USAID/Zambia Expanding Water and Sanitation Project

Reporting and Communications Consultant

Country

Zambia

Consultancy Type:

Fixed Price

Period of Performance

June 15, 2023 – June 14, 2024

Consultant Point of Contact

USAID Expanding Water and Sanitation MEL Director

Charge Code

0218447.001.001

Background

The USAID Expanding Water and Sanitation Project (USAID Expanding WASH) in Zambia being implemented through RTI International, a non-profit research and international development institute. USAID Expanding WASH aims to support the professionalization of WASH services, increasing private sector engagement in service delivery and improving accountability between citizens, service providers, and policy makers to sustain reliable, high-quality WASH services.

The overall objective of the USAID Expanding WASH project is to maintain and expand sustainable WASH services in peri-urban, rural growth centers and rural areas. The USAID Expanding WASH project will target sustainable WASH service delivery in four (4) provinces namely: Muchinga, Northern, Western and Southern Provinces targeting twelve (12) districts; Chinsali, Nakonde, Mpika, Lunte, Mungwi, Kazungula, Kalomo, Nalolo, Kalabo, Mongu, Kaoma and Sesheke.

Over the course of the next five years, the USAID Expanding WASH project will aim to deliver access to safe water to an additional 15%, provide sanitation access to an additional 25% of the target population, and to improve the capacity for 150 organizations. The project will continually aim to engage local stakeholders and leaders in the WASH sector to ensure strong partnership and coordination on the overall project design, vision, and long-term sustainability.

Purpose and Justification of Activity

The USAID Expanding WASH Project seeks an experienced Reporting and Communications Consultant with a demonstrated ability to write, edit, and format USAID or other donor funded reports and communications documents. The Consultant will work part time, and remotely as needed, together in coordination with the MEL Director, and other project staff as required, to organize, draft, edit and manage the project’s reporting schedule. The candidate will report on a weekly basis to the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Director.

Responsibilities

3. Specific Tasks / Planned Activities

Help provide guidance to the program team on document formats, including branding and marking in accordance with USAID policies and approved RTII templates.

Work with team members to ensure project communications and branding guidelines and best practices are followed by USAID Expanding WASH staff.

Organize the reporting calendar around quarterly and annual reports, work planning and other required deliverables in line with program deadlines.

Draft, edit, and/or format program reports, such as quarterly, annual, and other reports as needed.

Draft, edit, and/or format success stories or inputs to success stories as part of USAID quarterly and annual reporting requirements.

Help manage media and photo archives and communications-related contract deliverables.

4. Expected Deliverables:

Develop Calendars for 2023 Contractual Reports

Review, edit, format, and provide suggestions for Contract FY23 Q3 quarterly report.

Review, edit, format, and provide suggestions for Year 3 Workplan

Review, edit, format, and provide suggestions for Contract FY23 Q4 quarterly report.

Develop Calendars for 2024 Contractual Reports.

Review, edit, format, and provide suggestions for Year 2 Annual Report.

Review, edit, format, and provide suggestions for Contract FY24 Q2 quarterly report.

5. Milestone Based Payment Schedule

The offeror (Consultant) is required to propose duration (level of effort) and cost of research broken down into activities detailed below:

Deliverables and due dates

1.Develop Calendars for 2023 Contractual Reports

Calendar for 2023 Contractual Reports 30 June 2023

2.Review, edit, format, and provide suggestions for Contract first draft FY23 Q3 quarterly report. Edited and formatted first draft FY23 Q3 Report 11 July 2023

3.Review, edit, format, and provide suggestions for Contract final draft FY23 Q3 quarterly report. Edited Final draft FY23 Q3 Report 20 July 2023

4.Review, edit, format, and provide suggestions for Contract draft FY23 Q4 quarterly report. Edited and formatted First draft FY23 Q4 Report 10 October 2023

5.Review, edit, format, and provide suggestions for Contract final FY23 Q4 quarterly report. Edited and formatted Final draft FY23 Q4 Report 20 October 2023

6.Review, edit, format, and provide suggestions for Year 3 Workplan

Edited and formatted Year 3 Workplan 3 November 2023

7.Develop Calendars for 2024 Contractual Reports; FY 2024 Calendar for Contractual Reports 1 December 2023

8.Review, edit, format, and provide suggestions for first draft Year 2 Annual Report. Edited and formatted Year 2 first draft Annual report 5 January 2024

9.Review, edit, format, and provide suggestions for final draft Year 2 Annual Report. Edited and formatted Year 2 first draft Annual report 20 January 2024

10.Review, edit, format, and provide suggestions for Contract first draft FY24 Q2 report. Edited and formatted First draft FY24 Q2 Report 9 April 2024

11.Review, edit, format, and provide suggestions for Contract final draft FY24 Q2 quarterly report. Edited and formatted FY24 Q2 Report20 April 2024

All work must be completed within this timeframe. The Consultant shall request any modifications or extensions from RTII in advance for review and discussion.

6. Terms & Conditions:

Working Arrangements: The consultant will perform most of the work from their home, and thus shall be required to work with the team via video chat software such as Zoom, Teams, or Skype using his/her own equipment. The consultant will use his/her own equipment.

Estimated Start Date:     June 15, 2023

Period of Performance: June 15, 2023– June 14, 2023.

Locations:    Lusaka

7. Travel and Logistics:   There are no travel or logistics costs to be incurred under this agreement.

RTI Point of Contacts:

The consultant will work closely with the USAID Expanding Water and Sanitation MEL Director throughout the assignment. The MEL Director will serve as the primary point of contact for the consultant.

USAID Expanding Water and Sanitation MEL Director

Invoices and supporting documentation should be submitted to the USAID Expanding Water and Sanitation MEL Director, with copy to the Finance and Operations Director.

Qualifications

Qualifications

Minimum 5 years of progressive experience in journalism, communications, and outreach

Bachelor’s degree in international development, communications, environment, or another relevant field

USAID or other donor communications experience required.

Excellent communications skills (both written and verbal).

Excellent attention to detail, able to meet deadlines and produce quality documents.

Excellent Microsoft Office skills, especially with Microsoft Word.

Zambia experience preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Ability to work effectively in a multi-cultural, multi-disciplinary team.

Fluent and superior English written and verbal communication skills, including expertise writing and editing reports and communications products for a USAID audience.

Able to work effectively with the Microsoft office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Adobe.

Application Guidelines:

Submit a CV and cover letter as part of your application. Please note that applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, and we encourage you to submit your materials as soon as possible before June 7, 2023 to Reporting and Communications Consultant in Lusaka, Zambia | RTI International