From water source identification to post-completion utility coaching — Zenas Engineering offers a complete, integrated suite of consultancy services across the full WaSH and urban infrastructure lifecycle.
Service 01
Zenas Engineering has designed and supervised water supply systems serving populations from rural communities to university campuses and regional towns of 60,000+ people. Our water supply services span source identification and hydrological assessment through full system design, procurement, and construction supervision.
We apply modern hydraulic modelling, demand analysis, and cost-recovery frameworks to ensure every system is engineered for long-term financial and operational sustainability — not just initial construction.
Feasibility & Source Assessment
Hydrological studies, hydrogeological surveys, source selection, yield analysis, and water quality assessment for surface and groundwater sources.
System Design & Engineering
Intake structures, rising mains, transmission lines, service reservoirs, pump stations, chemical treatment plants, and distribution networks.
Network Analysis & SCADA
Hydraulic network modelling, pressure zone design, flow optimisation, metering systems, NRW reduction strategies, and SCADA integration planning.
Tender & Contract Documents
Full BOQ preparation, technical specifications, FIDIC contract documentation, drawings packages, and procurement support for civil and E/M works.
Key Deliverables
Reference Projects
Typical Clients
Regional Water Bureaus · Municipalities · Universities · UNICEF · World Bank Programs · NGOs
Service 02
Sanitation is the cornerstone of Zenas Engineering's portfolio. We have designed liquid waste management systems for cities with populations exceeding 160,000, developed sanitation master plans for 7-town programmes, and supervised the construction of public sanitation infrastructure across all regions of Ethiopia.
Our approach integrates the full sanitation service chain — from household-level technologies to citywide septage treatment plant design — always anchored in CWIS (Citywide Inclusive Sanitation) principles and the operational realities of Ethiopian municipalities.
Wastewater Master Planning
City-level liquid waste management plans including demand projections, technology selection, phased investment plans, and institutional arrangements.
Septage Treatment Plant Design
Detail design of fecal sludge and septage treatment facilities including site selection, process design, civil and E/M works, leachate systems, and sludge disposal plans.
Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS)
Citywide WASH service plans, sanitation strategy, technology options guidelines, CWIS training for utility staff, and business model development for urban utilities.
Sewer Network & WWTP
Conventional sewer network design, simplified sewer options, wastewater treatment plant design, effluent standards compliance, and reuse planning.
Key Deliverables
Reference Projects
Typical Clients
City Administrations · USAID · WaterAid · UNICEF · Water Utilities · Environmental Agencies
Service 03
Zenas Engineering has supervised construction contracts ranging from small water points to large multi-year infrastructure programs. Our supervision teams are deployed on-site with authority to act — enforcing specifications, managing variations, and protecting client interests throughout the construction period.
We operate under internationally recognised FIDIC contract conditions and follow rigorous QA/QC protocols for civil, electromechanical, and structural works — including materials testing, compliance audits, and as-built certification before handover.
Supervision Scope Coverage
| Civil Works | Concrete structures, masonry, pipelines, earthworks, roads, drainage channels |
| Electromechanical | Pump installation, generator sets, control panels, valve chambers, SCADA commissioning |
| Structural | Reservoir tanks, pump houses, treatment plant structures, dams, administration buildings |
| Contract Admin | Variation orders, extension of time, payment certificates, dispute resolution, final accounts |
| QA/QC | Materials testing, inspection checklists, defects tracking, non-conformance reports, as-built certification |
Key Deliverables
Reference Projects
Service 04
Beyond hard engineering, Zenas provides strategic advisory and institutional development services that help clients translate infrastructure investments into sustainable service delivery. This spans sector policy analysis, business plan development for water utilities, tariff setting, and investment feasibility studies for domestic and international funding.
Our advisory assignments have been commissioned by UNICEF, USAID, WaterAid, Aqua for All, and multiple regional water bureaus — reflecting trust in Zenas' ability to navigate Ethiopia's complex institutional landscape and produce practical, implementable recommendations.
Water Utility Business Plans
Full cost-recovery business plans, financial projections, tariff design, O&M budgets, revenue models, and institutional structuring for urban water and sanitation utilities.
Investment Planning & Feasibility
National and city-level investment plans, sector assessments, pre-feasibility studies, financing frameworks, and donor-ready project preparation documents.
Sector Policy & Institutional Advisory
Sector performance reviews, regulatory analysis, policy gap identification, governance reform recommendations, and guidelines development for national programs.
Baseline Surveys & Assessments
Household-level WaSH surveys, service level assessments, utility performance evaluations, and capacity needs assessments for government and donor programs.
Key Deliverables
Reference Projects
Service 05
Every infrastructure project Zenas designs or supervises includes full environmental and social due diligence. Our qualified environmentalists and social scientists prepare ESIAs compliant with Ethiopian regulations and donor safeguard frameworks (World Bank, AfDB, UNICEF).
We manage stakeholder engagement processes in multiple local languages, design grievance redress mechanisms, and prepare abbreviated or full resettlement action plans where land acquisition is involved — minimising project risk and protecting affected communities.
ESIA Preparation
Full Environmental and Social Impact Assessments covering biophysical baseline, impact prediction and mitigation, monitoring plans, and regulatory compliance.
Resettlement Action Plans
Abbreviated and full RAPs including census of affected persons, asset inventory, compensation valuation, relocation planning, and livelihood restoration.
Stakeholder Engagement
Public consultations, inter-agency coordination, community focus groups, beneficiary assessments, multilingual facilitation, and stakeholder mapping.
Environmental Monitoring
Construction phase environmental monitoring, compliance audits, reporting to regulators and donors, and post-construction environmental checks.
Key Deliverables
Safeguard Frameworks
Service 06
Spatial data is increasingly central to WASH planning and infrastructure management in Ethiopia. Zenas Engineering integrates GIS-based asset mapping, hydrogeological surveys, and geospatial analysis into its engineering projects — enabling evidence-based decision-making and long-term asset management by client organisations.
Our team holds Total Station survey equipment and computing resources for GIS processing, and has produced geospatial deliverables for UNICEF, USAID, and regional water bureaus.
GIS Asset Mapping
Water and sanitation asset inventory mapping, network GIS, infrastructure condition surveys, and utility asset register development.
Hydrogeological Surveys
Groundwater exploration, borehole siting, aquifer characterisation, yield testing, and groundwater resource assessment for WASH schemes.
Topographic & Engineering Surveys
Total station surveys, contour mapping, alignment surveys, cross-sections, and site layout for engineering design and construction.
Service Area Mapping & Planning
Population distribution mapping, demand zoning, service level spatial analysis, and utility service area boundary delineation.
Key Deliverables
Our Equipment
Service 07
Zenas Engineering's most sustained projects have been multi-year capacity building assignments with UNICEF and international partners — coaching water utilities in Gambella, Somali Region, and nationally to achieve full operational and financial self-sufficiency.
We develop practical tools, systems, and knowledge — not just reports. Our assignments deliver trained staff, functioning management information systems, completed business plans, and institutions that continue to perform after the consultancy ends.
Utility Management Coaching
On-the-job coaching of utility managers and technical staff in financial management, O&M planning, billing systems, and customer service delivery.
Institutional Development
Organisational structuring, staff role definition, HR systems, governance frameworks, and board development for water service providers.
Technical Training Programs
Structured training in CWIS planning, water quality testing, pipe network maintenance, financial management, and community engagement.
Technology Transfer
Introduction of management information systems, billing software, GIS tools, and digital O&M records — tailored to low-resource environments.
Key Deliverables
Reference Assignments
Service 08
Zenas Engineering provides end-to-end project and contract management services for water and sanitation infrastructure programs — acting as the client's representative to ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to specification.
Our project managers have direct experience with FIDIC conditions of contract, donor-funded procurement rules (UNCITRAL, World Bank, UNICEF), and Ethiopian public procurement regulations — enabling seamless navigation of complex multi-stakeholder environments.
Work Programme Management
Baseline schedules, progress monitoring, delay analysis
Procurement Support
Tender document preparation, bid evaluation, contract award
PMIS & Reporting
Management information systems, donor reporting, dashboards
Risk Management
Risk registers, mitigation plans, change management
Financial Controls
Interim payment certificates, cost tracking, budget reconciliation
Stakeholder Coordination
Government liaison, community engagement, donor communication
Key Deliverables
Procurement Frameworks
Regardless of scale or sector, our project delivery follows a consistent, quality-assured methodology that has been refined over 21 years of engineering practice in Ethiopia, delivered by our 17-strong core team and a network of 20+ specialist freelance experts.
Desk review, site visits, stakeholder interviews, and context analysis to define the problem accurately before any solution is proposed.
Technically rigorous engineering design, feasibility analysis, and option selection — balancing performance, cost, and operational sustainability.
On-site supervision, quality assurance, contract administration, and active risk management to ensure construction meets design intent.
Post-construction capacity building, utility coaching, and advisory support to ensure the infrastructure continues to perform and generate value.
Whether you're planning a national WASH assessment, a city water supply upgrade, or need a construction supervisor — Zenas Engineering has the experience and team to deliver.