Expertise: Water Resources Management
Expertise Group: Agriculture/Rural Development
Consultant Source: National
TOR Keywords: Water Resources Specialist, Hydrologist
Objective and Purpose of the Assignment
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) requested the Asian Development Bank (ADB)’s
assistance in developing criteria lists and guidelines for water resources assessment and classification
in response to the pressing challenges in water resources management issues.
Vietnam’s rapid economic and social growth has intensified pressure on its water sources, leading to
disputes and management challenges among competing demands from various sectors. Issues such as
untreated wastewater discharge from domestic, urban, and rural sources, inadequate agricultural and
aquacultural waste management, overexploitation driven by population growth and urbanization, and
climate change-induced droughts have significantly degraded many rivers and reservoirs. This degradation
not only diminishes the ecological functions of water bodies and environmental consequences, but also
imposes substantial economic losses. According to World Bank (2019) , water pollution could reduce
Vietnam’s GDP by 4.3% annually with further projections of 2.5% by 2035 if no effective interventions
take place.
In response to critical water resource management challenges, the Government of Vietnam has enacted the
Law on Water Resources 2023 aimed at meeting the escalating demand for water sustainably. Article 34 of
this law mandates the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) to identify and prioritize
the restoration of degraded, depleted, and polluted water resources. Plans and programs for river
restoration derived from this list are to be developed and submitted for approval by the Prime Minister.
The proposed assignment will assist the Government of Vietnam in strengthening sustainable water
resources management and restoration efforts. Specifically, it will support developing criteria,
methodological framework, and national guidelines for assessing and classifying water resources.
Scope of Work
The proposed assignment will be conducted by a team of individual consultants working closely with MONRE
and other relevant Vietnamese authorities. The consultants will conduct a comprehensive review and
analysis of Vietnam’s current water resources situation and develop a set of criteria for assessing and
classifying water resources based on sample collection and analysis, hydrological modelling, ecological
factors, climate change impacts, and socio-economic considerations. The consultants will validate and
pilot testing of these criteria in at least two river basins and develop a national guideline for
widespread application. Overall, the consultants will:
• Maintain close coordination with ADB, MONRE and other relevant stakeholders throughout the assignment
with regular updates and reports on key milestone;
• Prepare a detailed methodology and work plan outlining the approach for completing the assignment,
including identifying and mapping key stakeholders and their roles, establishing coordination and
communication plan, and setting key milestones;
• Consolidate baseline information through field visits and review of available data, government
policies, and relevant materials on water resources assessment methodologies and their application in
Viet Nam. Provide an analysis of strength, weaknesses, and gaps in the current practices. Incorporating
international best practices and lessons learned applicable to the Vietnamese context
• Develop a draft methodology for water resources assessment and classification. This includes compiling
a comprehensive list of criteria for surface water and groundwater resources classification, defining
different types of classifications and specify varying levels of criteria requirements corresponding to
each type based on levels of degradation, pollution, and depletion, develop a plan for monitoring and
collecting data.
• Communicate the draft methodology with MONRE and other stakeholders and solicit feedback and input to
refine and improve the draft.
• Pilot the methodology and criteria lists in at least two river basins, including groundwater resources
to validate the effectiveness and applicability of the developed criteria.
• Finalize the methodology and criteria based on feedback received and lessons learned from pilot
tests.
• Prepare comprehensive guidelines for nationwide application of the finalized methodology and criteria
lists.
Detailed Tasks and/or Expected Output
• Review existing studies, analyses, and policy frameworks related to integrated water resources
management (IWRM), flood management, and natural resources management within the river basins of
Vietnam. Obtain and analyze available surveys, maps, hydrological data, and relevant environmental
reports.
• Conduct hydrological and hydraulic modeling to assess water flow regimes, flood risks, and the impact
of climate change on water resources within targeted river basins, ensuring that models are accurately
calibrated and verified.
• Identify, collect, and quality control hydrological and meteorological data to support the
investigation of water availability, seasonal flow variations, and potential water scarcity issues,
particularly under various climate scenarios.
• Evaluate and describe the integrated water flow and flood regimes within the river basins, with a
focus on upstream and downstream interactions, sediment transport, and the impact of land-use changes on
water resources.
• Conduct assessments of water availability and environmental flow regimes for key river systems,
ensuring sustainable water allocation for ecological, agricultural, and industrial needs, particularly
in areas prone to droughts or over-extraction.
• Develop and calibrate integrated water resource management models that incorporate meteorological,
hydrological, and hydraulic data to simulate various scenarios, including the impact of infrastructure
development and land-use changes on water resources.
• Update and refine the integrated water resources management models to include the latest topographic,
hydrological, and land-use data, ensuring comprehensive coverage of all critical areas, especially those
where water resources are under threat.
• Support the design and implementation of IWRM and flood management interventions by providing
technical guidance on best practices, modeling outcomes, and scenario analysis to government agencies
and other stakeholders.
• Perform detailed assessments of water-related hazards such as flooding, droughts, and water pollution,
including their potential impacts on communities, infrastructure, and ecosystems under current and
projected future conditions.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of water management plans by defining the scope of
necessary surveys, overseeing data collection, and ensuring the quality and relevance of modeling
outputs for decision-making.
• Assist in the preparation of feasibility studies and technical reports that outline strategies for
sustainable water resources management, incorporating international best practices and tailored
recommendations for Vietnam’s river basins.
• Undertake other relevant work requested by ADB and/or Team leader.
Minimum Qualification Requirements
The specialist will have (i) an advanced degree or relevant qualification in water resources management,
hydrology, environmental engineering, or other related fields; (ii) more than 10 years of work
experience in designing integrated and watershed projects which require harmonization of integrated
water resources management, and flood management, water-based, and land-based natural resources
management, upstream, and downstream cooperation, (iii) proficiency in water modeling GIS for spatial
analysis; (iv) experienced in integrating meteorological, hydrological, and hydraulic models; (v) recent
experience working in determination of environmental flow regime over river basin in Vietnam; (vi)
network of relevant professional expertise and ability to work effectively with government agencies and
other stakeholders including local communities, civil society, and the private sector; and (vii)
familiarity with international standards and best practices in water resources management. The
specialist will have strong command of spoken and written English, including the ability to conduct oral
presentations and produce written reports of high-quality.
Minimum General Experience: 10 Years
Minimum Specific Experience (relevant to assignment): 10 Years
