Expertise: water management, flood management
Expertise Group: Engineering
Consultant Source: National
TOR Keywords: flood management, flood mitigation, flood control, water management, drainage engineering
Objective and Purpose of the Assignment
Objective/Purpose of the Assignment:
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is supporting the Government of Samoa with its integrated flood
management objectives through the approval of the Alaoa Multi-Purpose Dam Project (Alaoa MPDP) on 11
June 2024 with a grant of USD$100.1 million, which became effective on 16 August 2024 to 31 January
- The Alaoa Multipurpose Dam is planned to be constructed on the eastern branch of the Vaisigano River, on
Upolu Island, Samoa. The project will have the following outputs: (i) multi-purpose dam constructed for
flood retention and seasonal water supply, (ii) small hydropower plant (SHP) generation capacity added,
(iii) project management capacity strengthened, and (iv) flood management systems, capacity, and
biodiversity conservation and management enhanced.
It is envisaged that the dam will regulate about 17 sq. km. of the total catchment area, around 50% of
the entire Vaisigano River catchment. The dam structure will comprise a 320m long, 59.6 m high (from the
deepest foundation level to the top of the non-overflow portion of the dam) roller compacted concrete
dam, with 62 m long un-gated spillway section and a 258-m long total non-overflow section. Based on the
downstream consequences, the dam is considered a high hazard dam, and as a result, it has been designed
for the most extreme flood and earthquake loading to ensure its safety.
Separately, in 2025-26, ADB will prepare the Samoa:- Vaisigano River Integrated Flood Risk Management
Project (grant) to provide flood mitigation works for the lower Vaisigano River within Apia.
The Flood Management Specialist will contribute to the overall goal of improving flood management in the
project area, ie the eight catchments that drain the Greater Apia area. The Flood Management Specialist
will be a technical advisor under the Project Management Support Unit (PMSU), assisting in the overall
management of Output 4(i) of the Alaoa MPD Project, i.e. the Flood Risk Management Study (FRMS) for
Greater Apia, Samoa. This FRMS study is a 3+ year engineering consultancy package which also includes a
Disaster Risk Management and Community component and will be commissioned in 2025 to an international
engineering consultancy firm. The primary role of the Flood Management Specialist will be to manage the
FRMS.
The FRMS for Apia (Output 4(i) of the Alaoa MPDP) will cover the following:
Output 4A: Comprehensive Flood Risk Management Plan (FRMP) for the Greater Apia area developed. The FRMP
will cover river (fluvial) flood risk, rainfall and drainage (pluvial) flood risk, where relevant,
groundwater flood risk and coastal flood risk, and their compound impact. The FRMP will cover all eight
catchments that drain the Greater Apia area. The updated hydrologic and hydraulic model outputs will be
used to identify areas exposed to existing and future flood risk, taking into account current, planned
and potential new infrastructure investments and the impacts of climate variability. All structural
measures will be costed and assessed for economic feasibility and prioritized.
Output 4B: Development control and flood drainage management strengthened. The outputs of the flood
mapping shall be used to review and update the existing development controls based on exposure
assessments for all areas with a significant disaster hazard. In order to mainstream flood risk into the
planning process a web-based Urban Planning Tool will be developed for use by the relevant Government
agencies. The current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU ) for drainage management will be reviewed and
updated through consultations with stakeholders and a sustainable financial plan for its formal
implementation will be developed.
Output 4C: Hydro-meteorological monitoring, forecasting, and flood early warning systems
upgraded/expanded. Residual fluvial and pluvial flood risks will still remain after the implementation
of the current and future structural flood mitigation measures. A flood early warning system (FEWS) will
be developed and installed to provide residents and businesses of Apia the maximum possible lead time in
the event of observed or forecasted heavy rainfall and elevated sea-level events. Flood warning times
are likely to be less than 2 hours. Effective FEWS may need to rely on gauged rainfall, regional cyclone
tracking and possibly rainfall radar. The FEWS activity will include a review of the existing hydro-
meteorological network and include the procurement and installation of new gauging equipment as deemed
necessary. FEWS upgrading will be integrated into the existing Vaisigano catchment FEWS. The existing
coverage of the Vaisigano Flood Decision Support System will be expanded to cover the 7 other catchments
in Greater Apia.
Output 4D: Community-based planning, preparedness, response and evacuation and recovery actions
prepared. 8 vulnerable or priority villages within the existing District Community Integrated Management
Plans will be identified and, through use of the Community Disaster and Climate Risk Management Toolkit,
priority community level flood risk reduction and control measures will be implemented. The focus will
be on actions that benefit the poor and vulnerable with special attention to strengthening the
resilience of women and vulnerable groups (at least 30% of the training participants will be women and
girls). This will include the assessment, redefinition, outlining, and construction of evacuation paths,
including the linkages to information systems, EWS and signages. Evacuation plans and pathways will also
be prepared for all other villages within the study area.
Scope of Work
The Flood Management Specialist will be a technical advisor under the Project Management Support Unit
(PMSU). The Flood Management Specialist will assist in the overall management of the FRMS activities.
The Flood Management Specialist will manage the International consultant firm who will be engaged to
complete the FRMS for Apia, including to (a) develop a comprehensive flood management plan for Apia City
based on hydro and/or hydraulic modeling; (b) strengthen flood drainage management through the
implementation of an existing inter-agency MOU; (c) upgrade hydro-meteorological monitoring,
forecasting, and disaster early warning systems; and (d) develop community-based awareness,
preparedness, and recovery actions with special attention to building the resilience of women and
vulnerable groups, by implementing the training and ensuring evacuation plans are updated.
The Flood Management Specialist will be responsible for managing and coordinating the work carried out
under the FRMS for Apia. The specialist will generally assist the international consultant firm, MWTI
and MNRE in assessing flood risks and providing guidance on sustainable and local acceptable flood
management practices. Additional tasks, as required, may include, sourcing data and facilitating data
collation, conducting technical assessments, reviewing flood control infrastructure designs, advising on
the implementation of flood prevention and mitigation strategies, providing expert advice on flood
forecasting, floodplain mapping, flood risk analysis, and drainage systems, and facilitating the
development of resilient flood management solutions under the FRMS for Apia.
The Flood Management Specialist is subject to a contract period, starting on 1 August 2025 until 31 July
2026, with an in-country, intermittent time base of 96 days throughout this contract. There will be a
consideration for an extension, subject to a performance review at the end of the 11th month of the
initial contract.
Detailed Tasks and/or Expected Output
The primary role of the Flood Management Specialist is to manage the international engineering
consultancy firm who will be engaged to carry out the FRMS for Apia. The Flood Management Specialist
will carry out the following tasks:
(i.) Work together with the MWTI and MNRE to clarify responsibilities amongst partners for all
activities under the FRMS;
(ii.) Assist the FRMS consultant, MWTI and MNRE in assessing flood risks, designing flood protection
systems, and providing guidance on sustainable flood management practices;
(iii.) Assist the FRMS consultant in accessing data;
(iv.) Prepare FRMS work plans (yearly and quarterly, as appropriate) and submit to both the executing
agency and implementing agencies for review and finalisation;
(v.) Assist in the evaluation of proposals received for the Flood Risk Management Study, and review all
procurement-related documents for inputs under the FRMS and submit to Implementation Agency/Executing
Agency for processing;
(vi.) Review all contractual documents for inputs under the FRMS and submit to Implementation
Agency/Executing Agency for processing;
(vii.) Review and advise the MWTI and MNRE on all technical deliverables for inputs under the FRMS and
circulate to relevant stakeholders for inputs where relevant;
(viii.) Prepare and update a monitoring framework for the FRMS;
(ix.) Manage the International Flood Management Consultant firm on a day-to-day basis, including but not
limited to data sourcing, flood risk assessment, floodplain mapping, flood control measures,
hydrological and hydraulic modelling, development of Flood Forecasting System, environmental and social
safeguard considerations, monitoring and evaluation and capacity building;
(x.) Monitor all inputs and activities and achievements under the FRMS, including individual experts and
consultants. Report any omissions, failings, or delays, to the Implementation Agency/Executing Agency;
(xi.) Provide specialist technical support for the Ala’oa MPD Project, as required.
(xii.) Provide specialist technical support for the Vaisigano River Integrated Flood Risk Management
Project, as required.
(xiii.) Support other members of the PMSU according to capability and workload; and,
(xiv.) Review all payment requests for inputs under the FRMS and submit to both executing agency and
implementing agencies.
Reporting Requirements:
The Flood Management Specialist will be based within the PMSU which will report to the Assistant CEO of
the Project Management Division within MWTI. The Specialist’s intermittent inputs will manage the
international consultant firm who will prepare the FRMS.
Monthly progress reports (and yearly and quarterly, as appropriate) will be delivered to the PMSU
Project Implementation Management Specialist. Reports will include work carried out, progress and any
other relevant matter in relation to the progress of the FRMS.
Counterpart facilities: The EA (Ministry of Finance) will provide the Specialist with adequate office
space within the MWTI offices.
Minimum Qualification Requirements
(i.) The expert should have at least a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, Environmental
Engineering, Hydrology, or similar (flood control, water management, drainage engineering);
(ii.) Preferably 10 years of professional experience in flood risk management, hydrological and
hydraulic modeling, flood control infrastructure design, drainage engineering, early warning systems
and/or disaster risk management;
(iii.) Preferably worked in flood risk management in Pacific Islands, and ideally in Samoa;
(iv.) Preferably proficiency in flood modeling software (e.g., HEC-Suite, MIKE-Suite);
(v.) Preferably experience in the design of flood mitigation infrastructure (dams, levees, retention
basins, etc.);
(vi.) Strong knowledge of environmental and social impact assessment procedures;
(vii.) Excellent communication skills and ability to engage with local stakeholders;
(viii.) Preferably familiarity with hydro-meteorological risks and climate change knowledge;
(ix.) Preferably experience in working with government agencies and experience in managing
internationally funded projects; and,
(x.) Excellent command of written and oral English, and preferably also in Samoan.
Minimum General Experience: 15 Years
Minimum Specific Experience (relevant to assignment): 10 Years
