PPP project screening data gathering and validation – RISE project 77 views

Project/Consultancy Title: PPP project screening data gathering and validation – RISE project

Project Location(s): Addis Ababa

Dates: Maximum of 60 days, between 1st May-June 30th, 2024.

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.

Now, and for the future.

We help people overcome poverty and conflict. Working with communities, we leverage local logic to help people transform their lives. To grow more food, earn higher incomes and ultimately advocate for their needs. We see global challenges as an invitation to pioneer innovative, sustainable solutions. During our 34 years’ history, our work has improved more than 170 million lives in more than 115 countries around the world.

Water security is one of the four programs in Mercy Corps. We work on the frontlines of securing water supplies and improving the productivity of water in its many uses. We support people in fragile and conflict-affected contexts to adapt water management to challenges and risks, while helping to build water secure communities and economies.

Purpose / Project Description:

Mercy Corps Ethiopia seeks a consultant for the Hilton-funded Research for Innovative and Sustainable Water in Ethiopia (RISE) project. The project will work to establish and strengthen reliable, affordable, and sustainable water supply services in the targeted woredas (Dera, Farta, and North Mecha) by exploring the potential of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs). While PPPs are considered an alternative approach to enhance water service delivery by mitigating capital constraints in resource-limited environments, the Mercy Corps team recognizes that the model must be fit for purpose to ensure successful PPP implementation. Various PPP arrangements, including management contracts, leases, and full concessions, can crowd in additional resources and expertise needed to improve water service quality and delivery. While PPPs can improve water supply services’ functionality and sustainability, the PPP model’s viability and type must be selected based on key enabling factors and local market characteristics. To better determine those factors and validate the appropriate PPP model, the RISE team will conduct a series of evaluations before establishing any PPP model(s).

To assess the viability of a PPP model, RISE will employ a systematic approach, beginning with a series of interrelated comprehensive evaluations across three target woredas. These evaluations will be guided by five key categories of enabling factors:

• Infrastructure: Assessing the current condition of water supply infrastructure in the target areas and identifying necessary investments and rehabilitation efforts to enhance functionality and expand coverage.

• Market: Examining the demand for water supply services in the three woredas, including variations across different regions and population segments. Factors influencing water consumption patterns and affordability will also be explored.

• Policy and Regulatory Framework: Analyzing existing policies, regulations, and institutional frameworks related to water supply, PPPs, and rural development at both the national and regional levels. This assessment will determine how these policies either support or hinder the implementation of a PPP model for water supply service delivery.

• Stakeholder Commitment and Capacity: Evaluating the readiness and capacity of local stakeholders, such as government agencies, private sector entities, and community-based organizations, to engage in a PPP model for water supply services. This assessment will also identify potential roles, responsibilities, and levels of commitment among these stakeholders.

• Financial Constraints and Risks: Identifying the financial constraints and risks associated with implementing a PPP model across the three woredas. This evaluation will explore potential revenue streams and funding sources to ensure sustainability, affordability, and future expansion of water supply services.

Currently, the project is in a project screening phase for selecting the projects that are going to be assessed, according to the previous description. The consultant will work closely with the Team Lead and the PPP Expert, and will  be in charge of the data collection, verification, and validation of different relevant and specific information of the projects listed in the pre-screening phase, which includes several projects from the three districts.

Consultant objectives and activities

• Engage with Amhara Regional Water Bureau and officials from target Woredas to increase their understanding of the RISE project, including objectives and PPP screening tool.

• Work with Amhara Regional Water Bureau and officials from target Woredas to identify and where necessary conceptualize possible projects for review using the PPP screening tool.

• Work with Amhara Regional Water Bureau and officials from target Woredas to gather relevant information on projects to support the screening process.

• Where necessary engage with the Regional Water Bureau and officials from Woredas in the new target area to increase their understanding of the RISE project

• Work with Regional Water Bureau and officials from target Woreda(s) in the new area to identify projects for review using the PPP screening tool.

• Work with the Regional Water Bureau and officials from target Woredas to gather relevant information on projects in the new area to support the screening process.

• Document relevant project information ready for use in the screening process.

• Validate in the field the data collected. Document a list of private partners based in Amhara and new target area that might be partners in RISE project.

• Review initial design idea of projects with the regional design team.

• Assess the capacity of the regional government for designing water supply systems.

• Review shelf design documents which are included in the first list of screening.

• Quantify the assessment needs of the three districts.

• Preliminary assessment of technology options in the region considering functionality and sustainability.

Consultant Deliverables:

• Database and report of the collected information for the prescreened projects.

• Organized files and report of the shelf design documents reviewed for the selected projects.

• Report with the information and quantification of the infrastructure assessment need for the three districts

Timeframe / Schedule:

The consultant shall complete the duties described in this Scope of Work from 1st May 2024 to 30th June 2024.

The Consultant will report to:

RISE Project Team Lead

The Consultant will work closely with:

RISE project research and learning technical manager, project coordinator, TRaQ Senior water security advisor, TRaQ water security Director, PPP expert for RISE project.

Required Experience & Skills:

● 10+ years  of experience in the WASH sector with a special emphasis on water supply system design.

● BSc or MSc in water engineering, hydraulics, and other related fields

● Proven experience of big multi village water supply system design

● Experience of working in Amhara region preferred.

● Strong ability to understand, manage and communicate effectively with multiple stakeholders and complex relationships at multiple levels of the organization.

● Experience of capturing learning for learning briefs, case studies, or research outputs

● Willingness and ability to travel is required.

● A proven proactive approach to work and self-driven leadership.

● Fluency in English is required, with strong written and oral communication skills.

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.