall effects (outcomes) and impacts of the future intervention (intended and unintended, short-term and long-term) for the proposed strategy

1. Help develop a ToR for a trainer who will conduct capacity building of the youth inclusion in the WASH service provision, the community leaders and skills development

1. Present the outcomes and proposed viable approach (es) to the Client and other stakeholders.

Documents for Review by consultant:

• Project documents.
• Concern Anti-Fraud policy
• Concern Code of Conduct and its Associated Policies.
• Expected deliverables and outputs

The outputs of the consultancy assignment shall include the following;

• Inception Report.
• Draft Youth Involvement in WASH strategy Report.
• Final Youth Involvement in WASH Strategy Report.
• Cost implication for the strategy.

The outputs will be submitted in PDF format for the draft and the final reports. The Consultant shall submit two No. electronic copies of the data and reports in PDF and original format to the Client.

1. Report format:

The report, no longer than 30 pages excluding annexes, will be presented in English and will include at minimum: Preamble covering background information, current Concern WASH implementation strategies, and proposed model for Youth engagement in WASH service provision. The consultant will conduct debriefing meetings with Concern field team, this could include other relevant stakeholders.

1. Suggested Number of days and tasks

The assignment shall be carried out within a period of 20 days. The Consultant shall submit a detailed schedule of the tasks including their expected duration and out puts. Developed approach (es) technical report, expert advice and recommendations should be completed within the consultancy period.

The consultant will report to WASH Programme Manager of Concern Worldwide South Sudan, but will work closely with the Bentiu Area Coordinator, Base manager, WASH Engineer and Emergency Programme Director.

1. General Conditions of the consultancy

1. The consultant must complete all formal administrative requirements of Concern like signing Concern’s Programme Participant Protection Policy.

1. Concern will provide transport to facilitate the work activities.

1. The consultant should have their own laptop to complete the work activities.

1. Flight/travel to and from the country of residence and visa costs shall be paid by Concern Worldwide

1. Accommodation will be provided by Concern Worldwide in Juba/field in compliance with Concern’s policy while the consultant will cover fully his/her food subsistence related costs.

1. The movement of the consultant and team to and from the field will be facilitated by Concern Worldwide.

1. Mode of the payment by cheque or bank transfer to the consultant shall be 40% payment on arrival, 60% after submission and approval of final report.

1. Concern WASH team at Bentiu level and Concern WASH advisor will review the report with comments before 2nd and last instalment is paid.

1. Payment may be subject to 20% withholding tax, as per South Sudan law unless the consultant provides confirmation that s/he is exempted.

1. Security:

The Country Director as the person responsible for security will make the final decision on travel plans of the Consultant based on security assessments. The Consultant must accept the Country Director’s decision and must adhere to all Concern South Sudan security protocols while in-country.

1. Skills and competencies required

*Education:**

The consultant is expected to have a Master in social studies (sociology, psychology, anthropology, development, etc)

*Work Experience:**

• Minimum experience of 3-5 years on similar consultancy/assessment.
• Proven experience in the consultancy field (youth engagement in displacement and conflict context).
• Proven team leading and managerial experience.
• Previous experience in South Sudan and/or POCs will be an added advantage.

Technical Competencies:

• Excellent technical and analytical skills
• Excellent reporting and presentation skills.
• Excellent knowledge of and experience with humanitarian guidelines, principles and standards.
• Fluency in English and local languages spoken in the working area is an advantage.
• Computer literacy in MS Word, MS Excel, PowerPoint, etc.
• Willingness to work under pressure & meeting deadlines.
• Ability to work in a multicultural and inter-sectoral environment.
• Ability to work collaboratively as a team with the other staff members.
• Ability to coordinate, direct and supervise others to achieve a common goal.
• Ability to live and work in an isolated area in conditions of limited comfort