1.  Background

SNV is an international non-profit organization working in over 30 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, including in Bhutan, Nepal and Lao PDR. Our goal is poverty alleviation which we aim to achieve by providing sustainable access to basic services and generating income and employment opportunities in our focus sectors of Agriculture, Energy and WASH. We have developed trusted relationships with governments and local partners and our approach is underpinned by a focus on inclusive development, building local ownership and creating systemic change. SNV’s annual budget for 2021 is AUD 180 million of which 45 million is in WASH, with over 40 programs and projects funded by leading international funders including DFAT, FCDO and USAID. We aim for results at scale and in the past 3 years we have worked in 100+ districts and cities in 24 countries and reached 4.1 million people with water and 4.6 million with sanitation services. Within WASH our approach is underpinned by the recognition that access to water and sanitation are human rights. SNV builds the capacity of government duty bearers and stakeholders in civil society and private sector to strengthen sustainable service systems for all.

2. Introduction

Lao PDR, despite having made significant development gains in the recent years, still has an estimated 24% of the population practicing open defecation.  In Savannakhet, the most populated Province in Lao PDR and the location of this Project, the percentage of villages currently practicing open defecation remains at one of the highest in the country (71%).  Such high rates of open defecation, coupled with poor hygiene practices (lack of handwashing with soap) and the high prevalence of faecal coliforms in water sources (LSIS, 2018) represents a significant health risk to communities with long term implications to limiting further development objectives for Lao PDR. Climate change is predicted to further limit development, exacerbate health risks, and disproportionately impact upon poor and marginalised groups within Lao PDR, unless urgent climate resilience building efforts are undertaken.

The World Bank estimates that average temperatures, frequency, and severity of flooding, and dry-season length will increase in Laos because of global climate change.  Thus, the people of Laos must adapt to situations of increased flooding, but also of longer dry periods. In the Project districts of Savannakhet, over 30% of the households experienced a climate event in the past 2 years (flooding and droughts), which will get worse with climate change.

Renewed effort is urgently needed for governments, civil societies, communities, private sector, and other key stakeholders to understand and respond to the new water balance caused by climate change.  This will require an understanding of climate change terminology, and an understanding that local action can aid risk adaptation efforts for mitigating the impacts of climate change.  Despite the Governments significant advances in policy development around climate change (GoL, 2021), there is presently very little acceptance nor understanding of climate resilience actions and how to implement the National Policies at sub-national levels downward.

Towards Inclusive Climate Resilient Rural WASH (CRWASH)

Climate change risks, including increased flooding, are impacting water security in the low-lying Mekong plains of rural Lao PDR. These are compounding existing water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector challenges and vulnerabilities, including local governments' capacity, the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on households and governments, sustainability of WASH technologies in flood-prone areas, inequalities in access to basic and safely managed sanitation services and water quality.

Towards Inclusive Climate Resilient Rural WASH Services in Lao PDR (CRWASH) aims to meet these challenges and assist governments deliver on basic human rights for their people. This 2-year transition project will aim to strengthen the capacity of local governments and private sector actors to support adaptation and integrate climate change resilience within inclusive area-wide rural WASH services and systems in Atsaphone, Champhone and Phalanxay Districts, Savannakhet Province. Together with ISF-UTS and CBM Australia, proposed activities will respond to these challenges by consolidating area-wide approaches, generating evidence of the costs of climate-resilient WASH services, innovating flood resilient toilet designs, developing climate-risk messaging on water quality, and sector alignment with disaster risk reduction responses.

The Project shall deliver meaningful and scalable interventions for climate resilient adaption processes including facilitating government learning, budgeting and planning, support for developing climate resilient water safety plans, learning and development for inclusive WASH Committees, options for supporting household without access (poor, marginalised), strengthen private sector engagement in climate resilient WASH, plus inclusion of gender equity, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) as both mainstreamed and targeted activities (eg leadership). 

It is estimated that the Project shall target 42 government health officers, 15 health care facilities, 50 schools (around 6000 students), 33,600 beneficiaries for basic water supplies and 67,600 beneficiaries for basic sanitation.

3. Rational for the consultancy services.

The complex and inter-disciplinary nature of the project will require a range of consultative services to provide technical oversight and guidance in key areas of expertise related to:

• climate resilience in WASH
• gender equality& social inclusion (GESI)
• monitoring & evaluation (M&E).

Experience in engaging with and understanding of the various Lao ministries involved with these key thematics plus proficiency in translating between Lao and English are highly desirable. Experience of working with SNV and an understanding of SNV’s monitoring framework is relevant (but not mandatory).

SNV is seeking the services of a consultancy that can offer services in these key areas of expertise. 

4. Contract duration and deliverables

Initially the contract will cover a 5-month interval (March to June 2023), with the option to extend, depending on performance and project budgets. It is anticipated that the engagement will not be fulltime over this period, but rather on average 10 days per month throughout this period up to an initial maximum of 40 days (exact timing may vary depending on project requirements). Travel to/from Savannakhet may be required, but travel and accommodation costs will be covered by SNV (if travel outside of Vientiane is needed).

Specific deliverables and work packages will be defined more clearly once the successful organisation is identified and assigned.  However, tasks that are likely to feature include the following (and should be addressed in submissions):

• Technical guidance and oversight for M&E processes throughout the project duration (design, implementation and reporting)
• Representing the project on behalf of SNV in technical sessions (delivered in Lao language and/or English, both in-person and online and may include workshops, conferences, public diplomacy events, and other events related to the three key technical areas)
• Engaging with line ministries relevant to the project (including dialogue related to MOU approvals and/or changes throughout the project)
• Providing technical design and oversight for key areas of speciality to facilitate project outcomes

Submission of monthly report summarising all activities undertaken (delivery of this report shall be a requirement for payment)

5. Tender submission requirements

SNV ask that interested parties prepare a tender addressing the following key components:

• Organisational background relevant or similar to the three areas of expertise (climate resilient WASH, GESI and M&E).
• List of key projects that the organisation has engaged that are similar or have relevance to the key topics, with a clear description of the level of involvement and what specifically resulted from the organisations input(s)
• CV’s of the key specialists that shall be available throughout the 5 months period
• Evidence of insurances and licences to operate in Lao.

Daily (and hourly) charge rates for all specialists listed in the submission. If required, charge rates for office and field must be provided along with all other charges that may apply to conduct activities listed in the terms of reference.  All costs related to travel and accommodation whilst in the field shall be covered by SNV, but daily (and/or hourly) rates must cover all other costs (and relevant tax must be applied in the submission).

Interested individual/company should send their CVs along with a Technical and Financial proposal to: SNV office, Vientiane capital, Lao PDR or email to [email protected] before 8 March 2023