Consultancy to Develop a Social Accountability Toolkit for Water, Sanitation, Hygiene (WASH) and Water Resource Management (WRM) in Zambia

Job description

1. Introduction and Background

The NGO WASH Forum in Zambia is seeking a qualified consultant or firm to develop a comprehensive social accountability toolkit. This toolkit is intended to empower NGO WASH Forum members and local communities to effectively track budgets, monitor service delivery, and advocate for improvements in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) and Water Resource Management (WRM) at the constituency and ward levels.

Zambia faces significant and interconnected challenges across the WASH and WRM sectors. Despite being fundamental to public health, sustainable development, and climate resilience, access to basic services remains limited. Key challenges include:

Limited Access: Approximately 36% of Zambians lack basic water services, and 68% lack basic sanitation. These disparities disproportionately affect rural, peri-urban, and low-income households.
Institutional Gaps: Over 17% of schools lack basic sanitation, and a high percentage of healthcare facilities lack adequate water and sanitation, compromising patient safety and infection control.
Environmental Strain: Rapid urbanization has outpaced waste management capacity, while climate change-induced droughts and floods place increasing strain on water resources and infrastructure.
Governance Issues: Fragmented governance, insufficient funding, and limited citizen engagement undermine the effectiveness and sustainability of service delivery.
To address these critical gaps, the NGO WASH Forum is commissioning the development of a user-friendly toolkit focused on social accountability mechanisms such as Citizen Report Cards (CRCs) and Community Scorecards (CSCs) to foster constructive dialogue and drive improvements.

2. Rationale and Objectives

This initiative is aligned with Zambia’s 8th National Development Plan and international commitments, including Sustainable Development Goals 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

The primary objective of this consultancy is to develop a robust, user-friendly, and context-specific social accountability toolkit that enables citizens to monitor, report on, and advocate for improved WASH and WRM service delivery.

Specific objectives are to:

Design and create a comprehensive set of social accountability tools (including CRCs and CSCs) that integrate WASH and WRM indicators.
Ensure the toolkit is inclusive and addresses the specific needs of women, youth, persons with disabilities, and climate-vulnerable communities.
Develop clear, accessible user guides and training materials to build the capacity of local facilitators and community members.
Pilot, refine, and finalize the toolkit based on practical feedback from end-users in diverse community settings.
3. Scope of Work

The consultant will undertake the following tasks using a participatory and iterative approach:

Desk Review and Gap Analysis:
Conduct a thorough review of existing documents, including the NGO WASH Forum’s draft manual, national policies (8NDP), WASH and WRM standards, and frameworks related to Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) and Climate Change.
Identify gaps and opportunities to align the toolkit with established principles such as the Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA) Availability, Accessibility, Acceptability, and Quality (AAAQ) Framework and Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM).
Stakeholder Engagement and Co-Creation:
Facilitate inclusive co-creation workshops with NGO WASH Forum members, government stakeholders, water resource managers, and diverse community representatives (including women, youth, and persons with disabilities).
Ensure the process fosters strong ownership and that the final toolkit addresses community-specific needs related to water allocation, quality, and sustainability.
Toolkit Design and Development:
Lead the design of a user-friendly toolkit for both digital and paper-based application.
Integrate specific indicators for GESI (e.g., safety, accessibility of facilities), climate resilience (e.g., water availability during dry seasons), and WRM (e.g., groundwater levels, source protection).
Develop a comprehensive scoring system covering the five WASH domains (Water, Sanitation, Hygiene, Waste Management, Governance) and key WRM aspects.
Guidance and Material Development:
Create clear, concise, and visually engaging user guides and training materials in English and relevant local languages.
Develop dedicated modules on GESI-sensitive facilitation, identifying local climate risks, and community-based water resource monitoring.
Piloting and Refinement:
In collaboration with the NGO WASH Forum, pilot-test the draft toolkit in selected urban, rural, and climate-vulnerable communities.
Systematically collect, analyse, and incorporate feedback to refine all toolkit components.
Capacity Building:
Design and deliver a Training of Trainers (ToT) program for NGO WASH Forum members and community facilitators on the use and adaptation of the toolkit.
Develop a sustainability plan for the continued use and integration of the toolkit into existing monitoring mechanisms.
4. Key Deliverables

Deliverable
Description
1. Inception Report
A detailed report outlining the final methodology, work plan, risk assessment, and stakeholder engagement strategy.
2. Draft Toolkit
A complete draft of the toolkit, including CRC/CSC templates, integrated GESI/climate/WRM indicators, scoring sheets, and a facilitator’s guide.
3. User Guides & ToT Module
Finalized user guides (in English and local languages) and a comprehensive Training of Trainers (ToT) module for facilitators.
4. Pilot Test Report
A detailed report on the pilot process, findings, stakeholder feedback, and actionable recommendations for refinement.
5. Final Toolkit Package
The fully validated, professionally designed, and ready-to-use set of tools and documentation in editable digital and print-ready formats.
6. Final Project Report
A comprehensive report detailing the methodology, outcomes, lessons learned, and recommendations for future WASH and WRM accountability initiatives.
5. Consultant Qualifications

The ideal consultant or firm will possess the following:

Essential Experience and Skills:
At least 7-10 years of proven experience developing social accountability, budget tracking, or participatory monitoring tools for the civil society sector.
Demonstrated expertise in community-based methodologies, including Community Scorecards, Citizen Report Cards, and participatory facilitation.
Strong technical knowledge of the WASH sector in Zambia or a similar context.
Familiarity with human rights-based approaches (e.g., AAAQ framework) and principles of IWRM, GESI, and climate resilience.
Excellent analytical, writing, and communication skills in English.
Desirable Qualifications:
Previous experience working directly with the NGO WASH Forum or its members.
Proficiency in one or more Zambian languages.
Experience in graphic design and creating user-friendly materials for low-literacy audiences.
6. Timeline

This assignment is expected to be completed within 8 weeks from the date of contract signing. The inception report will include a detailed timeline for all deliverables.

7. Reporting

The consultant will report directly to the NGO WASH Forum Coordinator and will work in close collaboration with a designated technical working group.

8. Application Process

Interested and qualified candidates are invited to submit an application package containing the following:

Technical Proposal (Max 5 pages): Outlining your understanding of the ToR, proposed methodology, approach to stakeholder engagement, and a detailed work plan.
Financial Proposal: A detailed budget with a breakdown of professional fees and any other anticipated costs. The budget should be presented in Zambian Kwacha (ZMW).
Consultant/Firm Profile: A brief overview of the firm or individual consultant.
CVs: Curricula Vitae for all key personnel involved in the assignment.
Portfolio: At least two examples of similar work or toolkits previously developed.
Applications must be submitted by 17:00 CAT on Thursday, 28th July 2025.

Please send applications via email with the subject line: “Consultancy: Social Accountability Toolkit for WASH and WRM” to:

admin@ngowash.co.zm
washforum2024@gmail.com
Alternatively, physical copies can be delivered to: Plot 100/12 off American Embassy Road, Ibex Hill, Lusaka.

For inquiries, please contact: 0978590979.