UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, Health!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbkJiMmvKqk

How can you make a difference?

Provide technical support in organizing national consultations and develop plans for Integrated Water Resource Management.

In Afghanistan, a lack of groundwater resources’ qualitative and quantitative information exists due to poor data collection, storage, management and sharing between both partners and Ministries. Since March 2005, DACAAR, with the financial support of USGS, DANIDA, Royal Norwegian Embassy (RNE) and UNICEF has selected, constructed and modified 205 groundwater monitoring wells (GMW) in 19 provinces of Afghanistan (wherever security situation allowed) for seasonal and long-term groundwater (qualitative and quantitative) monitoring associated with their own water supply projects nationally. Most importantly, UNICEF has been instrumental in reorganizing the program. This network of monitoring boreholes. It has since been expanded to 375 boreholes in a total of 29 Provinces. The depth of these wells’ ranges between 12 to 65 m, with most drilled in the more recent Quaternary formation (shallow aquifer).

Similarly, Ministry of Energy and Water (MEW) have also been collecting data for groundwater and surface water monitoring since 2008, through a large network of over 900 monitoring wells of which 260 are dedicated to monitoring, 270 surface water monitoring stations and 30 meteorological stations. Hydrogeology department of MEW is responsible for this and established a platform which require support for continuity.

However, based on extensive discussions with DACAAR, MEW and other stakeholders, it transpired that groundwater monitoring stations consist of both pumped (for water supply) and monitoring boreholes. These may not be suitable for monitoring groundwater resources either because they were designed for pumping and/or their spatial extent is inadequate. Similarly, analysis is also needed for surface water monitoring data at a national level to understand the interaction between groundwater and surface water across the watersheds/aquifers.

A national workshop is planned to be held in April 2023 involving various stakeholders to develop a shared vision and develop a roadmap for strengthening Ground and surface water monitoring leading to integrated water resource, management for sustainable and secure water system for community For this reason, this 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 in specific action plans for integrated water resource management.

Scope of Work, Deliverables

Task 1: Provide technical support in organizing key consultations of stakeholders including developing concept notes, agenda, report of consultation workshop

This task will involve:

• Develop concept notes/agenda for the planned consultation meetings.
• Provide technical input in the consultations.
• Document the proceedings and prepare workshop/consultations report and road map for collaborative national action plan for Ground Water and Surface Water monitoring.

Task 2: Provide technical support in dissemination of data analytics.

This task will involve:

• Develop design of dissemination workshops.
• Provide technical input in the dissemination.
• Document the proceedings and prepare report.

Task 3: Develop tools for periodic reporting on groundwater and surface water monitoring

This task will involve:

• Review existing monitoring and reporting tools (including indicators) in consultation with MEW and other stakeholders. This will also include coordinating and collecting the existing additional data that has not been accessed until the workshop.
• Develop /refine tools in consultation with key stakeholders.
• Train key functionaries expected to use the tool and operationalize the use of tools.

Task 4: Develop action plan with budgets for integrated water resource management including conjunctive/multiple use of ground water and surface water

This task will involve:

• Hold consultations with key stakeholders.
• Develop/draft action plan for Integrated water resource management in consultative manner.
• Finalize the action plan for Integrated water resource management for at least two water basin/sub basin identified as critical areas with budget, requisite technical information (design, layout)

KEY DELIBERABLES

The following is a summary of the key deliverables:

• Workshop report of Stakeholders consultations including Roadmap document in national language
• and English
• At least 5 dissemination meeting (one in each water basin) conducted and set of data from other stakeholders as they exist.
• Refined tools for monitoring and reporting of ground water and surface water resources and training package /training report
• Action plan for Integrated water resource management for at least two water basin/sub basin identified as critical areas with budget and requisite technical designs /layouts (draft and final version)

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

• • Advanced University Degree (Masters) in Hydrogeology, Hydrology, or related technical field
  • A minimum of10 years of relevant experience in this field is required
  • Experience in handling, analyzing, and presenting hydrological and hydrogeological data using GIS
  • Good training Skills
  • 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). Good written and spoken skills in local languages
  • Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks: 

Interested consultants are required to apply online, indicating availability and all-inclusive lump sum fee 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.