WASH Systems Strengthening Evidence Synthesis Consultant, Nairobi, Kenya, Remotely (Open only for International Candidates), Req#594742

Contract Duration- 9 Months

Working arrangement: Home Based

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

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TERMS OF REFERENCE

Background. UNICEF WASH programming globally has increasingly shifted from direct service delivery and infrastructure support towards technical assistance that helps governments strengthen the systems required for sustainable, equitable, climate-resilient and at-scale WASH services. This work, previously often described as upstream support, is now more explicitly understood as systems strengthening. It includes support to policy formulation, legal and regulatory reform, sector financing, institutional architecture, workforce development, planning, monitoring, evaluation and learning, and accountability. It is also increasingly central to UNICEF WASH programming as external financing for direct service delivery declines.

Systems strengthening rationale. UNICEF has a distinctive role because of its long-standing access to governments, its presence across country typologies, and the scale and duration of its support to national and subnational governments. While the direct outputs of systems strengthening support are often visible - such as policies, standards, regulations, coordination mechanisms, capacity development packages, monitoring systems and institutional reforms - the outcomes are harder to quantify precisely. The assignment therefore requires a contribution-focused evidence synthesis rather than a narrow attribution study.

Conceptual framing. The assignment will use UNICEF’s 2024 WASH systems strengthening framework and reference guide as the principal conceptual anchors. In this framing, a WASH system includes the infrastructure, people and governance that make WASH service delivery possible. Strong WASH systems are those that provide sustainable, at-scale and resilient WASH services, maintain behaviour change, and progressively reduce inequality. UNICEF’s systems strengthening approach works across three mutually reinforcing levels: managing drivers of WASH systems, reinforcing key governance functions, and improving interactions across actors, functions, levels and sectors.

Overall objective. The objective of the consultancy is to review and synthesize evidence from a purposive sample of countries to demonstrate the value of UNICEF’s WASH systems strengthening technical assistance to governments over the past 10-15 years, and to identify how UNICEF can strengthen its future offer to governments, partners and donors.

Intended use. The products will be used by UNICEF Global WASH Practice, regional offices and country offices to communicate the contribution of systems strengthening support, improve programme design, inform donor engagement and proposals, guide country-level contribution narratives, and strengthen UNICEF’s positioning in an increasingly resource-constrained environment.

Scope of Work

Overall scope. The consultant will design and implement a mixed-methods evidence synthesis that reviews UNICEF’s WASH systems strengthening support in a select number of countries. The assignment will analyze how support has been delivered, what outputs were produced, what changes in systems and service outcomes are plausibly linked to UNICEF support, and what lessons should shape UNICEF’s future systems strengthening offer.

Core Activities

• Inception and evidence protocol. Develop a detailed workplan, analytical framework, evidence synthesis protocol, country sampling criteria, interview guides, data request list, outline of deliverables, and quality assurance approach.

• Portfolio and document review. Review relevant UNICEF global, regional and country documents, including RAM annual narratives, country programme documents, WASH strategy documents, donor reports, evaluations, WASH Bottleneck Analysis Tool outputs where available, sector review documents, national policies, programme reports, and country case documentation.

• Data mapping and quantitative analysis. Compile and analyze relevant quantitative sources, including WASH Core Standard Indicator values, JMP household and institutions datasets for SDG 6.1 and 6.2, GLAAS data, sector finance and public expenditure data where available, country-level monitoring data, and other relevant datasets. The analysis should be disaggregated by sub-sector - water, sanitation and hygiene - and by institutions where data permit.

• Country case studies. Prepare concise but evidence-rich country case studies that map UNICEF inputs and outputs, government-led system changes, plausible contribution pathways and observed WASH outcome trends. Case studies should include a clear assessment of the strength of evidence and contribution claims.

• Key informant interviews and validation. Conduct remote interviews and focused consultations with UNICEF global, regional and country staff, selected government counterparts, development partners, donors and technical partners, as agreed with UNICEF. Facilitate at least one validation session with UNICEF and, where feasible, selected country office representatives.

• Synthesis of contribution pathways. Use contribution analysis, outcome harvesting, process tracing and realist review principles to identify recurring pathways through which UNICEF support plausibly contributed to stronger WASH systems and improved service outcomes.

• Future offer analysis. Assess what UNICEF should change to enhance its systems strengthening offer, including scope, prioritization, technical capacity, measurement, partnerships, donor positioning, knowledge management, country support modalities and resourcing models.

• Country office methodology guide. Prepare a practical guide and templates that country offices can use to develop their own evidence-based narratives for proposals, donor briefs, advocacy, partnership discussions and programme reporting.

• Finalization and knowledge products. Revise all deliverables based on UNICEF feedback and provide clean, editable final versions, including any data extraction matrices, interview guides, evidence rating tools and visual charts developed during the assignment.

b. Methodology and Approach

Overall design. The consultancy will use a mixed-methods, contribution-oriented evidence synthesis. It will not attempt to prove direct attribution of service coverage gains to UNICEF support. Instead, it will establish plausible, evidence-based contribution narratives by triangulating qualitative evidence on UNICEF-supported outputs and system changes with quantitative trends in service coverage, quality, institutional performance, financing, equity and resilience indicators.

Analytical framework. The consultant will organize the analysis using UNICEF’s WASH systems strengthening framework, including:

• The three levels of intervention: WASH system drivers; key governance functions; and interactions across governance functions, actors, sectors and administrative levels.

• The four phases of the intervention cycle: understand, find leverage points, mobilize and implement.

• The nine key governance functions clustered under the five SWA building blocks: policy and strategy; coordination; service delivery arrangements; regulation and accountability; budgeting; finance; planning; monitoring, evaluation and learning; and capacity development.

• The broader drivers of WASH systems: structural factors, institutional factors and political leadership, including equity, climate risk, fragility, decentralization, public finance management, social norms and intersectoral dynamics.

Country sampling. The consultant will propose a purposive sample of countries for UNICEF approval. The sample should be manageable but diverse enough to represent the continuum of contexts in which UNICEF works, including low-income countries, middle-income countries, fragile and conflict-affected settings, countries with major climate exposure, countries with strong government systems, and countries with significant WASH disparities. The sample should also allow comparison across water, sanitation and hygiene programming and across household and institutional WASH, where relevant.

Evidence sources. The synthesis should draw on, at minimum, the following sources where available:

• UNICEF RAM annual narratives, country programme documents, programme strategy notes, donor reports, evaluations and annual reports.

• UNICEF WASH Core Standard Indicator datasets and related country performance dashboards.

• JMP household and institutions datasets for SDG 6.1 and 6.2, including WASH in schools and health-care facilities where available.

• GLAAS country reports and enabling environment indicators.

• National WASH sector policies, strategies, legislation, standards, regulations, financing strategies, institutional reform documents, sector reviews and public expenditure documentation.

• WASH-BAT outputs, sector-wide sustainability checks, accountability mapping, joint sector review outputs and other systems diagnostic tools where available.

• Key informant interviews, consultation notes and validation feedback.

Contribution analysis approach. The consultant will reconstruct the logical chain from UNICEF-supported inputs and outputs to intermediate system outcomes and service-level changes. For each country case, the consultant should identify contribution claims, test them against available evidence, explore alternative explanations, and assign a transparent confidence rating. The analysis should recognize the role of governments and partners as primary owners of reforms and service outcomes.

Quantitative analysis. Quantitative analysis should include descriptive trend analysis rather than complex econometric attribution unless data quality permits and UNICEF agrees. The consultant should examine trends before, during and after major UNICEF-supported system changes, noting time lags, changes in definitions and data limitations. Relevant analysis may include changes in coverage levels, service quality, inequalities, institutional WASH indicators, budget allocations and utilization, presence of sector plans or monitoring systems, and other enabling environment measures.

Qualitative analysis. Qualitative analysis should identify patterns of change in governance, institutional performance, financing, capacity, accountability, coordination, planning and monitoring. The consultant should use structured coding or an equivalent transparent approach to analyze documents and interviews, and should produce short contribution stories that connect UNICEF support to government-owned system changes.

Sub-sector disaggregation. Where evidence permits, findings should be disaggregated by water, sanitation and hygiene, and by WASH in institutions where relevant. The synthesis should avoid presenting WASH as a single undifferentiated sector when evidence and contribution pathways differ across sub-sectors.

Limitations and exclusions. The assignment is not a formal evaluation, impact evaluation or audit. It is not expected to review every UNICEF country programme or produce a complete global inventory of all systems strengthening outputs. The consultant should document data gaps, limitations, risks of bias and the boundary between evidence, plausible inference and professional judgement.

Ethics, confidentiality and data protection. The consultant will handle UNICEF internal documents and datasets confidentially, use interviews only for the purpose of this assignment, seek consent from interviewees, avoid unattributed sensitive claims, and store all data securely. Interview findings should be reported in a way that does not expose individual staff or government counterparts unless explicit permission is provided.

c. Geographical Boundaries

• The assignment has a global scope but will use a purposive sample of countries rather than a universal country-by-country review.

• The consultant should propose approximately 8-10 countries for in-depth review, with the final number confirmed during inception based on data availability, geographic balance, typology, UNICEF priorities and feasibility.

• The sample should include countries from multiple UNICEF regions and should cover a mix of low-income, middle-income, fragile and conflict-affected, climate-exposed, rapidly urbanizing and high-disparity contexts.

• The country sample should include examples where UNICEF has provided sustained systems strengthening support over a sufficiently long period to allow review of outputs, system changes and outcome trends.

• The assignment will be conducted primarily remotely. Field visits are not included in the base scope, but UNICEF may decide to add limited travel if it is considered essential and resources permit.

Roles and Responsibilities

Consultant responsibilities. The consultant will be responsible for:

• Preparing the inception report, workplan, analytical framework, sampling proposal, interview guide and data extraction tools.

• Reviewing and synthesizing all agreed documents and datasets provided by UNICEF and available public sources.

Consultant Responsibilities

• Conducting agreed key informant interviews and maintaining accurate interview notes.

• Analyzing qualitative and quantitative evidence and developing contribution narratives, trend charts, case studies and evidence confidence ratings.

• Preparing and revising all deliverables in a clear, concise and publication-ready style.

• Facilitating validation sessions and incorporating feedback from UNICEF global, regional and country office reviewers.

• Maintaining confidentiality of internal UNICEF documents, data and interview information.

• Submitting all final outputs in editable formats, including Word, PowerPoint and Excel files where relevant.

UNICEF Global WASH Practice Responsibilities

UNICEF will be responsible for:

• Designating a contract manager, technical focal point and reference group to guide the assignment.

• Providing access to relevant internal datasets and documents, including RAM narratives, WASH Core Standard Indicator data, country programme documents, evaluations, donor reports and other internal material as feasible.

• Supporting access to relevant public datasets, including JMP and GLAAS, and clarifying UNICEF indicator definitions where needed.

• Approving the country sample, methodology, workplan and interview list during inception.

• Facilitating introductions to UNICEF regional and country office staff and, where appropriate, government counterparts, donors and partners.

• Providing timely consolidated feedback on deliverables, preferably through one lead focal point to avoid conflicting guidance.

• Organizing or co-organizing validation meetings and internal review sessions.

• Ensuring that sensitive internal data are shared in accordance with UNICEF information management and data protection procedures.

Review and approval arrangements. The consultant will submit each deliverable to the UNICEF technical focal point. UNICEF will provide consolidated feedback within an agreed timeframe, normally 5-10 working days depending on the complexity of the deliverable. Final acceptance will be based on the quality criteria in this ToR and the agreed workplan.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: Terms of Reference TMC0004224.pdf

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Education:

Advanced university degree in water and sanitation, public policy, development studies, economics, governance, public health, evaluation, engineering, social sciences or another relevant field. A PhD is an asset but not required.

Work Experience

• Demonstrated experience conducting evidence syntheses, evaluations, contribution analysis, outcome harvesting, political economy analysis, sector review or similar assignments.

• Strong knowledge of WASH sector monitoring, including SDG 6.1 and 6.2 indicators, JMP datasets, GLAAS sector finance data, enabling environment monitoring, and UNICEF or UN results reporting systems.

• Experience working with governments and development partners in low- and middle-income countries, including at least some experience in fragile, climate-vulnerable or complex operating environments.

• At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in WASH with substantial experience in WASH systems strengthening, governance, policy, institutional reform, sector financing, monitoring and evaluation, or service delivery sustainability.

Language Requirements

• Professional working proficiency in English.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills

• Proven ability to analyse qualitative and quantitative evidence, triangulate findings and present complex systems change in clear, compelling language.

• Excellent writing skills in English, including the ability to produce strategic reports, and donor-facing narratives.

Desirables

• Previous experience with UNICEF, UN agencies, SWA, WHO, UN-Water, World Bank, bilateral donors or major WASH sector partners.

• Experience developing methodologies, toolkits or guidance notes for country offices or government partners.

• Familiarity with UNICEF RAM, Core Standard Indicators, country programme planning and donor reporting processes.

• Experience with data visualization, dashboards or presentation of WASH trend data for non-technical audiences.

• Working knowledge of French, Spanish, Arabic or another UN language is an asset, especially if the sample includes countries where these languages are operationally useful.

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):

• An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
• Cover letter
• A separate financial proposal (only acceptable in the format of the linked template) Financial Proposal TMC0004224.xlsx
• A detailed technical proposal

A technical proposal is required outlining the
approach to the assignment including conceptual
framework, methodological and analytical approach,
and team composition if sub-contracting

Remarks:

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.