Terms of Reference (TOR)-

Donor Research & Scoping Support Rwanda Country Donor Research and Scoping support

1. Background and context

WaterAid Rwanda (WARw) has now embarked to implement a Country Programme (CP) Strategy (2023–2028) that reflects its ambition, in alignment with the WaterAid (WA) Global Strategy, to meaningfully contribute to ending the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) crisis for everyone, everywhere by 2032.

The CP strategy builds on WaterAid’s experience over twelve years in the country, working with the Government of Rwanda and other actors on WASH targets. Among other achievements, WARw has supported the implementation of the District Wide Approach, now adopted in all 27 rural districts, the integration of WASH in education through comprehensive school-WASH projects, the long-term and community-wide hygiene behaviour change programming, and the development and review of key WASH policies and system.

The strategy entails two complementary programmes in line with WA global aims. The first focuses on achieving universal, sustainable, and safe access in specific geographic areas to influence wider change, whilst the second focuses on the prioritisation and integration of WASH across the health sector to improve public health in Rwanda. Our overarching approach will remain “systems strengthening”. From the community to the national level, WARw will continue to demonstrate sustainable, climate-resilient and gender-responsive WASH services while documenting and sharing learning. We will build meaningful partnerships and alliances, engage communities, and create WASH champions with an emphasis on women, youth, and persons with disability.

To Support the operationalisation of the CP Strategy, and refresh/update the current WaterAid Rwanda long term Fundraising plan a scoping of a wide range of key donors and stakeholders has been planned.

Funding context in Rwanda

Overall, the funding situation of ODA in Rwanda remains positive, and shifting in the landscape is always expected with private Investments picking up, with traditional bilateral donors starting awarding contracts rather than grants.

Rwanda has been implementing the Aid Coordination Framework within which Rwanda has an active and a well-established aid coordination architecture coordinated by the Development Partners Coordination Group (DPCG).

Importantly, based on donor division of labour, each development partner (donor) is limited to three working groups, depending on mandate and expertise, and is expected to actively participate in policy dialogue in these groups. The Aid Coordination Framework works to identify un-earmarked budget support as the preferred modality for official development finance, followed by sector budget support and stand-alone projects. It also prefers development partner resources to be pooled rather than earmarked for individual projects.

World Bank, Global Fund, USAID and African Development bank have been the main biggest donors for Rwanda over the last 5 years, giving almost 50% of the total ODA coming to Rwanda. The main donors to WASH for the past 5 years for Rwanda have been: African Development Bank, followed by the Word bank.  Other bilateral donors that have been on top, the Government of Japan, United States of America, UK Government, Germany, UNICEF, and the Dutch Government. 

2. Objectives of the scoping study

The Main purpose of the scoping is to undertake detailed analysis on the already identified Institution donors and their agencies (as listed in the TOR), explore in country private sector, large and medium Foundations, and philanthropy donations, and provide a mapping against each donor interest for WaterAid’s Rwanda geographic footprint, and strategic aims. 

The scoping aims to build up WaterAid Rwanda’s knowledge of these donors including how they are structured, their key financing mechanisms at country level, funding opportunities for an organisation like WaterAid Rwanda, key programme and geographical priorities, organisations winning funding from the donor, and how these donors align WaterAid Rwanda priority programmes areas as outlined in the new Country strategy.

The study will also explore key potential partnerships through a stakeholder mapping and assess in country capacities for WA Rwanda CP and partners.

3.1 Specific Objectives:

1. Assess Donor funding conditions focusing on current situation for development sector in Rwanda focusing on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector within the lens of the two strategic aims of the CP on sustainable universal access to WASH and WASH for improved public health.

Outputs, the key findings provide us with a range of information, including:

• Donor Strategic plans and programmes
• Donor thematic area, priority geographic areas
• Contact details.
• Funding Modalities and funding apparatus,
• Timing, frequency of funding cycle
• Donor profile (a template to be provided)
• List of preferred suppliers/partners
• A mapping of key recipients of past funding, disaggregated by geography, thematic area and funding mechanisms, recipients of their funding and key trends, to support WaterAid Rwanda approach to partnership for future opportunities.
• Recommendations for engagement

2. Undertake a stakeholder mapping to find all possible partner organisations who could be considered for Joint Ventures/ Consortiums (Including INGOs, UN Agencies, Private Sector, Public sector, Ministries, and institutions

Outputs, the key findings provide us with a range of information, including.

• Partner organisation/donor thematic areas and programmes
• Geographic areas
• A list of organisations mapped and key contacts.
• Recommendations for engagement strategies 

3. Methodology

The study shall be undertaken by an external consultant, primarily through desk-based research, review also considering information on WaterAid and WaterAid Rwanda will share on some of the provided listed donors, and additional ones, and interviews.

4. Management Arrangement and Timescale

The primary contact point for consultant and lead will be the Head of Business Development for WaterAid Rwanda.

The work shall be undertaken within 30 days starting from the date signing the contract. 

Note:

1. Closing date/deadline for applications as 1^st March 2024,
2. Email: RecruitmentsWARW@wateraid.org
3. Contact Name: WaterAid Rwanda
4. Contact phone: +250788318824

Annex: Recommended list of Institution donors to explore 

USA Government

Japan Government and JICA

Germany Government, GIZ, KWF

Belgium Government

United Kingdom: FCDO, UK BEIS

African Development Bank

Switzerland Government

Scottish Government

Canadian Government

French Government

Netherland Government