Consultant – Support to RWSN Forum 2016, Abidjan, Cote d’ivoire

Job Number: 494009 | Vacancy Link
Location: Cote D’Ivoire
Work Type : Consultancy

UNICEF Cote d’Ivoire recruits an Individual Consultant (Support to RWSN Forum 2016 – Marketing, registration & publications team)
Context :

RWSN was established in 1992, by the World Bank, UNICEF, UNDP and the Swiss Government. Its mandate in the early years was on handpump technology. Over a period of 23 years, the network has evolved tremendously in terms of its mandate, key partners, membership and the interaction between them. RWSN has emerged as the global network of professionals and practitioners for rural water supplies. RWSN places a very strong emphasis on innovation, documentation, research and capacity building. With over 8,000 members from 148 countries, RWSN has benefitted from the digital revolution in terms of exchange. However, the network recognizes that nothing can replace face to face communication. The RWSN Forums, which are held every five years, are a key event in the calendar of the rural water sector. RWSN is currently preparing for its 7th RWSN Forum, which is to be held in Abidjan Côte D’Ivoire in November/December 2016.

RWSN Forums have a unique character, with the emphasis on learning and sharing rather than showcasing, and a practical rather than political focus. The participants are mainly rural water supply professionals and practitioners. Where political leaders participate, they are encouraged to engage in the sessions and exhibition as equals with the other participants. The philosophy of the Forum can be summarised as follows:

Inclusive of different perspectives
Capacity – raising the quality of the submissions and thus improving communication skills within the rural water sector
Sharing of knowledge and experience among equals
Bringing field realities to the attention of decision-makers and funding agencies
Catalysing vibrant South-South exchange and networking
Accessible to all French and English speakers
The working title for the 7th RWSN Forum is “Water for Everyone”. Five hundred participants from almost 50 countries attended the last Forum in Kampala in 2011. We expect about 700 participants for this event. The Forum will enable stakeholders from different organisations to learn about opportunities, trends and challenges of rural water supplies.

Justification:

The event will be run over three days, with an exhibition, and an additional day for optional field trips or specific workshops. It will comprise plenary and parallel sessions of presentations and interactive workshops as well as posters and short film viewings. An open call for papers, films and posters will be sent out in late 2015 so that the event includes local and national government, the private sector and NGOs as well as academic institutions. In order to have an inclusive event, people with varied experience of writing will have the chance to present. If there are submissions with potential, but that are weak in writing skills then support will be provided to ensure that the work can reach the required standard for the event.

Purpose and Objectives :

Under the guidance of UNICEF and Skat Foundation, the Consultant is expected to contribute and provide practical support to the RWSN secretariat and International Forum Task Force in the organization of the Forum 2016. This includes the following specific tasks:

Manage an online presence pre-Forum: website, content publication, social media
Facilitate participant registration, fee collection and receipt
Provide support to drafting/translating and finalizing of Forum documents and materials
Support the communication and organisation of logistics between Skat Foundation and the in-country Forum preparations team
Support the coordination of subsidised participation (sponsorship)
Any other tasks as requested by the UNICEF and Skat Foundation that are aligned with the RWSN Forum
Methodology :

The Forum is being jointly organized by Skat Foundation, UNICEF, World Bank, WaterAid, the African Development Bank and IRC who have established an International Forum Task Force. Preparation, hosting and follow-up activities are organised around six teams set out below.

Team 1: Overall Forum Management, Finance & Liaison

Roles:

Overall coordination of Forum Work Plan and inter-linkages between the teams
Revision up to finalisation of forum concept
Liaison with National Organising Committee including support to the development of ToR
Procurement and management of venue, event manager and translation services
Coordination and monitoring of fundraising, budget & expenditure
Financial reporting
Liaison with international partners
Team 2: Content & capacity

Roles:

Call for Papers/Posters and Films
Bring together a team of reviewers
Set-up and management of review process (including review panel; topic/theme specialists)
Support to raise quality
Final selection of accepted submissions
Finalise forum programme
Session Management (during the event, including management of facilitators, presenters and rapporteurs)
Team 3: Side events, exhibition & field visits

Roles:

Field Visits (selection, negotiations, logistics and oversight of actual visits)
Exhibition (including promotion of exhibition internationally & locally, selling spaces, set-up taking down)
Coordination of side events (before forum, evenings and after)
Team 4: Side events, exhibition & field visits Field Visits (selection, negotiations, logistics and oversight of actual visits)

Roles:

Exhibition (including promotion of exhibition internationally & locally, selling spaces, set-up taking down)
Coordination of side events (before forum, evenings and after)
Team 5: Translation

Roles:

Management of pre-forum translation
Management of in-forum interpretation
Team 6: In-country preparations, event management & venue

Roles:

Engagement of in-country stakeholders (including Government agencies, AfDB, UNICEF, World Bank)
Liaison with Venue
Event manager responsible for liaison with hotels, welcome at airport, registration at venue including issuing badges and conference bags/pens/notebooks/flash drives, hosting staff presence at the Forum, cultural program, transportation and provisions for field trips
Management of protocol of high level delegates (including Ministers)
Assigned tasks, expected outputs and deadlines :

Activités/tâches (insérer des lignes additionnelles si nécessaire)

Résultats attendus/deliverables

Délais/Time-frame

Communications announcements

Announcement and communication material available

1 month after contract started

10 days-In country mission reports in French and English

Mission report available

2 months after contract started

Website updates (French and English)

Updates available

Ongoing task

Social media announcements (French and English)

Social media announcements available in both French and English

On-going task

Draft forum brochure (French and English)

Draft brochures available

3 months after contract started

Qualifications & Experiences :

The Consultant should have Masters degree in a field related to water science, policy, economics or engineering.
The Consultant should have demonstrated analytical capacity and writing skills, including experience drafting and providing analytical support up to the standards of UNICEF or academic literature.
The Consultant should have at least three 3 years of professional experience in the field of water supply and sanitation, including rural water supply and sanitation in developing countries.
The Consultant must be bilingual French-English.
Working conditions :

The consultant will be expected to travel, but travel, accommodation and per diem will be covered

Consultant is expected to use his own laptop

Consultant shall procure and maintain for the duration of the contract insurance against claims for injuries to persons or damages to property which may arise from or in connection with the performance of the work

While on mission to Abidjan: consultant will be based either at UNICEF office and/or AFdB office

Duration:

The consultancy is expected to start March 1st 2016 for 30 days

It is a 30 days consultancy spread from March 1st to June 30th 2016:

20 days Home Based

10 days mission in Cote d’Ivoire