About Self Help Africa
Self Help Africa is an international development organisation headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, operating across 17 countries and dedicated to the vision of sustainable livelihoods and healthy lives for all in a changing climate. At SHA, our mission is to alleviate hunger, poverty, social inequality and the impact of climate change through community-led, market-based and enterprise-focused approaches, so that people have access to nutritious food, clean water, decent employment and income, while sustaining natural resources.
SHA has been operating in Nigeria for over 25 years, first as Concern Universal and later as United Purpose, leading innovative development programs focused on agriculture and food systems, climate adaptation, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and waste management, market systems, business support and services, and sustainable landscapes. Through our work in nearly 4,000 communities across Akwa Ibom, Benue, Cross River, Ebonyi, Kano, Sokoto and Zamfara States, we have driven impactful change, empowering communities with sustainable solutions for resilience and growth.

About the WS4H Programme
In 2024, Self Help Africa secured funding from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to implement a WASH systems strengthening programme across Nigeria and Sierra Leone. Nigeria is leading the overall consortium and programme implementation within the country, while GOAL is leading the work in Sierra Leone. The programme aims to strengthen the systems required to deliver and sustain reliable, resilient, and inclusive WASH services. It will run for four years in Kano and Cross River States, with a national coordination hub based in Abuja.

Background of the Cross River State WASH Policy
The development of a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Policy is widely recognised as a critical phase in WASH sector reform. It forms the foundation for legislative and institutional change and guides the formulation of strategic WASH plans. A policy document typically sets out the sector’s framework and provides direction on how development should occur in a socially responsive, economically sound, and environmentally sustainable manner.
The Cross River State Ministry of Water Resources is currently undertaking a review of its WASH Policy, which was initially approved in 2011. The original policy was developed with support from the European Union Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Reform Programme (EU-WSSSRP). It led to the establishment of a coordinating ministry for water resources and its key agencies, namely, the State Water Board and
RUWATSSA, thus laying the groundwork for institutionalised WASH management in alignment with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
A situation assessment conducted in July 2024 by the Ministry, with support from Self Help Africa’s WASH Systems for Health (WS4H) Programme, identified significant policy gaps. It was noted that the 2011 policy has become obsolete and is no longer responsive to the emerging needs of the population, the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 6, which focuses on achieving clean water and sanitation for all, and national development priorities even post-SDG.

To address this, the policy document has undergone two rounds of Joint Stakeholder Reviews, with one held in September 2024 and the other in February 2025. These workshops brought together representatives from government institutions, the legislature, civil society organisations, development partners, and the private sector to identify policy gaps and integrate contemporary WASH priorities, including climate resilience, gender inclusion, and sustainable financing. The upcoming phase is the
finalisation/validation stage, during which all feedback from state, national, and global technical partners will be reviewed, harmonised, and validated. This process will also include the drafting of a costed implementation strategy and the preparation of the final policy which should be of high quality for submission to the Executive Governor for approval.
In line with this, Self Help Africa’s WS4H, in collaboration with the Cross River State Ministry of Water Resources, seeks to engage a qualified WASH Policy Consultant to provide technical support for the finalisation of the Cross River State WASH Policy.

Objectives of the Engagement
The objectives of this consultancy are to provide expert technical support to:

1. Review the current draft of the WASH Policy, identify areas for improvement, and prepare briefing notes and presentation slides in advance of the finalisation workshop.
2. Facilitate and moderate a two-day workshop to present the current draft to stakeholders, solicit further inputs, and guide the validation process with all key stakeholders and decision-makers.
3. Harmonise and incorporate all stakeholder feedback (where applicable) and produce a high-quality final version of the Cross River State WASH Policy.
4. Develop a costed implementation strategy that aligns with the policy’s long-term goals and priorities.
5. Carry out final editing and formatting of the policy document for leading to the production and submission of a high-quality draft WASH policy to the Executive Governor.
6. Share insights and guide best practices to support the policy’s formal approval, strategic dissemination, and implementation.

Technical Deliverables

1. Final harmonised draft of the Cross River State WASH Policy
2. Draft costed implementation strategy for the WASH Policy
3. Report on the final stakeholder validation workshop
4. Executive briefing notes to support policy approval and adoption
5. Finalised WASH Policy document (both clean and tracked versions)
6. PowerPoint presentation summarising key policy highlights for the official launch

Expected Outcomes

1. Finalised and validated WASH Policy that aligns with national and global standards.
2. A realistic and comprehensive costed implementation strategy is developed.
3. Stakeholders are adequately briefed and prepared for the policy roll-out and implementation

Consultant Responsibilities

1. Support the organisation of the Cross River States WASH policy finalisation workshop in Calabar.
2. Facilitate the two-day policy finalisation workshop.
3. Harmonise and edit the policy document and share the updated version following the finalisation workshop.
4. Engage key stakeholders (both virtually and in person) to clarify or validate any contentious areas after the workshop.
5. Draft a costed Implementation Strategy (to be completed as part of the workshop deliverable)
6. Draft, revise, and edit any other related documents to a high professional standard.
7. Collaborate closely with the Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR) and Self Help Africa throughout the engagement period.

How to apply:
Suitably qualified individuals with the required knowledge, expertise and skills should apply by sending a proposal with the following requirements via email to [email protected] on or before 21 July 2025.

1. A detailed proposal of the consultancy (not more than 10 pages), including how you meet the criteria, proposed approach and work plan.
2. A technical and financial proposal, stating the technical specifications and budget as per this ToR.
3. An electronic copy of a curriculum vitae, including references to places/organisations where similar work was carried out.
4. Evidence of financial capability to pre-finance 40 per cent of the total assignment cost.
   

Applicants from Nigeria are encouraged to apply. Otherwise, applicants outside Nigeria must be authorised to work in Nigeria.

Documents related to the tender are available for download here.

Selection Process:
SHA’s selection process includes rigorous background checks that reflect our organisational integrity and commitment to making humanitarian action more principled and effective.
The Consultant’s proposal will be assessed on technical merit, additional value and services offered, relevant experience, value for money, lead time and price.
This work cannot be subcontracted, and the client must agree to any changes in writing.
The consultant will report to the Senior Policy and Governance Advisor for the WASH Systems for Health Programme.
Only shortlisted consultants will be contacted.