About WaterAid

WaterAid is an international not-for-profit, determined to make clean water, decent toilets, and good hygiene normal for everyone, everywhere within a generation. We have been working with government and non-governmental partners to ensure that these essential services are available to poor and marginalized communities, especially women, persons with disabilities, and vulnerable groups.

WaterAid employs a public health and climate adaptation approach to addressing current water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) service requirements and sustaining them for the future. Hygiene behaviour change, menstrual hygiene, rural and urban sanitation and safe water systems, WASH in institutions (healthcare facilities, schools, public places) and nature-based solutions for water conservation, groundwater recharge and waste-water treatment are some of the interventions used for achieving our objectives. We also work with sector partners to support and influence the behavioural, institutional and policy mechanisms for accelerating progress toward achieving safe and sustainable WASH access for the poor and marginalized communities.For more information, please visit (www.wateraid.org)

Background

Adequate WASH services improve public health and significantly lower the morbidity burden. Access to improved WASH services can prevent up to 36.4% of underweight cases in Punjab alone correlated to bacterial and diarrheal infections. Improved water sources reduce diarrhoea morbidity by 21% and washing hands at critical times can reduce the number of diarrhoea cases by 35%. Progress in childhood mortality indicators presents positive outcomes.

Lady Health Workers (LHWs) are integral to delivering community-based health interventions in Pakistan, particularly in rural areas. Their training and curriculum are critical in addressing public health challenges, including Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), climate resilience, and gender equity. With emerging climate-related challenges and the need for gender inclusivity in health interventions, it is important to evaluate how well the LHW curriculum, particularly in Punjab and Sindh, incorporates these critical topics. This study will focus on reviewing the curriculum from a user-centered perspective to identify gaps and opportunities for integration of climate resilience and gender-inclusive WASH practices.

Purpose of the assignment

The objective of this assignment is to conduct a user-centered review of the Lady Health Workers’ curriculum in Punjab and Sindh to assess its current coverage of Climate Resilient and Gender Inclusive WASH topics and to identify the needs for further integration of these areas into the curriculum.

Scope of Work
The consultant/firm will:

1. Review and analyze the current LHW curriculum of the Punjab and Sindh Health Departments, with a focus on the inclusion of WASH, climate resilience, and gender inclusivity.

2. Design and conduct a user-centered research methodology to gather insights from LHWs regarding the practical relevance and application of the training they received, specifically in relation to WASH, climate resilience, and gender-sensitive approaches.

3. Compare the curriculum content with the field realities and practical needs faced by LHWs in their roles, identify gaps and areas where the curriculum could be enhanced.

4. Engage with key stakeholders including LHW trainers, supervisors, health department officials, and other relevant health workers to gather feedback on the effectiveness of the current curriculum and the need for integration of the specified areas.

5. Provide recommendations for curriculum improvements that ensure the integration of climate-resilient and gender-inclusive WASH topics, aligned with LHWs’ on-the-ground challenges and needs.

Methodology:
The consultant will conduct desk review, field visits, and meetings with key stakeholders. In doing this work, the consultant will develop tools to collect and analyse the needed information, which will be vetted by WaterAid prior to utilization.

• Document Review: Analyze the LHW curriculum and related training materials from Punjab and Sindh with respect to the inclusion of WASH, climate resilience, and gender inclusivity.

• User-Centered Research: in each provinceConduct minimum 30 Key informant interviews with LHWs to assess their experiences with the current curriculum and its application in their fieldwork, focusing on WASH, climate resilience, and gender sensitivity.

• Stakeholder Consultations: in each province Hold minimum 5consultations with curriculum developers/LHW trainers, 10 KII with LHW supervisors, and 05 KII health department officials to understand their perspectives on the integration of these topics and the practical needs for curriculum improvements.

• Gap Analysis: Perform a gap analysis by comparing the curriculum content with the practical challenges faced by LHWs, particularly related to WASH, climate resilience, and gender-sensitive practices.

Deliverables:

1. Inception Report: Outline the research methodology, tools, and work plan for the study.

2. Curriculum Review Report: A detailed report presenting the findings from the review of the LHW curriculum, highlighting gaps in the coverage of WASH, climate resilience, and gender sensitivity.

3. Draft Evaluation Report: A comprehensive report based on user-centered research findings, comparing curriculum content with practical field needs, and identifying areas for integration of Climate Resilient and Gender Inclusive WASH topics.

4. Final Report: A consolidated report that includes a gap analysis, stakeholder feedback, and actionable recommendations for improving the curriculum in Punjab and Sindh Health Departments. Electronic and hard copies of the research report (including relevant data tables if any)

5. Presentation: A summary presentation of the key findings and recommendations for relevant stakeholders, including health department officials and curriculum developers. Consultant will make the presentation and share the fidnings during dissemination session.

6. Dissemination: Conduct 2 dissemination sessions, one in Punjab and one in Sindh, to share the findings and recommendations with relevant stakeholders, including health department officials and curriculum developers. WAP will bear the cost of 2 dissemination sessions conducted at Punjab and Sindh level,

Supervision

WASH and health specialist WaterAid Pakistan will be the focal point for this assignment and will provide technical oversight on the deliverables, provincial managers will give operational support if required.

Duration of assignment

WaterAid intends to receive the services of a selected consultant with total level of efforts of 50 working days spreading over 3 months commencing from the agreement signing date.

Evaluation criteria

Each candidate shall submit technical and financial proposals in two separate sealed envelopes. Technical offers will first be evaluated according to the “Evaluation criteria” below and the technical qualification threshold point is “70”.

1. Technical Evaluation criteria

2. Financial offer

For financial offer, each deliverable must be included in the financial offer. All deliverables MUST be completed within the assignment duration.

Standard Contract Terms & Conditions

WaterAid practices the following terms and conditions stated below:

• Intellectual Property Rights in all documents/information/ other materials prior to the date of execution of an agreement pursuant to this bid shall vest in the Party to which such document/information/materials belong.

• All Intellectual Property provided by WaterAid Pakistan to the Consultant for performing the obligations under the agreement with WaterAid shall remain the exclusive property of WaterAid Pakistan.

• Any reports produced/data collected, or any other Intellectual Property generated by the Consultant pursuant to or under the agreement with WaterAid shall be the exclusive property of WaterAid Pakistan.

• The vendor assumes all responsibility for complying with local legal codes as they apply to an Agreement and work performed there under. In addition, the vendor shall be liable to pay all applicable taxes and fees as required by the laws of government of Pakistan. WaterAid will deduct Income Tax and VAT at source as per Govt. rules.

• The vendor shall not without first obtaining the consent in writing of WaterAid, permit any of its duties or obligations made under the Agreement to be performed or carried out by any other person or reassign his/her interest in the Agreement.

• The vendor shall not hold WaterAid liable for any accident or misadventure befalling them whilst on duty or pursuing activities to fulfil the Agreement.

• WaterAid reserves the right to accept and reject any proposal without assigning any verbal and or written rationale whatsoever.

 For Further details please find the attached files.