Background

Ethiopia has made impressive progress in expanding access to water and sanitation from a very low base. In the 1990s, only 14% of the population had access to water and 3% to sanitation coverage. In 2017, this had increased to 65% and 32% respectively. In 20 years, 45 million people gained access to water. Ethiopia has made rapid progress in reducing open defecation (92% of population in 1992 to 28% in 2015).

Despite the good progress that Ethiopia has made in improving access to WaSH, frequent climate variability that led to successive droughts affecting large geographical areas, huge existing unmet needs, and geographical and social disparities have remained key challenges. To address these challenges, particularly the threat of frequent drought, in a sustainable manner, GoE through its flagship program, the One WaSH National Programme (OWNP) is championing Climate Resilient WaSH service provision. Accordingly, GoE has developed a Climate Resilient WaSH sub-program under the One WaSH National Programme.

As a lead and trusted donor in the sector, the UK provided grants to GoE over five years (October 2019 — September 2024), to support sustainable access to climate-resilient clean water and improved sanitation services, and good hygiene practices. The program that the UK Government is supporting via the CWA is called “Strengthening Climate Resilient Systems for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Services in Ethiopia (SCRS — WaSH)” and is being implemented in 41 priority I woredas in seven (Afar, Amhara, Gambella, Oromia, SNNP, Somali and Tigray) regions of Ethiopia. This program prioritizes the drought-affected and drought-prone areas of Ethiopia through strengthened climate-resilient systems of WaSH delivery whilst supporting sustainable financing systems for WaSH in Ethiopia.

Summary

Purpose: To manage procurement activities of all stages of projects implemented under the OWNP Mainly the CR-WASH Projects at the WDC Level. In addition to advice, support and capacitate WDC, Regional Water Bureaus and Towns water utility staffs on handling complex procurement tasks and issues, which frequently cut across work units.

Location: The consultant is expected to undertake her/his assignment in Addis Ababa with frequent travel to regions and Towns

Duration: 12 months with possibility of extension based on evaluation of performance

Start Date: ASAP

Reporting to: Engineering Procurement and contract Management directorate of Water development commission.

Justification

Since the CR-WaSH projects are implemented in water source scarce areas serving multiple villages, they are more complex in system design, implementation and operation and maintenance management. Moreover, water sources of the project areas are more vulnerable to climate change requiring due attention for climate risks in the planning, design, implementation, and operation phases of the projects. Thus, CR-WaSH projects need proper expertise follow-up at each phase of project implementation, including planning, project feasibility study and design development, drilling, tendering and tender evaluation, construction supervision and contract administration, monitoring and reporting, O&M management and staff capacity building, and project commissioning. This gap shall be filled by deploying experienced sector experts that provide specialized support to the regions and WDC in implementing the CR-WaSH program financed by Government and CWA (the British Government/UK Embassy) and implemented by UNICEF.

Specific Tasks

The role of the “Senior Procurement Management Specialist” working under the OWNP is to support and facilitate the effective implementation of the “Climate Resilient Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (CR-WaSH)” program in Ethiopia including facilitating and strengthening communications between the different tiers.  As such, under the CR-WASH program, the role of the senior procurement management specialist will be to support the Water Development commission and providing them with the directions, information, systems and technical skills.

The senior procurement management specialist will work within the Engineering Procurement and contract Management directorate of Water development commission that is responsible for managing and coordinating the procurement and contract management aspect of Donors and Government supported CR-WaSH projects at the federal level. The Director would affirm that work plans developed by the senior procurement management specialist to discharge his/her assigned duties are logically compatible with his/her respective job descriptions and would monitor that the planned services are delivered by the expert in a manner and in line with the objective of the project/program.

On the basis of the roles described above, the specific areas of responsibility of the senior procurement management specialist include, but are not limited to:

a. Technical aspects 

• Contribute to the overall contract management of the program, including implementation, follow up and monitoring of the contract effectiveness with respect to program guidelines, manuals, and standards.
• Participate in overall Planning, Management, and Monitoring of procurement activities of CR-WASH projects by handling each phase of the procurement cycle as per the World Bank’s Procurement Guidelines and Government Procurement Directives as appropriate:
• Lead the production or updating of the necessary procurement-related strategies, guidelines, checklists, etc.
• Support review of the standard procurement documents prepared for the project, ensure appropriate usage by the implementing agencies and provide inputs for updating and enriching the documents.
• Monitor the update of the procurement plan of the program regularly as needed;
• Prepare SPN, REOI, bidding documents, and Request for Proposals (RFP) as per /or that is consistent with World Bank and Government Standard Procurement documents (SPD) and RFP and closely follow up next procurement steps and ensure timely accomplishment of the process to avoid delays.
• Participate in bid evaluation of works and goods and consultant selection and prepare reports and the contract documents.
• Consolidate and Prepare the OWNP-CWA and Second Urban Water Supply and Sanitation project and regional Procurement Plan and add activities in STEP considering envisaged implementation time and considering the recent and reliable cost estimate for each procurement method and ensure that the consolidated project procurement plan is updated and maintained.
• Provide close support and guidance to junior procurement staff, monitor adequacy of the number and qualification of the project office procurement staff, and recommend action and closely work with procurement staff at the EPCMD.
• Prepare procurement process tracking and follow-up system, and prepare contract status tracking system, and add activities to STEP and submit the procurement plan and all documentation at each procurement stage, regular update all procurement documentation and information in STEP.
• Prepare a periodical project procurement performance report and submit it to the EPCMD report as needed and keep records of procurement documentation.
• Review procurement documents, the bidding documents, bid evaluation reports, and contract documents prepared for the project at regional and towns level and give comments based on the threshold limit of the project.
• Organize, Support, and implement all procurement activities within the WDC based on the applicable procurement procedures.
• Support the regional water bureau/PMU particularly in the procurement management activities of the CWA and CR-WaSH projects.
• Execute and follow up of letter of credit opening procedures, delivery of goods as per contract terms and conditions with the close support of the Transistors of the commission.
• Prepare procurement process tracking and follow-up system, contract status tracking system, and monitor and report on procurement and contract activities accordingly.
• Assist the independent auditors as wells as World Bank’s procurement reviewers while reviewing procurement activities at the Federal and regional levels.

b. Sector Support

• Guide, capacitate, and support technically the RWB and Town utility experts through related skill transfer and coaching,
• Assist the Region to identify the program gap and management deficits and provide required technical assistance/capacity development support to utilities in the project areas.
• Prepare training documents, training plans and provide training on contract administration and management.
• Work extensively with regional and town implementing agencies to ensure they have the necessary skills and give the training to perform their duties;
• Produce or update the necessary technical training materials and manuals (e.g. procurement process, contract management, etc.) for use by implementing agencies
• Provide technical backup support and training to regional and town implementing agencies’ procurement staff.

Methodology

The Consultant will support WDC in the implementation of the tasks outlined in this TOR. Coordination with different partners and actors is of utmost importance to ensure smooth implementation of the CWA and Government supported CR-WaSH project activities.

Duration of the Assignment: The assignment will be for one year with the possibility of extension based on evaluation of performance. Under- or non-performance will result in immediate termination of the contract.

Expected Deliverables

1. TA support work plan to be updated quarterly — two weeks after deployment,
2. Monthly report every 1st week of the month,
3. Biannual consolidated reports,
4. End of contract report – upon conclusion of the assignment.

Payment Terms

The agreed consultancy fee will be paid in monthly installments, upon presentation of satisfactory reports and good performance.

Reporting

The TA will be housed in the Water Development Commission and will work within the team of the Engineering Procurement and Contract Management Directorate. The specialist will have full responsibility for the Donor and Government supported CR-WaSH and other project Procurement activities.

The reporting requirements will be as per the deliverables plan indicated above and shall be submitted to EPCMD of the Commission. ABH will forward each report to the WASH section of UNICEF as per the above deliverables plan.

Job Requirements

Expected background and Experience

• M.Sc. or above in water supply and sanitary engineering, hydraulic engineering, water resources engineering, civil engineering with 8 years and above of practical work experience, or
• B.Sc. with 10 years and above of progressively responsible professional work experience in the above fields,
• Strong experience in the area of procurement, contract administration and project management of water supply and sanitation projects, specifically in projects financed by external support agencies.
• At least 3 years experience in procurement management of World Bank or African Development Bank-financed projects.
• Proven familiarity with World Bank’s procurement guidelines and procedures including the World Bank Standard Bidding Documents is required (for procurement of goods, works, consulting services, and non-consulting services).
• Knowledge of government policies, guidelines, and procedures for the preparation ToR and RFP preparation for works, goods, and services on similar scale public or private projects,
• Professional fluency (writing and oral) in English including the capacity to offer capacity-building support,
• Strong communication skills and flexibility working with various stakeholders,
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook),
• High integrity and accountability in all aspects of project procurement,

General Conditions: Procedures and Logistics

• The consultant will be responsible for identifying and securing their own accommodation.
• DSA will be provided by the Water Development Commission for travel to the Regions and towns (outside of Addis Ababa).
• The consultant should have their own laptop with internet capability and Microsoft Office applications.
• The Commission will arrange transport services for project supervision field missions to the project sites.
• Payments for consultancy works are submitted on a monthly basis with the approval of deliverables and monthly reports based on the rates stipulated in the contract.

Policy both parties should be aware of:

• Under the consultancy agreement, a month is defined as 22 working days, and fees are prorated accordingly. Consultants are not paid for weekends or public holidays.
• Consultants are not entitled to payment of overtime. All remuneration must be within the contract agreement.
• No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and ABH.