National WASH Consultant: Indigenous response in Roraima, 4 months

UNICEF Boa Vista/RR office is supporting public authorities in WASH to enhance the provision of services, with special attention to the diversities of Indigenous populations, in CASAI Yanomami, Indigenous communities in urban areas, and Indigenous territories. In this context, the consultant will conduct a series of activities, including assessing WASH conditions in healthcare facilities and communities within indigenous territories. Based on needs assessments, the consultant will suggest technical solutions to enable access to water, sanitation, and hygiene for migrants and indigenous communities, Health Care Facilities (HCF), schools and informal settlements. The scope of work includes prepare bills of quantities (BOQ) and provide technical oversight for the implementation of recommended solutions, and support the building of water filters. Additionally, the consultant will develop and conduct a training on WASH for AISAN and sanitation technicians in indigenous community, in coordination with UNICEF and its partners.

While important progress has been made in Brazil and throughout the world over the last years regarding the implementation of the Convention of the Rights of the Child (CRC), much remains to be done to guarantee an integral protection of children and to ensure that all children have their fundamental rights fulfilled and respected in an equal manner and without discrimination.

With the migrant outflow from Venezuela, UNICEF has initiated its interventions in Roraima and established an Office in Boa Vista in 2019. Building on its development programme to support the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in Brazil, UNICEF’s response to the needs of children and families in the context of the migration crisis focuses on ensuring access to essential services and programmes, including the access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene.

Indigenous peoples of Roraima lack access to water, sanitation and hygiene which seriously affect the survival and development of children and adolescents in the communities, such as contamination of water sources used for human consumption, waterborne diseases, climate change, deforestation, armed violence, and epidemics are all factors. Illegal mining and logging, which includes recent deforestation, exposed soil, small tailings ponds, mercury contamination in the watershed, alters the availability of food (hunting, fishing, gathering, etc.) and impacts child food security and nutrition, exposes the population to vector-borne diseases, and prevents access to clean drinking water.

UNICEF aims at strengthening the capacity of actors responsible for providing quality child protection, education, health/nutrition, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services, so that they are fully equipped to assist indigenous and migrant children and their families. UNICEF advocates for the rights and voices of children and women as an integral component of the response.

SCOPE OF WORK:

In this context, UNICEF has supported local health and sanitation services, emphasizing the maintenance of essential primary healthcare services and fostering actions relevant to providing minimum WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) standards in healthcare facilities (HCF) and communities to prevent waterborne diseases, malnutrition, and acute diarrheal. In this context, basic health and sanitation actions are critical determinants of the well-being of the diverse indigenous peoples of Roraima, including the Yanomami, Macuxi, Kariña, and Enepha, as well as indigenous migrants from Venezuela.

To take action, the UNICEF Boa Vista/RR office is supporting public authorities in WASH to enhance the provision of services, with special attention to the diversities of Indigenous populations, in CASAI Yanomami, Indigenous communities in urban areas, and Indigenous territories.

In this context, the consultant will conduct a series of activities, including assessing WASH conditions in healthcare facilities and communities within indigenous territories. Based on needs assessments, the consultant will suggest technical solutions to enable access to water, sanitation, and hygiene for migrants and indigenous communities, Health Care Facilities (HCF), schools and informal settlements. The scope of work includes prepare bills of quantities (BOQ) and provide technical oversight for the implementation of recommended solutions, and support the building of water filters. Additionally, the consultant will develop and conduct a training on WASH for AISAN and sanitation technicians in indigenous community, in coordination with UNICEF and its partners.

DELIVERABLES

1. Work Assignment Overview 1

1.1. Support UNICEF in organizing a workshop with the indigenous public authority to build  five zeolite filters. Additionally, provide technical support to UNICEF in implementing two water supply systems for two communities, including HCF and schools. This support involves evaluating technical solutions, developing Bills of Quantities (BOQs), supervising system implementation, and preparing technical reports on the installed systems, . The proposal should include a 15 day field visit in remote areas, transportation and accommodation in HCF with public health authority will be provided

1.2. Deadline: 40 days from the contract signature date

1.3. Estimate Budget: 30%  

2. Work Assignment overview 2

2.1. Provide technical training in WASH to AISIANs to support UNICEF cope with Indigenous organizations, public authorities, and the community, delivering one workshop for WASH Indigenous agents, community leaders, and community on WASH good practices and disease prevention. The proposal should include 3 day field visit, transportation will be provided. Additionally, provide a WASHFIT and water quality monitoring training for a UNICEF project in partnership with a university regarding HCF receiving migrants in Boa Vista.

2.2. Deadline: 60 days from the contract signature date 

2.3. Estimate Budget: 20%

3. Work Assignment overview 3

Provide technical support regarding low cost wastewater treatment and toilet access technologies to UNICEF for the implementation of a pilot project in partnership with  university to evaluate culturally adapted wastewater treatment systems and toilets in two informal settlements in Pacaraima. A two-day field visit in Pacariama should be included in the proposal, transportation will be provided. Additionally, provide a two pager document on UNICEF’s support for Water Security Plan in Roraima in partnership with public authorities.

3.2. Deadline: 90 days from the contract signature

3.3. Estimate Budget: 30%

4. Work Assignment overview 4

4.1.  . Provide technical support to UNICEF to define water supply systems for 5 Indigenous communities. This support involves prepare the Bills of Quantities (BoQs) for these systems, assist in sourcing suppliers, and review service requests to suppliers and evaluate the implemented systems.

4.2. Deadline: 120 days from the contract signature

4.3. Estimate Budget: 20%

DURATION OF CONTRACT: 4 months

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENT

• Bachelor's Degree in civil, environmental, or sanitary engineering or another relevant technical field.
•  Relevant work experience in implementing WASH systems in Indigenous healthcare facilities, schools, and communities will be considered, particularly in areas such as water supply system implementation, preparing Bills of Quantities (BoQs), developing WASH educational materials, and delivering training for AISAN.Prior work experience implementing WASH programmes in Indigenous or rural communities is an asset.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered an asset.
• Strong communication skills.

LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY: Fluency in Portuguese. Spanish would be considered as an asset.

FINANCIAL PROPOSAL: A financial proposal including the fee for the assignment based on the deliverables and number of days must be submitted. Consultants are asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum, administrative cost, travel cost and subsistence costs, as applicable.

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

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UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

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.

Remarks:  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.