South Sudan: WASH Consultancy

Mar 7, 2022 | International Rescue Committee
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The IRC responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. The IRC was founded in 1933 to respond to the needs of people vulnerable to conflict around the world. Since then, it has expanded and evolved to become one of the world’s leading humanitarian organizations. In 2016, more than 26 million people benefited from IRC programs and those of its partner organizations. Today, the IRC continues to serve communities with emergency relief and reconstruction assistance, including Water, sanitation and hygiene services delivery in Ajuong Thok and Pamir refugee camps to the populations that were affected by conflict and disaster. The IRC in South Sudan has been providing humanitarian assistance since 1989. In 2021, with support from the UNHCR, the IRC received funding to provide access to increased water supply and improved sanitation in Pamir and Ajuongthok camps of Jamjang County, Ruweng Administrative area.

Project Location Context

Within South Sudan, the UNICEF WASH briefing note for 2019 indicate that, only 41% have access to safe and improved drinking water, 11% of household use sanitary means of excreta disposal, and 63% of the population practice open defecation. IRC is currently providing comprehensively improve Water and Sanitation (WASH) and Gender Based Violence (GBV) mainstreaming services to the refugees populations in Ajuong Thok and Pamir refugee camps while ensuring UNHCR standards are met through provision of quality hygiene, water and sanitation, integrated operations and maintenance of WASH service delivery in Ajoung Thok and Pamir refugee camps, reaching 46,519 and 41,000 refugees respectively. The WASH intervention is being implemented through a participatory approach, working closely with existing community mechanisms and structures to improve access to clean and safe water of sufficient quality and quantity; sanitation; hygiene practices; and WASH in health and nutrition centers, schools, households and other institutions. In the COVID-19 context, the IRC has integrated Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) in WASH services delivery to her clients and improve capacity development. With funding from UNHCR, the IRC manages two water supply systems installed in Ajuong Thok and Pamir refugee camps with 21 borehole water sources (9 in Pamir and 12 in Ajuong Thok) of which, 19 installed with hybrid solar and generator power sources. There are 17 service elevated steel tanks of different capacities (7 in Pamir, 10 in Ajuong Thok), and a total of 181 tap-stands (81 in Pamir, 100 in Ajuong Thok) for the people to collect water.

The IRC therefore, seeks for the services of an individual consultant to strengthen the capacity of her technical staff in solar and generator powered water systems maintenance and operation, water quality assurance using dossatron/line chlorination system and batch system, monitoring water quality and quantity, and assurance water production data quality.

Feasibility of this capacity building

The water supply systems in Ajuong Thok and Pamir camps as well as within the host communities are run by both solar and generator power system. The systems employed over 90 technicians, operators, and supervisors to maintain, operate, and ran these facilities. This has necessitated provision of capacity development training to enhance the technical effectiveness of the team and for the efficient execution of their roles and responsibilities regarding maintenance and operation of these facilities.

Objective: Supply of potable water increased or maintained

To ensure provision of sufficient water (>20 liters/person/ day) to meet the minimum humanitarian standards through maintenance and rehabilitation of existing water points, expansion of the water supply system network to unreached locations in both Ajuong Thok and Pamir Camps. The project involves stakeholders in key decision making and monitoring efforts through existing channels including water committee memberships to identify prevailing needs, upgrading the water distribution networks, at the water sources, replacing push taps and constructing 3 additional tap stands. To protect the investment in water systems, and reduce losses of chlorinated drinking water, tap stands will be fenced and generator shelters in selected water extension sites upgraded.

To ensure regular maintenance of water supply systems including servicing of generators, hand pumps and taps are conducted to aid constant supply of water to PoCs. Routine maintenance of 20 water sources (11 at, 9Pamir), and rehabilitation of pressed steel tanks. Water quality assurance and monitoring through regular testing for free residual chlorine (FRC), turbidity and other bacteriological/chemical analysis at water collection points and households to ensure the quality of water supplied is safe for human consumption.

Technical Scope of work:

The scope of work of the service provider is to assess and conduct trainings to twenty key water supply staff on maintenance and operation of generator and solar powered water supply systems and on water quality assurance, through dossatron and batch chlorination systems and quality monitoring to achieve increased number of capable national staff and back up staff in case of any need. The training shall have both theoretical and practical components to categorized staff groups such as water technicians, water quality technicians, operators, supervisors and officers. Including troubleshooting which shall include the following.

  • Assessment, analysis and troubleshooting of borehole water sources for optimized utilization (all BHs are installed with direct solar system without battery).
  • Monitoring and troubleshooting of online chlorination systems and recommend relevant options.
  • Optimal design, operation, and troubleshooting of solar power systems, control box and its use.
  • Optimal sizing, positioning, and troubleshooting of submersible pumps.
  • Alternating solar and generator operations without impacting each power system
  • Water quality; chlorine preparation and dose, measurement of chlorine residuals at key locations, proper storage of chlorine (practical to the existing water systems)

Geographical coverage and target population

The training will be conducted in Ajuong Thok/Jamjang County (Ruweng Admistrative Area). Focus will be on the selected number of the project implementing team dealing with operation and maintenance of the water systems and water quality assurance and monitoring.  

Activities:

The consultant is expected to submit training proposal that includes the below;

  •  Detailed mode of training, plan and proposed training budget including statement of professional fees, travel and accommodation cost for Juba to Ajuong Thok travels.
  •  Evaluation plan and method of evaluating the training effectiveness and the understanding of the staff, and application of knowledge.
  •  Timeline for training completion and report submission.

Deliverables:

The consultant will submit to IRC:

Monitoring Deliverables

  •  Training manual including both practical and theoretical sessions capturing water systems operation and maintenance including distribution system and the electrical systems maintenance, water production data reading and accurate recording, water quality assurance and monitoring developed and submitted.
  •  Final training report including number of people trained and topics delivered to the trainees, pictures of both theoretical and practical sessions and report of the feedback from the training evaluation

Qualifications

The individual consultant must have the following competencies.

  •  For water supply electromechanical engineer: Professional qualification in water resource/civil/mechanical engineering at master’s level or first degree with 8-10 years of relevant experience.
  •  Extensive experience in design, operation, and maintenance of small scale/town water supply systems; distribution network, pressure lines, submersible pumps and solar power systems
  •  Experience in hybrid borehole water source design, operation, and maintenance.
  •  Experience in training on operation and maintenance of hybrid water supply systems
  • For water quality expert: Degree in water quality assurance and monitoring.
  •  Extensive experience in ground water quality assurance and monitoring,
  •  Experience training on set-up and use of for chlorination of water at source and its maintenance.
  •  Experience in calculating the required and standard quantity of chlorine in water and expected FRC after contact time.
  •  Knowledge and experience in in training on biological and turbidity

Training Duration:

This training is estimated to take 14 working days including designing training manual, travel days and report compilation period. The will be conducted and reported between August and September 2021. Interested consultants must submit technical and financial proposals to IRC by 18th August, 2021.

Coordination and Reporting:

WASH Manager with technical support from the Environmental Health Coordinator

International Rescue Committee – South Sudan, Goshen House, Airport Road, Juba  

How to apply

Interested applicants should submit their cover later, technical and financial proposal for this training. Applicants must clearly illustrate their competencies and articulating the strategies and methods for conducting this training. Application packages must include:

  • CVs of proposed consultant.
  • Cover letter outlining relevant experience and skills against qualifications listed.
  • Summary budget to complete contract, including: 1) breakdown of days required for preparations, travels and actual training; 2) daily rates for consultant(s); and 3) travel and accommodation costs as presented in the payment details.