Senior Technical Consultant, India Safe Water (EAII Advisors)

Description

This position is with EAII Advisors, Evidence Action's technical partner in India.

About EAII

EAII Advisors, Evidence Action’s technical partner in India, supports state governments in delivering evidence-based public health programs, including safe drinking water initiatives and school and Anganwadi-based National Deworming Day and iron and folic acid supplementation. Operating across 10 states, EAII Advisors provides technical assistance to ministries of health, education, water, and women and child development, reducing health burdens in impoverished communities and improving the long-term wellbeing of children and families.

For more information, read about our work here:

About Evidence Action

At Evidence Action, we deliver data-driven interventions that transform lives at an unprecedented scale. We identify neglected global health issues and deploy proven solutions, forging healthier futures for generations.
Our model operationalizes leading academic research (including from Nobel-winning economists). We measure progress and outcomes at every stage to ensure we’re making a real impact for people living in poverty and suffering from preventable or treatable health issues. Operating across 11 countries, our team of 900+ has reached over 500 million people, working closely with governments to scale these interventions.

• Our Deworm the World program has delivered over 2 billion treatments, significantly reducing worm prevalence and generating more than $23 billion in lifetime productivity gains.
• Through Safe Water Now, we’ve saved the lives of over 15,000 children.
• Our Accelerator explores untapped opportunities in global health, testing low-cost interventions with the greatest potential to save and improve lives.

At Evidence Action, your colleagues are your greatest asset. You'll partner with high-caliber colleagues in an environment blending innovation, autonomy, and teamwork. Our team excels in disruptive thinking and believes in rolling up our sleeves to get things done. If you're looking to work flexibly and with purpose, join a team that delivers measurable change for millions.

The consultant will examine two related but distinct areas:

(i) the MVS landscape, including its scale, infrastructure characteristics, operating models and existing water-treatment arrangements; and

(ii) the electrochlorinator landscape, including technologies, existing deployments, economics and potential use cases across rural water systems

The goal of this consultancy is two fold:

• Develop a detailed understanding of the MVS landscape, including its scale, major scheme archetypes, infrastructure and operating characteristics, existing treatment arrangements, and resulting gaps or opportunities for safe-water interventions particularly in Evidence Action’s priority states (AP, Bihar, Odisha, Rajasthan)
• Assess the EC market and determine the technical, operational and economic conditions under which ECs could represent a viable rural chlorination solution - addressing ECs’ fit within a broader rural chlorination technology option including tablet-based dozers and other chlorination options

The final output should help Evidence Action decide whether, where and how to invest in ECs and/or other technologies to meet the water treatment needs of MVS in rural India. This would include analysis on the minimum technical, operational, financial and institutional conditions required for this type of intervention. Specific workstreams include:

Estimating MVS Market Size and Identifying Key Market Segments

Conduct landscape analysis to estimate the total rural population served by MVS; verify estimates for EvAc priority states (AP, Bihar, Rajasthan, Odisha) via qualitative interviews and/or field visits as necessary.

Building on the analysis above, analyze the MVS infrastructure landscape to determine major market segments; identify key elements of each market segment that have relevance to water treatment, including system size/capacity, number of villages/population served, source and infrastructure configuration, existing treatment arrangements, and operating/O&M models; estimate the size of major market segments in EvAc priority states.

Analysis of Water Treatment Solutions Relevant to MVS, Including ECs

Conduct landscape analysis to map water treatment solutions already in place to serve MVS across rural India; document best practices and key learnings from implementation to date; including functionality, operational and O&M considerations where evidence is available.

Develop a market analysis documenting currently available water treatment solutions that would meet the needs of MVS systems (whether they are being implemented currently or not). While estimates for all of rural India would be useful, a focus on Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha and Rajasthan is a priority.

Develop a comparison model to assess key attributes of each water treatment solution, including cost, consumable requirements, maintenance requirements and implementation track record. Separately, develop a deeper analysis of the EC market, documenting currently available and late-stage EC models, suppliers, existing deployments, performance, costs and operational requirements across relevant rural water-system use cases, including but not limited to MVS.

Develop analysis to identify the technical, operational and economic conditions under which ECs are likely to be viable or non-viable across different rural water-system configurations, and identify the use cases where ECs appear most promising.

Recommendations for Strategic Intervention Pathways in EA ISW Priority States

Using findings from all analysis areas described above, develop summary recommendations for EvAc on potential opportunities within the MVS landscape and on whether, where and how ECs could expand EA’s rural chlorination technology options, including scale-up pathways, with a focus on EA ISW priority geographies. A recommendation to defer, limit, or not pursue ECs will be considered valid if supported by the evidence.

Recommendations should explicitly state which MVS segments and/or EC use cases, geographies, delivery models and risk controls are strategic for further testing or scale-up.

Experience Required

• 15+ years of experience with a focus on strategy, market shaping and/or management consulting; existing experience in the water/WASH sector preferred, but not required
• Experience assessing water-treatment technologies, including technical fit, costs, maintenance and operating requirements; chlorination/EC experience preferred.
• Strong relationships or credibility with government, WASH institutions, implementers and sector experts in India.
• No existing commercial relationship with any of the EC vendors being evaluated
• Experience communicating technical material to non-technical audiences, including donors, boards, or senior leadership

Position Location

This is a 6-month consultancy engagement, with the possibility of extension based on organizational needs.

We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an Indian employment visa at this time. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in India for roles based in India.

Consultancy Fees: Competitive and commensurate with the individual's credentials, experience, and previous pay scale.

All contracting arrangements will be made through EAII Advisors Private Limited. EAII is an equal opportunity employer. Employment at EAII is based solely on an individual's merit and qualifications directly related to professional competence. EAII does not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of race, caste, creed, colour, religion, gender, origin, disability, marital status, or any other basis protected by law.