Terms of Reference (ToR)
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Designation
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Technical Consultant - for Short-Term Studies, Assessments, and Baseline Surveys
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Location
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National level resource group – can be deployed in 10 Programme States
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Period of Assignment
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Need based
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About WaterAid India:
Jal Seva Charitable Foundation (JSCF) is registered in India as a not-for-profit company under Chapter 8 of the Companies Act, 2013. JSCF, is an associate member of the WaterAid federation and uses the brand name ‘WaterAid’ in India.
WaterAid India seeks to improve the quality of life of 5,000,000 households – with a special emphasis on the vulnerable by 2029 through the provision of climate-resilient and sustainable WASH services via demonstration, institution strengthening, and the effective utilization of public resources. We work in rural and urban areas and seek to deepen our presence in states we operate in and to work in small towns. Thanks to our amazing supporters, we have reached millions of people with these three essentials – clean water, decent toilets, and good hygiene – enabling communities to unlock their potential to break free from the cycle of poverty and to change lives for good.
We will not stop. Not until clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene are a normal part of everyday life for everyone, everywhere.
WaterAid India’s (WAI) country office is based in New Delhi with State Offices in Bengaluru, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Patna and Raipur. We currently have a presence in ten states in the country.
WAI’s Programme focus in the next five years is on ensuring access to safe and assured drinking water in the households, as well as safely managed sanitation at both the household and habitation level. Further, we seek to ensure that anganwadi’s, schools and health care facilities have adequate and appropriate water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure. Finally, we seek to create integrated water and sanitation solutions in small towns. In all of these efforts, ensuring climate resilience of infrastructure and systems is critical. We seek to do this through demonstration and the provision of technical and knowledge support to governments at all levels who can facilitate adoption on scale. Implementation is primarily through our own field teams. Further details about WAI can be accessed at https://www.wateraid.org/in/
Objective of the Assignment:
Overall Objective: To generate reliable, high-quality evidence through short-term studies, assessments, and baseline surveys to inform programme planning, implementation, and evaluation.
Specific Objectives:
- Assess baseline conditions related to WASH access, service levels, behaviours, and governance
- Analyse institutional, technical, social, and environmental factors affecting WASH outcomes
- Identify gaps, risks, and opportunities to strengthen programme design and delivery
- Establish benchmarks and indicators for monitoring and evaluation
Role & Responsibilities:
A. Study Design and Methodology
- Review programme documents, frameworks, and secondary data
- Develop study design and methodology including sampling, indicators, and tools
- Ensure methodological rigour and ethical research practices
- Integrate gender, equity, and social inclusion (GESI) considerations
B. Tool Development and Pre-testing
- Design and finalise quantitative and qualitative data collection tools
- Translate tools into local languages where required
- Conduct pilot testing and refine tools
C. Data Collection and Fieldwork
- Undertake household surveys, FGDs, KIIs, and facility assessments
- Train and supervise enumerators, where applicable
- Ensure data quality and adherence to timelines
D. Data Analysis and Interpretation
- Clean, analyse, and interpret quantitative and qualitative data
- Apply appropriate analytical methods
- Compare findings with national/state benchmarks, where relevant
E. Reporting and Dissemination
- Prepare draft and final reports with findings and recommendations
- Present findings to WAI and stakeholders, if required
Key Deliverables
- Inception report with methodology and work plan
- Finalised data collection tools
- Clean datasets
- Draft and final study/baseline/assessment reports
- Presentation of key findings
Qualifications and Experience:
Education:
- Postgraduate qualification in Social Sciences, Public Health, Statistics, Economics, Environmental Studies, Rural Development, or related fields
Experience:
- 5–10 years of experience in studies, assessments, or baseline surveys
- Demonstrated experience in WASH or development programmes
- Strong expertise in quantitative and qualitative research methods
- Proven analytical and report writing skills
Ethical Considerations and Data Ownership:
- Adherence to ethical research standards including informed consent and confidentiality
- All data and outputs will remain the property of WaterAid India
Payment Terms:
- Payments will be linked to agreed milestones and deliverables. Consultancy fee will be based on scope of assignment and past renumeration.
WaterAid India (Jal Seva Charitable Foundation) is an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive and respectful workplace. All recruitment decisions are made purely based on merit, qualifications and alignment with the role and organizational values - without discrimination on the basis of caste, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability or any other status protected under Indian law.
All hiring is conducted directly by our internal team and via official communication channels, and we do not authorize any third party, individual, agency or external consultant to act on our behalf in any capacity related to recruitment. We do not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process including application, interview, selection or onboarding. Any communication claiming to offer employment with WaterAid India in exchange for money or through unauthorized channels should be considered fraudulent. WaterAid India will not be responsible for any loss or damage incurred by responding to such unofficial communication.
If you come across any suspicious recruitment posts in our name on social media pages or WhatsApp groups or receive such emails, calls, or messages on any medium, please verify them by writing to us at waindiahr@wateraid.org. We reserve the right to initiate legal action against individuals or entities misrepresenting the organization or engaging in recruitment-related fraud.