Request for Proposals: Development of Strategic Plan and Capacity Building in Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana

Location: Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Area, Ghana

Duration: 3 months

Application Deadline: 31st of January, 2024

 

Seeking a consultant to co-create a 5-year strategic plan for improving water and sanitation in low-income communities in Sekondi-Takoradi, and conduct capacity building and training for identified stakeholders on integrated planning of sanitation services

BACKGROUND:

The Support Unit of the Open Government Partnership (OGP), in collaboration with the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA), is in the process of implementing a water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) project within the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis through grant funding from the OGP Multi-Donor Trust Fund by the World Bank. The project aims at improving the delivery of WASH services and scaling-up behavioral change campaigns in informal settlements within the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis through a multi-stakeholder participatory approach. Read more about STMA’s participation in the OGP at Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana (opengovpartnership.org).

As a pioneering member of the subnational OGP initiative, Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA), has committed to co-creating and co-implementing commitments that address climate change, water and sanitation, municipal services and improve local governance.

In furtherance of meeting its Open Government Partnership (OGP) commitment in building synergies to impact water and sanitation outcomes, STMA is expected to strengthen consensus building in sanitation by-law compliance, and expand access to improved household sanitation facilities through innovative financing mechanisms. This is geared towards a long-term desire to develop and implement local policy interventions that hinge on trust building with citizens, and enduring partnership with civil society and other stakeholders towards creating a safe and equitable city for all.

OBJECTIVES:

The primary objectives of this consultancy are:

• To co-create a 5-year Strategic Plan for strengthening collaboration in local water, sanitation and hygiene policy formulation and implementation, through a multi-stakeholder engagement process that aligns with national policies, local sanitation byelaws and the OGP tenets that:
  • Enhances consensus building and stakeholder involvement in the implementation of sanitation bye-laws.
  • Identifies and develops sustainable strategies to enhance behavioral change and hygiene education to impact health outcomes.
  • Develops sustainable and innovative funding solutions for expanding access to improved household sanitation facilities.
• To conduct capacity building and training programs on integrated planning of sanitation services for identified stakeholders; including the officials of the local authority, landlords, property owners, community leaders, and civil society organizations in WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene).

RATIONALE

The National Environmental Sanitation Policy and the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936) mandates local authorities, including the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA), to develop and enforce by-laws for landlords/property owners to provide household toilets. Despite these efforts, sanitation outcomes in poor and informal settlements persistently remain unchanged.

Sekondi-Takoradi, the 3rd largest city in Ghana, records an annual average of 88,000 people, mostly in underserved communities, suffering from sanitation-related illnesses. To address this sanitation crisis, STMA updated its Sanitation Bye-law in 2016, aiming at behavioural change and hygiene education. However, successful implementation has been hindered by the limited involvement of key stakeholders in designing interventions, leading to numerous arrests and non-compliance on the provision of household toilets by landlords and property owners.

In schools, 24% of the 348 basic schools within the metropolis lack proper sanitation facilities, contributing to truancy and poor academic performance, particularly among female students. In the 2022 District League Table, STMA ranked 81st out of 216 districts on environmental sanitation, emphasizing the prevalence of open defecation as a key benchmark.

The 2020 Census data revealed that 40.4% of households (29,829) rely on undignified means to access toilets; with 85% (25,235 households) heavily dependent on poorly maintained public toilets, leading to open defecation and the spread of diseases.

Barriers to compliance include: financial constraints, lack of technical support, limited awareness of by-laws, multiple absentee landlords, and low prioritization of sanitary facilities by tenants. On the flipside, local authorities face challenges like limited funding, lack of incentives for Environmental Health Officers (EHOs), logistical constraints, and legal enforcement delays.

SCOPE OF WORK:

The selected consultant will be responsible for:

• Conducting a comprehensive review of existing baseline data, sanitation policies, strategies, and past interventions in Sekondi-Takoradi; that includes, but not limited to:
  • Incorporating all available WASH data; including data on household toilet registry; and
  • Reviewing past WASH behavioral change campaigns implemented by STMA and develop strategies for sustainability.
• Engaging STMA’s OGP Multi-Stakeholder Forum (MSF), and other identified stakeholder, through workshops, focus group discussions, and interviews to gather insights and inputs for the strategic plan.
• Co-creating a 5-year strategic plan that addresses the identified barriers and challenges in improving water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in low-income communities; that includes:
  • Recommendations for strengthening the implementation of the Sanitation Bye-law through stakeholder collaboration;
  • Recommendations to enhance behavioral change campaigns on WASH; and
  • Proposals for innovative and sustainable solutions for expanding access to improved household sanitation facilities in low-income communities.
• Designing and delivering capacity building and training programs tailored to the needs of different stakeholder groups on integrated planning of sanitation services.
• Developing a monitoring and evaluation framework to track the progress and impact of the strategic plan.
• Ensuring the alignment of the strategic plan with national policies and local plan, and the OGP commitments.

DELIVERABLES:

The consultant is expected to deliver the following:

• A detailed inception report outlining the methodology, work plan, and timelines for the consultancy.
• A co-created 5-year strategic plan for improving water and sanitation in low-income communities in Sekondi-Takoradi; which also includes:
  • Proposals for innovative and sustainable solutions for expanding access to improved household sanitation facilities.
  • Recommendations for strengthening the implementation of the Sanitation Bye-law.
• Training materials and documentation for capacity building programs.
• Monitoring and evaluation framework for tracking progress and impact.
• A behavioral change campaigns implementation sustainability plan
• A final report summarizing the key findings, recommendations, and the strategic plan.

DURATION:

The consultancy is expected to be completed within three (3) months, including the preparation of deliverables and the presentation of findings to the STMA OGP Multi-Stakeholder Forum and STMA.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERTISE:

The consultant or consulting team should possess the following qualifications and expertise:

• Advanced Degree in Environmental Science, Public Health, or a related field:

• • Possession of an advanced degree in environmental science, public health, or a closely related discipline is crucial. This academic background provides a strong foundation in understanding the complexities of environmental sanitation, public health, and sustainable development.

• Specialization in Water and Sanitation Management:

• • The consultant or team members should have a specialization or significant coursework in water and sanitation management. This expertise will enable a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the specific context of Sekondi-Takoradi.

• Policy Analysis and Development:

• • Academic qualifications in policy analysis and development are essential. This will enable the consultant to critically review existing sanitation policies, identify gaps, and develop a strategic plan aligned with national policies and OGP commitments.

• Community Development and Social Sciences:

• • A background in community development or social sciences is beneficial for understanding the socio-economic dynamics, community engagement strategies, and behavioral change aspects necessary for successful sanitation initiatives.

• Public Administration or Governance Studies:

• • Knowledge in public administration or governance studies is crucial for understanding the regulatory frameworks, legal aspects, and governance structures relevant to the implementation of sanitation by-laws and policies.

• Experience in Participatory Approaches and Stakeholder Engagement:

• • Academic qualifications or training in participatory approaches and stakeholder engagement are important for fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders. This expertise will contribute to the co-creation process and ensure the involvement of key stakeholders in the strategic planning.

• Research and Analytical Skills:

• • Strong research and analytical skills are necessary for conducting a comprehensive review of existing sanitation policies, analyzing data on sanitation outcomes, and proposing evidence-based recommendations.

• Training and Capacity Building:

• • Academic qualifications or professional training in adult education, training, or capacity building are essential for designing and delivering effective training programs for various stakeholders.

• Communication and Facilitation Skills:

• • Academic qualifications or training in communication and facilitation skills are crucial for effectively engaging with diverse stakeholders, conducting workshops, and presenting findings in a clear and understandable manner.

• Experience in Similar Projects:

• • While not strictly an academic qualification, previous experience in similar projects, especially in the water and sanitation sector, is highly valuable. This practical experience demonstrates the consultant’s ability to apply academic knowledge to real-world challenges.

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS 

• The Consulting Firm shall report to the OGP Support Project Coordinator/ STMA Project Lead.

FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS

• The Consultancy fee shall be paid as per financial guidelines of the Open Government Partnership International Secretariat. Payment will be disbursed in installments as spelled out in the consultancy contract.

SELECTION CRITERIA 

• The Consultancy Firm will be selected using the Quality-Cost Based Selection (QCBS) method as specified in the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers (“Procurement Regulations”) dated July 2016 and revised in November 2017, and Open Government Partnership Procurement Operating Guidelines October 2020 and is open to all eligible Proposers as defined in the Procurement Regulations.

EVALUATION CRITERIA:

Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance of the proposed methodology and work plan.
• Qualifications and expertise of the consultant or consulting team.
• Experience in similar projects, especially in the water and sanitation sector.
• Clarity and feasibility of the proposed financial proposal.
• References from previous clients.

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION:

• Interested consultants or consulting firms are invited to submit their proposals, including a detailed methodology, work plan, team composition, relevant experience, and a financial proposal.
• Applicants are to submit one (1) original and three (3) additional copies of their RFP documents. The envelope should also contain a soft copy of the technical proposal only. Technical proposal should be in a separate envelope and be marked “Technical proposal” and financial proposal should be marked “Financial Proposal”.

• Proposal must be submitted as follows:

OGP Support Project Coordinator

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Project

Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly

P.O. BOX 74, SEKONDI

ROOM 8

Dedicated Email: tcspp.stma@gmail.com for enquiries or clarifications.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION:

The deadline for the submission of proposals is Wednesday 31ST JANUARY 2024 on or before 5:00pm GMT.