Background

Green habitat Initiative (GHI) is currently implementing a cooperative agreement with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Nigeria in Kebbi State. The cooperative agreement titled “The Project for Improved Sustainability of Integrated WASH Services” is aimed at reducing water-borne diseases and associated socio-economic challenges through increasing access to WASH facilities in Sokoto State.

A recent study by the World Bank showed that 1 in 3 boreholes/handpumps (30%) fail in the first year of operation in Nigeria. The major challenge associated with this phenomena is lack of ownership by communities and an absence of sustainable operation and maintenance services.

Consequently, the water sector is transitioning from infrastructure to service delivery approaches by adopting preventive maintenance with the aim of providing an improved and reliable water supply. Also, private and social enterprises are emerging as important players in the water, sanitation, and hygiene sector. Small-to-medium, private and social enterprises are pivotal in enabling or delivering sustainable water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services. GHI seeks applications from individuals or a group of persons to set up a new social enterprise that will be incorporated to provide guaranteed services for the operations and maintenance of water facilities in Sokoto State. Existing agencies are welcome to apply too.

Objectives

The main objective of establishing the social enterprise is to provide guaranteed operations and maintenance services of water facilities (hand pumps, motorized boreholes, and solar-powered boreholes) in rural communities of Yabo and Silame LGAs. This service will be a retainer for the community where the enterprise conducts frequent visits to provide routine maintenance services. The sustainability of WASH facilities is a global challenge. However, research shows that the private and social sector has the potential to become a viable solution. The project seeks interested 2 individuals or organizations to partner with GHI in setting up a private and social enterprise for sustainable and guaranteed services. The service entails moving beyond voluntary, solely community-focused approaches to equitable, sustainable service delivery for the USAID-funded WASH investments in Sokoto State. The new business will offer monthly maintenance service to water pumps in at least 2 LGAs (Yabo and Silame) of Sokoto State.

Required Profile

1. Team composition involving Water Engineers, Business Developers/Managers, Technicians, Local Area Mechanics (LAMs), community mobilization officers, etc. You are also expected to utilize the current LAMs in rural communities.
2. Gender balance team composition.
3. Demonstrable proof of capacity to set up Social Enterprise/Small Medium Enterprise (SMEs).
4. Good understanding of water sanitation and hygiene services from a development corporation and private sector perspective.
5. Excellent understanding of community development, its implementation and funding mechanisms (public and private).
6. Experience working in the northwest terrain.

General Scope of Work

The social enterprise will set up a business model that comprises the following
components:

1. A team of Water Engineers, business developers/managers, technicians, community mobilisers, marketers, and innovators.
2. Ensure the availability of reliable maintenance resources (spare parts and mechanics).
3. Promote willingness and ability of community members to pay tariffs.
4. Use of electronic reporting documents that include information on the borehole status, age, number of maintenance visits/repairs, and spare parts used.
5. Motivated to address social needs by evolving business solutions to create, capture and deliver value that ensure the business remains financially viable.

Expected Deliverables 

1. Develop concept including business & financing model suitable to the target location (Yabo and Silame LGAs).
2. Detailed work plan for implementation of business model.

3. Effective maintenance of WASH infrastructure through timely support.
4. Supply spare parts for maintenance in time and on immediate needs.
5. Collaborate and understand the government system for management of water facilities.
6. Support and ensure security check up of water facilities
7. Support capacity building of the LAMs.
8. Update community with data on repairs carried out.

Method of Application

Firms and individual applicants should send their CVs along with a brief technical proposal . The technical proposal should present the following:

1. A detailed concept of the Enterprise that highlights a good understanding of the client’s requests and expectations.
2. Business Approach/Methodology for delivery of services.              
3. Detailed work plan for one year engagement.
4. Resume/profile of staff with relevant work experience in the water sector. At the minimum, the profile should show the CEO of the new business to be formed, the Head of Engineering, Head of Community Mobilization, Finance and Accounting Officer.
5. Mention other resources you already own or will provide E. g. Office space, computers, trucks, etc.
6. Demonstrate good financial standing to begin operations.

Please note that GHI may incentivize successful applicants with some company setting -up costs, training on business management, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and study tours. However, businesses must plan to execute their activities without the support of GHI from the onset.

Submission should be made to bidsubmissions@greenhabitat.ng with “Social Enterprise” as the subject of the email no later than 9 February, 2023.