| Description |
WATER FOR PEOPLE
Terms of Reference for Formative Research
A) About Organization
Water For People is an international non-profit working across nine countries to bring safe water and sanitation to four million people. For Water For People, it is not just about creating water and sanitation-related infrastructure, but creating long-term, sustainable change. Water For People engages with the community members, governments, and business owners to mobilize effective responses to the most pressing issues related to water, sanitation, and hygiene. Water For People works with the sector players, most importantly the senior decision-makers in governments, international public organizations, NGOs, corporations, and the private sector to help bring about change that contributes to lasting impact. Our advisory activities include six key services: market analysis, organizational design, partnership facilitation, investment analysis, financing fund and facility creation, and performance and impact evaluation.
Water For People initiated its operations in India, first in West Bengal in 1996 with a program to address water quality issues in North 24 Parganas and Nadia districts. Since then, within a span of over a decade and half, Water For People – India has emerged in the WASH sector as a pioneer in delivering programs that cater to all the needs of communities, schools, and healthcare centers in the areas of water, sanitation, and hygiene. Today, Water For People – India is an active member of various state and national committees convened by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation (MoDWS), Lohiya Swachh Bihar Abhiyan (LSBA), Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, and Mission Nirmal Bangla. Water For People supports water and sanitation programs in Bihar and West Bengal and is recognized widely for its holistic and integrated approach to designing solutions for quality sustainable water and sanitation infrastructure and services.
B) Purpose of this Terms of Reference
Background:
The piped water schemes endeavour to ensure that every household has access to clean and potable water through tap connections. The success of the scheme doesn't solely depend on infrastructure development but also relies significantly on the implementation of effective behavior change communication (BCC) strategies. These strategies aim to promote safe water storage and handling practices, water conservation, tariff collection and the effective operation and maintenance (O&M) of the schemes.
Water For People is providing technical support to the Government of Bihar, West Bengal, and Maharashtra in implementing piped water schemes by enhancing the capacities of staff and fostering behavioural changes within communities related to key water related behavioural practices.
While the infrastructural phase of the scheme in all the states has almost been completed, the government is currently encountering challenges in fostering community participation and garnering ownership of the schemes. To strategically address this challenge, Water For People intends to conduct formative research centred around key behaviours related to piped water schemes.
The objective of this Terms of Reference (ToR) is to invite proposals from research agencies/consultants to conduct this formative research, identify gaps in the scheme's implementation from an SBCC perspective, and devise a Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) framework based on the research findings.
C) Scope of Work
Theselected agency/consultant will be required to carry out formative research into piped water schemes in Bihar, West Bengal, and Maharashtra. The agency/consultant should have experience and expertise in conducting qualitative research and be able to record and document each response on the issues indicated. The agency/ institution will be responsible for ensuring the correctness and quality of data collection, data analysis and report writing.
Scope of Work:
Conduct thorough formative research to understand the current perceptions, behaviours, and barriers related to the piped water scheme among target communities in Bihar, West Bengal, and Maharashtra.
Identify gaps, challenges, and opportunities concerning behavior change communication in the successful implementation and adoption of the scheme.
Identify socio-cultural, economic, and behavioural factors influencing the adoption and utilization of the scheme.
Analyse the existing communication materials, if any, used in the scheme implementation and assess their effectiveness in influencing behavior change.
Develop a comprehensive SBCC strategy based on the research findings and best practices, outlining actionable steps and key messaging to foster |