Consultant to Develop a Repository/Database of Documents on Decentralised Sanitation Systems and Solutions in Zambia

Job description

The Bremen Overseas Research & Development Association (BORDA) is a technical expert organisation based in Bremen; Germany specialised in the field of sustainable environmental protection through integrated sanitation solutions. The organisation’s activities aim at making neighbourhoods more liveable by developing and implementing innovative on-site sanitation solutions that build climate resilience, strengthen social structures, and foster the sustainable and attentive handling of natural resources. BORDA supports holistic approaches on policy formulation, participatory urban planning processes and infrastructure development.

BORDA is active outside of Germany in over 20 countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. In Zambia, BORDA has been active since 2009 through a partnership with the Water and Sanitation Association in Zambia (WASAZA).  In 2016, the BORDA Zambia Country Office was established. Since 2016, BORDA Zambia has, together with key partners implemented several projects in the Zambian Water Supply and Sanitation sector.

In the beginning of 2025, BORDA commenced the implementation of the BMZ funded, Africa Regional Project: ‘Improving Sanitation, Shaping Liveable and Inclusive Cities’ Phase IV in South Africa and Zambia, running from 2025 to 2027. In Zambia the project will be implemented in three Districts: Lusaka, Mansa and Kitwe.

The project’s overall goal is to ensure that “integrated approaches to decentralised sanitation systems are anchored among selected actors at national and sub-nationals’ level and promote the independent dissemination or urban sanitation structures. The project outcomes are:

1.       Instruments for the dissemination of integrated approaches to decentralized sanitation systems are qualitatively anchored in national expert forums of the respective sanitation sector and provide a basis for scaling decentralized approaches to sanitation supply.

2.       Good practices in the construction, operation and maintenance of IADSS are prepared as learning modules for dissemination and are offered via academic and vocational training institutes and are available to the sector for the implementation and operation of sanitary services.

3.       Tried and tested selected decentralized sanitation infrastructure and services are evaluated and prepared as demonstration and training objects for sector-relevant actors.

BORDA Zambia will work with key partners, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD), University of Zambia (UNZA), Lusaka Integrated Solid Waste Management Company (LISWMC), National Water Supply Council (NWASCO), water supply and sanitation service providers (commercial utilities) from Lusaka, Kitwe, Mansa, Livingstone, Solwezi and Choma, Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (TEVETA), and Tandem Circular Consulting Limited, to achieve the projects’ goal and outcomes.

Purpose of this consultancy
The purpose of this consultancy is to compile and systematically categorize technical, legal and regulatory documentation related to decentralised sanitation systems and solutions including On-site Sanitation Systems (OSS), Faecal Sludge Management (FSM) systems and Decentralized Wastewater Treatments Solutions (DEWATS). The gathered information will be uploaded to a digital catalogue or ‘Library of Information’ for WASH project developers and planners, students, civil servants, researchers, etc. to use for informed decision-making in planning, strategy development, investment prioritization and policy alignment. The webpage that will house this knowledge database will be linked to the existing resource centre at the National Water Supply and Sanitation Council (NWASCO).

Scope of Work
The consultant will collect, review and organise existing documentation on decentralised sanitation systems and solutions in Zambia. and develop a well organised database on all collected knowledge documents related to decentralised sanitation. This database should include the following information: name of document, source (organisation, Ministry etc), date of publication, type of document e.g. Laws, Policies, guidelines, standards and strategies, Legal and institutional framework, Project impact reports, technical designs for decentralized treatment technologies, Project briefs, Project fact sheets, etc. It should also indicate the sub theme OSS, FSM, DEWATS, climate change/resilience/ adaptation, gender etc.

The key tasks include:

1.       Collection and review of existing documentation on decentralised sanitation solutions from sector players across Zambia.

2.       Mapping and organising the current landscape of decentralised sanitation initiatives, stakeholders, and knowledge products according to agreed categories and themes.

3.       Organizing the collected information into a structured format such as excel database, report library, etc.

4.       Prepare a comprehensive report highlighting:

a.       The methodology used to source the documents,

b.       The list of sources and documents,

c.       Schematic of the repository,

d.       Limitations in the data collection activity,

e.       Recommendations on how data can be updated on the online database.

All activities will be carried out in coordination with the BORDA Zambia team and will be reviewed and checked by an identified focal point from the BORDA Zambia team.

Deliverables
1.       Easy-to-navigate repository/ database of documentation on decentralised sanitation systems and solutions,

2.       Comprehensive report highlighting methodology, data collected, limitation and recommendations.

Timeline
The assignment is expected to start in September 2025 and has a duration of 60 working days.

Milestone/ deliverable
Due
Inception meeting(1 week after contract signing)

Inception report:(2 weeks after contract initiation)

–          Methodology

–          Timeline and workplan

–          Risks and risk management strategy

Mid-term report (6 weeks after contract initiation)

–          Current status (change/ deviation from methodology initially outlined, data collected, outlook)

–          Challenges encountered and measures to mitigate

–          Updated timeline/ workplan

Draft database(9 weeks after contract initiation)
Final database(11 weeks after contract initiation)

Final report(13 weeks after contract initiation)

–          The methodology used to source the documents,

–          The list of sources and documents,

–          Schematic of the repository,

–          Limitations in the data collection activity,

–          Recommendations on how data can be updated.

Required Qualifications and experience
The interested Consultant should have the following competencies:

·         Advanced degree in development studies, social science, communications and or journalism, public health, education, or other related fields,

·         A minimum of 5 years working in the development sector with a focus on data and knowledge management, community building and coordination, and or applied research.

·         Proven experience in developing large knowledge material and product databases,

·         Proven experience in knowledge management and general data gathering.

·         Proven experience in collaborating with multiple stakeholders, including local academic institutions, government bodies, and international and local NGOs,

·         A minimum of 5 years work experience in the Zambian sanitation sector with knowledge of decentralized solutions including OSS, FSM and DEWATS is an added advantage.

·         Knowledge of existing Zambian laws, policies, strategies and guidelines on decentralized sanitation solutions is an added advantage,

·         Strong analytical and conceptual skills,

·         Excellent written communication and organizational skills,

·         Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (word, excel, PowerPoint).

Proposal submission
The interested Consultant must submit*:

1.       Technical Proposal to conduct the assignment and achieve objectives including:

a.       Cover letter addressed to the Country Director (1 page)

b.       Understanding of the TORs (1-2 pages),

c.       Methodology (1-2 pages),

d.       Proposed work plan (1-2 pages),

e.       Timelines, (1 page)

f.        Curriculum Vitae(s) (CV) of the proposed consultant(s) with relevant experience, qualifications and registration with relevant professional body. If multiple people are involved, an outline of roles/ responsibilities must also be included (1-3 pages per CV),

g.       A minimum of three traceable references (1 page).

2.       Financial offer including breakdown of costs.

*Please note that submissions should be made in two separate documents: Technical Proposal and Financial Proposal.

Clarifications
Any clarification can be sent up to 5 days before the submission deadline by email to zambia@borda-africa.org. The subject line should be: CLARIFICATION_RFP_DATA CONCULTANT_PN 169.

Selection Criteria and Evaluation
BORDA Zambia ’s evaluation committee shall evaluate the proposals based on criteria covering both technical quality and price with the following score weighting:

Description Weighting
Technical Proposal 80%
– Understanding of the TORs 25%
– Methodology 25%
– Proposed Work Plan 10%
– Timelines 5%
– Curriculum Vitae of Proposed Consultant(s) 15%
Financial Offer 20%

How to Apply
Proposals must be submitted to zambia@borda-africa.org no later than midnight of 19th August, 2025 CAT. Please ensure that the subject is: RFP_DATA CONSULTANT_PN 169.