Vacancy: Consultancy (Context analysis of organizational reform of Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA)

Company Profile

Water & Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP) is a not-for-profit company that helps transform cities to benefit the millions who lack access to water and sanitation. WSUP’s vision, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), is of a world in which all urban dwellers, including the poorest, enjoy affordable, high-quality water and sanitation services. This will generate massive gains in human well-being, in national economic growth and in global environmental sustainability. 

WSUP has a strategic portfolio of six focus countries in Africa and South Asia (Bangladesh, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Zambia), where it works in close partnership with local service providers and national government. WSUP also works globally through its consultancy arm WSUP Advisory.

Within its six focus countries and globally, WSUP works towards its vision through activities in five Strategic Areas: 1) delivering services and testing models; 2) developing capacity in the public and private sectors; 3) influencing and providing technical assistance; 4) mobilising resources for the WASH sector; and 5) carrying out research and producing evidence. As illustrated in the Theory of Change below, all of WSUP’s activities are focused towards the end goal of sector functionality, on the view that  sustainable change will not be achieved by donor-funded construction of “taps and toilets”, but rather by coordinated efforts to build functional city-level and national systems for urban WASH services delivery. WSUP believes that the development of such systems depends fundamentally on two things: 1) the transformative power of markets and innovation, and 2) deep political commitment and institutional change. WSUP works to drive change in both spheres.

For more information about WSUP's vision and approach, see www.wsup.com.

Job Description

1. Support CWSA internal organizational change management process to drive the transition towards a rural utility


2. Improve the operational efficiency in the management of water systems in the Western region.


3. Develop infrastructure for delivering safely managed water


4. Support sector strengthening and learning

3. Consultancy Support Required

Consultant support is required to assist WSUP with contextual analyses of CWSA as the Utility undertakes major organizational reform into the key rural water Utility in Ghana. This will include findings presentations to WSUP and CWSA, production of analytical reports, co-organization and co-facilitation of workshops for CWSA, and data management for WSUP.

1. Contextual analysis of CWSA including current operational structure, legislative and regulatory framework, and identification of capacity gaps. This is via desk research and will produce a report.


2. Analysis and synthesis of specific operational and business data from CWSA water systems in the Western Region. This will be via site visits, desk research, and will produce short documents and/or graphs. 


3. Workshop/forum delivery with WSUP, providing support with facilitation and organisation. Deliverable in the form of completed workshops.

• Appraisal of the legal and regulatory framework within which CWSA operates.


• Identification of legal/regulatory gaps and/or conflicts that could affect the reform realization


• Assessment of the proposed organisational structure and how this affects the CWSA as a viable utility.


• Identification of key capacity needs and/or gaps – in reference to the transition of CWSA into a viable rural utility.

• Assess the current scheme of service of CWSA. To what extent does the existing scheme affect CWSA’s transition into a rural water utility?


• Examine key constituents of the proposed scheme of service and staff performance indicators to ascertain impact on operations as a viable utility.

• CWSA’s utility reform bill 


• CWSA’s strategic and investment plan 


• CWSA annual reports


• WSUP Utility assessment approach


• CWSA Western Region water system data

• Assess the water production, supply and delivery data to analyse current operational efficiency, and develop a water balance. 


• Gather (with WSUP), input, and organize data on the water systems with respect to economic sustainability (e.g. collections), quality of service (e.g. customer complaints/connection systems, customer charter), and service delivery (e.g. standard operating procedures).


• Appraise and document operational efficiency in non-revenue water (NRW) management within the 11 water systems in Western Region 


• Assess and document the technology used for NRW monitoring, existing IT or data management systems, energy consumption and/or efficiency monitoring,  

• Co-preparation of workshops materials


• Co-organization of venue, facilities, equipment 


• Gathering of minutes and notes during the workshops


• Facilitation of breakout sessions


• Synthesis and rationalisation of data from workshops

Required Skills or Experience

3.4. Consultant(s) Profile(s) 

WSUP seeks to engage a minimum of 2 people, including a senior/specialist in water governance and a junior/officer for data input and analysis.

The Consultancy should comprise the following profile(s):

1. Expertise in WASH Governance and/or Utility Management and/or WASH legislation and regulation 


2. Experience in supporting the operations of water utilities


3. Knowledge of the rural and small water system sub sector and/or service approach to rural water management in Ghana and/or similar sub-Saharan countries. 


4. Demonstrable experiences leading research and organisational change management processes. 


5. Demonstrable experience in managing datasets for monitoring and evaluation purposes, and production of information management 


6. Demonstrable experience planning and facilitating workshops and/or seminars and generating follow on documentation