ToR - Development of the WaterAid India (WAI) Blue Book Series – Programme Implementation Guides

Terms of Reference (ToR)

Development of the WaterAid India (WAI) Blue Book Series – Programme Implementation Guides

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, Kolkata 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/

Background

WaterAid India (WAI) implements integrated Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programmes across multiple states through partnerships with governments, communities, civil society organizations, and development partners. Over the years, WAI has developed extensive technical expertise, programme methodologies, implementation tools, and institutional learning across diverse programme contexts. As WAI continues to scale its programmes, there is a need to institutionalize these experiences into a standardized implementation framework that promotes consistency, quality, accountability, and sustainability across all programme interventions. To address this need, WaterAid India proposes to develop the WAI Blue Book Series—the organization's programme implementation guide. The Blue Book Series will comprise six interconnected booklets that together provide end-to-end guidance for programme execution—from entering a new intervention geography and designing programmes to implementing quality WASH interventions, strengthening institutions, ensuring sustainable services, documenting evidence, and planning future programme investments. The Blue Book Series will establish common programme standards, implementation protocols, quality assurance mechanisms, and practical tools that can be consistently used by WaterAid India teams, partners, consultants, and other implementation stakeholders.

Objective of the Assignment

To develop the WAI Blue Book Series, a standardized set of programme implementation guides that establish common implementation standards, quality assurance mechanisms, operational protocols, and practical tools for delivering high-quality, inclusive, climate-resilient, and sustainable WASH programmes across WaterAid India. Consultant/Agency Profile

The consultant/agency should possess:

• At least 10 years of experience in WASH, rural development, programme quality, or institutional strengthening.
• Demonstrated experience in developing implementation manuals, operational frameworks, programme standards, or quality assurance systems.
• Strong expertise in programme design, technical writing, facilitation, and organizational knowledge management.
• Experience working with government systems, development partners, and multi-state programmes.
• A multidisciplinary team with expertise in WASH programming, programme quality, safeguarding, technical writing, and graphic design will be preferred.

Proposal Submission Interested consultants/agencies should submit:

• Technical proposal outlining methodology and work plan.
• Financial proposal.
• Relevant work samples (frameworks, toolkits, manuals or IEC materials).
• CVs of key personnel.

Evaluation Criteria

Criteria Weight Understanding of assignment 20% Proposed methodology 25% Relevant organisational experience 20% Team composition and expertise 20% Financial proposal 15% Proposal Submission Timeline- Submit Technical and Financial Proposals by 16th September by 5:30 pm Applications should be sent at [contact details removed] To download the full ToR, click here: ToR -Development of the WaterAid India (WAI) Blue Book Series – Programme Implementation Guides

Organisation: WaterAid India

Listed on the SAMS-STC social-sector RFP board.