Invitation to tender:
Review of the Current Water Conservation Situation in Rwanda and Support Development of Action Plan for Improving Water Conservation
SIWI is pleased to invite individual consultants to take part in a tender procedure for the above-mentioned contract.
The deadline for receipt of tenders is: 15th April 2024
Point of contact: Tom Heath, Programme Manager
E-mail address: tom.heath@siwi.org
Stockholm International Water Institute
SIWI is a knowledge organisation using its expertise and convening power to strengthen water governance for a just, prosperous, and sustainable future. SIWI arranges the annual World Water Week in Stockholm.
SIWI is duly constituted as a foundation in Sweden.
Name: Stockholm International Water Institute
Organisation number: 802425-8702
VAT identification number: SE802425870201
Postal address: Kabyssgatan 4D, SE-120 30 Stockholm, Sweden
Visiting address: Hammarbybacken 31, 120 30 Stockholm, Sweden
Website: www.siwi.org
Background
SIWI is a policy institute that generates knowledge, builds capacity, and informs decision-making with a view to addressing the challenges in reaching Sustainable Development Goal 6, ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. SIWI performs research, builds institutional capacity, and provides advisory and technical support in areas related to water governance, transboundary water management, and water and climate change. SIWI also cooperates with public and private actors in Sweden and organises the World Water Week in Stockholm – the leading annual global conference on water and development issues. By producing and disseminating actionable knowledge, SIWI contributes to bridging the gap between policy and practice.
Within SIWI, the Water and Sanitation (WASH) Department’s efforts focus on achieving more equitable, efficient, and sustainable water supply and sanitation services in low- and middle-income countries – in ways that are resilient to climatic and demographic variations. The team mainly works in the knowledge – policy – practice space, closing the implementation gap between policy and practice through strengthened governance for WASH service delivery. As such, the department supports its boundary partners in priority-setting, policy development and implementation of improved water governance processes and practices, collaborating with a variety of partners and stakeholders from different constituencies (UN agencies and their country offices, development banks, government, private sector, civil society and academia) throughout the water policy cycle.
The WASH department is currently undertaking a number of major programs. Among other requests from UNICEF, SIWI is supporting Rwanda Country Office in analysing the Rwanda’s Water Conservation efforts and in formulating and planning the next water conservation efforts, at national level.
Rwanda is ranked amongst the world’s water-scarce countries with overall water availability of 670 m3/person/annum. Coupled with high non-revenue water (over 40%), increasing urbanisation and economic development, the demand on natural resources is expected to triple by 2040, with a drop in water quality due to increasing pollution. Though the Government of Rwanda has taken several initiatives to improve water conservation in the country, a comprehensive situation analysis of water conservation situation has not been undertaken. Moreover, a national level action plan to guide future water conservation efforts in the country does not exist. In view of this, Rwanda Water and Sanitation Corporation (WASAC) and Rwanda Water Resources Board (RWB), with support from UNICEF, plan to undertake a study to assess the current situation of water conservation in Rwanda, especially for agricultural and municipal sectors, and identify key actions needed to
Specific requirements on the tenderer
Exclusion grounds
The tenderer must not be in any situation listed in Annex 1: Exclusion grounds. By signing the tender, the tenderer confirms that it is not in any of the situations listed in Annex 1: Exclusion grounds.
Experience required.
- At least five years of experience and/or research in working on water services or water resources, demonstrated through studies/reports/projects in Rwanda.
- At least five years of experience in working with water policies and strategies guiding different water uses, data collection and analysis. Solid understanding of water, environment and climate policies, strategies, institutions, and regulations in Rwanda. Solid understanding of water conservation in Rwanda.
- Demonstrated experience supporting capacity building and/or training.
Skills/Technical skills and knowledge
- Established Network with different actors, water sector partners and water users (governments, NGOs, donors, inter-governmental organizations, private sector).
- Experience animating technical working groups, delivering consultation process and access to key stakeholders.
- In depth knowledge of the institutional landscape, clear understanding of “who does what” in Water Resources Management and Water Services provision in Rwanda.
- Specific knowledge of water conservation in Rwanda.
- Clear and concise writing skills with demonstrated ability to analyse systems and distil key concepts.
- Excellent organizational, team and inter-personal skills in view of interacting with multiple stakeholders at country and regional levels.
- Candidates must have proficiency in English.
Tasks and Duration
The external consultant would provide inputs in relation to two different tasks:
Task 1 – Assessment of water conservation in Rwanda: The consultant will be required to support SIWI in the collection of existing documents and literature that describe the present Water Conservation situation in Rwanda, as well as sectoral policies and strategies, national and basin water management and development plans, national water and sectoral regulation that sets / should set the water use and water conservation enabling environment. This will be done by meeting the appropriate stakeholder, including but not limited to government officials, CSOs, and the private sector. Under guidance of SIWI, the consultant will contribute to the assessment gathering of documents and to the drafting of conclusions. She/he will be able to draft a document summarising the institutional landscape of WRM/WASH sector.
While meeting the key stakeholder (state-, private -, and civil society actors, representing major water users and actors active in water conservation in the country), the consultant will interview them using a by SIWI-prepared questionnaire. The questions will relate to the present water insecurity, the water conservation efforts, possible water conservation solutions identified by the interviewee, and to understanding the political economy. The scope of this consultancy being country-wide, the consultant is required to meet key stakeholders in and beyond Kigali, covering Rwanda. The list of stakeholders to be visited and interviewed will be discussed and agreed with SIWI and UNICEF. SIWI will participate to the first interviews while on mission in the country, and the consultant will carry on the meeting, interviews, and with that, the gathering of information. The consultant will assist SIWI in drafting the list of stakeholders, in preparing the agenda, and in organising meetings and consultations, with eventual support of UNICEF.
She/he will document case studies and good practices of water conservation in Rwanda that can serve as inspiration.
Number of days for the consultant: 21 days
Task 2 – National consultation: The consultant will support the preparation and facilitation of the national consultation meetings, and reporting on the latter. In particular, she/he will support the development of deliverables produced during the workshop (e.g., the workshop report, the strategic recommendations formulated by working groups, etc.). In addition, and if needed, the consultant will support the coordination and facilitation of follow-up meetings with specific stakeholders to complete the formulation of recommendations and associated action plans (to be discussed)
Number of days for the consultant: 3 days (which may be extended to 6 in case of follow-up meetings after the national consultation are required).
Services are estimated to start by 22nd of April 2024. The duration of this contract will be until 30th of November 2024.
Deliverables: During the assignment, reports will be drafted containing information on all proposed activities. The following outputs will be directly delivered or supported:
- Summary and major conclusions from interviews with key stakeholders
The following outputs will be supported:
- Summary document presenting all findings from the desk review regarding water conservation in Rwanda, including case studies and good practices
- Final report, with specific focus on prioritised strategic recommendations that should be endorsed in Rwanda to enhance water conservation.
Tendering
The consultant should submit a proposal comprising the following:
- Name and contact information
- 1-page summary of existing water conservation activities and coordination platforms in Rwanda.
- 2-page summary the experience of the consultant related to the services procured.
- A full CV containing relevant references and including details of at least 3 reports and/or trainings on related matters.
- Name and contact of at least 2 referents for the experiences mentioned in the CV. SIWI reserves the right to contact these referents for confirmation of the contents of the CV and their appreciation of the candidate.
- Daily rate of the individual per day of work and estimated budget for expenses.
- Any other appendices the consultant sees as relevant to the application.
The tender must be submitted to the following email address: tom.heath@siwi.org. SIWI must have received the tender by 7th April 2024. The subject of the email should be “Water Conservation in Rwanda”.
Processing of personal data
SIWI will process personal data included in tender documents and communications. For information about SIWI’s processing of personal data, please use the following link: Processing of personal data
Disclaimer
This invitation to tender is in no way binding on SIWI. SIWIs contractual obligation will commence only upon signature of a written contract by the authorized signatories of SIWI and the successful tenderer.
SIWI reserves the right to accept any tender without prior negotiations. SIWI reserves the right to reject any tender and to cancel the process and reject all tenders at any time prior to the signing of the contract, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected tenderer(s).
SIWI will not be responsible for, or pay for, expenses or losses that may be incurred by a candidate or tenderer in the preparation of its tender and/or in connection with the procurement process.
Annex 1: Exclusion grounds
1. Criminal activities
A tenderer will be excluded from participation in a procurement procedure where SIWI is aware that the tenderer has been the subject of conviction by final judgement for any of the following reasons:
- Participation in a criminal organization.
- Corruption.
- Fraud.
- Terrorist offences or offences linked to terrorist activities.
- Money laundering or terrorist financing, or
- Human trafficking.
A tenderer will be excluded if a person who has been subject to such conviction is a member of the administrative, management or supervisory body of that tenderer or has powers of representation, decision, or control therein.
Evidence: By signing the tender, the tenderer confirms that it is not in any of the situations above.
2. Other irregularities
A tenderer will be excluded from participation in a procurement procedure where SIWI is aware that the tenderer is in any of the following situations:
- where it has been established by a final judicial or administrative decision that the tenderer is in breach of its obligations relating to the declaration or payment of taxes or employer contributions.
- where it can be demonstrated by appropriate means that the tenderer is guilty of a violation of applicable obligations in the fields of employment, environmental, labour, or social law.
- where the tenderer is bankrupt or is the subject of insolvency or winding-up proceedings, where its assets are being administered by a liquidator or by the court, where it is in an arrangement with creditors, where its business activities are suspended, or it is any analogous situation arising from a similar procedure under national laws and regulations.
- where it can be demonstrated by appropriate means that the tenderer is guilty of grave professional misconduct.
- where a conflict of interest cannot be effectively remedied by other less intrusive measures.
- where the tenderer has been guilty of serious misrepresentation in supplying the information required as a condition of participation in the procurement procedure or has withheld such information.
- where the tenderer has undertaken to unduly influence the decision-making process, to obtain confidential information that may confer upon it undue advantages in the procurement procedure or to negligently or wilfully provide misleading information that may have a material influence on decisions concerning exclusion, selection or the award of contract.
- where the tenderer is included on a procurement debarment list such as that of the World Bank, the European Development Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the African Development Bank Group, the Asian Development Bank, or the Inter-American Development Bank.
Evidence: By signing the Tender, the tenderer confirms that it is not in any of the situations above.
