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Tenders are invited for Consultancy for Technical, Legal and Institutional Review of the Isiolo County Water Act, Policy and Rural Water Service Delivery Frameworks RAPID+ Closing Date: 11 May 2026 Type: Consultancy CONSULTANCY FOR TECHNICAL, LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW OF THE ISIOLO COUNTY WATER ACT, POLICY AND RURAL WATER SERVICE DELIVERY FRAMEWORK 1.0 BACKGROUND Isiolo County experiences chronic water scarcity driven by its arid and semiarid climate, recurrent droughts, population growth, and fragile rural water infrastructure. Most rural water supply schemes (primarily boreholes, water pans, and sand dams) are managed through communitybased arrangements. While these models have supported access, they have proven increasingly unsustainable due to weak governance, limited technical and financial capacity, low revenue recovery, and noncompliance with national regulatory standards. Isiolo County currently has one licensed urban water service provider, Isiolo Water and Sanitation Company (IWASCO), whose mandate is limited to Isiolo town. There is no professional, WASREBcompliant utility responsible for regulated rural water service delivery. Some of the Existing Water Situation and Service Delivery Gaps include: Rural water schemes operate below design capacity due to weak governance and poor maintenance. Community-based management models lack accountability, financial sustainability, and regulatory compliance. Frequent breakdowns, inadequate metering, low revenue collection, and minimal preventive maintenance undermine reliability. Increasing climate shocks and population pressure strain already fragile water sources. WASREB licensing standards are not met by most rural water schemes. These challenges affect households, pastoralist communities, schools, health facilities, and institutions, impacting over 200,000 rural residents across the eight Isiolo rural wards. To address these challenges, the County Government of Isiolo, guided by the Constitution of Kenya (2010), the Water Act (2016), WASREB regulatory frameworks, and the Isiolo County Water Strategy (20232035) has initiated a phased rural water governance reform programme. As part of preparatory work, the County undertook a Commercial Viability Assessment (CVA) in 2024, assessing the operational and financial sustainability of selected rural water schemes and identifying pathways for countyowned, professionally managed rural water utilities. In December 2025, the County Executive Committee approved a Cabinet Memorandum authorising the establishment of a MultiSectoral Task Force to lead review and reform of the Isiolo County Water Policy (2017) and the Isiolo Water and Sanitation Act (2020), and to propose institutional, governance, and transition arrangements for future CountyOwned Rural Water Companies. Under the Cabinetapproved framework, reforms are implemented in phases. Phase 1 entailed formal approval of a Cabinet Memorandum to undertake the reform process. The memorandum obtained Cabinet approval to (a) Endorse the proposed rural water governance and institutional reform framework; and (b) Authorize establishment of a multi-sectoral Task Force to review county policy, legislation, and associated institutional arrangements. Phase 2 focuses on Task Forceled technical, legal, and institutional review and preparation of reform instruments. This consultancy supports Phase 2 only, by providing defined technical drafting, advisory, and documentation support to the Task Force and the County Government. 2.0 OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT The objective of this assignment is to provide targeted technical, legal, and institutional support to the MultiSectoral Task Force and the Isiolo County Government during Phase 2 of the Cabinetapproved reform process, by: Supporting preparation of WASREBaligned draft amendments to the Isiolo County Water Policy (2017) and the Isiolo Water and Sanitation Act (2020); Assisting articulation of a clear, highlevel institutional and governance framework for CountyOwned Rural Water Service Provision; and Providing technical and procedural support for statutory public participation and legislative consideration of the proposed reforms. The Consultants role is strictly advisory and technical. All approvals, enactment, and implementation remain the responsibility of the County Government. 3.0 SCOPE OF WORK The assignment shall be implemented through a twostage, sequential process, aligned to the Task Force mandate under Phase 2: Stage 1: Technical review and drafting support Stage 2: Statutory public participation and legislative process support Progression between stages shall be subject to formal approval of Stage 1 outputs by the MultiSectoral Task Force. 4.0 METHODOLOGY The Consultant shall apply a focused, stagegated methodology aligned to Kenyas county policymaking and legislative frameworks and proportionate to the advisory nature of the assignment. 4.1 Stage 1 Methodology Technical Review and Drafting The Consultant shall: Conduct a targeted desk review of relevant national and county water sector laws, policies, and WASREB regulatory instruments. Support limited, nonstatutory technical consultations convened by the Task Force to validate reform directions. Prepare clearly scoped, Gazetteready draft policy and legislative instruments. Develop a highlevel institutional and transition framework to inform County decisionmaking. Consolidate all outputs into a Task Force Technical Report for validation. 4.2 Stage 2 Methodology - Public Participation and Legislative Support Upon formal approval of Stage 1 outputs, the Consultant shall: Provide technical and documentation support to Countyled statutory public participation; Support incorporation of validated public inputs into revised drafts; Provide drafting and advisory support during County Executive and County Assembly consideration; Finalise Gazetteready instruments and a legislative support report. Stage 2 shall culminate in preparation of final Gazetteready policy, legislative and regulatory instruments and submission of a consolidated legislative support report confirming procedural compliance and readiness for enactment and gazettement. Statutory responsibility for public participation and legislative decisions always remains with the County Government. 5.0 DELIVERABLES The deliverables shall be executed in 2 stages. Each deliverable shall be subject to review, validation and written approval by the MultiSectoral Task Force prior to acceptance. 5.1 Stage 1 Deliverables Deliverable 1: Inception and Diagnostic Brief The Consultant shall submit an Inception Report confirming methodology, work plan and timelines, together with a Legal and Policy Diagnostic and a summary of prelegislative technical stakeholder consultations. The brief shall succinctly identify reform gaps, alignment requirements and how stakeholders input informed the drafting process. Deliverable 2: Draft Policy and Legislative Instruments The Consultant shall prepare a complete package of Gazetteready draft reform instruments, including a revised Isiolo County Water Policy, a draft Amendment Bill to the Isiolo Water and Sanitation Act (2020), draft County Assembly Memos, and draft subsidiary legislation with revised regulatory and operational guidelines for rural water service provision. Deliverable 3: Institutional and Transition Framework (Advisory Level) The Consultant shall develop a framework comprising the Institutional Model for CountyOwned Rural Water Companies, a phased Transition Strategy from communitybased management to utility modelsand licensing requirements. Deliverable 4: Consolidated Task Force Technical Report and Public Participation Guideline The Consultant shall submit a Consolidated Task Force Technical Report consolidating and validating all Stage 1 outputs, together with a Countyspecific Public Participation Guideline and Legislative Roadmap, confirming readiness to proceed to statutory public participation and County Assembly legislative processes. 5.2 Stage 2 Deliverables Deliverable 1: Public Participation Implementation Support and Reporting Package The Consultant shall provide Public Participation Implementation Support i.e., technical and facilitative support to Countyled public participation forums. This deliverable shall include Public Participation Reports and Minutes, together with a Public Participation Feedback Matrix documenting issues raised and how they were addressed or rationalised. Deliverable 2: PostParticipation Revised Drafts and Assembly Support Materials The Consultant shall revise all draft policy, legislative and regulatory instruments to reflect validated public inputs. In addition, the consultants shall prepare final County Assembly Memos and legislative support briefs to facilitate Executive approvals and County Assembly consideration. Deliverable 3: Final GazetteReady Reform Instruments and Legislative Support Report The Consultant shall submit final Gazetteready versions of the revised County Water Policy, Amendment Act, and rural water service regulations. together with a Final Consolidated Legislative Support Report confirming due process, consistency and readiness for enactment and gazettement. 6.0 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 6.1 Roles The County Government retains statutory authority for public participation, approvals, and enactment. The MultiSectoral Task Force provides technical oversight and formally validates Stage 1 outputs. The Consultant provides technical and advisory support only and assumes no decisionmaking or implementation role. Delays arising from County approval or legislative processes shall not be attributable to the Consultant. 6.1 Logistics Millenium Water Alliance shall cover: - Consultants fees and facilitating introducti Tender Link : https://reliefweb.int/job/4209432/consultancy-technical-legal-and-institutional-review-isiolo-county-water-act-policy-and-rural-water-service-delivery-frameworks-rapid
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