Terms of Reference

Table of Contents

1.1 PROJECT BACKGROUND.......................................................................................................... 1

1.2 PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT....................................................................................................6

1.3 DURATION AND LOCATION OF THE SERVICES....................................................................9

1.4 SCOPE OF THE SERVICES...................................................................................................... 10

1.4.1 DESIGN FRAMEWORK.......................................................................................................................101.4.2 COMPONENT 1 – IMPROVED HYGIENE BEHAVIOUR........................................................................101.4.3 COMPONENT 2 – IMPROVED SANITATION FACILITIES.....................................................................11

1.5 DETAILED OUTPUTS................................................................................................................ 13

1.6 TEAM COMPOSITION................................................................................................................ 15

1.7 INDICATIVE PROJECT SCHEDULE........................................................................................16

1.8 PROPOSAL ASSESSMENT CRITERIA....................................................................................17

ABBREVIATIONS

ADB Asian Development Bank

EU European Union

FBO Faith Based Organisation

HCC Honiara City Council

JMP Joint Monitoring Program

MHM Menstrual Hygiene Management

MHMS Ministry of Health and Medical Services

MLHS Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey

MOFT Ministry of Finance and Treasury

NGO Non-Government Organisation

PMU Project Management Unit

PPTA Project Preparatory Technical Assistance

PSC Project Steering Committee

WaSH Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

SW Solomon Water

UNICEF United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund

UWSSSP Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project

WHO World Health Organisation

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1.1 Project Background

1. The Solomon Islands Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project (UWSSSP) will improve access to safe water and improved sanitation in urban and peri-urban areas of Solomon Islands. The population of Solomon Islands is currently estimated at 604,000 and is growing at approximately 2.1% annually. About 141,000 (23%) of the Solomon Islands population live in urban and peri-urban areas, the largest of which is greater Honiara, with an estimated population of about 105,000. Based on medium growth projections, the population of greater Honiara is expected to surpass 300,000 within the next 30 years.

2. Urban development in Solomon Islands presents a number of challenges. These include: (i) a rapid urban growth rate (4.7%) which is more than double the national population growth (2.1%); (ii) rapid expansion of informal settlements; and (iii) decreasing rates of access to urban services such as electricity, reticulated water supply and sanitation, solid waste collection and drainage. A substantial number of urban planning studies and urban infrastructure strategic plans have been prepared over the past 10 years with little or no connection to other sector plans or consultation with service providers and communities; coupled with limited capacity in implementation in the respective agencies, this has resulted in ad hoc urban planning and un-managed growth.

3. The Solomon Islands Water Authority (trading as Solomon Water – “SW”), a state-owned enterprise created under the Solomon Islands Water Act 1992, is mandated to “provide for the proper management and development of urban water resources and sewerage services in Solomon Islands”. SW currently delivers water supply services to approximately 65,000 people in 4 urban centers (Honiara, Auki, Noro, and Tulagi) of which 58,000 live in the greater Honiara area. SW has also been asked to take over additional provincial centre water supply systems in Gizo, Munda and Choiseul Bay (Taro) and is currently investigating expanding its operations to cover the Gizo water supply system. SW also provides sewerage services to approximately 1,150 connections (approximately 6,000 residential population) in Honiara.

4. In pursuing its vision of “Safe Water for a Healthy Nation” SW prepared a 30-year Strategic Plan 2017- 2047 which details the planned improvements to deliver safe and reliable water supply and sewerage services in its areas of operation. A 5-year Action Plan has been developed to implement projects identified in the first 5 years of the Strategic Plan.

5. In September 2017, ADB approved a Project Preparatory Technical Assistance (PPTA) of USD800,000 to prepare the Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project. The PPTA took place between February 2018 and February 2019. The outputs of the PPTA were (i) feasibility studies for critical water, wastewater and sanitation infrastructure in Honiara, namely a surface water treatment plant, a septage treatment facility, sewer pumping facilities, service reservoir capacity augmentation, water trunk main enhancements; and feasibility study for the improvement of the Gizo water supply system; and (ii) design of a Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WaSH) awareness program.

6. Details on the roles of project preparation and implementation organizations are provided in the following sections. An organizational chart showing the Implementing relationships is shown in Figure 1 below.

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Figure 1: Project Organisation Chart

7. Project Executing and Implementing Agencies. The Ministry of Finance and Treasury (MOFT) is the Executing Agency (EA) and SW is the Implementing Agency (IA) for the UWSSSP.

8. Project Steering Committee (PSC). A PSC comprising ten members has been established to provide strategic direction, guidance and oversight of the UWSSSP. The PSC includes the Permanent Secretaries or their delegated representative from:-

a. MOFT,

b. Ministry of Mines, Minerals and Rural Electrification,

c. Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology,

d. Ministry of Development Planning and Aid Coordination,

e. Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS),

f. Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey (MLHS),

g. as well as representatives from Honiara City Council (HCC), Guadalcanal Province and SW.

9. Project Management Unit (PMU). A PMU has been established within SW. The PMU is responsible for the overall implementation of the UWSSSP project including the day-to-day project activities, compliance with the provisions of the grant and project agreements and government policies and guidelines, project administration, preparation of grant withdrawal applications, and maintenance of records. The PMU is responsible for: (i) overall project management, (ii) design and delivery of the project components, (iii) community liaison, (iv) implementation of the project’s resettlement and environmental safeguards, (v) project financial management, and (vi) community staff. The PMU will supervise and provide counterpart support to the selected Consultants.

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10. The impact the UWSSSP is aligned with is the improved health of Solomon Islands population and will deliver improved efficiency, accessibility and sustainability in water and sanitation services.

11. Funding for this assignment (Hygiene Promotion) is from the UWSSSP Component 3 funded by ADB and EU.

12. The assignment will contribute to the achievement of Output 3 – Enhanced Awareness of Hygiene and Water Issues and Sustained Improvement in Sanitation Behaviour.

13. The services will be carried out in Honiara, Solomon Islands. The duration of the project is estimated as 15 months.

14. The Consultants. The consultant firm’s role is described in full in sections 7.2 to 7.8.

15. Counterpart Facilities. Permanent office facilities are not available for the consultants. Space for meetings for up to 12 persons can be made available with advance booking/notice.

16. Solomon Water and ADB will jointly select the consultant firm. ADB uses its Consultant Management System (CMS) for this selection. ADB and Solomon Water will evaluate and rank technical proposals prior to opening of the financial proposals. When the selection is concluded, the consulting service contract will be signed between Solomon Water and the selected consultant.

17. A firm will be engaged in accordance with ADB’s Procurement Policy (2017) and Procurement Regulations (2017), using the quality- and cost-based selection method (QCBS 90:10) and a full technical proposal.

18. The Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project (UWSSSP) includes four interlinked components: Component 1 – Water Supply Systems, Component 2 Sewerage Systems Improvement, Component 3 – WaSH Program (water, sanitation, and hygiene), and Component 4 – Capacity Building.

19. Component 3 (WaSH Program – figure 2 below) of the UWSSSP aims to improve the WaSH status of residents of urban and informal settlements in and around Honiara and the Solomon Islands and demonstrate a proven and scalable model for engaging residents of informal settlements that results in improved WaSH status.

3Figure 2 - WASH Program

Whilst there are many different forms of informal settlement many are characterised by insecure land tenure, complex (or non-existent) leadership structures, poor and often illegal services including water supply, sanitation, power, solid waste collection, and generally low incomes. Whilst the term “peri-urban” settlement is used, it is often interpreted to only refer to settlements on the outskirts, or just outside of a town or city boundary. Many of the informal settlements in Honiara are within the city boundary and often close to the middle of the urban area. Map 1 below gives an indication of the location of the 92 different locations in Honiara where vulnerable populations have been identified.

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Map 1 - Vulnerable Populations in Honiara

20. Whilst water and sanitation access figures in the Solomon Islands are high in urban areas when compared with rural areas there is still a significant challenge to ensure that all people living in urban areas, including those in informal settlements have access to both.

21. The overall WaSH Program includes three packages that will be tendered out to local/international organisations and an initial settlement selection process to select settlements to be involved in the program. The packages are:

Package 1 – A WaSH Household Survey that will collect data to be used to establish the existing situation and to finalise targets for the WaSH Program.

Package 2 – the Hygiene Promotion Project (this document) will focus on improving hygiene knowledge and behaviour and the quality and availability of hygiene related facilities (toilets and handwashing).

Package 3 – A WaSH in Schools Project that works in schools that service children from the selected settlements.

Expected timelines for key Program activities are shown in figure 3 below.

1.2 Purpose of the Project

22. The Hygiene Promotion Project aims to improve effective hygiene behaviour and to increase the number of households using effective toilets and handwashing facilities in selected settlements. It will focus on improving handwashing at critical times, using an effective toilet, and managing and using water in a safe and hygienic way.

23. Whilst the project has not been designed specifically to address pandemics, including the current coronavirus, it will improve water, sanitation, and hygiene behaviour in settlements around Honiara and will reduce the transmission of water and air related sickness including coronavirus.

24. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project (UNICEF) have prepared various materials to combat the coronavirus. A recent guidance note “Water, sanitation, hygiene, and waste management for the COVID-19 virus, March 2020” suggests the following:

Frequent and proper hand hygiene is one of the most important measures that can be used to prevent infection with the COVID-19 virus. WaSH practitioners should work to enable more frequent and regular hand hygiene by improving facilities and using proven behaviour-change techniques.

WHO guidance on the safe management of drinking-water and sanitation services applies to the COVID-19 outbreak. Extra measures are not needed. Disinfection will facilitate more rapid die-off of the COVID-19 virus.

Many co-benefits will be realized by safely managing water and sanitation services and applying good hygiene practices.

25. Settlements have been selected by Solomon Water (SW) and the Honiara City Council (HCC) and include a total of 10,000 people, approximately 1,500

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YearActivity / Package Qtr

Selection of Settlements

Package 1 - WASH Household Survey

Package 2 - Hygiene Promotion Project

Package 3 - WASH in Schools

2021 202220201st 2nd 3rd 4th4th 1st 2nd 3rd 4th

Figure 3 - Indicative timing of activities

households. These households will be offered permanent Solomon Water connections as part of Solomon Water core business.

26. The project invites an integrated approach that includes extensive community engagement and awareness activities and a customer focused approach that reflects local conditions and aspirations and supports local sanitation providers to improve both their technical capacity to support sanitation activities and their ability to provide a range of suitable hardware and equipment.

27. Figure 4 below outlines possible approaches to the proposed project.

28. Bidders should propose an integrated approach that includes:

Community engagement, working closely with selected communities to understand their challenges and constraints and to support them to identify appropriate solutions.

A customer focused approach to behaviour change should be proposed that includes a focus on:o The product and or service (toilets / handwashing basins / desludging)o The price or exchange value of productso The availability of the product or service (location / frequency)o Promotion based on understanding the customer.

29. A broad hygiene promotion project should be proposed that includes key messages and channels that target chosen settlement communities, as well as have the potential to reach the broader Honiara and Solomon Islands community. Hygiene promotion should be focused on understanding the aspirations of residents living in settlements in Honiara.

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Figure 4 - Integrated Approach to Hygiene Promotion

1.3 Duration and Location of the Services

30. The proposed services will be implemented over a period of 15 months with possible future expansion/extension. The services will be implemented in selected settlements in and around Honiara that include approximately 1,500 households and 10,000 people.

31. The settlement selection process has been conducted by Solomon Water (SW) and the Honiara City Council. This process has prioritised settlements based on:

Located in Informal Settlement Zones Not identified as hazardous by the MLHS Currently using poor quality water Longer time to collect water Having higher population Being technically relatively simple for extension/expansion.

32. Six Settlements have been selected to be included in the Project. These six Settlements represent approximately 10,000 people. Table 1 below shows the Settlements selected.

Name Ward Estimated Population Households

Kombito 1 Panatina 1800 257

Kombito 2 Panatina 1440 206

Independence Valley Ngossi 1927 275

Green Valley Vura 1740 249

Mamulele Panatina 2160 309

Kombito 3 Panatina 1440 206

10,507 1,501

Table 1 - Selected Settlements

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1.4 Scope of the Services

1.4.1 Design Framework33. The Project design framework is shown in figure 5 below.

1.4.2

Component 1 – Improved Hygiene Behaviour34. The expected outcome of component 1 is “improved WaSH hygiene behaviour

including washing hands at critical times”.

35. This component will build on the “Hygiene Awareness and Education Program” design that was conducted during 2018 and will learn from the engagement with informal settlements that has been conducted by other organisations including the HCC who have been working in Independence Valley, Jericho, and Burns Creek.

36. Component 1 will benefit from data to be gathered by the WaSH Household Baseline Survey that will explore people’s knowledge, attitudes and practices towards water, sanitation, and hygiene in the community. The survey will be conducted in the selected Settlements.

37. This component will include a review of previous hygiene promotion activities/projects both in the Solomon Islands and more broadly the Pacific. This will result in a hygiene promotion component that:

builds on lessons learnt, identifies key messages and approaches, identifies key channels / mechanisms (HCC/churches/schools/community health

committees/youth/champions/young champions, develops and tests media/communication materials and approaches, identifies a clear capacity building approach and builds ownership,

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Figure 5 - Hygiene Promotion Project Design Framework

trains local partners and stakeholders, reaches at least 10,000 beneficiaries throughout the Project term, provides technical advice and coaching support to stakeholder organisations in

executing community campaigns and events.

38. Component 1 will include:

a contextualised hygiene promotion program that includes community-based hygiene promotion and media / communications-based hygiene promotion activities that reach residents of all selected settlements and focus on:o increasing the use of effective toiletso improving handwashing at critical times including after defecation or

assisting someone else to defecate, before and after handling food, and after coughing or sneezing

o safe coughing and sneezingo improving menstrual hygiene management for at least 3,000 women and

girls including Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) training and productso improving the management of infant faeceso improving the handling, storage, and use of watero the benefits of paying for clean watero ensuring safe playing conditions for infants and childreno improving immediate environmental conditions (animal faeces management

and solid waste). collaboration with key stakeholders, particularly HCC and MHMS, capacity building of HCC, local Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) and

FBOs where possible,

1.4.3 Component 2 – Improved Sanitation Facilities39. The expected outcome of Component 2 – Improved Sanitation Facilities is “an

increase of households in selected informal settlements that use a toilet that is an effective barrier to the transmission of disease and that have effective handwashing facilities”.

40. This component will encourage and support households to build effective toilets, or to improve existing toilets, in such a way that they separate flies from food and allow easy access to hand washing facilities close to the toilet.

41. The Sanitation Decision Tree for Informal Settlements (see figure 6 below), developed by The World Bank Group as part of the “Water and Sanitation Services for Informal Settlements in Honiara, Solomon Islands (October 2018) may be used to facilitate discussion and technology selection.

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42.42.42.42.42.42.42.42.42.42.42.42.42.42.42.42.42.42.42.42.42.

A range of “female friendly” toilet criteria will be promoted to ensure that toilets improved or constructed support improvements in menstrual hygiene management practices. This is likely to include:

having access to water on the inside of the toilet building, having doors that lock from the inside, having light available inside, being located in places where women and girls feel safe, and having a way of managing the effective disposal of sanitary products.

43. The Project will assess the effectiveness of existing sanitation businesses and enterprises established previously in Honiara, as well as the operations of the HCC Environmental Health Division who are currently producing 4 or 5 slabs/risers each week. These are produced at their depot behind the HCC main office and are sold to the public for SBD200 for the slab type, and SBD600 for the slab and riser type with locally made fibreglass bowl insert. It appears that demand currently outstrips supply for these slabs/risers. HCC do appear to have the potential to increase production if constraints can be addressed, including the availability of riser inserts and other production materials.

44. If key constraints can be identified and project support can re-invigorate sanitation enterprises then some small investment will be available, in terms of purchasing moulds and starter sets of innovative products that the project may promote. This could include sato-pans, plastic slabs, plastic risers, and toilet bowls etc.

45. The Project will explore the possibility of establishing a Sanitation Trust Fund to increase demand for sanitary products. This may involve the Project pre-ordering a large number of slabs that can then be purchased by residents of target informal settlements who pay off that debt through their regular payments for water.

46. The project will support the HCC and explore them playing a role in the inspection and sign-off of toilets in settlements. Although this should be treated carefully and should not result in the HCC “condemning” toilets, rather they develop a technical support role where they have the skills to advise the public on how to make their

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Figure 6 - Sanitation Decision Tree for Informal Settlements

toilets an effective barrier to the transmission of disease.

47. The component will include:

The development of a local sanitation ladder for the six informal settlements, based on the Joint Monitoring Program (JMP) ladder. This local ladder will be used to monitor settlement wide improvements and movement up the sanitation ladder;

A technical manual that clearly shows toilet and handwashing options, how they are constructed, cost estimates, and information on accessing support/materials/equipment, this will build on existing manuals in the Solomon Islands and the Pacific, this will include guidelines on siting, constructing, and operating toilets and hand washing facilities in such a way as to minimise environmental impacts;

Support for the sanitation sector including assessment and support of existing sanitation businesses / organisations including the HCC. Support may include funding for critical equipment and supplies for instance moulds and raw materials, and will be disbursed through either small grants or direct payment for materials and or equipment;

A customer focused assessment of incentive, affordability, and aspiration conducted in the selected settlements representing 10,000 people and 1,500 households, this may include key informant interviews, small, focused surveys, focus group discussions, and/or community meetings;

Support the establishment of a small loans scheme through the SW billing system, and review of existing government and non-government subsidy or support programs;

Promotion of available products and services based on a deep understanding of customers reasons for improving sanitation, this should include removing barriers to acquiring improved slabs, providing transportation, and subsidising the cost of slabs;

Support in terms of technical advice and training for construction of improved toilets and upgrades to existing toilets including female friendly and/or access for people with disabilities toilets; and

Support to strengthen an HCC role that monitors and promotes the use of effective toilets in the selected settlements.

1.5 Detailed Outputs

48. The following outputs form part of the project:

A Hygiene Promotion Program that includes key messages, key communication channels, and key approaches

Sanitation Sector Assessmento An assessment of sanitation business’s, products, knowledge, and technical

assistance available in Honiara including highlighting common training needs for business owners,

o A customer focused assessment of incentive, affordability, and aspiration in regard to improved sanitation – what key interventions would support households in settlements to improve their sanitation status.

o A matrix that shows all relevant business’s and the type of products and services they offer.

Sanitation Promotion Program

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o A program of activities and training designed to build community knowledge and awareness of effective toilet and handwashing technologies and how they are constructed, including female friendly toilets and toilets that provide access for all, to promote uptake of improved toilets (slab subsidy and transport), and support for selected sanitation business/s to improve their knowledge of technology alternatives and their ability to provide sanitary products. Where possible this should include other stakeholders who already have hygiene promotion responsibilities including HCC.

o Small loans scheme guidelines. A Sanitation Ladder for Selected Settlements – This ladder will clearly map existing

sanitation facilities within the selected settlements and will include descriptions and classifications/definitions of all types of facilities currently used. The Sanitation Ladder and map will be socialised with HCC to allow future monitoring of sanitation facilities in selected settlements.

A Technical Manual on Sanitation Options for Honiara Settlements that builds on the WaSH Household Survey questions regarding what type of toilet most people want, this to be developed and/or adapted from existing materials and to include guidelines on the siting and use of toilets to minimise environmental impact, how toilets are constructed, cost estimates, how to access products and materials and how to access technical support for construction. This manual to include input from the HCC.

49. Table 2 below shows the proposed draft output payments for the project.

No.

Item Timeframe Payment

1 Inception Report End of month 1 15%

2 Hygiene Promotion Activities Plan End of month 2 15%

3 Sanitation Sector Assessment End of month 3 10%

4 Sanitation Promotion Activities Plan End of month 3 15%

5 Sanitation Ladder Report End of month 3 10%

6 Technical Manual on Sanitation Options End of month 6 15%

7 Mid-Term Progress Report End of month 8 5%

8 Draft Final Report End of month 13 5%

9 Final Report End of month 14 10%

Table 2 - Output Payments

50. Contract payment will be based on effective delivery of the project outputs.

51. Total funding available for the project is US 855,000 (including contingency). Of which USD155,000 is allocated to provisional sums as follows:

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Provisional Item USD

Fund for sanitation subsidies and transport - Lump Sum 60,000

Funds for support of sanitation business/organisations – Lump Sum

75,000

MHM Products – Lump Sum 20,000

Table 3 - Provisional Sum Items

52. Expenditure of provisional sums requires the prior approval of Solomon Water. Procurement of provisional sum items must follow the appropriate ADB procurement methodology.

1.6 Team Composition

53. Bidders are expected to propose their own team composition and team members. At a minimum this must include a Hygiene Promotion Adviser and a Sanitation Adviser.

Key Staff 1 - Hygiene Promotion Adviser To liaise with all key stakeholders; To design and implement hygiene promotion activities including:

o To identify and develop key messages and communication channels for settlement hygiene promotion campaigns,

o To develop awareness / promotion materials this may include radio / TV pieces, drama, booklets, flip charts, and posters;

To support all other components of the project; To ensure reporting is of a high standard and timely.

Key Staff 2 - Sanitation Adviser To liaise with all key stakeholders; To develop technical papers including a local sanitation ladder and a sanitation for

settlements manual that builds on existing Solomon Island and Pacific Islands documents;

To provide advice and training to support improvements to existing toilets; To provide advice and training on construction of new toilets including location of

toilets; To ensure reporting is of a high standard and timely; To support all other components of the project.

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1.7 Indicative Project Schedule

54. Figure 7 below gives an indicative implementation schedule for the Hygiene Promotion project activities. Bidders should propose their own implementation schedule as part of their proposal.

UWSSSP - Indicative Project Schedule - Hygiene Promotion Project

TASKSCOMPONENT 1 IMPROVED HYGIENE BEHAVIOURReview WASH Hhd Survey to identify key messagesReview existing and past H&H activities

Develop draft hygiene promotion activities plan

Submit hygiene promotion activities plan

Finalise approaches and materialsConduct hygiene promotion activities

COMPONENT 2 IMPROVED SANITATION FACILITIESConduct assessment of sanitation sector

Submit Sanitation Sector Assessment ReportDevelop sanitation promotion activites planSubmit Sanitation promotion activities planDevelop sanitation ladder for selected settlementsSubmit Sanitation Ladder ReportDevelop Technical Manual on Sanitation OptionsSubmit Technical Manual on Sanitation OptionsOngoing support for sanitation organisationsOngoing promotion of improved sanitationOngoing support for construction of improved toilets

ADDITIONAL REPORTINGShort Inception ReportMid Term Progress ReportDraft Final ReportFinal Report (Including final sanitation ladder)

Project Months148 9 10 11 12 132 3 4 5 6 71

Figure 7 - Draft Project Implementation Schedule

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1.8 Proposal Assessment Criteria

55. Assessment of proposals will be based on both technical and financial considerations. The technical component of the score will account for 90%, the financial component will account for 10% of the combined score.

56. Technical Proposal. The bidder should prepare a technical proposal that responds to the critical questions below. The proposal includes the following three sections:

Main text (maximum of twelve pages) including:o Specific and relevant experience of the organisationo Proposed approach and methodology - How the assignment will be

implemented? CVs of up to two key staff (max four pages per CV) Workplan showing proposed timelines of key activities (max of two A4 pages)

57. Assessment/scoring of the technical proposal will be based on the table below.

Evaluation CriteriaMaximum

Score

1 Specific experience of the organisation relevant to the assignment

Detail any similar work carried out by your organisation including location, type of approach, and number of people reached.

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2 Proposed approach and methodology

Proposed approach to hygiene promotion, including:o Community engagement and ensuring women and

men participate equally;o Promotion channels, methods, messages and

media;o Menstrual hygiene management

Proposed approach to improving sanitation including:o A customer focused assessment of incentive,

affordability, and aspiration Proposed workplan

50

(20)

(20)

(10)

Qualifications and experience of the proposed experts

Table 4 - Evaluation Criteria

58. Financial Proposal. The formula for determining the financial scores is the following:

Sf = 100 x Fm / F, in which Sf is the financial score, Fm is the lowest price and F the price of the proposal under consideration.

59. Overall Score. The calculation of the overall proposal score is defined as:

Overall Score = (Technical Score * 0.9) + (Financial Score * 0.1).

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