National Consultant to Assess and Strengthen Youth-Managed Water Quality Businesses at UNICEF

How can you make a difference? 

The consultant is expected to carry out the following activities:

• Draft an inception report outlining the workplan and approach of the project, to be reviewed by UNICEF for input and adjustments.
• Conduct an assessment of existing youth-owned businesses in the water quality sector and select 8 businesses with proven success or potential to succeed, as well as gender and geographical diversity, to provide support to. This process and the rationale for the selected businesses should be outlined in a report and presentation.
• Provide financial and technical support to certify, strengthen and boost the marketing of the selected businesses, especially for use in schools and ECDCs. This will be documented through a comprehensive implementation plan. Support should include mentoring to scale up and strengthen business, online boosting of products/services and other necessary financial support to strengthen the business.
• Monitoring and evaluation: continuously monitor the progress of the project and in the final stage, prepare a written evaluation report and presentation on the process and impact, including testimonials from young people on how the support impacted their businesses.

All products will be thoroughly reviewed by UNICEF. Feedback must be incorporated, and approval provided before these are considered final.

TASKS AND DELIVERABLES

Inception report (5 days)

• Brief report outlining the workplan and approach of the project.

Assess and identify selected youth-owned businesses in the water sector - ideally 4 women and 4 men from 4 districts (30 days)

• Written report and presentation of process and results of assessment.

Provide financial and technical support to strengthen and certify selected businesses and boost their marketing, especially for use in schools and ECDCs (70 days)

• Comprehensive implementation plan for strengthening and boosting the marketing of 8 youth-led businesses.
• At least 24 mentoring and capacity-building initiatives provided for youth-led businesses.
• Receipts and invoices for expenses related to boosting of marketing and certification of businesses.

Monitoring and evaluation (10 days)

• Written report and presentation on the process and impact of the initiative, including testimonials from young people on how the marketing support impacted their business.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

• A minimum of a first University Degree in the following fields: Water, Sanitation, Hygiene, Environment, Climate, Disability, Government Policies, Schools or Private Sector
• A minimum of five years of relevant professional experience in the WASH sector
• Experience with business and youth empowerment is highly desirable
• The individual must have a good understanding and familiarity with South Africa’s water sector (water, sanitation and hygiene), both public and private
• Knowledge of policies, strategies, SETAs and other processes currently implemented to guide the process of creating entrepreneurship/youth economic opportunities is an added advantage
• Experience with youth programmes or youth mentoring is desirable
• Experience with UN agencies is desirable
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of a local language is an asset
• Project management and business management certification will be an added advantage
• Entrepreneurship training/skills will be an added advantage