Request for professional services to conduct budget expenditure tracking of Kisumu County’s WASH interventions (Kenya) 187 views0 applications

Practical Action is seeking the services of a consultant or consulting entities to undertake a comprehensive budget tracking of WASH interventions for children under-5 years in Kisumu County with a focus on allocation, and public involvement in tracking, utilization and related laws.

This study will contribute to Practical Action’s learning on public finance management at the county government level. Being a devolved function, budget allocations for WASH is done based on approved County Integrated Development Plans (CIDPs). However, given the limited resources, relevant departments must present strong cases as to why their particular areas should receive the required amounts. While adequate budget allocation remains key, prudent utilization of the resources is paramount if high quality and value for money is to be realized. To adequately unpack this, the consultant will be expected to establish the gap (if there is) between what the County Government allocates on water and sanitation interventions to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goal number six and what they are actually spending. The evidence then will form the basis for Practical Action’s and other WASH Partners’ campaign to lobby for an increased WASH budget for the children under-5 years.

This assignment is part of a project that Practical Action in partnership with Kisumu Urban Apostolate Program (KUAP) is implementing, this 3-year UK Aid Match grant by DFID titled “A Safe Pair of Hands Project’’ is being implemented within the urban informal settlements of Nyalenda A, Nyalenda B and Obunga of Kisumu County. By improving access to clean water, hand washing facilities, facilitating community led design and management of these services and promotion of proper handwashing, the project aims to reduce diarrhea, improve health and reduce life-long malnutrition for 3,000 young children aged under-5 years living in informal settlements of Kisumu City, Kenya.

The key tasks for this consultancy will entail the following;

• Develop an inception report clearly demonstrating full understanding of the TOR, proposed methodology and relevant tools to instruments to achieve the objectives the WASH budget expenditure tracking.
• Develop relevant tools for data collection – Key informant interview, focus group discussions among others.
• Conduct desk review to identify and appraise existing WASH budgeting provisions and mechanisms in Kisumu County. With the support of Practical Action and KUAP staff the consultants will identify and interview key stakeholders including representatives from the County government
• Field work: Where necessary, Public Expenditure Tracking Surveys will be done to track the flow of public resources (funds and materials) across various County departments to the intended beneficiaries within the informal settlements of Kisumu and determine inefficiencies in the system and their magnitude. These will be discussed and agreed upon between the consultant and Practical Action.
• Facilitate a one-day consultative workshop for the key WASH stakeholders within Kisumu County to present and validate the findings