Institutions: AMCOW with the support of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF)

Detailed Description of the Activity:

Background

The African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) has the primary mission of providing political leadership, policy direction and advocacy in the provision, use, and management of water resources for sustainable social and economic development and maintenance of African ecosystems. The African Union Commission considers AMCOW serves as a support mechanism to its Specialized Technical Committee (STC) to drive the achievement of impactful results in the water and sanitation sectors. At the African Union Heads of State and Government Summit of July 2008, the African Minister’s Council on Water (AMCOW) was mandated to report annually on progress achieved in implementing the African Union (AU) commitments made in the 2008 Sharm El-Sheikh Commitments on water and sanitation, taking into account several international agreements including the Africa Water Vision 2025, the Africa Agenda 2063, as well as the global Sustainable Development Goals 6 (SDG-6) targets on clean water and sanitation.

In response to this directive, AMCOW in collaboration with the African Union Commission, and with financial support from Africa Water Facility (AWF) through the Africa Development Bank (AfDB), developed a web-based reporting system, the African Water and Sanitation Sector Monitoring and Reporting System (WASSMO) in October 2015: https://www.africawat-sanreports.org/Ui. This platform provides for reporting on water and sanitation sector indicators under seven themes: water infrastructure for growth; managing and protecting water resources; water supply, sanitation, hygiene, and wastewater; climate change and disaster risk reduction (DRR); governance and institutions; and financing.  

In June, AMCOW launched the 2023 WASSMO data collection campaign. This year’s data drive is focused on completing the missing baseline information and addressing the current data gaps from 2016 to date. The Secretariat of AMCOW will be conducting in-country missions to provide technical support to Member States as a means of strengthening their capacity to adequately collect the required quality of data for developing Africa’s Water and Sanitation Sector (WASSMO) 2023 Report. It is for this purpose that AMCOW requires the technical assistance of a data analyst expert that will support the cleaning, quality checks, analysis, and visualization of the WASSMO data. The aim is to contribute to the development of a high-quality WASSMO report that is of international reporting standards.  

The AMCOW Secretariat is seeking a data analyst and visualisation consultant to support in the analysis and interpretation of the data for developing the 2023 WASSMO report that includes strategic high-level findings and recommendations for insightful decisions by water and sanitation sector decision makers. Data analyst consultant will present the key findings of the different sections of the WASSMO report to AMCOW Secretariat

Tasks and Responsibilities

Through a consultative and participatory process, the consultant will work with the AMCOW Secretariat to perform the following activities:

• Interpret data, analyse results using statistical techniques and provide periodic updates on activity progress.
• Review the existing excel data analytics tools and ensure their compatibility with the WASSMO data collection systems and explore other strategies to enhance statistical efficiency and quality.

• Identify, analyse, and interpret trends or patterns in data sets.
• Filter and “clean” data by reviewing computer reports, printouts.
• Assist the team in improving and streamlining processes regarding data flow and data quality to improve data accuracy, viability, and value.
• Support the delivery of analytics and reporting solutions using Power BI/Data Visualization software or others.
• Present the analysis per themes and country status.

Deliverables

• WASSMO data exploration, analysis and modelling performed on the database, resulting in a clean data set to inform the 2023 WASSMO report narrative.  
• Any additional deliverables that are part of the WASSMO data analytics outputs (infographics, charts, etc.)

Qualification and Experience

• Minimum of a master’s degree in Statistics, Economics, Information Systems, Mathematics, Business Analysis, Management, or related field. PhD is an added advantage.
• At least 15 years experiences as senior statistician or related field.
• High Intelligence Quotient, Computer Science, or Knowledge in working with several Statistical Software is required.
• Relevant work experience as a data analyst or business data analyst and visualisation for both quantitative and qualitative data.
• Familiarity with AMCOW Secretariat work and water and sanitation sector landscape in Africa.
• Strong writing abilities with articulative skills to develop a concise quality research analytic report on the results of Member States’ WASSMO data.
• Excellent command of written and spoken English. French will be an added advantage.

Skills and abilities

• Highly skilled in research and analysis: Very strong qualitative and analytic skills; keen attention to detail and data accuracy.
• Technical expertise regarding data models, database design development, data mining and segmentation techniques
• Knowledge of statistics and experience using statistical packages for analysing datasets (Excel, SPSS, STATA, SAS etc.)
• Excellent communication skills: Strong knowledge of and experience with Data reporting packages (Business Objects etc.), databases (SQL etc.), and data visualization tools (Microsoft Power BI, Tableau, etc.)
• Other: Demonstrated competence with using standard data software packages (MS Excel, MS Access, etc.).

Contract duration

The contract will be effective from date of signing and for a maximum of 90 days

Reporting language

English

Mode and logistics

The consultancy service will be provided remotely

How to apply

Interested candidates who meet the required qualifications and experience are invited to submit updated profile and cover letter explaining their motivation and why best suited for the assignment. Candidates are also encouraged to provide samples of previous related works.

AMCOW only accept applications sent via email – info@amcow-online.org

Please forward the application in English through the stated email no later than 29 September 2023.

The Executive Secretary,

African Ministers Council on Water (AMCOW)

No. 11 T. Y. Danjuma Street, Asokoro District, Abuja, Nigeria.

For more information about AMCOW and its work programme, kindly refer to AMCOW website www.amcow-online.org

Background

In accordance with the objectives of its Strategic Operational Plan to align Member States’ sanitation and hygiene policy environments with continental and global commitments, AMCOW developed the  African Sanitation Policy Guidelines.  The ASPGs were developed through a consultative and collaborative process with key sector players and African Union Member States. It provides the recommended core elements and processes for the review, revision, and development of policies, strategies, and plans toward achieving SDGs 6.2. To demonstrate the progress and impact of ASPG utilization over time, AMCOW is establishing a monitoring and reporting mechanism.

The mechanism will comprise the following key elements:

I. Development of an agreed indicator framework for monitoring changes in Member States’ enabling environments for sanitation and hygiene services provision in line with global and continental commitments

II. The institutionalisation of a data collection and information generation protocol, including defining modalities and or systems for:

• Situation assessments to both:
• capture, analyse and store the data gathered and the information generated;
• the periodic reporting cycle.

III. Strengthening capacity at the Member States and other relevant levels to operationalise the monitoring and reporting mechanism;
IV. data gathering and reporting format and
V. information sharing and dissemination approach

Situation assessments will be a key component of the overall framework for monitoring the outcomes of the utilisation of the ASPGs by Member States. They will be useful to:

1. establish individual Member States’ baseline conditions prior to interventions to strengthen the policy environment utilising the ASPGs; and,
2. collect information at regular periodic intervals for use in monitoring changes in the policy environment over time;

Currently, two tools exist for conducting assessments of the sanitation policy environment prior to ASPG utilisation. They are namely:

1. the African Sanitation Policy Assessment Tool (ASPAT); and
2. the Policy Monitoring and Assessment Tool (PMAT).

Against this background, AMCOW seeks to engage the services of a consultant to reconcile the ASPAT and PMAT tools.

Objectives of the Consultancy:
The overarching objective of the consultancy is to reconcile the African Sanitation Policy Assessment Tool (ASPAT) and Policy Monitoring and Assessment Tool (PMAT) into one comprehensive tool for conducting situation assessments of the sanitation and hygiene policy environment. In the context of this assessment, the policy environment includes policy documents, governance arrangements for sanitation and hygiene; regulatory frameworks; institutional arrangements; as well as sector funding mechanisms.
Specific objectives: The specific objectives of the consultancy are to:
i. harmonise terminologies,
ii. identify and address gaps for comprehensive situation assessments that are not covered by the two tools when considered together;
iii. remove redundancies and or repetitions in the information that can be collected using the tools; and,
iv. develop recommendations for a suitable name for the reconciled tool.
Overall, the intent is to improve accuracy and consistency at the stage of data collection and reporting resulting from using the tool.

Scope of Work:
The scope of work for this consultancy entails the following:
• Desk review: a desk review of policy documents will be conducted. Below is an inexhaustive list of documents for review:

• African Sanitation Policy Guidelines (ASPG)
• African Sanitation Policy Assessment Tool (ASPAT)
• Policy Monitoring and Assessment Tool (PMAT)
• AMCOW 2018 – 2030 Strategy
• AMCOW Strategic Operational Plan 2022 – 2024
  • Tools Reconciliation: This involves the reconciliation of the ASPAT and PMAT assessment tools to form a single tool that covers the specific objectives in (2) above.

The table below summarizes the expected tasks and deliverables for this assignment

Terms of Payment

 Payments will be associated with outputs upon satisfactory delivery of expected results.

Reporting and Task Management

AMCOW will manage this assignment with a direct reporting line to the Policy Officer for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (POWASH), who will be responsible for final approvals of deliverables.

Duration of Assignment

The successful applicant should be available to commence on 20 May 2023. Bearing in mind that progress on the reconciled tool will be presented at the AMCOW Executive Committee meeting on June 12 2023.

Education, Required Skills and Experience of the Consultant.

The following minimum qualifications and experience are required to successfully deliver on this assignment:

• Advanced University degree in social sciences, environment, public policy, and sanitation-related subjects.
• Minimum of 10 years experience in policy-related matters in water resources management, sanitation, and hygiene
• Familiarity with the ASPGs would greatly contribute to this assignment’s success.
• Knowledge of policy development and revision process in Africa and globally
• Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation, including experience in developing a situation assessment tool, would be required to attain success in this assignment.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and report-writing skills in English are desired.
• Submission of Proposals

Interested parties – both individuals and firms – that meet the criteria above are invited to submit proposals (maximum of 15 pages as a single attachment) providing the details below:

1. An expression of interest and technical capability statement;
2. Details of the proposed approach, methodology and activity scheduling;
3. A summary of relevant experience – over the last 5 years – of developing situation assessment tools in both private sector and inter-governmental organisational contexts. Please use the table below for each of the relevant assignments. Contact information of the respective clients should be provided for each of the relevant assignments listed.

• the applicant’s resume – for individual consultants – or resumes of the key staff of the bidding firm highlighting relevant expertise;
• a financial proposal containing time and cost estimate for delivery of the above-described deliverables, including a break-down to level of effort and expenses.
• links to samples of the bidder’s written work/deliverables from previous assignments.

9.  How to apply

Interested candidates who meet the required qualifications and experience are invited to submit a formal proposal and resume no later than 10^th May 2023.

The application should be addressed and emailed to:

The Executive Secretary

African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW)

No. 11, T.Y. Danjuma Street, Asokoro District

Abuja, Nigeria.

Email: info@amcow-online.org The same e-mail address can be used to request additional information and or clarifications.

1. Background

The African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) is an intergovernmental institution formed in 2002 in Abuja, Nigeria. The vision of AMCOW is an Africa where there is an equitable and sustainable use and management of water resources for poverty alleviation, socio-economic development, regional cooperation and the environment. AMCOW’s mission is to provide political leadership, policy direction and advocacy in the provision, use and management of water resources for sustainable social and economic development and maintenance of African ecosystems. The Organs and structures of AMCOW serve as the working group on Water and Sanitation of the African Union’s Specialized Technical Committee (STC) of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment (ARBE).

Over the past 5 years, AMCOW Secretariat has gone through a number of institutional reforms to improve its operational and governance arrangements to deliver on its mandate effectively. The overall objective is to provide a high-level platform to push the water agenda forward at the continental, regional and country levels. Ultimately, the aspiration is for Member States to ensure effective and sustainable management of water resources for all purposes to address both poverty reduction and social development goals.

2. Rationale

A key outcome of the institutional development support to date has been the establishment of broadly inclusive participatory mechanisms – coordinated by the AMCOW Secretariat – for informing decision-making. Information generated from the Africa Water and Sanitation Sector (WASSMO) system is used to inform continental policy initiatives to coordinate and technically facilitate the water sector in Africa.

On the continuum of institutional growth, the focus has now shifted to assuring both the short-term funding stability and the long-term financial security of AMCOW.

Numerous political commitments notwithstanding, the water sector – in general – and AMCOW as an institution – are faced with a chronic challenge of incommensurate funding. The Sharm-el-Sheikh Declaration takes it on with commitments on:

• increasing domestic allocations to the sector;
• developing appropriate financial instruments and investment plans for funding the water and sanitation sector; and,
• mobilising funding support from development partners.

In the N’Gor Declaration, a commitment is made of having established sanitation and hygiene budget lines of a minimum of 0.5% of national GDP by 2020.

For the majority of AMCOW’s Member States, action on these commitments has not matched the enormity of the task of ensuring water security. By extension, statutory contributions to the core budget of AMCOW are insufficient to meet a key stipulation of the AMCOW Governance Framework on funding AMCOW initiatives.

To fund AMCOW activities, the Secretariat is mandated to receive and manage Member States’ contributions, as well as such sources as shall be established by the Executive Secretary. These sources include contributions from the private sector; and funding, technical and implementing partners. The AMCOW Governance Framework, thus, stipulates that the core functions of the Secretariat shall be financed by the Member States themselves to demonstrate commitment and ownership.

As such, strengthening the Secretariat’s capacity to mobilise resources towards implementation of AMCOW’s core functions has implications for the institution’s funding model. The Secretariat’s ability to attract partner investments into AMCOW activities is linked to the ability to demonstrate financial commitment to AMCOW’s core functions.

Hence the ongoing activities to formulate and implement a business plan to set the strategic direction and inject new approaches into AMCOW’s resources mobilisation efforts.

Objectives of the Assignment

Against the background of the foregoing, technical services are sought to prepare an impact oriented AMCOW Business Plan to support implementation of the AMCOW Strategy 2018 – 2030. A key immediate output from the plan will be to put in place measures – including revenue generation – to provide financial stability at the Secretariat.

A key requirement is to concisely articulate strategies – grounded in private sector business acumen – to assure both the short-term funding stability and the long-term financial security of AMCOW.

Scope of Work

Under the overral  guidance of the Executive Secretary and direct supervision of the  Director of Corporate Services, the consultant will be responsible to:

• Conduct detailed consultation on AMCOW programmes and other potential revenue generating products and services, such as Conferences etc, with the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), Management, Staff and key partners/stakeholders.
• Conduct a market analysis and risk assessment, and study the critical sustainability factors for similar entities, including operational gaps, funding loopholes, competitiveness and viability;
• Conduct a thorough review of AMCOW’s governance, management and operational structure, systems and policies to inform the development of a sound and efficient business model and plan;
• Conduct validation sessions to discuss and review the draft Business Plan before it is finalized. This should include proposed products and services; governance, operational and financial management structures, including any tax implications; branding and communication strategies and cost estimates/budget.

Deliverables

A 5-year Business Plan that fully responds to the objectives of the assignment as detailed in Section 2 above. It will include, but not be limited to:

1. clearly defined operational strategies, governance and management structures;
2. details of the key tasks and responsibilities of each actor;
3. a financial and operational plan;
4. cost estimates/budgets of recommended actions, including tax implications;
5. a risk mitigation/management plan, as well as,
6. a plan for measuring performance and impact.

Duration of the Assignment

The assignment is expected to take approximately 30 input days spread over a period of 3 calendar months.

Qualification and Experience

Demonstrated experience in undertaking similar assignments within Intergovernmental mandated institutions such as the AU, Regional Economic Commissions, River and Lake Basin Organisations and the UN and Not-for-Profit Organisations such as NGOs and Civil Societies within the last ten (10) years.

At least a Master’s degree or equivalent in business administration, strategic Management, development studies, Economics or related fields;

Familiarity and strong understanding of the water and sanitation sector in Africa

Strong research and analytical skills, communication (oral and written), interpersonal and facilitation skills.

Ability to work remotely with a multi-disciplinary team

Good leadership and organisational skills.

Language capabilities to function in both English and French is an added advantage.

Submission of Proposals

Interested parties – both individuals and firms – that meet the criteria above are invited to submit proposals (maximum of 15 pages as a single attachment) providing the details below:

1. an expression of interest and technical capability statement;
2. details of the proposed approach, methodology and activity scheduling;
3. a summary of relevant experience – over the last 5 years – of preparing business plans in both private sector and inter-governmental organisational contexts. Please use the table below for each of the relevant assignments. Contact information of the respective clients should be provided for each of the relevant assignments listed.

• the aplicant’s resume – for individual consultants – or resumes of the key staff of the bidding firm highlighting relevant expertise;
• a financial proposal containing time and cost estimate for delivery of the above-described deliverables, including a break-down to level of effort and expenses.
• links to samples of the bidder’s written work/deliverables from previous assignments
• How to apply

Interested candidates who meet the required qualifications and experience are invited to submit a formal proposal and resume not later than 8^th May 2023.

The application should be addressed and email to:

The Executive Secretary

African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW)

No. 11, T.Y. Danjuma Street, Asokoro District

Abuja, Nigeria.

Email: info@amcow-online.org

The same e-mail address can be used for requests for additional information and or clarifications.