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Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

Provide technical support process documentation of the ongoing MAR intervention supporting the Integrated Water Resource Management Approach.

Scope of Work:

Most Afghans depend on groundwater as their primary source of domestic / drinking water. Afghanistan has encountered a scarcity of surface water due to the unequal and spatial distribution of precipitation, poor integrated water resources management, low water storage infrastructure and fragmented institutional arrangements. This is further compounded by the fact that Afghanistan has for decades missed opportunities for development due to both internal and external conflicts. The country is covered by five river basins of which perennial rivers either flow marginally or extremely polluted. Most small rivers/streams are intermittent and only run for only 3-4 months during the wet season. Therefore, groundwater is a strategic storage, and plays a leading role for various purposes such as: domestic / drinking, irrigation, industries, and environmental security, while playing a buffering capacity against climate hazards such as droughts and if managed properly could also assist in mitigating some of the detrimental consequences of flooding.
UNICEF has been engaged in providing water services to the community mainly using the groundwater resources. While it is recognized that the use of groundwater for drinking is far less than those used for irrigation and other purposes; nevertheless, there are many instances where availability of groundwater for drinking has been badly impacted due to adverse impact of climate change and increased rate of withdrawal of ground water for irrigation. The crisis of lack of availability for drinking water in Kabul city is one of many such cases that may emerge if not tackled holistically. Water needs to be looked at resources in the same vein as any other naturally found mineral resources are seen. Hence it is imperative that there is need to look at the sustainability of water resources as many efforts are made to develop a robust water supply system to make the system environmentally sustainable. Recognizing the need for sustainability of water resources, UNICEF initiated piloting demonstration of ground water recharge to sustain the water system being developed in select three communities spread in three zones in 2024.
This initiative will provide learning for future initiative to strengthen the design and functionality of the existing water systems in future and contribute to environmental sustainability of water resources responding to depleting ground water adapting to climate change. The learning will also contribute to mobilizing resources from climate finance available for strengthening water resources and provide a practical way of strategic shift of water supply component of WASH programme from “pumps and pipes” to “community water security for drinking water”.
Accordingly, it is proposed to hire a consultant to carry out process documentation including baseline information and capturing key changes during the implementation of the ground water recharging project initiatives in three zones.
The proposed ToR seeks to request a suitably qualified expert in integrated water resource management to assist in strengthening monitoring of ground water and surface water including reporting and provide technical support to the ground water recharging through managed aquifer recharge intervention in three zones of the country The consultant is expected to undertake visits to project sites, document the interventions and also provide technical support to local community and institutions engaged in the process including capacity building of UNICEF staff of the related zones and share the experiences of lessons learnt to UNICEF WASH staff
It may be noted that currently there is lack of expertise in UNICEF WASH team in water resource management especially in MAR interventions and this consultancy will also build the capacity of UNICEF WASH staff.

KEY DELIBERABLES:

The following is a summary of the key deliverables:

• Status and plan of actions reports based on the field visits and relevant observations – 9 visit reports (3 visits of 3 days each to 3 locations in discussion with the supervisor)
• A technical report on the groundwater monitoring in the three sites with data analysis, systems developed, advocacy note and framework with capacity building plan.
• A process documentation report capturing details of the MAR intervention by UNICEF, ACO
• Report of orientation of UNICEF WASH Staff on tools and methodology of siting and implementation of MAR for sustainable water resources for drinking water system.

Four deliverables with 8 activity reports:

• May 2025 (2 reports)
• July 2025 (1 report)
• Sept 2025 (1 report)
• Oct 2025 (2 reports)
• Dec 2025 (1 report) and January 2026

Work Assignments Overview

Task 1: Extend technical and supervisory support for the interventions aimed at managing aquifer recharge vis-à-vis groundwater recharge for complimenting the functionality of drinking water supply schemes through desk monitoring and field visits.

This task will involve:

1. Conduct the site visits during the construction period and prepare the status report against a quality assurance checklist to be prepared.
2. Interaction with the stakeholders and provide critical technical inputs for improvement

Deliverables/Outputs

Status and plan of actions reports based on the field visits and relevant observations – 9 visit reports (3 visits of 3 days each to 3 locations in consultation with the supervisor.

Delivery Deadlines

35 working days : May 2025, July 2025, Oct 2025.

Task 2: Technically supervise / oversee and develop a system to monitor the groundwater status and prepare an end report with suggested advocacy plan

This task will involve:

1. Undertake the field visits to capture the data in person in a scientific way and facilitate as well as monitor the data collection through on ground system.
2. Prepare an end report highlighting advocacy component with various stakeholders and a framework with content for capacity building. A technical report on the groundwater monitoring in the three sites with data analysis, systems developed, advocacy note and framework with capacity building plan.

Deliverables/Outputs

(Initial Report on GW monitoring based on 1st trip for 6 Days by May 2025) , (End Report prepared in 9 Days by Sept 2025).

Delivery Deadlines

15 working days: May 2025, Sept 2025.

Task 3: Review the overall implementation of the MAR and undertake the process documentation of the initiative based on field visits, meetings, implementation status and assessments the technical components

This task will involve:

1. Develop the process documentation template and outline for capturing the entire interventions.
2. Prepare the draft process documentation report and finalise it in consultation with the various stakeholders. A process documentation report capturing details of the MAR intervention by UNICEF, ACO.

Deliverables/Outputs

(Template and Outline of process document for 10 Days by October 2025)

(Final Process Documentation Report in 20 days by Dec 2025) 30 working Days

Delivery Deadlines

30 working Days: Oct 2025, Dec 2025.

Task 4: Facilitate the dissemination of the process documentation and lessons learnt including suggested way forward for various stakeholders and UNICEF ACO and Zonal WASH staff

This task will involve:

1. Prepare a detailed and a brief presentation and a field note for dissemination amongst various stakeholders.
2. Orient the UNICEF WASH staff across ACO and Zonal offices.

Deliverables/Outputs

Report of orientation of UNICEF WASH Staff on tools and methodology of siting and implementation of MAR for sustainable water resources for drinking water system.

Detailed & Brief presentation with a field note and orientation of WASH staff with a report for 10 Days by January 2026.

Delivery Deadlines

10 working days: January 2026.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in  Hydrology, Hydrogeology, or related technical field.
• A minimum of Five of relevant professional work experience. 
• Experience in handling, analysing, and presenting hydrological and hydrogeological data using GIS.
• Good training Skills are an asset.
• Good programme management skills and ability to communicate and present both verbally and in written form to a wide variety of stakeholders.
• Ability to work in a transdisciplinary team and in general be a good team player.
• Fluency in English (verbal and written)is required.
• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset. 

Remarks:  

Interested candidates are required to apply online, indicating availability and all-inclusive lump sum fee (financial Proposal) to undertake the terms of reference.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts. 

Applicants are requested to apply through the provided link; https://jobs.unicef.org/en-us/job/578427/national-consultancy-integrated-water-resource-management-expert

Applications received via ACBAR Job online portal will not be given consideration.