Consultancy To Conduct Feasibility On Improved Resilience For Ruralpopulations In The Semi-Arid Lands Of Machakos County At Habitat for Humanity

TERMS OF REFERENCE

FOR

FEASIBILITY STUDY

Improved Resilience for Rural Populations in the Semi-Arid Lands of Machakos County

Habitat for Humanity Kenya (HFHK) is seeking the services of a consultant to conduct a Feasibility Study for a potential project focusing on Machakos County Safe Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Project. By engaging a professional consultancy, HFH Kenya aims to thoroughly assess the project’s design, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, sustainability, and capacity for implementation, thereby laying a solid foundation for improving the resilience of the target communities in Masinga Sub County and ensure the successful project design and implementation.

1. Background and Rationale

Habitat for Humanity Kenya (HFHK) is among the 70 country affiliates of HFH International (HFHI). We report to the Africa Area Office (AAO) together with other 8 National Organizations (NOs). In Kenya, we were registered in 1982 as Non-Governmental Organization, with the goal of enabling low-income families access decent and affordable shelter. In the last 40 years, HFHK has supported more than 345,000 families across 9 counties in Kenya through housing micro-finance and direct construction. We are currently operating in Laikipia, Homabay, Kisumu, Tana River, Machakos and Makueni. Our current Business Plan (2020-2025) has outlined four programmatic areas, namely: Financing for Owner-led Construction (FOC); Settlement-Based Practice (SBP); Secure Land Tenure (SLT); Disaster Risk Reduction & Response (DR3). HFHK’s program interventions in Machakos date back to year 2000 to date through the years in which HFHk’s strategy has evolved from affiliate model where communities managed a revolving housing fund which supported 20 vulnerable families; to the Retail lending financial inclusion model that reached 400 households to the current FY20-25 strategy through which more than 1,000 households have been reached through improved shelter, access to safe and clean water and sanitation facilities for schools. In this regard, within this new strategic dispensation, HFHK Kenya has so far constructed 53 homes, 10 classrooms and 4 sanitation facilities in Machakos County. As part of initiatives for enhancing resilience of communities in the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs), we are exploring the possibility of designing a new project for the third cycle of BMZ funding. The project is aimed at enhancing access to safe drinking water and increased income for rural populations in Machakos County. The theory of change conceives that by Drilling new, rehabilitating, and solarizing boreholes, constructing water kiosks, establishing water committees, constructing weirs, sanitation facilities and decent and affordable shelter, the project will enhance access to clean water for domestic use, water for agricultural use to enhance food production and improved sanitation and shelter for the LIH in Masinga Sub- County. Training and awareness activities, such as door to door community hygiene promotion, CLTS, PHAST, and CHAST, will drive behaviour change, improving hygiene standards. The project targets potential rivers for weir construction identified through the rapid appraisal. The following rivers were listed as potential solutions to construction of weirs. In Mukusu area: Mukusu, Kithayoni and Katitika while in Masinga central: Itooma, Mukengesya, Yiuuma, Makila, Ngomola and Mathauta rivers.

PROPOSED PROJECT DESIGN

Goal: Improved Resilience of 14,728 beneficiaries in Masinga Sub County, Machakos County, by 2029

Key Outcomes • Enhanced clean water and sanitation coverage.

• Accelerated behavior changes and hygiene practices.

• Improved food security and livelihoods.

Key Outputs • Improved water and sanitation facilities which included 10 boreholes

rehabilitated 1 river weir constructed and 1 dam desilted.

• Enhanced community WASH management capacity includes 16 water

point management committees and 2 water reservoir management

committee.

• Increased sanitation and personal hygiene awareness in 10 schools

and households.

• Improved CHAST, PHAST, and MHM promotion capacity.

• Formation of Farmers’ Cooperative.

• Increased agricultural production and income levels.

Key Activities • Rehabilitating and solarizing of 10 boreholes.

• Constructing automated water kiosks.

• Establishing and training 18 water committees.

• Desilting and filtration of water reservoirs of 1community dam/water

pan.

• Constructing 1 weirs and infiltration galleries.

• Constructing latrines in schools and eco-friendly household demo-

latrines.

• Community hygiene awareness creation.

• Conducting CLTS at household level.

• Training School Health Clubs on WASH and MHM.

• Conducting CHAST ToT for teachers.

• Training CHVs using PHAST.

• Establishment and training of Farmer SHGs on smart farming.

• Establishment of Farmer Field Schools.

Below are the targeted potential 10 schools for the intended WASH intervention which include improving the pupil toilet ratio and CHAST approach. See the Chart below.

TARGETED SCHOOLS IN MASINGA

No VILLAGE SCHOOL

1 Mukusu: Kathiani primary

2 Malimbani Ecde

3 Mukusu primary

4 Makutano Yandei

5 Kyangosi primary

6 Thatha

Ndatani primary

7 Ngomeni primary

8 Ndelekeni primary

9 Kyuasini primary

10 Mukameni Mukameni Ecde/ primary

Machakos County is one of the 47 counties in Kenya with a projected population of 1.4 million in 2018.The County covers an area of 6,208 km2 and is located in the former Eastern Province. The county is largely arid and semi-arid, receiving low annual rainfall of about 500 mm with variations depending on the altitude. Temperatures range from 18 to 29 °C. With more than 90 percent of Machakos food production activities are purely dependent on rain-fed agriculture, and the absence of sufficient rains has brought a big blow to its agriculture[1]. The rain crises have also triggered a depletion of surface water facilities including dams, water pans, wells, severely limiting the Sub-County capacity to support sustainable agriculture[2] and potential arable land surface area. According to a trend analysis for the semi-arid lands of South Eastern Kenya conducted by South Eastern Kenya University, 89% of Kenya, inclusive of Masinga Sub-County, is arid or semi-arid, with serious socioeconomic, environmental and developmental challenges. Rapid population growth has led to an increasing demand for land, over-exploitation, and degradation of local natural resources. [3] Machakos County, with a population of 1.4 million and approximately 402,466 households, faces significant challenges across various sectors. The poverty level stands at 59.6%, with an HIV/AIDS prevalence of 4.5%. The county has 7,023 individuals with hearing disabilities and 4,666 with speech disabilities. Proximity to Nairobi has increased housing demand, resulting in 65.6% of the population living in substandard housing, 78% of which have walls made of wood or mud.

The average household size is four members, and nearly half of the population (49%) relies on unimproved water sources, while 39% use unimproved sanitation. Climate change has exacerbated water access issues, increasing the average distance to a water source to 6 km. Only 37% of residents use improved water sources, and 61% use improved sanitation. However, 16.4% use uncovered latrines or buckets, and 11.3% resort to natural bushes.

Land ownership is a challenge, with only 28.5% of residents holding titles. Sewer systems are limited, with only two in Athi River and Machakos, and partial connectivity in Machakos. Household sanitation facilities include pit latrines (40.3%), covered pit latrines (27.8%), uncovered pit latrines (50.5%), VIP latrines (6.2%), and flush toilets (5.9%). Malaria is the most prevalent disease, accounting for 40% of cases. The county has a shortage of health facilities, particularly in rural areas, with a doctor-to-patient ratio of 1:60,000. Facilities include one level 5 hospital, four level 4 hospitals, 43 public health centers, 83 dispensaries, nine private nursing homes, and 95 private clinics. Access to health facilities is limited, with 61.5% of residents traveling over 5 km, 35% traveling 1.1-4.9 km, and 1% traveling 0-1 km. Poor water quality is attributed to inadequate sanitation, waste management, sewage maintenance, water contamination at distribution points, poor household water storage, and unhygienic practices.

Machakos County faces significant water scarcity, with water availability levels falling below the national average of 647 m³ per capita per year. The county’s arid and semi-arid areas are particularly affected by this limited water endowment. Masinga Sub- County, one of the regions classified as Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) in Kenya, is severely impacted by this scarcity. A survey conducted by Habitat for Humanity Kenya in May-June 2023 revealed that 64% of households in Masinga do not have sufficient water for drinking and household needs. For schools, only 48% of respondents reported adequate water availability, while 52% indicated a shortage. Additional challenges identified include salty water, drought, pollution, drainage issues, high water charges, long distances to water sources, and long queues. Only 21.21% of households can access water within 30 minutes from their homes, and 24.24% within 60 minutes, mainly due to piped water from the Musingini borehole. However, very few households have direct water connections, leading to long queues, especially in market areas. A significant 45.45% of households spend more than 60 minutes fetching water, which reduces time available for other productive activities and poses a substantial physical and economic burden, particularly on women and children.

The water scarcity in Masinga Sub- County has serious implications for both individuals and the community, including heightened health risks from waterborne diseases. Diarrheal and WASH-related diseases are particularly prevalent among children under 12. Between January and June 2023, 81% (4,503 out of 5,590) of childhood disease cases were diarrheal/WASH-related. These high numbers are linked to poor water, sanitation, and hygiene conditions. Notably, 3,826 cases of diarrhea and 590 cases of amoebiasis were recorded in children under five, along with 877 cases of intestinal worms, making up 15.7% of childhood conditions reported in this period. Many residents draw water from contaminated seasonal streams and rivers, as there is no functional sewerage system. Groundwater from boreholes, shallow wells, and sand dams is also frequently exposed to faecal contamination, contributing to the high prevalence of diarrheal diseases. The survey highlighted inadequate hygiene and sanitation practices due to insufficient water. 47% of households do not regularly wash their hands, and 67% of schools lack functioning handwashing stations. While some schools provide running water in girls’ toilets, few offer free sanitary pads. In terms of sanitation facilities, 53.03% of the population uses covered pit latrines, while 36.64% use uncovered pit latrines without a slab. Despite this, 65% of households would consider using improved latrines for easier cleaning and reduced fly infestation, and 35% are open to using dry latrines. Overall, residents of Masinga Sub- County face limited access to safe drinking water, resulting in numerous WASH and health-related challenges, including frequent outbreaks of waterborne diseases due to E. coli contamination from open defecation and inadequate waste disposal systems.

Purpose and Objectives

To conduct a comprehensive feasibility survey to assess the viability and design of the Machakos County Safe Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Project. The survey will evaluate the project’s potential impacts, sustainability, and the most effective strategies for achieving the desired outcomes.

In July 2022, the initial project ideas from HFHK received an A-priority rating from BMZ.

Key Objectives:

1. Evaluate Project Relevance and Alignment:

• Assess the suitability and alignment of the project design with the priorities of the target beneficiaries and national development objectives, considering comparable development programs both current and past within Mukusu, Thatha and Mukameni villages in Masinga sub-county.
• Assess Overall Project Viability; Evaluate the project’s relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, potential impact, and sustainability.
• Determine the potential of the project to achieve its intended goals and objectives.

1. Analyse Efficiency and Cost-Effectiveness:

• Evaluate whether the project processes are optimized to achieve outputs efficiently relative to the inputs (financial, staffing, and time resources) and ensure funds are utilized in the most cost-effective manner.
• Provide a robust basis for finalizing the BMZ Proposal and Budget, highlighting conditions, opportunities, and risks to enhance project effectiveness and avoid mis-investments.

1. Assess Implementation Capacity:

• Evaluate the capacity of Habitat for Humanity Kenya (HFH Kenya) to successfully implement the project effectively.

1. Assess the potential positive and negative consequences of the project activities, including both direct and indirect, intended, and unintended effects to predict Project impact.
2. Clarify how the project will sustain its benefits over an extended period post-completion, ensuring environmental, financial, and social sustainability.
3. Offer a solid, empirically verified basis for the project, identifying and validating material assumptions and prerequisites for project success, and outlining risks and mitigation strategies.
4. Examine and verify the project concept, identifying weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to provide recommendations for an optimized project implementation.
5. Gather and analyse technical data on the feasibility through case studies of proposed river weirs, desiltation of water reservoirs, including, potential cost, and impact.
6. Gather, analyse and provide empirical actual and Secondary data on 16 dysfunctional boreholes providing status, viability, and propose rehabilitation for the project
7. Develop baseline data and provide recommendations for the project design and proposal development to achieve desired results.
8. Map and conduct a SWOT analysis on potential partner organizations, including the County Government and other stakeholders, to assess capacities and identify synergies for mainstreaming.
9. Scope of Work

The focus, scope and depth of feasibility studies should be geared towards the complexity and scope of the planned project and the political, economic and cultural context. It should provide an analysis of the problem situation and of the target group and stakeholders, including a baseline study and subject the planned project to a critical examination based on the OECD’s DAC criteria. To ensure alignment to expected donor guideline find below feasibility criteria summary.

BMZ criteria for feasibility studies

• The focus, scope and depth of feasibility studies should be geared towards the complexity and scope of the planned project and the political, economic and cultural context.
• To provide an analysis of the problem situation and of the target group and stakeholders, including a baseline study (e.g. as an attachment) and subject the planned project to a critical examination based on the OECD’s DAC criteria, i.e. relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability (see http://www.oecd.org/dac/evaluation/49756382.pdf).
• Recommendations for the project concept and project measures should be formulated on this basis.

Recommendations should be formulated based on relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability. Specifically, the Feasibility Study Report should answer the following questions:

Relevance

• Will the planned project approach address an important development problem or a key developmental bottleneck in the partner country or region?
• Is the planned project geared towards the needs of the target groups?
• Which change is to be brought about by the project after it has come to an end?

Effectiveness

• Are the measures and the chosen methodological approach suitable for achieving the project objective?
• Should activities be planned at the meso and/or macro level (multilevel approach) in order to increase sustainability?
• To what extent will use be made of synergy effects with measures undertaken by other donors or programmes?
• Which measures does the study recommend for achieving the objective?
• Which impact logic/impact hypothesis should the project be based on?
• What form could an effective results matrix take, including suitable and reliable indicators (submission of first rough draft with indicators and baseline data)?
• Who monitors the effects when and at which intervals (effectiveness monitoring)?

Significance

• Which objectives and effects derived from the problem/needs analysis should be achieved for which target group?
• To what extent does the planned project build structures, set examples and have a broad impact? Is a multilevel approach (micro, meso and macro level) a good way to increase significance and effectiveness?
• To what extent does the objective take into account, inclusive gender, culture- and conflict sensitive aspects and those based on human right

Sustainability

• How can the sustainability of the results and effects be ensured and strengthened (structurally, economically, socially and ecologically)?
• Which role/responsibility is assumed by state and/or civil society structures? To what extent can local potential, structures and procedures be built on? Which measures and instruments are most suitable for harnessing and strengthening local initiative, participation and capacities?
• Which sociocultural barriers exist about this approach and how can these be overcome?
• Which negative consequences and effects could project measures or sub-objectives bring about? To what extent can this be considered in the project (concept) e.g. “do no harm” approach, conflict-sensitive effectiveness monitoring, etc.?
• Which risks (personnel risks for those implementing the project, institutional and reputation risks, context risks) exist when implementing the project? How can these be minimized?

This information will be fitted on the BM Sample Report structure, that will be provided to the consultant (maximum 15 pages) the BMZ has been designed as a guide to aid in conducting feasibility studies.

1. Methodology

The Feasibility Study is designed to collect quantitative and qualitative data will through a Desk Review, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), Household Survey (Questionnaires by Enumerators), Project Site Observations and Stakeholders Workshop. Below are data sources that consultants can consider and not limited to use of triangulation methods.

Secondary Data

• Socioeconomic, political and cultural context of Machakos County and the Masinga Project Location
• Geo-Hydrological, ground water and water quality data
• Prior experiences from similar programmes/projects, other studies and analyses on weirs and desiltation of water reservoirs
• Agreements in place between stakeholders in Machakos County
• Initial situation in the sectors being addressed by the components of project within the location.
• Problems identified by the proposed project, the causes of these problems and how they affect the living situation of population groups
• Needs derived from the problem analysis and how this determined
• Background and history of the planned development measures and impact logic
• Alternatives to the planned project or its individual components
• The relationships of the planned project with the government’s development strategy
• The make-up of the target group (gender, ethnic origin, age)
• The capacity offered by Habitat for Humanity Kenya and County Government of Machakos (institutional, technical, personnel and financial) and measures necessary for strengthening.

Primary Data:

• How homogenous or heterogeneous is the target group and what extent must the project take this into account in the selection of beneficiaries
• Needs of the target group members and how can these be addressed in a social context considering their roles
• Conflicts of interest with other population groups that may arise through this funding
• The target group’s potential can be boosted regarding its own initiative, self-help efforts and local problem-solving capacities.
• The most important stakeholders (state and non-state actors) in the project’s sector and location
• Existing interactions of target group with other stakeholder projects and how they can find their way into the project concept
• Whether stakeholders have a common understanding of the problems and if they have derived project objectives from this common understanding
• The level of stakeholders’ support for the project and ways can they influence the project and to what extent

1. Deliverables and Timing

The expected outputs for this consultancy include the following:

1. Inception Report: Detailed work plan and methodology for the feasibility survey using BMZ GUIDE (To be provided Template)
2. Interim Report:

Preliminary findings and stakeholder consultation outcomes.

1. Draft Feasibility Report:

Comprehensive analysis covering all aspects of the scope of work.

1. Final Feasibility Report:

Prepare a comprehensive Feasibility Study Report of no more than 15 pages that meets BMZ standards (Based on the OECD DAC criteria) with recommendations, risk assessment, and sustainability strategy and the executive summary for presentation to HFHK.

1. Stakeholder Report: Map and conduct a SWOT analysis on potential partner organizations, including the County Government and other stakeholders, to assess capacities and identify synergies for mainstreaming**.**

The consultancy is expected to take 18 days, staggered between the 1st to 18th of June 2024. The consultant is expected to work very closely with the management of Habitat for Humanity Kenya while leveraging on HFHK and County Government of Machakos partnership for any required support during conducting the Feasibility Study. The deliverables of this assignment are as follows:

Task Days

Online Inception Meeting 0.5 Day

Briefing of consultant, review of relevant documents and development of tools 2 Days

Inception Report 1.5 Days

Data collection – field and desk research 5 Days

Data analysis and preparation of 1st draft report 3 Days

Feedback from HFH Kenya and HFHD 1 Days

Preparation of the 2nd draft report 1 Day

Stakeholders Validation Workshop and Report 2 Days

Finalization and submission of the final 2 Day

1. Qualification and Experience

The potential Consultant should be knowledgeable on Feasibility Studies of integrated development projects targeting rural populations in Arid and Semi Arid Lands (ASALs). The following qualifications are essential:

• Advanced Degree in rural water enterprises, smart agriculture, environmental health, agribusiness, resettlement schemes, climate change adaptation, project management, international development or a related field
• 10 years’ experience and above in conducting Feasibility Studies
• Familiarity with the BMZ guideline for conducting feasibility studies
• Extensive expertise and experience in water for multiple use systems
• Demonstrable expertise in working with government through the devolved structures
• Proven record of carrying out similar tasks in the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands
• Excellent track record in designing and conducting quantitative and qualitative research, analysis and evaluation
• Ability to provide strategic recommendations to key stakeholders and influence responsiveness on the same
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills including ability to facilitate and work in a multidisciplinary team
• Proven ability to conduct high quality research, meet deadlines and respond to requests and feedback provided timely and appropriately
• Strong analytical skills and ability to clearly synthesize and present findings
• Ability to draw practical conclusions and to prepare well‐written reports in a timely manner and availability during the proposed period
• Ability to fluently speak the local language (Swahili) will be an added advantage

[1] https://www.kenyanews.go.ke/machakos-set-to-terminate-perennial-water-shortages/

[2] https://www.kenyanews.go.ke/machakos-set-to-terminate-perennial-water-shortages/

[3] http://repository.seku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/4360