Objective and Purpose of the Assignment
 | 1. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will engage consultants following the ADB Procurement Policy (2017, as amended from time to time) and its associated project administration instructions and/or staff instructions. ADB will lead the identification, evaluation, and selection of the technical assistance (TA) consultants. This Terms of Reference (TOR) refers to the consulting service under Output 3, using individual consultants’ recruitment. 2. ADB will supervise and monitor the consultants’ output to be delivered. The output will be reviewed by both the executing agency and ADB, and the consultants will incorporate comments and suggestions before finalizing the deliverables. 3. There are three outputs under the TA: (i) sector regulatory capacity developed; (ii) Dushanbevodokanal management effectiveness improved; and (iii) Dushanbevodokanal’s climate adaptive capacity increased. A multidisciplinary team of international and national experts will be recruited to develop and implement TA activities under Output 3. Output 1 is sector regulatory capacity developed and Output 2 is Dushanbevodokanal management effectiveness improved. 4. Output 3: Dushanbevodokanal’s climate adaptive capacity increased. The output’s objective is to build resilience at DVK and ensure that WSS investments adequately address climate change and disaster risks. The TA will undertake a systems-level resilience analysis of DVK, develop risk-based investment planning and processes, and embed climate actions into corporate and operational documents. The TA team, in close coordination with DVK, will collect data, hold consultations, develop climate models, assess climate change impact and vulnerability, identify risk mitigation measures, prepare reports and presentations, and organize training workshops to increase awareness of climate change risks and disaster risk management. Based on these assessments, the TA will support the feasibility and preliminary design of a Type 2B adaptation project. 5. International and national consultants will conduct systems-level climate resilience analysis, stakeholder consultations, identification of priority projects, and carry out the feasibility study covering concept design, in addition to required ADB due diligence with respect to economic, financial, environment safeguards, social safeguards, gender, social development, climate change and procurement. The consultants will also prepare draft documents for ADB’s RRP including related sector assessment, problem tree, cost estimates, and timeline. The team leader will be responsible for overall coordination of the team of consultants, overall quality of documentation prepared, and liaison with the client and other consultants. In collaboration with the DVK engineering team, the consultants will prepare strategic procurement planning, draft procurement plan, preliminary design incorporating climate proofing measures with bill of quantities, cost estimates and proposed packaging of all civil works, goods and consultancy services completed in all respect and accepted by the DVK and ADB. The deliverables will be a joint responsibility of the implementing agency, and international and national consultants. 6. The consultants will be responsible for completing feasibility study and ensuring compliance with ADB and government requirements. The feasibility study will involve conceptual and preliminary design for a priority project based on the climate change risk assessment. It is essential that the work complements the outputs of climate change experts, with the aim of enhancing DVK’s resilience at the system level. |
Scope of Work
| The specialist will have a strong grasp of climate policy frameworks, nationally determined contributions (NDCs), and related institutions in Tajikistan or similar countries in water sector. The specialist will conduct necessary reviews, assessment, consultations, and capacity building to identify and recommend a climate-oriented business model. |
Detailed Tasks and/or Expected Output
| The specialist’s tasks are expected to include, but not be limited to the following: (i) Provide inputs to the Team Leader for the overall preparation of the project. (ii) Develop a template for diagnostics of climate-related engineering design variables for vulnerable infrastructure components specific for water utilities. (iii) Guided by the team leader, prepare preliminary engineering designs and drawings for the proposed infrastructure under the projection, with indicative bill of quantity. (iv) Ensure hydraulic modelling incorporates climate change projections and estimate the corresponding incremental costs. (v) Propose for the necessary institutional and human resources capacity enhancements required to ensure sustainability of the proposed investments. (vi) Work closely with environment and social safeguards specialists for integration of social and environmental safeguards considerations. (vii) Provide inputs to the Procurement Specialist, the financial Expert, and the Team Leader for the preparation of a procurement plan. (viii) Provide the Involuntary Resettlement team with information, data, and layouts regarding rights-of- way for pipelines if any. (ix) Provide the IA with the required technical assistance throughout the period required for the completion of the Feasibility Study documents. (x) Assist in drafting the relevant sections of RRP and linked documents and provide relevant reports as needed |
Minimum Qualification Requirements
| The specialist will have an advanced degree (preferably master’s degree) in environmental policy, economics, engineering, or related field. The specialist will have a strong grasp of climate policy frameworks, nationally determined contributions (NDCs), and related institutions in Tajikistan or similar countries in water sector. The specialist will have strong communication skills. The specialist must have a graduate degree in civil engineering, urban planning, economics, geography, or related field, with 10 years of relevant professional experience in water project design of resilient urban infrastructure and services, climate change adaptation, and investment planning at the international level. Country and regional experience is preferred. |
