Expertise: drainage, wastewater and water system planning; wastewater and drainage, flood ng, urban geography, urban design, strategic urban analysis and planning, urban design, climate change adaptation planning adaptive urban infrastructure planning
Expertise Group: Engineering
Consultant Source: National
TOR Keywords: drainage, wastewater and water system planning; wastewater and drainage, flood defense and water supply infrastructure engineering design and operation; and solid waste management
Objective and Purpose of the Assignment
Designing a Sponge City Model for Thailand towards Urban Resilience.
The TA 10079 “Strengthening the Bio Circular-Green Economy of Thailand” will undertake capacity
development, policy studies, and rapid assessments of green project concepts that satisfy a climate
change agenda. Under the BCG TA. a number of project preparation technical assistance programs will be
undertaken. One such program is the Sponge City Program.
Thailand is among the countries most at risk to the impact of climate change. There is an urgent need
for urban adaptation to cope with flood, drought, and extreme urban heat. The sponge city concept and
multiple ecosystem service benefits from nature-based solutions (NBS) are effective measures for urban
resilience.
This assignment is for the Asian Development Bank to support the Government of Thailand with designing a
sponge city program with policies, technical guidelines and financing plans and support initial
framework plans for three to five pilot cities. The government is led by the National Economic and
Social Development Council (NESDC). The 5 pilot cities are (areas of) Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Phitsanulok,
Khon Kaen, and Surat Thani.
The consultant team will start with a kick off meeting in Bangkok with the steering committee and the
five pilot cities. Then they will go for one week each to each of the pilot cities and request for
briefings on the local situation and initial plans for flood risk management. They will carry out site
visits, initial analysis and offer and discuss initial ideas with each of the pilot cities. Then they
will prepare an interim report with a recommendation of which 3 pilot cities are most ready for going
deeper in phase 1 for a framework plan. Then they will prepare the 3 framework plans and the technical
guidelines and policy recommendations and mapping financing avenues. The consultants will conclude with
recommendations for next steps for implementing the Thailand Sponge City (Pilot) Program with discussion
on potential project pipeline and finance options. Towards the end of this initial technical assistance
stage the outputs and deliverables will be presented, and a second stage will be discussed with the
government.
Following the initial support, the potential for an ensuing project and pipeline and ADB financing
support will be discussed with the government and a project will be considered and prepared.
Scope of Work
The initial support has four outputs. Reports and workshops will be prepared in a consultative process
with NESDC, other national partner agencies, pilot cities and ADB. The four outputs are:
Output 1: Outline sponge city guidelines and policy recommendations for Thailand prepared. Under this
output draft technical guidelines and policy recommendations will be prepared by the international and
national consultants, in consultation with NESDC and pilot cities. International guidelines and policies
will be reviewed and assessed. They will be used as a base and adapted as relevant to Thailand and its
cities, climate and climate risk, urban pattern, development levels, infrastructure systems, governance
and institutional arrangements for urban and infrastructure planning, climate action, and urban and
utility management.
Output 2: Sponge city framework development for pilot cities and initial investment prioritization
strategy prepared. Under this output pilot cities will be receiving support for initial climate risk
assessment focusing on water-related disaster risks of flooding and dry periods, as well as on urban
heat, identifying key factors and hot spot locations and risks to urban infrastructure systems. This
will be followed by preparing adaptation and sponge city nature-based solutions frameworks and
investment prioritization proposals. In this initial stage about 3 pilot cities will be included and
further 2 or more pilot cities may follow afterwards.
Output 3: Financing avenues options for a national sponge city pilot program mapped. This output will
identify opportunities for financing instruments and financiers, including ADB and other development
partners, issuance of green bonds, land value capture mechanisms capitalizing on the benefits created
locally and other forms of sustainable local government finance and domestic resource mobilization.
Output 4: Capacity building and training provided. Under this output awareness will be raised and
training provided to NESDC, partner agencies and 5 or more pilot cities as identified by NESDC. At least
2 roundtable workshops and hands-on training for government and pilot cities’ officials will be arranged
and training provided on sponge city best practice from the PRC and other countries. Sample technical
guidelines, policies and financing structures will be presented and discussed.
Detailed Tasks and/or Expected Output
(i) Contribute with specific sector expertise to preparation and delivery of the four outputs and
provide significant contributions to report and presentation preparation (inception, draft final and
final reports, and associated presentations) and provide capacity building to national and local
government officials, training workshops; and proactively participate in consultations with NESDC,
partner agencies, pilot cities and ADB.
(ii) Contribute with the specific sector expertise to output 1: Outline sponge city guidelines and
policy recommendations for Thailand prepared: from a rainwater, drainage, wastewater and flood risk
management, water engineering and solid waste management (related to drainage system impact) perspective
(a) review sponge city guidelines from PRC and around the world from a drainage, wastewater management
and hydraulic function perspective; (b) assess applicability and relevance to Thailand’s cities from a
drainage and rainwater management, water engineering and related solid waste management perspective (as
solid waste may block drainage systems); and (c) conceptualize and prepare, together with the other team
members, outline guidelines tailored to the conditions and context in Thailand, i.e. urban wastewater
and drainage systems and related engineering practices and related water systems and solid waste
management; (d) assess policy relevance and applicability to Thailand’s governance system from an
institutional arrangement perspective for municipal engineering, infrastructure and services; and (e)
consult with NESDC, partner agencies, pilot cities and ADB and incorporate guidance into the related
report and presentation.
(iii) Contribute with the specific sector expertise to output 2: Sponge city framework for pilot cities
and initial investment prioritization strategy prepared: from a municipal engineering perspective (a)
review of urban masterplans, drainage plans, infrastructure development plans, drainage, wastewater,
solid waste management and water supply systems masterplans, as available; (b) carry out drainage and
wastewater system management and water supply and solid waste management system analysis, identify flood
risk hot spots based on local information and analysis of causes and results from the climate risk
assessment in close cooperation with the other consultants; identify opportunities for stormwater
retention and reuse as water resource after storm events, integrating with water supply system and
opportunities of treated wastewater reuse; (c) prepare draft rainwater management concept (together with
the urban planner and sponge city landscape design specialist), as an integrated gray infrastructure
system with the sponge city NBS green infrastructure framework plans and concepts of captured rainwater
reuse in fry periods and treated wastewater reuse, and as needed initial concepts for improved solod
waste management to reduce clogging up of drainage systems, with associated initial cost estimates and
identify priority investments based on implementability and most impact for money; and (d) outline a
workplan for specifying the priority initial sponge city proposals for implementation and discuss
financing options; and consult with NESDC, partner agencies, pilot cities and ADB and incorporate
guidance into the related report and presentation.
(iv) Advise from a municipal engineering perspective the economic and finance expert to output 3:
Financing avenues options for a national sponge city pilot program mapped: and consult with NESDC,
partner agencies, pilot cities and ADB and incorporate guidance into the related report and
presentation. And
(v) Contribute to output 4 with the specific sector expertise to the capacity development and training,
outline recommendations for next steps of preparing a national sponge city program for Thailand with
discussion on potential pipeline of project opportunities.
Minimum Qualification Requirements
- The national Municipal Engineer will have an academic graduate degree or above in municipal
engineering, or related field. - At least 8 years of relevant experience in technical design of drainage, wastewater and water system
planning; wastewater and drainage, flood defense and water supply infrastructure engineering design and
operation; and solid waste management especially as it relates to adverse impacts on drainage systems. - Good communication skills and excellent written and oral English is essential.
- Previous experience of working with international agencies such as ADB or in the private sector may
be an advantage.
Minimum General Experience: 8 Years
Minimum Specific Experience (relevant to assignment): 7 Years
