Wash Monitor 78 views0 applications

As the WASH cluster Co-lead, the organisation proposes establishing a strong independent WASH monitoring system in Bentiu (Unity State) to monitor the delivery of WASH services to IDPs and flood-affected populations. The organisation intends to engage three independent monitors to form the WASH monitoring team. These will be stationed in various strategic locations within Bentiu as part of the WASH monitoring team. The main purpose of this assignment is to improve quality data management for the planning and delivery of WASH services in Bentiu ex-POC and flood IDP sites and ensure accountability to the affected population and the WASH cluster.

Project context & objectives

The South Sudan humanitarian crisis continues to affect millions of children, remaining one of the largest, and most volatile in the world. The pace of displacement has been near without precedent, with nearly 2.2 million people currently estimated to be internally displaced. 9.4 million people are in need, of which, half are children. With this scale of humanitarian need, the affected population continues to require a broad range of life-saving and specialized assistance.

Unity State has been severely affected by the crisis with Bentiu hosting the largest Protection of Civilian (PoC) site with 102,000 IDPs, of which about 65% are children. Moreover in 2021 exceptional flooding cut off access to Bentiu and other counties within Unity State and displaced a further 60,000 individuals into camps within Bentiu, whilst an estimated 240,000, people were affected by flooding across the entire Unity State.

In Bentiu, the WASH cluster with support of the client and other partners are responding to the WASH needs of affected individuals settled in the ex-POC site and in six IDP sites. In these sites, partners deliver the classic WASH package, including access to safe water, sanitation services, and hygiene promotion. However, since 2017, issues with the quality and the quantity of the assistance delivered are reported and observed which can be attributed to a lack of monitoring of services being delivered. The poor quality of services has resulted in outbreaks of hepatitis E and cholera in 2022.

Several WASH Cluster Coordination team field missions carried out in 2022 identified issues with the delivery of basic WASH services in the sites. The MSF monitoring reports (2021 and 2022) and WHO WASH situation report of 2022 confirmed the cluster reports. The main issues identified are as below:

• Quality of the water. Despite the availability of chlorine and the importance of water treatment in crowded settings, water has been found unchlorinated and bacteriologically contaminated. This has contributed to the HEV and AWD/Cholera outbreaks.
• Basic standards for sanitation unmet. Almost none of the basic WASH standards for sanitation are met in Bentiu IDP camp and flood displacement sites. Poor gender segregated facilities, lack of locks, low coverage (unmet 1:50 ratio), poor maintenance, no children toilets, no disability friendly toilets. Poor wastewater drainage around showers and decommissioning of unused toilets.
• Lack of hand washing stations at toilets. Inadequate quantities of handwashing facilities and soap at toilet sites resulting in limited access to handwashing services. Vandalism of facilities are reported in most cases.
• WASH Cluster recommended actions after the field mission in October 2021 were not addressed. After various field visits, the WASH Cluster proposed a list of key recommendations to restore the quality of WASH service delivery, but none has been implemented.
• WASH Cluster public health strategy (multi-sectoral) not followed. In December, the WASH, Protection, Health, and CCCM clusters went on a mission to Bentiu with the support of OCHA. The aim was to develop a “public-health” strategy to address the HEV outbreak. The WASH component of the strategy was developed with the Bentiu partners. As of May 2022, the objectives have not been met and the strategy is not used by partners as a reference tool.

Beyond the above issues, the WASH Cluster has identified discrepancies among partners monitoring reports shared with the cluster. In March 2022, the cluster took over this activity and major discrepancies appeared between the two dashboards. The data self-reported by partners were systematically and significantly much more compliant (or close to being compliant) to acceptable standards than those reported through other data sources.

Poor monitoring is a significant issue for the WASH cluster. Without good data, a clear overview of the response is compromised. Making decisions to address gaps, propose corrective measures, and advocate for resources will continue to be a challenge, and accountability to beneficiaries, donors, and partners. It is therefore very important and necessary to set up this individual monitoring system to aid the effective delivery of the response.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Review/Development of WASH monitoring concept, including agreed monitoring indicators:

• Review initial ideas of the WASH monitoring concept and develop a clear concept note on monitoring of WASH implementation in Bentiu.
• In consultation with the WASH cluster and the client review the current indicators under the WASH 5Ws. Based on the review outcome, develop and/or adapt monitoring indicators to respond to the needs.
• Based on the indicators and concept note developed the Bentiu WASH framework, including the monitoring plan prepared for reporting and tracking.

2. Monitoring of WASH implementation in Bentiu.

• Carry out daily, weekly, and monthly monitoring of WASH implementation in the assigned areas according to the monitoring sheets. In sampling the water quality, ensure adherence to the protocols as laid down in the WASH guidelines.
• Monitor hygiene implementation focusing on the agreed indicators and document findings. Where necessary, focused group discussions will be carried out in the camps and communities for the qualitative indicators developed.

3. Capacity strengthening of State Government WASH department and partners.

• In collaboration with the State MHLPU, establish a State level WASH Information Management system to track State-wide WASH implementation and monitoring by the Government and partners.
• Conduct on-the-job training for Government personnel and partners on the adoption and use of the WASH IM system to document WASH program implementation in the State.

4. Reporting

• End-of-day submission of the monitoring sheets to the team leader for compilation.
• Team leader will develop weekly monitoring reports and submit to supervisor.
• Update agreed dashboard in real time to inform decision making.
• Prepare and submit monthly progress report to supervisor (reporting format will be agreed with supervisor).
• The report should include proposed remedial and corrective actions to partners from the monitoring results.

5. Additional support to WASH programme

• As directed by the supervisor, the team and individual monitors may undertake any other related tasks and provide additional support in line with monitoring of the WASH implementation.

Project reporting

• This role will work under the technical supervision of the Wash Specialist in Juba & Wash Officer in Bentiu.

Key competencies

• Teamwork plan for the 6- month duration as per the TOR deliverables.
• Partners agree to WASH monitoring indicators to respond to key monitoring questions for the response.
• Monitoring and sampling protocols for Water supply, sanitation, and hygiene, including capacity monitoring.
• Concept note for development of the monitoring framework.
• Framework document for monitoring WASH implementation in Bentiu developed.
• WASH monitoring Dashboard completed.
• WASH weekly progress report.
• Monthly progress report.