Activity/project background
Super Intendencia Nacional de Servicios de Saneamiento (SUNASS) is the regulatory body of the Peruvian government responsible for ensuring the quality of sanitation services in rural areas, which contributes to social inclusion, health, and environmental conservation. SUNASS’ objectives are to supervise and regulate the services and address the resolution of user complaints and resolve disputes. SUNASS has a Tariff Regulation Department (DRT), which implements a methodology for calculating the family quota for water in rural areas. The DRT office is located in Lima, the capital of Peru, and its mission is to implement regulatory tools that impact the provision and sustainability of drinking water and sanitation services. The aim is to improve the living conditions and health of the local population by facilitating access to drinking water and sanitation services. Its main activities in rural areas are to provide training and follow-up to rural water service providers.
In Peru, the most pressing challenge is providing access to safe water in rural areas. To meet this challenge, the DRT needs to know the following: how the local government organizes itself to provide services, whether the providers are recognized at the local level, and the municipal-level deficiencies in providing drinking water and sanitation services to the population. The DRT will then determine the tools, variables, and indicators needed to perform an analysis, which will allow the Peruvian government to design better intervention strategies for national water providers.
The DRT is requesting the support of two Virtual Service Pilot Participants (VSPPs) to strengthen the capacity of the DRT team in collecting and analyzing data via the DATASS and SUNASS databases. Both VSPPs will provide data analysis support. One of the VSPPs will support DATASS data analysis on the water systems and status of rural water providers, while the other will support SUNASS data analysis on service quality. The two VSPPs will complement each other and collaborate with the SUNASS water and sanitation experts.
This organization has previously collaborated with the Peace Corps and understands that the role of a VSPP is very different from that of a two-year Volunteer.
Engagement and tasks
The VSPPs will engage in the following tasks, in collaboration with their Host Country Partners:
• Complete orientation with the SUNASS team, the Peruvian context, and diagnostic needs of the project.
• Co-conduct an assessment of data needs in both databases
• Co-define a diagnostic plan that considers tools, formats, audience, schedule
• Co-analyze data from rural providers nationwide stored in the DATASS and SUNASS applications
• Co-analyze data from municipalities technical representatives stored in the DATASS and SUNASS applications
• Support data processing and systematization of procedures
• Co-develop the evaluation and interpretation of results
• Support the SUNASS team to prepare the report, “Diagnosis of the provision of drinking water and sanitation services in rural areas”
VSPPs are expected to engage on the tasks listed above for an estimated 5-15 hours per week. This engagement is estimated to be at least 6 hours per week.
Online collaboration will generally occur between 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Peru Time. Specific times will be determined during orientation.
The Host Country Counterpart should have access to Google Docs, WhatsApp, and email to enable regular communication and collaboration.
Per the Child Protection Code of Conduct, when engaging online with minors (0-18), two adults must be present.
Optional additional activities
The Peace Corps mission is to promote world peace and friendship by fulfilling three goals:
- To help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
- To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.
- To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.
Goal 1 will be achieved through the VSPP’s engagement and completion of the above tasks. The counterpart and VSPP may also choose to identify an activity that aligns with Goal 2. Additionally, the VSPP may identify a Goal 3 activity to implement during their engagement. See recommendations and tools for Goal 3 activities.
Essential qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s degree in data science, statistics, or related field
Language: Intermediate Spanish
Experience:
• 2 years of experience in data analysis, data science or related experience
• Experience in statistics
Intercultural skills and motivation: Flexible, strong cross-cultural agility, high tolerance for ambiguity, able to work independently, resourceful, creative, and genuinely motivated and capable to serve virtually.
Desired qualifications
Education: Master’s degree in civil engineering, environmental engineering, sanitary engineering, or related field
Language: Advanced Spanish
Experience:
• 5 years of experience in water and sanitation programming or related experience
• Experience working on social development projects in South America
Terms and conditions of engagement
VSPPs will be engaging with the host country partner, in coordination with Peace Corps post staff, remotely from the US. They should have access to a computer, internet, and telephone in order to enable direct engagement with the Peace Corps overseas office and the Host Country Counterpart assigned by the host country partner.
Orientation with the host country partner will be provided, within the designated virtual service hours, during the first week of virtual service via an online presentation and discussion. The host country partner will provide an overview of its organization, the local context, and how they envision collaborating with the VSPP.
The VSPP will have regular check-ins with their counterpart and bi-weekly check-ins with Peace Corps staff. Spending unstructured time with counterparts can be critical to relationship-building and is encouraged through activities such as coffee chats and informal calls within the weekly 5-15 hours.
Engagement safety and security
The VSPP will receive an orientation on Peace Corps’ Child Protection Policy and how it relates to online engagement along with IT security best practices. The VSPP will be expected to follow safety and security guidelines for online engagement to ensure their safety and that of the Host Country Partner and their counterpart, and any beneficiaries of the engagement.
Supervision requirements
The VSPP will report to a designated Peace Corps staff member. The VSPP will be expected to abide by the Virtual Service Pilot Participant and Donation Agreement and Participant Principles of Engagement. The VSPP will also be expected to check in with the designated host country counterpart as assigned by the host county partner.
