Deadline: 16-May-25
The United Nations Human Settlements Programme is accepting applications for its Mentor Public Water and Sanitation Utilities for Ukrainian Mentee Utilities.
This project seeks to strengthen the capacity of two Ukrainian water utilities—Zaporizhzhia City Municipal Water Utility and Krivbassvodokanal (Kriv Rih Municipal Water Utility)—through the WOPs approach.
It addresses the critical need for improved access to sustainable water and sanitation services in the face of infrastructural degradation, war-related damages, and climate-related vulnerabilities. The project also aims to foster replicable WOP models across Ukraine, in partnership with UNICEF Ukraine Country Office.
Objective
- Strengthening the capacity of two Ukrainian water and sanitation service providers through Water Operators’ Partnerships.
Funding Information
- USD 215,000
- Duration: 18 months
Expected Outcomes
- Improved managerial, operational, commercial and financial performance of two mentee water utilities: Zaporizhzhia City Municipal Water Utility and Krivbassvodokanal (Kriv Rih Municipal Water Utility) in Ukraine
- Mentees have clear road maps on short-term and mediumterm objectives for performance improvements and investments/PIIPs
- Mentees have exposure to good operators and WOP practices beyond their projects through learning exchanges
- Improved capacity on the WOP approach and methodologies by mentor and mentee utilities and critical partners, including UNICEF Ukraine Country Office
Expected Outputs
- Partners develop and implement one-year short-term action plans (STAPS)
- Partners develop Performance Improvement and Investment Plans (PIIPs), which include clear road maps to bring the mentees up to European Union standards – 2 PIIPSs delivered
- WOP partners adopt and use a robust mechanism to plan, monitor and report WOP results – use of PMP
- Online dedicated group populated for Ukrainian WOP practitioners created in GWOPA’s Community of Practice
- WOP project lessons documented to inform potential project replication
Eligible Activities
- WOP projects are prepared, and agreements are finalized
- Participation and contribution to kick-off workshop, including attendance to training on WOP approach and methodology, training on monitoring tool (PMP)
- Initial diagnosis of mentee utilities with remote support and back-up of local partner and development of Short-Term Action Plans following GWOPA methodology
- Creation of profiles and data populated in the PMP and regularly updated
- Good practice exposure visits from mentee to mentor’s premises
- Capacity Building activities are implemented by mentors under GWOPA guidance and coordination, according to the STAPS, through all kinds of modalities, including classroom training, online training, technical demonstrations, on-thejob training and job shadowing – activities will mainly take place online, but technical assistance and contribution from local partner in Ukraine is expected.
- Contribution to the dedicated Ukrainian WOPs´ Community of Practice
- Participation and contribution to the closing workshop to discuss project outcomes and recommendations for next steps
- Contribution to communications material on project updates to be disseminated by GWOPA through established communications channels
- Data contribution to WOP project case studies
Eligible Costs
- Staff time of Mentors
- Staff time of local consultant or local partner organisation
- Supplies, commodities, materials
- Equipment (such as small hardware/software that is required for WOP activities)
- Contractual Services (outsourced services 2 including audits, interpretation, translation, etc.)
- Travel (international and local transportation under economy class, accommodation, food/per-diems during WOP activities).
- Transfers to Additional Partnersif candidates envisage collaboration with local partner organization in addition to recruited local consultant or organization
- Logistics (site visits, workshop space, translation, travel insurance, etc.)
- Online assistance channels/platforms
Geographical Location
- Zaporizhzhia City Municipal Water Utility and Krivbassvodokanal (Kriv Rih Municipal Water Utility) in Ukraine
Eligibility Criteria
- Only public water and sanitation utilities from all regions are eligible.
- Public water and sanitation utilities can apply individually or in collaboration with:
- One or more other public water and sanitation utilities from all regions.
- One or more not-for-profit relevant organizations from all regions.
- In both cases, the application should be submitted by the Lead mentor utility partner with which the Agreement of Cooperation will be signed.
- Most personnel involved in the project must be staff members of the applicant utility. However, the applicant organization will contract local Ukrainian consultants or local partnering organizations to perform the tasks described in previous paragraphs.
- Candidates must have a proven track record of involvement in similar cooperation projects with peers for capacity building (WOP-type projects).
- Candidates must have a proven track record of good performance according to international norms and standards of the water and sanitation sector.
- Candidates must have in-depth knowledge and practice of EU water and sanitation sector norms and standards, especially the EU directives for drinking water and sanitation services.
- Previous experience of collaboration with Ukrainian utilities is an added advantage.
Selection Criteria
- Eligibility of status.
- Relevance of proposed approach and activities, especially clear description of the modalities and means availed for remote assistance
- Relevance of associated local partners if proposed and/or ToR for recruitment of a local consultant (reflected in budget proposal)
- Experience of similar peer-to-peer collaboration.
- Previous experience of collaboration with Ukrainian partners.
- In-depth knowledge and practice of EU water and sanitation sector norms and standards.
- Proven track record of good performance.
- Alignment of motivation with GWOPA Charter, including a not-for-profit, solidarity-based partnership spirit.
- Counterpart contribution (Cash or In-Kind Contribution)
For more information, visit UN-Habitat.