International Environmental Specialist - River Safeguards and Free-Flowing River Assessment

Expertise: International Environmental Specialist, e-flow specialist
Expertise Group: Biological Sciences & Ecology

Consultant Source: International
TOR Keywords: biological science, river safeguards assessment

Objective and Purpose of the Assignment

The Environmental and Social Framework (ESF), approved by the ADB Board of Directors on 22 November
2024, will supersede the Safeguard Policy Statement (2009) (SPS) upon its effectiveness on 1 January
2026—or later determined by Management after confirming the readiness to implement the ESF and following
Board consultations. ADB has developed a 3-year plan for the rollout and implementation of ESF to
enhance ADB staff, developing member countries (DMCs), and private sector clients’ capacity for
implementing the ESF across ADB-financed projects.

ESF requires projects to avoid, and where avoidance is not possible, minimize, mitigate, and/or offset
adverse environmental and social impacts. It also includes provisions to ensure that projects located in
Free-Flowing Rivers (FFR) longer than 500 km are ineligible for financing. Effective implementation of
these safeguards requires careful screening of project impacts and risks on biodiversity, hydrology, and
ecosystem services.

ADB seeks to recruit a consultant to support two key activities:

• Developing and finalizing a Good Practice Note (GPN) on environmental and social safeguards for
  projects affecting rivers, including best practices in environmental flow (E-flow) assessment,
  mitigation, and management.
• Developing a guidance/toolbox to identify and assess Free-Flowing Rivers longer than 500 km to
  facilitate their inclusion in ADB’s ineligibility list.

Scope of Work

The consultant will work under the supervision of the Senior Environment Specialist and Director,
Environment and Safeguards, OSPT. The consultant will support the development of guidance and tools
related to the safeguard management of rivers, particularly in relation to flow modification,
biodiversity impacts, and project eligibility screening.

Detailed Tasks and/or Expected Output

The consultant will perform the following tasks:

Task 1: Development of a Good Practice Note (GPN) on Safeguards for Projects Affecting Rivers

i) Develop best-practice guidance for environmental and social impact assessment of projects impacting
river flow, biodiversity, and ecosystem services.
ii) Develop recommendations for ADB’s safeguards to strengthen provisions on E-flow management and
mitigation strategies.
iii) Draft and finalize the Good Practice Note, incorporating feedback from ADB staff and stakeholders.

Task 2: Development of a Guidance/Toolbox for Identifying Free-Flowing Rivers (FFR) Longer than 500 km

i) Define criteria and methodologies for identifying Free-Flowing Rivers using hydrological, ecological,
and GIS-based assessments.
ii) Develop a screening framework for projects to assess river flow modifications and ensure compliance
with ADB’s ineligibility criteria.
iii)Identify and map rivers longer than 500 km in ADB’s operational regions that meet Free-Flowing River
criteria.
iv) Develop a user-friendly toolbox (GIS tools, checklists, and decision-support frameworks) for
operational departments to apply in project screening and eligibility assessment.
v) Provide training and capacity-building materials to facilitate ADB staff and client understanding of
the toolbox and screening process.

Deliverables

The consultant will provide the following outputs:

1. Good Practice Note on Environmental and Social Safeguards for Projects Affecting Rivers, including
   case studies, best practices, and policy recommendations.
2. Guidance and Toolbox for Identifying and Screening Free-Flowing Rivers, including a database of
   eligible rivers, GIS-based assessment criteria, and project screening methodologies.
3. Training and Technical Support Materials, including presentations, workshops, and briefing notes to
   enhance ADB staff and client capacity in applying the guidance.
4. Consultation and Stakeholder Engagement Support, including drafting materials for stakeholder
   feedback sessions and responding to comments.

Assignment Delivery Process

Part A:

• The consultant will submit a draft work plan within 1 week of assignment commencement, to be reviewed
  and endorsed by the ADB team.
• Regular progress check-ins will be scheduled to track deliverables and address feedback.
• Draft outputs will be submitted within agreed timeframes, allowing sufficient time for review and
  revisions before finalization.

Part B:

• Additional technical support may be provided on an as-needed basis during project due diligence and
  safeguards implementation.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

• Master’s degree or higher in biological sciences, hydrology, ecology, or a related field.
• At least 10 years of experience in river ecosystem management, environmental flows assessment, and
  safeguards implementation.
• Experience working with international financial institutions on safeguard policies is highly desirable.
• Proven expertise in GIS-based hydrological assessments and river classification methodologies.

Minimum General Experience: 10 Years
Minimum Specific Experience (relevant to assignment): 10 Years