UNICEF – Myanmar
Terms of Reference for Household Water Treatment and Safety in Emergencies
Section in Charge: WASH Unit/Young Child Survival and Development (YCSD) Section
As part of WASH Cluster Strategy, household water treatment (HWT) with ceramic water filters (CWF)
manufactured in Myanmar, has been strategically chosen as a strong complementary emergency solution to
ensure access to safe drinking water to the emergency-affected population in Rakhine. This approach supports
the Humanitarian Response Plan 2015 WASH Cluster Objective 1: “People have equitable and sustainable access
to sufficient quantity of safe drinking and domestic water.” As this approach has been developed as an
innovative, also if somewhat controversial approach as compared to the systematic treatment of water at the
water point usually applied in emergency WASH response, an objective evaluation is required by the WASH
Cluster. This evaluation will be part of a lessons learnt process supported by the Cluster’s core function to
inform the future strategic orientation of the Myanmar WASH response to the on-going protracted crisis, and
more globally to support Cluster preparedness in a disaster-prone context for any potential future emergency.
Outcome reference: 103: Water and excreta related diseases in under-5 children are equitably reduced
Output reference: 103.004: Preparedness and response for sufficient safe water, sanitation facilities and
improved hygiene practices meet the core commitments of children and women in humanitarian situations.
Background:
At the beginning of the emergency in Rakhine State in June 2012, the preferred solution to water quality
improvement for the majority of agencies was to rely on water chlorination (bucket chlorination, household
level chlorination etc.). However in some locations, such as Sittwe Township, it quickly became challenging to
set up a coordinated chlorination system and to monitor it due to the high number of shallow water points
(hand-dug wells or tube wells).
In addition, a high level of community resistance to consuming chlorinated water has been faced by
implementing partners. Despite high investment in hygiene promotion and sensitisation about the importance
of free residual chlorine, chlorine acceptance remains very low as beneficiaries do not like the taste and do not
regularly chlorinate the water. Due to the large number of water points in the area, including in both camps
and surrounding villages, the population can easily find un-chlorinated water points without walking too far.
Key findings after 18 months of implementation and a risk assessment done by Oxfam and ACF in 2013, also
highlighted the need to reconsider the chlorine approach in the long-term perspective in relation to its cost
effectiveness, sustainability, and the lack of the availability of chlorine stock locally, with the lack of community
acceptance remaining a major issue.
The overall goal of the WASH Cluster remains to provide (when possible) durable solutions through protected
water points such as protected hand dug wells or tube wells (boreholes) to supply safe drinking water.
However, with the above considerations regarding community acceptance of chlorinated water sources, and
as a result of the protracted crisis, systematic chlorination of such protected water points seems unrealistic and
not sustainable. These activities also incur high costs as a result of the sheer number of shallow boreholes in
Sittwe Township.
The strategy to use ceramic filters has expanded throughout the 2014 WASH response, and is supported by a
WASH Cluster Guidance Note (annexed). The development of such an approach was mainly based on the
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empirical knowledge that the population is used to such household water treatment mechanisms. Acceptance
is very high and the initial evaluation has been positive based on the data of post-distribution monitoring
undertaken and presented during the WASH Cluster Strategy Review in January 2015.
The current monitoring system, including water testing and proper sampling, as part of a broader
understanding of the knowledge and aptitude of the beneficiaries is still too weak to offer strong evidence on
the direct impact of this approach, and which should be supported by a focused evaluation. The current strategy
requires evidence-based systematisation within the Wash cluster collective and fine-tuning of key aspects
ranging from quality control of the supplier to the development of a proper monitoring and evaluation system
as proposed below.
1. Objectives of the consultancy: Evaluate the overall relevancy, performance and monitoring of Ceramic
Water Filter activities in the Rakhine emergency WASH response in perspective of Water quality results
expected for population - keeping in mind the environmental and social context and potential alternative
solutions- with a vision to improve the effectiveness of agency implementation and enhance the WASH
Cluster’s global CWF M&E
2. Geographic Area: Rakhine State, Sittwe Township
3. Duration: 60 working days to take place in a 3 months period
60 working days (starting September 2015). The consultant should propose the expected duration of
the work but UNICEF estimates the consultancy will take around 60 days. This encompasses
development of study design, secondary data review and conduct interview and consultations with key
stakeholders, data collection in the field and report writing (drafting revising and finalization). The
Expressions of Interest (EoI) will be reviewed on a competitive basis with a consideration for both the
adequacy and efficiency of the timeline proposed.
4. Supervisor: National WASH Cluster Coordinator will supervise the consultant and provide technical support
and guidance.
5. Consultant’s base: The consultant will be based in UNICEF Field Office in Sittwe, Rakhine.
6. Official travel involved:
The most direct and economical route from home country to Myanmar and back home for
international consultant. Standard UN DSA rate will apply for local travel.
The consultant will be frequently travelling to the field in Rakhine. He/She will also travel to UNICEF Yangon
office at least one for a week time. Initially, the consultant will work at Yangon office for 15 days.
7. Description of assignment/ deliverables:
Tasks
End Product/deliverables
1. Literature review on
Ceramic Water Filter
(CWF) use in
emergencies in Myanmar
Consolidated literature review , including a WASH
Cluster bibliography and drafted evaluation scope of the
use of ceramic water filters.
2. Meeting at national level
with actors involved in
the CWF approach, with
specific focus on Thirst
Inputs from the meeting provided to WASH Cluster CWF
guidance note with recommendations on supply chain
risks and recommendations regarding ceramic quality on
the market
Duration/
Deadline
10 days
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Aid and factories
involved
3. Bilateral meetings in
Sittwe with each WASH
Cluster partner on the
approach taken for
ceramic filters, tools in
place, sensitisation
deployed in support,
M&E capacity, and
lesson learnt taken
Production of field-adapted evaluation ToR and
methodology
4. Conduct a field review
study on the
functionality and
efficiency of the ceramic
filters in camps
Production of a comprehensive field review study report
40 pages minimum (without annex but with an executive
summary), which includes information about:
Compiled comprehensive analysis from WASH partners
Brief report highlighting the strengths and weaknesses in
M&E system of the WASH partners in order to:
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10 days
Recommendations for each organisation
Overall cluster level M&E recommendations,
consolidated in the update of the CWF cluster
guidance note
Acceptance of beneficiary
Ceramic filter coverage remaining after X month
of distribution
Knowledge level of appropriate usage vs
sensitisation deployed by WASH actors
Water quality testing results at household level
compared to water point contamination
(coliform, delagua) disaggregated by type of
water point (borehole, hand dug well, pond)
based an acceptable sampling
Flow rate comparison depending on the age of
the ceramic filter, and in perspective of
household needs
Overall analysis about the relevancy and
efficiency associated with pro and con
recommendations
Review and revise of the WASH Cluster ceramic
filter guidance note
5. Evaluate the actual water
quality protocol of water
testing centralised by the
WASH Cluster and
support any necessary
revisions.
Update of the M&E wash cluster framework on water
testing approach
6. Disseminate findings in
both Rakhine and
Yangon Cluster meetings
to share main findings
Power point on main results presented to all cluster
members in both Yangon and Sittwe
15 days
including
report
production
20 days
Consolidated data centralisation cluster system and tool
Information comprehensively disseminated among
stakeholders
5 days
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UNICEF will make direct payments if a vehicle is hired for the field trips. Consultant will make his/her own
arrangements for his/her local transport in Yangon. DSA will be included in the contract. During the travel to
the field, consultant will use UNICEF driver/vehicle or a rented car provided by UNICEF.
Travel arrangement will be made by UNICEF and local travel allowance (TA), including road transport and local
air fare if it is applied, will be covered by UNICEF except DSA.
8. Qualification and specialized knowledge/experience required for the assignment:
Education
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Advanced university degree in one of the disciplines relevant to the following areas: Public Health,
Social Science, Economics, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Geology, Hydrology, Sanitation
Engineering, or a field relevant to international WASH related development assistance.
Additional training in Household Water treatment and safe handling, an asset.
Work Experience
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Five years of progressively responsible professional work experience in the UN or other international
development organization, national government or the private sector.
Experience coordinating/monitoring a humanitarian response
Must have experience with Household Water treatment and safe handling
Familiarity with the Myanmar content.
Good knowledge and skills especially use of evaluation and data management
Familiar with the current developments, research, and best practices and global in development of
Household Water treatment and safe handling
Language Proficiency
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Fluency in English and another UN language.
9. Other conditions:
An initial 15-day phase of literature review and WASH Cluster partner contact will be conducted in Yangon.
Then the consultant will work from the UNICEF Sittwe Field Office with possible travel back to Yangon for
debriefing. The consultant is requested to have his own equipment such as personal laptop to complete the
assignment. The WASH Cluster will provide all necessary water quality testing equipment. A national WASH
Cluster consultant (already in post) will be dedicated to the evaluator to support all necessary tasks to be
conducted.
Life and health insurance
UNICEF does not provide or arrange life or health insurance coverage for consultants and individual
contractors, and consultants and individual contractors are not eligible to participate in the life or health
insurance schemes available to United Nations staff members. Consultants and individual contractors are fully
responsible for arranging, at their own expense, such life, health and other forms of insurance covering the
period of their services as they consider appropriate. The responsibility of UNICEF is limited solely to the
payment of compensation for service-incurred death, injury or illness as per the provisions detailed below.
Insurance for service-incurred death, injury or illness
Consultants and individual contractors who are authorized to travel at UNICEF expense or who are required
under their contract to perform services in a UNICEF or United Nations office shall be provided with insurance
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coverage, through a UNICEF-retained third party insurance provider, covering death, injury and illness
attributable to the performance of official UNICEF duties. Compensation in the event of service-incurred
death, injury or illness shall be equivalent to amounts stipulated in the agreement between UNICEF and the
insurance provider.
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