Short-term Policy and Institutional Specialist at Chemonics International

Details

• We are seeking EOIs and recommendations for a short-term Policy and Institutional Specialist for Lagos Urban Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Activity.
• The Lagos Urban Water and Sanitation, Hygiene Project (LUWASH) funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is currently seeking a Policy and Institutional Specialist for a 26 days STTA within the months of June – July 2023 to support the LUWASH project in improving the policy, legal, and regulatory environments of both public and alternative private providers in Lagos state.
• The role will be based in Lagos state and the consultant will report directly to the Governance and Regulatory Lead (GRL) under the overall supervision of the Chief of Party (COP). The consultant will be allowed to work remotely on an agreed specified timeframe, and need to be available in the field and office as may be required by LUWASH. An overview of the role and skills required are noted below.

Background

• The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) funded Lagos Urban WASH Activity (LUWASH) implemented by Chemonics Int. through SAII Associate Ltd will implement activities focused on strengthening governance, increasing accountability, and improving financial and technical capabilities of public water utilities and private sector providers. The LUWASH goal is to increase the availability, quality and use of safe water and sanitation services and improve thegovernance and sustainable management of associated sector institutions in Lagos.
• By working across multiple actors at varying levels of government, governance, and community engagement, LUWASH will tackle the profound and entrenched challenges faced by the Lagos WASH sector. Strategic deployment of rehabilitation funds and grants will further stimulate virtuous cycles of service improvements. Explosive population growth has long overwhelmed the capacity of Lagos WaterCorporation (LWC) to provide sufficient and reliable services, leading to fragmented water service delivery from a range of utility, community, and private service providers while providing limited choices and little accountability.
• A lack of regulation across the sector and no centralized sanitation services compounds these challenges, posing risks to public health and water resources. LWC is unable to meet the needs of existing customers, let alone expand service provision city-wide. Public provision and regulation of sanitation services is essentially non-existent. We will work in parallel streams to deliver rapid service improvement on the ground, while undertaking substantive and progressive institutional strengthening to ensure sustainable, equitable improvement beyond LUWASH.
• Our overarching implementation approach comprises three integrated approaches: A market systems approach to strengthen supply and demand by considering interconnected rules (policy and governance), supporting functions (finance and capacity), and strengthened supply and demand required for sustainable WASH access.

The Assignment

• This assignment seeks to consolidate the gains of LUWASH Component 1 program outcomes on improving the policy, legal, and regulatory environments of both public and alternative private providers.
• This component focuses on strengthening governance and institutional arrangements necessary for achieving sustainable WASH outcomes in the long run. Having the LWC ready for investments (“finance-ready”) is a long-term goal, which requires not only utility level reform but also transformation of the environment in which the utility exists.
• Sustained sector reform requires strengthened policy, institutional, and regulatory frameworks, and a shift in the mindset of both politicians and customers of WASH services.

Scope

• The assignment will entail conducting PEA, and analysing the Policy, Institution and Regulatory environment and Lagos State WASH Policy 2022, making recommendations, and providing a strategy for implementation.

Specific Tasks

• The assignment will focus on assessment of the PIR environment, and in-depth analysis of Lagos State WASH Policy 2022.
• The analysis will be aimed at ascertaining the following and providing recommendations on addressing the shortfalls of the PIR landscape and policy.
• Key tasks to be accomplished will include but not limited to analyses of the Lagos State WASH Policy 2022 detailing sector best practices under the following categories:

Expected Deliverables
The following are the expected deliverables:

• Inception report detailing methodology and tools including a well-defined work plan.
• Draft PEA report with strategies, and/ or recommendations for addressing identified bottlenecks/ sector challenges.
• Presentation of PIR findings and Technical Analysis of the Policy for presentation to LUWASH.
• Draft PIR Report
• Draft PIR Plan
• Consolidated report of analyzed WASH policy for comments by key MDAs/ stakeholders (Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, LWC, LAWARCO, and LSWMO etc.).
• Final Draft WASH policy.

Qualifications and Experience

• At least a Masters (M.Sc.) in Law, Political Science or Public Policy or related field with 10 years’ experience of drafting public policy (water and sanitation related will provide advantage), or B.Sc. in same education backgrounds with 15 years’ similar experience.
• Experience in corporatizing public owned enterprises.
• Experience as a WASH corporate/ business-oriented practitioner.
• Experience in Public, Private, Partnership initiatives.
• Good knowledge of, and experience in gender and inclusion related activities.
• Extensive experience in the application of the World Bank PIR framework in Nigeria.
• Experience in conducting PEAs in Nigeria.
• Experience in review, drafting and/or analyses of WASH public policy specifically with the aim of capturing local contexts to conform with international best practice and standards.
• Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English language.