Consultancy services to conduct a feasibility study for the WASH project in Thua Thien Hue province

Despite commendable improvements made, open defecation is still prevalent in many mountainous areas of Vietnam. This practice has several serious consequences, including the spread of diseases, increased child mortality, reduced productivity, and environmental damage. Women and girls are particularly affected, as they do not enjoy the privacy of a proper latrine and are more likely to come into contact with contaminated water.

Habitat Vietnam wants to engage with consultants to explore the root causes preventing some members of the community from using hygienic latrines instead of open defecation in Nam Dong district, Thua Thien Hue province. In addition to that, potential partnership opportunities and solutions to support communities improving water and sanitation from People, the Public (government), and the Private sector are also identified in this research.  Findings and recommendations from the research will help Habitat Vietnam to modify the developed Concept Note to eliminate open defecation and improve general sanitation in the Nam Dong district.

The overall objective of the service is to have an in-depth situation analysis of the causes and impacts of the current open defecation situation in Nam Dong district, Thua Thien Hue province so that effective interventions can be built. The following are specific objectives:

1. The current situation and historical and future trends of open defecation in Vietnam, in general, and in the Nam Dong district, in particular, are described.
2. Root causes and impacts of open defecation on the lives of people. Especially on health, and social conflict) are analysed and described.
3. Current sanitation (toilet) practices of people in Nam Dong district are described.
4. The status of water access of people in Nam Dong district is described.
5. Perspective of the local government about open defecation is obtained; interventions on the open defecation implemented in the past in the district are documented.
6. Future programs supported by Government to improve water and sanitation in the district in the district in the coming three years documented.
7. Access to preferred finance resources from the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies, MFIs, from other NGOs and to construction materials analysed.
8. Based on the analysis, recommendation for HFHV to improve its current concept note on WASH to tackle the mentioned issue at the mentioned districts to be provided. (Habitat Vietnam will share the concept note for selected consultant later)

• Carry out data collection that include field survey in Thuong Long and Thuong Lo communes in Nam Dong district and desk study of the issue.
• Conduct data analysis and develop the draft report.
• Present the exercise’s key findings to Habitat Vietnam’s team.
• Finalize the report with feedback and comments from Habitat Vietnam

This service package is expected to be completed within 08 (eight) weeks after signing the service agreement. Applicants are free to propose the exact number of working days.

The field survey is expected to take place in two communes in Nam Dong District, Thua Thien Hue Province, Vietnam. The data analysis, report development and finding presentation can be done online.

• Raw data: database, qualitative and quantitative transcripts, all completed questionnaires, codebook/data sets including detailed analytical data tables, participants list, interview & and discussion recordings.
• A draft report for Habitat Vietnam to review and provide feedback.
• A presentation on key findings: the consultant will present the key findings from the context analysis to Habitat Vietnam, followed by a Q&A session.
• A final report: having been improved from the draft assessment report, the final report will contain responses to the Overall Objective and Key Study Questions, including:

Consultants applying for this package can be an individual, group of individuals, or a firm. The team leader is expected to have the following qualifications:

• Academic qualifications (Master’s Degree minimum) in one of the following disciplines: social sciences, economics, development, health and environment
• Proven experience in conducting feasibility studies for development projects, preferably including issues of water, sanitation & hygiene (WASH), open defecation, public health, housing, poverty reduction, community development, policy advocacy and influencing.
• Strong skill set in both quantitative and qualitative methods.
• Be committed to and able to meet deadlines.
• Strong analytical skills
• Excellent English and Vietnamese writing skills
• Good narrative reporting and presentation skills.

• The consultants/company’s profile/CVs and related track record
• 01 technical proposal, detailing how the consultants plan to fulfil the specific objectives and overall objective of the feasibility study within the listed timeframe, including survey methodology, data collection tools, sample size, tentative work plan, team structure & role division.
• 01 financial proposal that specifies the number of working days required with consultancy rate and proposed budget for logistics.
• 01 sample summary report of a feasibility studies performed by the consultant(s) – feel free to redact sensitive information where necessary.
• 03 contacts for reference. A reference check on the successful applicant will be conducted before signing the contract service for safeguarding purposes, to ensure the successful applicant does not have a history of exploitation and abuse in working with vulnerable groups. Habitat Vietnam reserves the right to withdraw from signing the consultancy contract with the applicant if the reference check yields concerning results.

Please send your application for this service package to procurement@habitatvietnam.org with the subject “Application for WASH research-Nam Dong”.

The deadline for application is 26 January 2024. We regret that only applicants shortlisted for interviews will be contacted.