UNICEF Office for Tamil Nadu & Kerala
ONE POSITION: Consultant – WASH Climate Change Consultant for Tamil Nadu & Kerala
Duty Station: Chennai
Closing date to submit the application: 26 February 2025
Please note that the contract is delivery-based with a specific delivery schedule. Consultant should manage their own time and ensure submission of the deliverables as per the schedule. However, the consultant will be stationed at the partner’s office premises for execution of tasks. Additionally, will need to attend meetings at the UNICEF office as deemed necessary or as agreed upon with the contract supervisor.
PURPOSE OF ASSIGNMENT:
Support the UNICEF Chennai Office in providing technical assistance to key line departments (Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Climate Change and Environment, Local Self Government Department, Water Authority, Department of Health, Public Health and Engineering Department, Department of Education) to strengthen the roll-out of the outline programmes for the purpose of achieving the established goals within the agreed upon timeframes. The consultant will contribute to operationalizing state / districts plan at all levels for the relevant programmes and support complementary efforts to promote long-lasting behaviour change and community buy-in through social and behaviour change campaigns and interventions.
BACKGROUND:
In Tamil Nadu and Kerala, UNICEF supports the implementation of state-specific programs that support the national flagship objectives set forth by the Jal Jeevan Mission, Swachh Bharat Swachh Vidyalaya, Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen, and the Kayakalp effort in healthcare facilities, as well as the Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability (CCES) programs. These programs center on UNICEF priorities to realize children’s rights and create a healthy environment for children and their surroundings. The Chennai Field Office also advocates with the government on climate resilience, which is a key component of all flagship initiatives. UNICEF is serving as a state lead partner for Tamil Nadu and is spearheading the country’s capacity building theme as a Rural WASH Partners forum, as instructed by the Ministry of Jal Sakthi. Furthermore, the Chennai Field Office has been lobbying for the inclusion of climate resilient aspects in ongoing programs and assisting the states in the development, testing, and implementation of climate resilient interventions.
The two state governments are dedicated to giving every home access to piped water through the Jal Jeevan Mission, another central initiative of the Ministry of Jal Shakti. UNICEF is assisting with this through the creation of technical guidelines, capacity building initiatives, enhancing community ownership and engagement, and putting in place strong frameworks for monitoring and evaluation at the state and federal levels. As of mid-October 2024, 72% and 99% of reported villages are validated, while 53% and 95% of model villages claimed by Tamil Nadu and Kerala state have been confirmed. About 87% of Tamil Nadu households and 54% of Kerala households have a tapped water connection, which is less than the 79% national average. In Kerala, almost 81% of water sources are contaminated by bacteria, while 9.3% are contaminated by chemicals.
However, there are significant gaps in water, sanitation and hygiene in both the states. Tamil Nadu and Kerala states sanitation is about 72.6 and 98.7 (NFHS-5). As per NSSO usage of latrines is 99.6% in Kerala and 67.2 in Tamil Nadu. Kerala has a total of 55.2 (NSSO) improved drinking water sources. Furthermore, finding appropriate sites and promoting faecal sludge management (FSM) units with local self-government are obstacles Kerala state is experiencing.
Due to their vulnerable climatic conditions, Kerala and Tamil Nadu are vulnerable to cyclones, flooding, and other climate-related disasters. Six districts in Kerala are afflicted by drought, two by thunderstorms, five by flooding, and nine by extremely high rainfall. Extreme weather events can have an especially negative impact on women, children, and people with disabilities because they can cause starvation and disease epidemics. For the safe reopening of schools following a disaster, an enabling policy for multi-sectoral convergence between the SDMA, education, WASH, and health department is required. States have not yet started implementing climate-resilient policies. Youth and child participation, particularly in WASH and CCES initiatives, is crucial to ensuring large-scale activities across state lines and giving climate resilient programs priority. The planning, implementation, and monitoring of SBM-G and JJM for implementation support require UNICEF technical expertise through technical consultants. For extreme policy and advocacy on climate resilient programs, planning, execution, and monitoring, UNICEF technical support is necessary.
The Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Forest department also requesting for UNICEF support for climate resilient interventions, especially to improve access to WASH and climate-resilient services and the practice of good and healthy WASH behaviours in key public entities with high foot traffic and impact.
In the context of the above, the objectives of this consultancy are:
- Technical assistance to states and priority districts, and other partners on strengthening policy and enabling environments for effective implementation of climate resilient, gender sensitive, and sustainable WASH and CCES interventions, emphasizing SBM-G, JJM, One Health, and youth and children engagement in climate action in Tamil Nadu and Kerala states.
- Advocacy with the states for planning, implementing, and monitoring the programs pertaining to WASH and CCES.
- Provide technical support to the states and partners by strengthening their skills and motivating through capacity-building programs, workshops, and trainings.
- Provide organizational support to UNICEF-supported programs in states, ensuring effective implementation and timely liquidation of the funds, and support to the priority districts for effective planning and implementation of programs;
MAJOR TASKS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED:
Based on the above context, the objectives of this consultancy are:
Technical assistance to states, priority districts, and other partners on strengthening policy and enabling environments for effective implementation of climate resilient, gender sensitive, and sustainable WASH and CCES interventions, emphasizing SBM-G, JJM, One Health, and youth and children engagement in climate action in Tamil Nadu and Kerala states.
Advocacy with the states for planning, implementing, and monitoring the programs pertaining to WASH and CCES.
Provide technical support to the states and partners by strengthening their skills and motivating through capacity building programs, workshops, and trainings DELIVERABLES AND DEADLINES:
Provide organizational support to UNICEF-supported programs in states, ensuring effective implementation and timely liquidation of the funds, and support to the priority districts for effective planning and implementation of programs;
Deliverables and Deadlines:
1 April 2025 – 31 March 2027
Application Procedures
(1) Qualified female/male candidates are requested to please indicate their ability and availability to undertake the terms of reference above.
(2) Please forward your application to chennai.consultants@unicef.org by close of business on 24 February 2025 with subject line ‘Consultant – WASH Climate Change Consultant for Tamil Nadu & Kerala
a) An application letter, CV and Personal History form (P-11) as attached P11 Form
b) A financial proposal in PDF format indicating the professional fee as per template attached. Please mention your name in the file name while saving.
c) Your application will not be considered if the application is not forwarded as per the process above
(3) The selection will be on the basis of technical evaluation & financial proposal in the ratio of 75:25.
For detailed information, please check the complete version of the advert attached below.
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Advertisement – WASH Climate Change CIC TN Kerala 2025.doc
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