Mercy Corps has been working in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since 2007. In 2015, Mercy Corps signed a 5 year Accountability Grant with DFID for the Integrated Maji Infrastructure and Governance Initiative for Eastern DRC (IMAGINE). The programme aims at increasing access to water, sanitation and hygiene in two urban centres in eastern DRC. IMAGINE builds on the success of the Extension Goma Nord (EGN) – a water network set up by Mercy Corps and REGIDESO (DRC’s parastatal water utility company) and managed through an innovative tri-partite agreement between Mercy Corps, REGIDESO and a local operator. The system currently meets the water supply needs of 180,000 people in Northern Goma every day.
Purpose / Project Description:
A critical factor of success for the Water Service Delivery is the functionality of the tap stand delivery system. To date, Mercy Corps has installed 49 tap stands in target areas of Goma. These tap stands are located on private land and occupy on average 6 square meters. The average debit flow is 23 cubic meters day.
The water is currently sold at 50 FC per 20 litre at each of the 49 operational tap stands. A tap stand sales person sells the water and collects cash at each tap stand. The combination of these 2 tasks makes the operation of 4 taps somewhat complicated for the seller. The proposed tap stand should reduce the operation manoeuvers. The containers used by the customers are not standard, which leads to some misunderstandings and complaints because 20-liters is delivered by approximation rather than by a precise means (i.e., by meter). Furthermore, the way in which water is delivered leads to some spillage. The water meters are not always working efficiently which causes problems at present (reconciliation of volume sold against revenue, etc). During peak season and peak daily time, queuing time can reach up to 5 hours for some tap stands. To overcome the spillage and metering issue as well as to increase the delivered volume per hour and hence diminish the waiting time, Mercy Corps realized an enhanced tap stand Proof of Concept in 2015.
Consultant Objectives:
The consultancy will be primarily focused on providing technical assistance in the following two key areas:
- Scoping of the available tap solutions including Mercy Corps’ proof of concept and propose a solution to improve water system delivery. Issue a work plan to pilot the solution.
- Pilot the implementation of the shortlisted solution (1 above) as well as preparing a detailed proof of concept report and rollout plan
The total number of days for this consultancy is 40 chargeable days. The consultant will bill Mercy Corps after the completion of each of the two deliverables.
Consultant Activities:
The Consultant will:
Inception Report: Technical Solution Scoping
The consultant will commence with a tour of the installation in the city of Goma together with EGN/SGP Technical Coordinator and will review the environment specifics as well as identified issues (including assessment of availability of local technical capacity to maintain proposed equipment). The consultant and WSD Team will build a methodology to study and narrow the available tap design improvement solutions. This study will also cover Mercy Corps’ Proof of Concept Prototype. The Consultant will then propose the best solution to improve the current water delivery system. This proposal will include a proposed action plan to implement and pilot the chosen solution or solutions. The consultant will work in close collaboration with the Business development consultant in order to determine the economic viability of the existing technology/prototype as well as the technical manager for engineering purposes. The consultant can propose changes to the timeline of the consultancy in the inception report, but the total number of days allocated to the consultancy cannot change.
Consultant Deliverables:
Through carrying out the activities above the consultant will produce the below key deliverable:
- Inception Report: Technical Solution Scoping
- Submitted after 24 days after signing consultancy agreement
Timeframe / Schedule:
Up to a maximum of 40 billable days from the commencement of the consultancy agreement (asap) through to 30 November 2016.
The Consultant will report to:
IMAGINE Program Manager
Desired Consultant Profile
The consultant should have the following competencies:
- At least a Bachelor Degree in engineering or other related technical / mechanical/electromechanical field;
- Great experience in the technical implementation / maintenance of projects in fragile states (water related preferred);
- Proven experience in Project Management (tasks planning / budget / delays / etc.)
- Previous experience of technical design in Region would be viewed as being highly advantageous
- Team spirit, able to work autonomously and in a team
- Critical and practical mind set, solution seeker
- Excellent command of MS office tools, AutoCAD and others design software;
- Excellent language skills in both English and French;
- A sense of humour and the capacity to work in a challenging environment.
Full version of SoW available to be provided on request