Wash Sector Information Coordinator To Water Establishment (We) – 2 Positions

  Title: WASH Sector Information Coordinator to Water Establishment (WE) – 2 positions Duty stations: Tripoli, ZahleAdministrative reporting to: Tripoli: WASH SpecialistZahle: WASH SpecialistFor all duty stations: DG Water Establishment overall managerial supervision Contract type: Individual SSAsDuration: 6 months Start date: As soon as possible I. OBJECTIVESThe consultant will primarily support the Water Establishment activities which are targeted directly to support the LCRP across the WASH sector. II. BACKGROUNDFrom 2014, WASH Programmes are being formulated and delivered within the framework of the Lebanon Crisis Response Plan (LCRP), shaped by the former humanitarian programme and led by the Government of Lebanon with international organisational support.  The UNICEF WASH Programme has been scaled up in the drive towards stabilisation through the LCRP, providing support and services to all vulnerable communities in Lebanon. UNICEF also performs sector coordination roles in both the humanitarian and stabilisation domains, providing senior technical advisors to support the WASH sector stabilisation implementation.The Government of Lebanon in year 2000, recognised the need to undertake a more strategic water resource management approach, culminating in the introduction of new water sector legislation, Law 221 with subsequent amendments. Since this time, a National Water Sector Strategy (NWSS) was released in 2010, with a ‘Water Code’ still to be ratified and Masterplan at national and regional levels to be developed. An important feature of the new legislation was the divestment of responsibility for water service provision to (4) Water Establishments (WE), which operate at a regional level, and planning and policy responsibility remaining with the Ministry of Energy and Water (MEW) at the national level. Due to capacity and institutional constraints however (including implementation of key regulatory tools such as the Masterplan), WEs have not been able to apply key measures to improve water supply reliability or to improve their financial viability. This together with the current Syrian Crisis has exacerbated the water scarcity situation within Lebanon and the need for effective intra-sectoral management particularly at the national level. WASH Sector Coordination meetings are currently chaired by UNICEF on a regular monthly basis under MEW and WE auspices. WASH stabilisation measures are being planned to restore/ strengthen Lebanese systems to pre-Syria Crisis levels, including for public water access in those most impoverished Lebanese communities, and to stem further environmental damage caused by poor wastewater management practices, both of which are compounded by underlying capacity and institutional reform weaknesses. Local government partnerships have been long established with the Water Establishments of the Northern and Southern Regions, and the Bekaa Valley which manage water and wastewater services in the areas most directly through the current legislative framework. Detailed assessments are on-going to determine an appropriate mix of urgent stabilisation response and medium term capacity building measures to be implemented with UNICEF support (by private contractors under the supervision of regional Water Establishments and their Municipal partners in local government). Carefully targeted support, in capacity development, technical innovation and institutional reform processes, aims to bridge humanitarian assistance with longer-term development objectives to foster more sustainable resource management and practices. The ongoing assessment within the WASH sector will provide further directions for stabilisation in 2014 and beyond with a focus to implement the Masterplan. III. SCOPE OF WORKThe Consultant will be based in the WE and provide direct support to the WE Director General and staff. The Consultant will report to Director General of the respective WE. The WASH Specialist/Officer in the responsible field office will monitor progress against the agreed TOR with the support of the Senior WASH Specialist in Beirut, and the Consultant will work closely with the UNICEF WASH and WE staff based in field office to deliver agreed outcomes. The Consultant will hold regular meetings with the WASH Specialist/Officer in the responsible field office to establish objectives and update him/her on the key achievements in delivery of the TOR.The Consultant will primarily, provide support to the WE in water sector monitoring and report on the implementation of WASH sector projects. Should that workload permit, the Consultant may be requested to work on other tasks related to stabilisation, especially coordination. These decisions should be based on a common agreement from the WE and UNICEF.The Consultant will facilitate the delivery of the following tasks and responsibilities:•Develop a projects database and a water (monitoring) database to be supported by Windows and compatible with WE systems, to collate and archive project/field data for the WASH sector in the respective Water Establishment region. Build upon existing databases within the WE, particularly those supporting existing GIS mapping. Develop a database that is capable of collating data from a range of water sources, groundwater, surface water and rainwater/climatic. Ensure the databases are regularly updated and information shared with water sector database in the Lebanon Center for Water Conservation and Management (LCWCM).•Seek input from the WASH sector, and work with WASH Sector Coordinator and UNICEF WASH staff in the respective field office to collate WASH sector information and input into database. Process requests for information by the WASH sector and with agreement of the WE provide data and products such as maps and graphs.•Identify existing monitoring locations (working with the UNICEF and WE staff). Prepare a map of identified monitoring locations and projects in ArcGIS and update quarterly with any newly identified information. •Identify existing and possible monitoring locations (working with UNICEF and WE staff). Undertake regular field assessment missions with WE staff to provide support and training as necessary on water data sampling (level, flow, quality and extraction) at identified monitoring sites. Collate and regularly update ‘water’ database on a periodic basis. •Collate and download water monitoring data from any WE existing network. Collate and regularly update database on a periodic basis to be defined. Undertake field assessment missions to identify repair of monitoring works not functioning.•Undertake a gap analysis of available water data sites and correlate with projects across the region, and identify opportunities within approved and pending projects (based on vulnerability) to fill the monitoring gaps to facilitate stabilization efforts. Regularly review gap analysis using WASH sector monitoring data/project information, and communicate with WASH sector partners opportunities to include data monitoring into project implementation and improve WASH service provision to effect stabilisation. Work with UNICEF staff to identify requirements for any additional works/infrastructure to supplement existing monitoring network.•Upon request from the WE, support the coordination of stakeholders involved in the stabilisation work programme, including preparation of meetings, and liaison with other International Organizations. IV. DELIVERABLES AND SCHEDULES•Provide monthly updates of the list of priority projects and their progress according to agreed report formats.•Provide monthly progress and status reports on WASH sector information collation.•Provide a handover report to the Director General of the respective WE and WASH Specialist/Officer in the responsible field office, UNICEF in a prescribed format upon completion of the assignment together with soft copies of all related documents, designs, data collation and database analyses performed during the course of the assignment. V. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS•Monthly reports before the 5th of each month (conditional to receiving fee payment)•Meeting minutes 3 days after the meeting•Field visit monitoring reports 3 days after the visit.•Data input into database within 3 days of receipt. VI. PROFILE REQUIREMENTS•Advanced university degree in the field of water engineering, water resources and/or environmental management, GIS and information management or other related fields ;•At least 5 of experience in the water sector, preferably in project and database management ;  background in computer science and some experience in Access a 2-3 years of experience;•Experience with international development cooperation agencies would be an advantage.•Computer and database literacy, good communication and networking. Fluent English and Arabic language skills, French would be an advantage. VII. HOW TO APPLYQualified candidates are requested to apply online on http://www.undp.org.lb/jobs/index.cfm.Only candidates who are under serious consideration will be contacted and will receive official feedback. Incomplete applications or received beyond the deadline will not be considered.UNICEF is a non-smoking environment.UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation.