Background Rational:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is implementing four years “Community Driven Environmental Health Project” (CDEHP) funded by Department of Foreign Affairs of Trade (DFAT) – Australian Aid in three districts namely Mardan, Nowshera and Peshawar of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The basic concept behind the project is “Theory of Change”. The project relies for its success on a process of community engagement and strengthening service providers for better service provision. The primary focus of the project is on the poor water and sanitation coverage in these areas, mobilizing the communities to tackle their coinciding issues using their own skills, energy and available local resources along with capacitating Govt. line departments. The improved WASH services will contribute to reducing diseases associated with poor sanitation, contaminated water and unhealthy environment.  International Rescue Committee- Environmental Health team developed water surveillance system for improving water quality and coverage in the targeted villages of three districts namely Mardan, Nowshera and Pehsawar in KP. The system has different components i.e. water quality testing, sanitary survey, water coverage and infrastructure survey and capacity building program for different stakeholders of project. The IRC-EH program need to hire a consultant for pre-implementation water quality testing in targeted villages on 50% coverage basis while pre-implementation water testing was conducted on 25% coverage basis. Consultant will conduct sampling campaign keeping in view, the total coverage of water in targeted villages. IRC-EH program will focus on other components of the system along with conducting research study on the basis of the information processed.  Consultant will provide the recommendation along with analysis sheet in order to contribute to piloting and studying a CLTS-like approach to water provision, mobilizing communities to take strong action around water quality.

The purpose of the Consultancy: IRC is looking to hire an expert individual/firm for sampling of 25 % water sources in 20 targeted villages of district Mardan (10 villages), Nowshera (10 villages) and 12 schools in the target area.  The consultant will test water for physical, chemical and biological parameters. The list of parameters is given as annex. The sampling will be conducted using standard instruments and water testing/sampling/analysis consumables keeping in view the sampling/testing requirements. Capacity of the project stakeholders will be built around water quality to ensure effective contribution and quality implementation.

The Specific Objective(s) of the consultancy

1.   To conduct water quality testing/analysis of physical, chemical and biological parameters in 20 target villages and 12 schools.

2.   To adopt and submit the sampling methodology to IRC-EH used for pre-implementation water quality testing.

3.   To submit the sampling methodology in the inception meeting with IRC-EH team along with work plan.

4.   To submit the final testing/analysis results.

5.   To build the capacity of IRC-EH staff and CDEH project stakeholders regarding “Water quality parameters, results interpretation and potential impacts on human health”.

The Approach and Methodology: The methodology along with equipment used for water testing will be developed by the selected consultant at the outset of the work and will be presented in initial meeting.

Guiding Principles and Values: Procedures that the evaluator(s) should follow include;·  Shared work should be transparent, real and original work of the consultant.·  Use of standard equipment and consumables for water testing. Final report along with analysis sheet will be the property of IRC and should not be replicated or used in any form or any other report. 

Professional Qualifications: The selected consultant must have master degree in relevant field of water quality and a proven track record of at least three professional consultancies/assignments on water sampling, testing and analysis. The desired consultant/firm must have ultimate knowledge of National Standard for Drinking Water Quality, National drinking water policy and WHO standards.

 Scope of Work and Schedule:Consultant is expected to produce the following deliverables;

A. To conduct water quality testing/analysis of physical, chemical and biological parameters

1. Technical Proposal (Along with CV while Applying)

2. Cost Proposal 

3. Timeline 

4. Detailed presentation regarding sampling methodology and approaches for water quality testing

5.  Presentation of final testing/analysis results of water sampling

B.  Results and their interpretation will be used in conducting comparative studies pre and post water testing of the project.

C. It will serve as a baseline document for piloting a research study on “CLTS like approaches for water source improvement”.

D. For Capacity building purposes for EH staff and project stakeholders on;

1  Guidelines for drinking water quality (National Drinking Water Quality Standards and WHO)

2. A screening method for ranking and scoring chemicals by potential human health and environmental impacts

3. Advances in online drinking water quality monitoring and early warning systems

4.   Principals for characterizing the potential human health effects from exposure of water and sanitation borne diseases * TORs for the training will be developed by the consultant in consultation with IRC

Working schedule:            

The consultancy will last for 30 days.           

 Budget and Payment:

60% payment will be made upon agreement, initially for the purchase of consumables for the mentioned purposes. 40% on acceptance of the final report of all the 20 villages in two districts i.e. Mardan and Nowshera. The payment includes tax as per IRC policy.  The detail of water parameters to be tested are as follow. 

Parameters to be analyzed:                                                                                                           

Physical parameter: Turbidity,pH

Chemical parameters:Nitrate,Fluoride

Biological parameters:Fecal Coliform/E.Coli, Total Coliform

Sampling coverage:

Parameters:

Turbidity: Number of samples per village(25), Total Village (20), Total Samples(500)

pH: Number of samples per village(25), Total Village (20), Total Samples(500)

Nitrate: Number of samples per village(25), Total Village (20), Total Samples(500)

Fluoride: Number of samples per village(25), Total Village (20), Total Samples(500)

Coliform: Number of samples per village(25), Total Village (20), Total Samples(500)

Total Coliform: Number of samples per village(25), Total Village (20), Total Samples(500)