BURKINA FASO: INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT-SANITATION GHG DATA MANAGEMENT EXPERT

Please note that the deadline is based on Korean Standard Time Zone (KST, UTC+9)

INTRODUCTION TO GGGI

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization dedicated to supporting and promoting strong, inclusive and sustainable economic growth in developing countries and emerging economies. To learn more please visit about GGGI web page. 

PROJECT BACKGROUND

With financial support from the Gates Foundation, GGGI is implementing the "Sanitation through Climate Resilience and Green Growth Phase II” project in Senegal, Burkina Faso, and Cote d’Ivoire. This project is a second phase, building on a pilot investment in Nepal and Senegal, which focused on piloting an approach to embedding sanitation in the climate dialogue and covering three key areas: 1) policy, 2) urban planning, and 3) climate investment mobilization. While the work on policy and planning produced highly valuable and concrete results in both countries, the work on investment mobilization through climate investors was less successful.
This second phase, in line with the Government’s priorities in the target countries, aims to contribute to reducing GHG emissions from the sanitation sector and improving livelihoods by mainstreaming sanitation into national development planning, creating an enabling environment for sustainable infrastructure investments and operations including through improved access to climate financing, and regional knowledge sharing. This will be achieved through the following intended outcomes:
Outcome 1: Enhanced understanding of climate-resilience opportunities in the sanitation sector in the region by strengthening the platform for sharing and knowledge approach to further climate- sanitation nexus narrative, Outcome 2: Mainstreamed sanitation into national/local strategy, MRV system and updated NDCs., Outcome 3: Disseminated innovative and climate-friendly sanitation technologies suitable for local markets in the target countries.
Since its launch in September 2023, with an expected end date in December 2025, the project has enabled Burkina Faso to: (i) conduct a gap assessment of the MRV system for the sanitation sector; (ii) establish a synergy with the Ministry of Environment to support the nationwide Survey on Water, Hygiene, and Sanitation, with the aim of strengthening the integrated monitoring and evaluation system—particularly in improving sanitation activity data; (iii) collaborate with the Laboratory of Physics and Environmental Chemistry (LPCE) for the development of emission factors for sanitation; and (iv) build the capacity of stakeholders on the sanitation–climate nexus.

Sanitation systems, including all components across the sanitation service chain, from containment and conveyance to treatment and final disposal or resource recovery, contribute to a significant but often underrecognized share of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (Lambiasi et al. 2024). These emissions are primarily composed of nitrous oxide (N₂O) and methane (CH₄), which have global warming potentials (GWP) over a 100-year time horizon of 273 and 28, respectively (IPCC, 2023).
Globally, wastewater and sludge management are estimated to generate approximately 257 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂-eq), representing about 1.3% of total anthropogenic GHG emissions (Ritchie et al., 2020). In Burkina Faso, according to the fourth national inventory report (NIR4) and the first Biennial Transparency Report (BTR), GHG emissions from the sanitation sector are estimated at 908 thousand tons of CO₂-eq, accounting for 1.8% of the country’s national GHG emissions. Between 1990 and 2022, emissions from this sector increased by 92%, corresponding to an average annual growth rate of 2.2%

Although GHG emissions from sanitation systems have historically been relatively minor compared to other sectors, recent trends indicate a growing share in global emissions (Lambiasi et al. 2024, Moore et al. 2023). This is particularly evident in regions such as South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, where significant sanitation infrastructure gaps persist amid rapid population growth and urbanization (Reid et al. 2014). In these contexts, emissions from sanitation systems are expected to rise, primarily due to the widespread use of pit latrines.
However, the considerable diversity and variability of sanitation technologies and practices pose substantial challenges to meet the data requirements for accurate GHG inventory development within the sanitation category. As a result, estimation uncertainties remain high, with uncertainty levels reported at 42.43% for methane and 252.79% for nitrous oxide within the Burkina Faso’s NIR4. These high uncertainty levels are largely attributable to limited knowledge of the national sanitation system, including both infrastructure and user practices, leading to heavy reliance on default activity data and emission factors.

Against this backdrop of limited control and understanding of emissions from the sanitation sector, climate policies tend to give it only marginal attention, despite established linkage between sanitation and climate change. Enhancing the capacity to produce, monitor and manage data on GHG emissions, coupled with a better understanding of mitigation and adaptation potential from sanitation, is essential to better integrate sanitation into national climate policy frameworks.

To achieve this, it is crucial to progressively address the shortcomings of the sanitation sector’s MRV system. Key issues include poor data coverage and representativeness, outdated datasets, and limited data sharing among stakeholders. Among the various options for improvement, stronger coordination between stakeholders and better use of existing data sources could significantly enhance the availability and quality of activity data.
Indeed, Burkina Faso, through the National Institute of Statistics and Demography (INSD), has regularly conducted household living standards surveys since the 1990s, and to a lesser extent some sanitation related surveys. Additional valuable data sources include research outputs (such as academic theses and journal articles), project reports, and program evaluations, many of which contain relevant sanitation data. Unfortunately, these sources are not consistently or effectively taken into consideration in sanitation greenhouse gases inventories.

OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT

This study, conducted as part of the above-mentioned project, aims to process the available datasets such as the ENEHA, ENA, INO, RGPH, EHCVM, EMC, etc. to extract and make available activity data in quality and quantity to improve the accuracy and quality of GHG emissions estimates for the sanitation sector in Burkina Faso. These improved GHG emission statistics will support the development of baseline, future emission, and mitigation scenarios as part of the revision of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and more broadly, will enhance climate policy planning in the sanitation sector.
Under the guidance of the GGGI Burkina Faso’s Country Representative in Ouagadougou, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Water and Sanitation (MEEA), the Permanent Secretariat of the National Council for Sustainable Development ( SP/CNDD), the National Institute of Statistics and Demography (INSD), the Directorate General for the Sanitation of Wastewater and Excreta (DGAEUE), the National Office of Water and Sanitation (ONEA) the Consultant will:

• Map potential data sources, including statistical surveys, studies, and reports that may contain relevant sanitation-related information, and collect the associated datasets.
• Develop a list of key activity data indicators, in accordance with Volume 5 of the IPCC Guidelines, that can be extracted from these datasets.
• Construct statistical time series on sanitation-related activity data using validated methodologies, covering a long-term period, ideally from 1990 to the present, to enable a comprehensive understanding of the evolution and dynamics of the sanitation system in Burkina Faso.

SCOPE OF WORK

• Assess the activity data requirements for source category 4D. Wastewater Treatment and Discharge, in accordance with Chapter 6 of Volume 5 of the 2019 Refinement to the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories.
• Establish a list of key indicators along with potential data sources. For illustrative purposes, under sub-category 4D1-Domestic Wastewater Treatment and Discharge, the consultant will identify relevant databases and information sources that provide data on the dynamics of wastewater treatment and discharge systems, considering differences in residential area (urban and rural) and living standards. Within this sub-category, the consultant will ensure the inclusion of data required to estimate the Correction factor for industrial Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) discharged in sewers. This will involve efforts to collect and analyze activity reports from the wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs, Step in French) in Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso, as well as any relevant available studies.
• For the sub-category 4D2-Industrial Wastewater Treatment and Discharge, the consultant will gather information to support improved estimation of wastewater volumes generated by different industrial sectors, as well as a better understanding of the wastewater treatment systems currently in place.
• Map all relevant stakeholders and conduct consultations with them
• Organize and facilitate workshops and working sessions with stakeholders
• Define and validate, for each selected indicator, the nationally accepted concept
• Define and validate the calculation methods for each selected indicator, including techniques for addressing missing data
• Process the databases and compile statistical time series of sanitation activity da ota, including quality indicators, covering the reference period from 1990 to 2024
• Propose recommendations to operate existing institutional arrangements for the production and sharing of priority sanitation activity data

DELIVERALES AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE

The Consultant will report to the GGGI Country Representative, the project team based in Ouagadougou and to the Project Manager in the Africa Regional Office. She/he is expected to deliver the following outputs per identified timeline and payment schedule below: 

All reports must be in French and English (United States usage), prepared in accordance with GGGI’s formatting requirements, and submitted in electronic formats along with complete sets of raw data, research materials, and related information. An executive summary in English and French should be included.

EXPERTISE REQUIRED

• Advanced academic background in statistics, data science, environmental engineering, economics, or a related field.
• Excellent knowledge of greenhouse gas inventory techniques in the waste and sanitation sector
• Excellent understanding of the 2019 Refinement to the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories and manuals, including estimation of emissions from wastewater treatment
• Demonstrated professional experience in conducting greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories in the sanitation sector or related fields.
• Proven experience in statistical data analysis and the processing of large datasets, preferably in sanitation and environmental areas.
• Experience in processing data from surveys and censuses conducted in Burkina Faso, such as ENEHA, ENA, INO, RGPH, EHCVM, and EMCis considered an asset.
• Proficiency in statistical software and data processing tools (e.g., R, Python, Stata, SPSS, Excel, SQL)
• Experience in managing and analyzing time series data, including the handling of missing or inconsistent data
• Familiarity with national and international data sources relevant to sanitation and wastewater management (e.g., national statistical offices, WHO/UNICEF JMP, WB, etc.)
• Experience in developing or validating indicators, including methodological documentation and metadata preparation
• Ability to synthesize findings and prepare clear and structured technical reports
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, including the ability to work collaboratively with institutions and national authorities

FUNCTIONAL

• Strong analytical skills of both quantitative and qualitative data; strong writing and presentation skills
• Proven capability to meet deadlines and work under pressure
• A strong track record in undertaking research, analyzing country trends and drawing lessons learned with experience of writing evidence-based reports and policy documents
• Excellent facilitation and capacity-building skills.
• Exceptional planning and strategical skills oriented towards the effective and timely delivery of agreed outputs.
• Able to communicate complex information and ideas clearly and articulately both in oral and written form. Uses appropriate language, style and methods depending on audience and the purpose of communication.
• Ability to share learning and provide constructive feedback that can cross-pollinate program´s workstreams.
• Seeks opportunities to improve process and outcomes. Constantly reviews performance to identify areas to develop.
• Ability to work across multiple projects and have a flexible approach to tasks given.
• Fast learner, quick to adapt to new environment, systems and bring immediate contribution.

CORPORATE

• Understand and actively support GGGI's mission, vision, and values.
• Strong and matured interpersonal skills and proven ability to work with multi-cultural teams.
• Maintains high accountability and transparency standards, pursues objectives with technical, independent criteria and prioritizes goals with environmental and social criteria in mind.
• Promote an organizational culture of trust, transparency, respect, and partnership.
• Process and share information easily.
• Manage emotions and stress positively, build rapport and resolve conflict easily.
• Promote creativity and innovation among staff.

 ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

• Documents to be submitted (Online application)
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) maximum 3 pagers highlighting experience in line with the assignment
• Cover letter
• Proposed one page work plan, indicating applicant’s understanding of the TOR; approach to the assignment; the indicative timeline to achieve deliverables.
• Note: Female Candidates are strongly encouraged to apply