Water Rehabilitation Expert

Terms of Reference (ToR)   Position Title:   Water Rehabilitation Expert  Project:   Humanitarian Relief Operations and Protection in Emergency for vulnerable households and IDPs in Tigray (‘HOPEfT’)

• Top up, funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) in Mekelle, Adwa, Adigrat and Shire.     Reporting to:    Program Area Manager   Location:   Tigray Region, Ethiopia
• Mekelle, Adigrat, Adwa and Shire     General Responsibilities: The Water Rehabilitation Expert will provide technical oversight, leadership, and support for the WASH activities in the HOPE for Tigray
• Top up  project. This will include the provision of safe drinking water, sanitation and water infrastructures rehabilitation, and hygiene promotion activities through hygiene kit distribution, ensuring that all activities are carried out in accordance with Sphere standards and project objectives. HOPE for Tigray Project Overview: The HOPE for Tigray II project represents a top-up of the initial HOPEfT I intervention, with the objective of continuing and strengthening support to vulnerable households and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Tigray region. Building on the foundations of the previous phase, the project maintains core activities - such as water trucking services - while expanding and reinforcing assistance in response to evolving needs. In addition to sustaining existing interventions, the project integrates new components, including rehabilitation works in Mekelle SDB compound and the distribution of hygiene kits, to further improve access to safe water, sanitation, and essential services. Outcome : The project aims to address the most pressing needs of conflict-affected households, focusing on access to nutritious food, safe drinking water, education and protection services for vulnerable groups - particularly women, children and pregnant and lactating mothers - while ensuring continuity and strengthening of previously established support mechanisms in the region. Key Outputs: Access to Nutritious Food and Basic NFIs: Improved through Multi-Purpose Cash Transfers (MPC) and food supplements for both IDP and host communities. WASH: Enhanced and equitable access to safe drinking water and sanitation services for IDPs and host communities through: Rehabilitation and upgrading of water systems in Mekelle, including water purification interventions at SDB Mekelle to address bacterial contamination and high salinity levels due to poor groundwater quality. Distribution of 800 hygiene kits across four target locations, based on specific needs assessments. Water trucking services delivered in Shire, Adwa and Mekelle to ensure continued access to safe water. Education in Emergency: Increased formal and informal education opportunities in target areas. Protection: Survivors of SGBV and other forms of violence will receive trauma-informed psychosocial support. The WASH output will focus on rehabilitating water systems, including purification interventions in Mekelle, distributing hygiene kits and providing water trucking services, ensuring that all vulnerable communities - especially women, children and PWDs - have reliable access to clean and safe drinking water and adequate sanitation. Key Responsibilities: 2.1 Technical Oversight and Coordination Provide overall technical leadership and supervision of all WASH interventions under the project. Ensure that all WASH activities are implemented in line with Sphere Standards, national guidelines and donor requirements. Coordinate closely with local authorities, water bureaus, WASH clusters and implementing partners in Mekelle, Shire, Adigrat and Adwa. 2.2  Rehabilitation and Upgrading of Water Systems (Mekelle
• SDB Compound) Conduct technical assessments of existing water systems to identify rehabilitation and upgrading needs. Design and oversee water purification interventions to address bacterial contamination and high salinity levels linked to poor groundwater quality. Supervise contractors and technical teams during rehabilitation works to ensure quality, timeliness and compliance with technical specifications. Monitor water quality testing processes and ensure corrective measures are taken when required. 2.3  Water Trucking Services (Shire, Adwa, Mekelle) Plan, coordinate and monitor water trucking operations to ensure consistent and equitable access to safe drinking water. Verify water sources, quality standards and safe water handling procedures. Ensure proper documentation of water quantities delivered, distribution points, and beneficiary coverage. Monitor efficiency and cost-effectiveness of trucking services. 2.4 Hygiene Kit Distribution (800 Kits in Four Target Locations ) Oversee needs-based targeting and beneficiary selection in coordination with protection and community teams. Design and define the contents of hygiene kits based on assessed needs, cultural appropriateness, Sphere standards, and contextual requirements, ensuring relevance, quality, and cost-effectiveness. Ensure timely procurement, quality control and appropriate storage of hygiene kits. Supervise distribution processes to ensure accountability, transparency and inclusion of vulnerable groups (women, children, PWDs). Integrate hygiene promotion messaging during kit distribution activities.  2.5 Monitoring, Reporting and Documentation Develop and implement monitoring tools to track progress against WASH indicators. Conduct regular field visits and technical inspections. Prepare timely internal and donor reports on WASH activities, challenges and achievements. Document lessons learned and best practices for future programming. 3. Reporting: The Consultant shall prepare and submit the following reports in English and in an approved format (Microsoft Office and PDF). All reports and documents related to the services, including maps, BoQs, drawings and survey notes, shall become the property of VIS. 3.1. Initial report Prepare an initial technical assessment and baseline report for the SDB Mekelle water system rehabilitation, detailing existing conditions, identified gaps, water quality results (including bacterial contamination and salinity levels), proposed technical solutions, implementation timeline and cost estimates. 3.2. Hygiene kit interventions Design and develop needs assessment tools for hygiene kit interventions, including beneficiary assessment forms, vulnerability criteria matrices and post-distribution monitoring (PDM) questionnaires. 3.3. Periodic reports Compile periodic internal and donor reports summarizing progress, key achievements, challenges encountered, mitigation measures and recommendations for adaptive programming as well as WASH cluster meetings minutes. 3.4. Final report Document lessons learned, technical findings and good practices to inform future WASH  3.5 Special Reports In addition to the above reports, the Consultant shall prepare and submit to VIS any other reports as necessary.  4. Deliverables: Deliverable Description Content 1. Inception, Initial Technical Assessment & BoQs Report
• SDB Mekelle (upon partner’s request) Conduct an initial technical assessment and prepare a feasibility, baseline and technical documentation package for the rehabilitation and purification interventions at SDB Mekelle. Preparation/verification of BoQs and technical specifications shall be developed upon partner’s request. - Meetings with WASH Cluster (Tigray regional level) and relevant local authorities. - Technical site visits and condition assessment of existing water systems. - Water quality analysis (bacterial contamination, salinity levels). - Identification of technical gaps and proposed engineering solutions. - Preliminary technical design and drawings (if required). - Preparation or verification of BoQs and detailed technical specifications (upon partner’s request). - Cost estimates and implementation timeline. - Risk analysis and mitigation measures. - Technical input for preparation of RFQs/Tenders (upon partner’s request). 2. Hygiene Kit Assessment & Monitoring Tools Package Develop standardized tools and technical documentation for hygiene kit interventions. - Needs assessment tools and beneficiary assessment forms. - Vulnerability criteria matrix for targeting. - Hygiene kit content definition document (technical specification of items) and procurement documents with MA - Post-Distribution Monitoring (PDM) questionnaires. - Distribution tracking sheets and stock monitoring templates. - Data collection and reporting templates. 3. Monthly / Periodic WASH Progress Reports Provide structured periodic updates on implementation progress and performance. - Status of rehabilitation works (physical and financial progress). - Water trucking operations data (quantities delivered, coverage, locations). - Water quality monitoring results. - Hygiene kit distribution progress and beneficiary data. - Challenges encountered and mitigation measures. - Summary and minutes of WASH Cluster meetings. 4. Final WASH Report Provide a comprehensive final technical and programmatic report at the end of the assignment. - Summary of all WASH activities implemented. - Endline data analysis and comparison with baseline. - Final validation reports of works (including liability period verification if applicable). - Assessment of impact on access to safe water and sanitation. - Lessons learned, good practices and recommendations for future interventions.