National Consultant for WASH Survey in Lualaba and South Kivu provinces of DRC

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian network, with 191-member National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. IFRC uses the Triple R – response, resilience and respect – to deliver on Strategy 2030. IFRC responds to disasters and crises, ensuring timely, coordinated and locally led humanitarian action. IFRC supports its members in building community resilience in the areas of climate and environment, health and wellbeing, and migration and displacement. IFRC promotes respect for our fundamental principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality, including in our work on values, power and inclusion. The IFRC focuses throughout on our core mandate – our raison d’être – of strategic and operational coordination, humanitarian diplomacy, National Society development, and accountability. 

IFRC is led by its Secretary General and has its Headquarters in Geneva and five regional offices in Africa (Nairobi); the Americas (Panama); Asia Pacific (Kuala Lumpur); Europe (Budapest); and MENA (Beirut) as well as representation offices, service centres and delegations across the globe.

The IFRC has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). IFRC also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. 

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has endorsed a National Strategic Multisectoral Plan for Cholera Elimination (PMSEC) 2023-2027. Following Global Task Force for Cholera Control (GTFCC) guidelines, DRC has identified 39 priority health zones for cholera elimination efforts. The WASH pillar of DRC's National Cholera Plan (NCP) outlines the need for baseline WASH surveys in priority areas (PAMIs/hotspots) to inform targeted interventions.

Building on previous surveys conducted with US CDC support, the Country Support Platform (CSP), in collaboration with the Programme National d'Élimination du Choléra (PNECHOL) and the Congolese Red Cross (CRC), will implement a more economical survey model leveraging the CRC volunteer network in 4 health( Idjwi, Miti Murhesa, loualaba and Bunkeya) in 2 provinces ( Lualaba and South Kivu). Due to security concerns in eastern DRC.

Previous WASH survey in DRC has used the Swiss academic institution Sandec/Eawag developed methodology and questionnaire, and a local consultant will support logistics and KOBO implementation. The results from these surveys will inform discussions with local authorities to strengthen WASH investment planning in cholera hotspots.

Job Purpose

To provide technical leadership and capacity development for the implementation of a WASH survey in 4 health zones ( Idjwi, Miti Murhesa) south Kivu Province and Bunkeya and Loualaba

Job Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will:

1. Pre-deployment (1 week)
• Review survey methodology and questionnaire developed.
• Coordinate remotely with CSP Regional Programme Manager, PNECHOL team, and Congolese Red Cross
• Work closely with the focal person at PNECHOL WASH focal person to take ownership of training materials
• Support refinement of tools for data collection, quality assurance, and analysis
2. Field Deployment to Bukavu and Loualaba (6 weeks)
• Based on discussions with other partners, either support or lead training of surveyors in coordination with local partners
• Backstop initial survey implementation in Miti-Murhesa and Idjwi Health Zones
• Lead ToT for national counterparts
• Provide support for colleagues managing KOBO implementation and data quality control
• Conduct preliminary analysis of survey data with the team
3. Post-deployment (3 weeks)
• Complete data analysis and prepare survey report
• Document methodological lessons learned and recommendations for subsequent surveys
• Contribute insights to broader GTFCC discussions on WASH/cholera surveys

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

Deliverables

1. Training materials for surveyors and ToT curriculum
2. Field implementation report including challenges faced and solutions applied
3. Preliminary analysis of Fizi survey results
4. Survey report with recommendations for local authorities
5. Lessons learned document for methodology refinement in future surveys
6. Technical contribution to GTFCC knowledge base on WASH/cholera survey approaches (debriefing and possible presentation/webinar)

Education

Required

• University graduate degree in management or relevant field

• University post-graduate degree in business or relevant field

Experience

• Minimum 7 years of experience in WASH programming, with specific experience in cholera-endemic setting is required
• Experience with mobile data collection tools, particularly KOBO is required
• Demonstrated capacity to develop and deliver training programs is required
• Previous work in the Great Lakes region of Africa, preferably DRC or Burundi is required
• Experience working with Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement and/or GTFCC partners is preferred
• Ability to work in security-sensitive environments is preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

• Fluency in spoken and written French is required
• Proven experience in survey design, implementation, and analysis is required

Competencies, Values and Comments

Values: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability

Core competencies: Communication; Collaboration and teamwork; Judgement and decision making; National society and customer relations; Creativity and innovation; Building trust