Ministry of Health and Human Services

Public Health Department

WASH Section

Terms of Reference (ToR)

Position Title: Wash in healthcare Minimum standard guideline
Duty Station: Somalia (Mogadishu with possible field visits)
Duration: 60 days (short-term consultancy)
Type of Position: National Consultant
Reporting to: Ministry of Health and Human Services (FMoH) – Directorate of Public Health
Supported by: FMOH and UNICEF.
Date of Issue: 27.07.2025
Application Deadline: 31.07.2025

1. Background

Access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services in healthcare facilities (HCFs) is critical for infection prevention and control (IPC), improved patient safety, quality service delivery, and the overall resilience of health systems. In Somalia, significant disparities exist in WASH access across health facilities, particularly in rural and conflict-affected areas. Many lack even basic services, increasing the risk of healthcare-associated infections, maternal and neonatal complications, and outbreak amplification.

At present, Somalia lacks a unified, nationally endorsed framework that sets minimum WASH standards for health facilities. The absence of such a standard hampers quality control, partner coordination, and accountability in service delivery. Recognizing this critical gap, the Ministry of Health and Human Services, with support from development partners, is commissioning the development of a comprehensive national guideline on WASH in Healthcare Facilities to inform policy, investments, and implementation.

2. Purpose of the Assignment

The purpose of this consultancy is to lead the design, drafting, and validation of Somalia’s Minimum Standards for WASH in Healthcare Facilities, aligned with international benchmarks (e.g., WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme, WASH FIT, Sphere Standards) and contextualized for the Somali health system. The consultant will facilitate a multi-stakeholder process, produce actionable tools for rollout, and support the institutionalization of these standards.

3. Key Responsibilities

Phase 1: Inception & Situational Review

• Conduct a desk review of existing WASH assessments, national IPC protocols, and global standards (e.g., WHO, Sphere, JMP).
• Map current WASH conditions and service levels in Somali health facilities using secondary data and consultations.
• Identify gaps, duplications, and opportunities for harmonization.
• Prepare an Inception Report, including a methodology, timeline, and annotated outline of the standards.

Phase 2: Development of Draft WASH Standards

• Define service level benchmarks for different types of health facilities (hospitals, PHC centers, MCHs).
• Draft standards for the following thematic areas:
• Water supply: availability, access, quality, continuity
• Sanitation: adequate and safe toilets, menstrual hygiene management
• Hygiene: functional handwashing stations, soap/disinfectants, hygiene promotion
• Health care waste management: segregation, treatment, disposal
• Environmental cleaning and disinfection
• Facility operation & maintenance, governance, and staffing
• Ensure cross-cutting integration of:
• Gender, disability, and inclusivity
• Climate resilience and sustainability
• Alignment with Somalia’s EPHS and health system plans

Phase 3: Consultation and Validation

• Organize and facilitate national and sub-national consultation workshops with key stakeholders, including MoH, NGOs, WASH/Health Clusters, donors, and regional health bureaus.
• Incorporate feedback into a revised draft.
• Lead the national validation workshop, ensuring broad technical consensus and endorsement.

Phase 4: Finalization and Dissemination

• Prepare the finalized WASH in Health Facilities Guideline.
• Develop a toolkit for implementation, including:
• Guidance notes and visual aids
• Monitoring and compliance checklists
• Basic training/IEC materials
• Provide technical recommendations for:
• Institutional ownership
• M&E mechanisms
• Integration into health sector planning and partner programming

4. Key Deliverables

Deliverable

Timeline

Inception Report (work plan + annotated outline)

 5 days

Situation Analysis Summary

10 days

Draft WASH Standards (Version 1)

10 days

Stakeholder Consultation Report

10 days

Finalized Guideline (Version 2, post-validation)

10 days

Implementation Toolkit (guides, IECs, checklist)

10 days

Final Technical Report (process, recommendations)

 5 days

5. Required Qualifications and Experience

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Public Health, Environmental Health, WASH Engineering, or related discipline.
• At least 7 years of progressive experience in WASH in health care settings, public health infrastructure, or standards development.
• Solid knowledge of:
• WHO/WASH FIT
• IPC Guidelines
• JMP Core Indicators
• SPHERE Minimum Standards
• Proven experience in developing technical guidelines or sector frameworks.
• Familiarity with Somalia’s health system and operational context is highly desirable.
• Excellent analytical, writing, facilitation, and communication skills.
• Fluency in English is required; Somali language proficiency is a strong asset.

6. Coordination and Reporting

The consultant will work under the overall supervision of the Ministry of Health and Human Services (Directorate of Environmental Health and Sanitation). Technical support and coordination will be provided by the WASH Cluster, WHO, UNICEF, and selected technical working groups.

The consultant will be expected to:

• Submit bi-weekly progress briefs
• Participate in regular coordination meetings
• Travel to field sites where feasible and secure

7. Duration and Duty Station

• Estimated Duration: 60 days.
• Duty Station: Mogadishu.
• Field visits: Based on access, security clearance, and agreed plan.

8. Application Requirements

Qualified individuals or consultancy firms should submit:

1. Updated CV or company profile
2. Technical proposal outlining methodology, timeline, and deliverables
3. Two samples of similar previous work

9. Submission and Contact

All applications must be submitted by procurement Email to: [email protected] and head of Wash and Environmental health section cc: [email protected]