NATIONAL only - Technical Support Assistant / Consultant for Assessment and Validation of the WASH in Schools (WinS) 3-Star Approach in BARMM, Cotabato City, Philippines – Climate, Environment and Resilience Section, 13 months (Office based with trip)

The Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene in Schools (WinS) Program is a critical component of quality education, child health, dignity, and protection. Adequate WASH services in schools contribute to improved learner attendance, reduced incidence of water- and sanitation-related diseases, safer and more inclusive learning environments, and better education outcomes. For adolescent girls WASH facilities are particularly important to ensure privacy, dignity, menstrual health and hygiene, and continued participation in school activities. The Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE) localized the program. MBHTE oversees approximately 2,612 public elementary and secondary schools mandated to implement WinS and report through the WinS Online Monitoring System (OMS), which generates ratings through the Three-Star Rating System. However, schools and divisions continue to experience difficulties in monitoring, reporting, and data uploading due to limited internet connectivity, technical login issues, incomplete submissions, and varying interpretations of indicators. Challenges also persist in school WASH infrastructure, supplies, water safety, waste management, operation and maintenance, and access to technical assistance, particularly in remote, island, conflict-affected, and climate vulnerable areas. Since WinS data is largely self-reported, field validation is needed to verify the actual functionality, adequacy, accessibility, safety, and sustainability of school WASH services. Given these gaps, UNICEF and MBHTE require dedicated technical support to conduct a comprehensive assessment and validation of WinS implementation across BARMM. The assignment will generate credible and usable evidence to guide planning, policy advocacy, resource mobilization, technical assistance, and integration of WinS priorities into School Improvement Plans (SIP), Division Education Development Plans (DEDP), and Bangsamoro Education Reform and Development Plan (BERDP) Contract Duration – 13 months Working arrangement: Office Based with travel UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence. At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling. UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package. Visitour websiteto learn more about what we do at UNICEF. TERMS OF REFERENCE The Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene in Schools (WinS) Program is a critical component of quality education, child health, dignity, and protection. Adequate WASH services in schools contribute to improved learner attendance, reduced incidence of water- and sanitation-related diseases, safer and more inclusive learning environments, and better education outcomes. For adolescent girls, functional and gender-responsive WASH facilities are particularly important to ensure privacy, dignity, menstrual health and hygiene, and continued participation in school activities. At the national level, WinS was institutionalized through DepEd Order No. 10, s. 2016. In BARMM, the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE) localized the program through Regional Memorandum Order No. 192, s. 2020, responding to the region’s geographic, climate, institutional, and operational realities, including Madaris education contexts. MBHTE oversees approximately 2,612 public elementary and secondary schools mandated to implement WinS and report through the WinS Online Monitoring System (OMS), which generates ratings through the Three-Star Rating System. However, schools and divisions continue to experience difficulties in monitoring, reporting, and data uploading due to limited internet connectivity, technical login issues, incomplete submissions, and varying interpretations of indicators. Challenges also persist in school WASH infrastructure, supplies, water safety, waste management, operation and maintenance, and access to technical assistance, particularly in remote, island, conflict-affected, and climate vulnerable areas. Since WinS data is largely self-reported, field validation is needed to verify the actual functionality, adequacy, accessibility, safety, and sustainability of school WASH services. Given these gaps, UNICEF and MBHTE require dedicated technical support to conduct a comprehensive assessment and validation of WinS implementation across BARMM. The assignment will generate credible and usable evidence to guide planning, policy advocacy, resource mobilization, technical assistance, and integration of WinS priorities into School Improvement Plans (SIP), Division Education Development Plans (DEDP), and Bangsamoro Education Reform and Development Plan (BERDP) Scope of Work: 1. Inception and Coordination 2. Review and Strengthening of WinS Tools, Guidelines, and Monitoring Systems 3. Field Assessment and Validation 4. System Review, Data Analysis, and Reporting 5. Capacity Building, Coaching, and Technical Support 6. Development of WinS Operation and Maintenance Toolkit 7. Finalization, Validation, and Dissemination If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here:ToR x TMC0005990.pdf To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have... Minimum requirements: - Education: Bachelor`s university degree in Civil Engineering or other relevant engineering discipline - Work Experience: - Minimum 7 years of relevant professional experience in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), WASH in Schools (WinS), education-sector WASH programming, public health, or related development programmes. Demonstrated experience in conducting WASH/WinS assessments, field validation, monitoring, data quality assurance, and analysis of school- or facility-level WASH conditions. - Experience in developing or reviewing WASH assessment tools, monitoring systems, technical guidelines, O&M tools, training materials, and implementation guidance. - Experience in planning and facilitating capacity-building activities, workshops, coaching, and mentoring government personnel, school personnel, and other stakeholders. - Experience working with national and subnational government institutions, particularly education authorities, Schools Division Offices, LGUs, and/or WASH sector partners. - Experience in data consolidation, analysis, report writing, documentation of good practices, and preparation of policy or strategic recommendations. - Skills(optional): - Strong technical knowledge of WASH in Schools programming, school WASH standards, operation and maintenance, monitoring and validation systems, and institutional sustainability. - Knowledge of relevant DepEd/MBHTE WinS policies, Three-Star Approach, WASH monitoring frameworks, and applicable national and UNICEF WASH standards. - Demonstrated ability to design and implement quantitative and qualitative assessments, sampling approaches, field validation protocols, quality assurance systems, and data collection tools. - Demonstrated ability to analyze large datasets, identify gaps and trends, compare reported and validated results, and translate findings into practical recommendations and implementation roadmaps. - Strong technical knowledge of WASH in Schools programming, school WASH standards, operation and maintenance, monitoring and validation systems, and institutional sustainability. - Knowledge of relevant DepEd/MBHTE WinS policies, Three-Star Approach, WASH monitoring frameworks, and applicable national and UNICEF WASH standards. - Demonstra