Background information about the job or company (e.g., role context, company overview)

The Hub will bring together a passionate community of strategic partners including children and young people, academia, private entrepreneurs, public policy makers, social development and humanitarian actors, and our global UNICEF WASH / CEED and innovation colleagues in 150+ countries. Collectively we will co-create, advocate, enable, convene, and motivate for innovative sustainable solutions to long-standing barriers and emerging opportunities for a WASH secure and climate resilient future for every child.

How can you make a difference?

The consultant will play a pivotal role in laying out the groundwork for an innovative approach to successful, sustainable, and evidence-based groundwater resource development and management. They will work closely with the Kenya Country office and the WASH innovation hub team which includes water and finance experts. The outcome of the consultancy work will be the identification of up to 4 potential pilot sites in the ASL counties (Wajir, Garissa, Mandera, Marsabite, Turkana and Samburu) of Northern Kenaya.

The consultant will outline for each potential site:

• Overview of the sustainability of the water source for identified location and logic for selection
• Top line overview of community expenditure on water and other investments
• County government appetite for innovation
• Outline any further studies needed to inform pilot design in identified sites
• Map and assess the different financing models that support water resource management and governance

Your main responsibilities will be:

The consultant will be expected to compile reports for up to 4 locations outlining the below to the best of their ability with existing data sets. They will be expected to keep a database of the data used to compile the reports and outline how the data can be accessed in future.

The work for this consultancy is split into two areas.

Summary of potential sites, which should outline (to the best of their ability with the data available):

Local Water Resources Assessment

Based on existing data, studies and reports, assess the current status of groundwater, surface water, aquifers, recharge, and seasonal variability.

Climate risk assessment on availability and use of water sources - rainfall patterns and projections, drought cycles / water scarcity, floods, community dynamics and conflicts. Identify and collate existing resources (e.g., hydrogeological surveys, research from universities and development partners, etc).

Document accessibility of this information (custodians, portals, MoUs).

Identify gaps in monitoring, climate impact projections, and spatial coverage.

Water Demand Assessment

Review current and projected water demand, considering population distribution, agricultural uses and needs, livestock, migration patterns, and climate forecast for the regions

Establish the average number of months /days that livestock depends on permanent groundwater sources per year and patterns overtime in the climate cycle calendar.

Map existing datasets

Assess accessibility of data sources.

Identify gaps in disaggregated demand data and climate-linked projections.

Stakeholder Mapping and Capacity Needs

Identify and map all relevant stakeholders, including county water departments, utilities, water user associations, NGOs, CBOs, donor agencies, and private-sector actors active in water supply and resource management in ASAL counties.

Document their roles, mandates, geographic coverage, and current interventions, highlighting overlaps, gaps, and opportunities for improved coordination.

Assess institutional capacities (technical, financial, human resource, governance) to plan, operate, and regulate water services in the ASAL context.

Identify critical capacity development needs for both government and non-government actors, especially in areas such as data management, monitoring, operation and maintenance, water quality, climate resilience, and financial sustainability of services.

Review of existing Tariff Structures and Setup

Review current water market across the focus counties in Northern Kenya and water tariff-setting mechanisms in rural schemes for both domestic and livestock, urban utilities, private and informal water markets.

Identify and collate available tariff data (Utilities, NGOs, county records as appropriate).

Document accessibility of this information.

Identify gaps in rural and informal market tariff data

Affordability and Willingness to Pay analysis

Review household-level affordability and willingness-to-pay studies in ASAL contexts.

Collate socio-economic datasets on household income and livelihood, agricultural needs and expenditure, water expenditure, and coping mechanisms.

Document accessibility of this information.

Identify knowledge gaps, including ASAL-specific and gender-disaggregated data.

Identify sources of conflict and possible mitigation measures

Establishing What Finance Models Exist

Map and document existing financing models for water resources and governance in Northern Kenya, covering public, community, private, donor/NGO, and emerging/innovative mechanisms.

In discussion the WASH hub finance team analyze the sustainability and inclusiveness of these models, including their effectiveness in covering operation and maintenance, and their reach to marginalized and vulnerable groups.

With inputs on criteria from the WASH hub finance team assess alignment with governance systems at county and national levels, including transparency and accountability.

Identify financing gaps and opportunities for scaling up resilient, innovative, and blended financing approaches to strengthen water resources management and governance.

Clarity on data leveraged

Compile a clear report on the data used, available data and where to find it

Design and populate a structured format that outlines all identified datasets, studies, and information sources, organized by theme (resources, demand, stakeholders, tariffs, affordability etc).

Outline further studies required for selected sites

Based on the sites proposed by the consultant they are asked to outline existing data gaps and outline how studies in those sites would need to be designed to ensure data gaps are addressed.

Qualifications or requirements (e.g., education, skills)

Minimum requirements:

Education: An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Hydrogeology, Hydrology, Water Resources Management, other Water related sciences or other relevant field.

A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.

Work Experience:

A minimum of 8 years of relevant professional experience at the national and/or international levels, in water resource assessments, water governance, and/or other directly related technical fields is required.

Demonstrated ability to identify and extract key data relevant to governance strategies and technical programs for water

Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex data and produce actionable insights and reports

Skills:

Excellent analytical, report-writing, and communication skills.

Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.

Desirables:

Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

Strong understanding of Kenya’s water governance, water sector policies and institutional landscape is an asset

Experience of supporting county or national actors in

• Compile reports for up to 4 locations outlining the below to the best of their ability with existing data sets.
• Keep a database of the data used to compile the reports and outline how the data can be accessed in future.
• Assess the current status of groundwater, surface water, aquifers, recharge, and seasonal variability based on existing data, studies and reports.
• Conduct a climate risk assessment on availability and use of water sources, including rainfall patterns and projections, drought cycles / water scarcity, floods, community dynamics and conflicts.
• Identify and collate existing resources (e.g., hydrogeological surveys, research from universities and development partners, etc).
• Document accessibility of this information (custodians, portals, MoUs).
• Identify gaps in monitoring, climate impact projections, and spatial coverage.
• Review current and projected water demand, considering population distribution, agricultural uses and needs, livestock, migration patterns, and climate forecast for the regions.
• Establish the average number of months /days that livestock depends on permanent groundwater sources per year and patterns overtime in the climate cycle calendar.
• Assess accessibility of data sources.
• Identify gaps in disaggregated demand data and climate-linked projections.
• Identify and map all relevant stakeholders, including county water departments, utilities, water user associations, NGOs, CBOs, donor agencies, and private-sector actors active in water supply and resource management in ASAL counties.
• Document their roles, mandates, geographic coverage, and current interventions, highlighting overlaps, gaps, and opportunities for improved coordination.
• Assess institutional capacities (technical, financial, human resource, governance) to plan, operate, and regulate water services in the ASAL context.
• Identify critical capacity development needs for both government and non-government actors, especially in areas such as data management, monitoring, operation and maintenance, water quality, climate resilience, and financial sustainability of services.
• Review current water market across the focus counties in Northern Kenya and water tariff-setting mechanisms in rural schemes for both domestic and livestock, urban utilities, private and informal water markets.
• Identify and collate available tariff data (Utilities, NGOs, county records as appropriate).
• Document accessibility of this information.
• Identify gaps in rural and informal market tariff data.
• Review household-level affordability and willingness-to-pay studies in ASAL contexts.
• Collate socio-economic datasets on household income and livelihood, agricultural needs and expenditure, water expenditure, and coping mechanisms.
• Document accessibility of this information.
• Identify knowledge gaps, including ASAL-specific and gender-disaggregated data.
• Identify sources of conflict and possible mitigation measures.
• Map and document existing financing models for water resources and governance in Northern Kenya, covering public, community, private, donor/NGO, and emerging/innovative mechanisms.
• In discussion the WASH hub finance team analyze the sustainability and inclusiveness of these models, including their effectiveness in covering operation and maintenance, and their reach to marginalized and vulnerable groups.
• With inputs on criteria from the WASH hub finance team assess alignment with governance systems at county and national levels, including transparency and accountability.
• Identify financing gaps and opportunities for scaling up resilient, innovative, and blended financing approaches to strengthen water resources management and governance.
• Compile a clear report on the data used, available data and where to find it.
• Design and populate a structured format that outlines all identified datasets, studies, and information sources, organized by theme (resources, demand, stakeholders, tariffs, affordability etc).
• Based on the sites proposed by the consultant they are asked to outline existing data gaps and outline how studies in those sites would need to be designed to ensure data gaps are addressed.

• Excellent analytical skills
• Excellent report-writing skills
• Excellent communication skills

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Hydrogeology, Hydrology, Water Resources Management, other Water related sciences or other relevant field.
• A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• A minimum of 8 years of relevant professional experience at the national and/or international levels, in water resource assessments, water governance, and/or other directly related technical fields is required.
• Demonstrated ability to identify and extract key data relevant to governance strategies and technical programs for water.
• Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex data and produce actionable insights and reports.
• Fluency in English is required.
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts (Desirable).
• Strong understanding of Kenya’s water governance, water sector policies and institutional landscape is an asset (Desirable).
• Experience of supporting county or national actors (Desirable).