Deadline: 22 June 2020
RTI has launched the Request for Expressions of Interest (REOI) for the E-WASH Innovation Grant Fund: State Water Utility Operations in Nigeria.
The USAID-EWASH Program is set to create professionally managed and commercially oriented SWBs and improve the financial and operational viability of State Water Boards of the urban utilities of the participating states. Innovative solutions are therefore required in water operations. Water operations here is understood as the application of excellent technology and knowhow to distribute water to customers, account for water use, reduce non-revenue water, effectively invoice water users using justifiable tariffs and undertake customer relations management satisfactorily. Another consideration is the ability of the utility to manage its finances and personnel effectively through innovative accountability mechanisms.
The aforementioned processes where they exist are currently completely rudimentary and ineffective. Considering that the State Water Boards are presently transitioning from government agencies operated using civil service rules into full corporations, there is the need to develop innovative mechanisms and processes that will seamlessly mitigate the attendant culture-shock as they move from government agencies to corporations albeit owned by government. These reforms will only succeed when they are well understood and supported by stakeholders. The key stakeholders in these regards are the personnel of the corporation, the policy makers and the customers.
This grant will specifically focus on the ability of the grantees to innovatively improve the standard operating procedures of the utilities in the various operational units, reduce the unacceptable waste of finished products arising from poor inventory and finally add value to the utility service delivery
Expected Results
Award(s) will contribute to one or more of the results below:
- Result 1: Identify a new or innovative approach to optimize utility commercial operations of the targeted utility.
- Result 2: Identify a new or innovative approach to improve financial viability of the targeted utility. (attribute of Effective Utility Management for Organization Capacity Assessment Tool strength index).
- Result 3: Identify a new or innovative approach to improve the targeted utilities’ customer satisfaction
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the following minimum eligibility requirements to qualify for funding under this REOI.
- Be legally registered as a non U.S. non-governmental organization or for-profit private entity and having capacity to operate in Nigeria.
- Have a physical office in Nigeria.
- Have demonstrative success in the proposed area of intervention and other WASH related solutions
- Preferred to have been active for at least 3 years’ operating within their sector and respective state.
- Have three (3) or more full time or part time staff.
- Be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the project, not acting as an intermediary/consultant.
- Be willing to comply with all technical and financial requirements for participation in the program, including reporting and documentation of project activities, communication strategy and capacity development opportunities.
- Be eligible to receive funded awards from the United States government.
Organizations that do not meet the criteria above will not be considered.
For more information, visit https://bit.ly/2Yne2Qt
