Objective and Purpose of the Assignment
 | Under the Rajasthan Urban Sector Development Program (RUSDP Phase 3) (ADB Loan 3183-IND), water supply infrastructure was upgraded in four towns: Tonk, Pali, Jhunjhunu, and Sri Ganganagar. The project was designed to provide 24×7 water supply services, but due to a range of technical, institutional, and operational challenges, this objective could be partially realized. ADB is engaging an International Water Supply Expert to undertake a comprehensive assessment of Distribution Network Improvement (DNI) contracts under RUSDP Phase 3. To support this effort, a National Water Supply Expert will be engaged to provide local technical knowledge, contextual experience, and facilitate consultations with state, city, and operator-level stakeholders. The findings will directly feed into the preparation of the Rajasthan Urban Livability Improvement Project (RULIP) – Phase V. |
Scope of Work
| The objective is to support the International Water Supply Expert in carrying out the assessment of DNI contracts implemented in four RUSDP towns, while contributing in-depth local knowledge of institutional frameworks, DPRs, feasibility studies, and ground-level realities. The National Expert will ensure alignment of recommendations with local context and national priorities and will facilitate stakeholder engagement and data collection at city and state levels for specified towns. |
Detailed Tasks and/or Expected Output
| Detailed Tasks and Expected Output: Working under the guidance of the ADB Project Officer and in close collaboration with the International Water Supply Expert, the National Expert will: Technical Review and Field Support • Review available feasibility studies, DPRs, project implementation documents, and O&M arrangements related to DNI. • Support in assessing how DNI contracts functioned in practice, including contract execution, performance monitoring, and O&M. • Assess completed infrastructure and undertake conditional assessment of assets on a sample basis. • Verify actual service levels against DPR targets. Contract Lessons & Local Context • Identify gaps/deficiencies in the existing water supply systems. • Document local lessons learned from Phase 3 DNI contracts (success factors, implementation challenges, operational practices). • Provide contextual insights into how contract provisions were interpreted and applied on the ground. Support on Technology Recommendations • Assist the international expert in identifying and contextualizing modern technologies for underground utility mapping, network efficiency, and digital monitoring. Investment Planning and Financing • Contribute to preparing short-, medium-, and long-term investment plans with phased implementation. Institutional and Capacity Assessment • Assess the current institutional arrangements of PHED, RUIDP, and city-level agencies. • Identify capacity-building needs and training requirements for local engineers and operators. Non-Revenue Water (NRW) • Assess NRW in the four towns and recommend practical measures for reduction based on local experience. Stakeholder Engagement Facilitate extensive consultations with: • City-level engineers in Tonk, Pali, Jhunjhunu, and Sri Ganganagar. • PHED engineers and RUIDP officials. • The current O&M contractor. • Support the international expert in translating local insights into actionable recommendations and contextualizing international best practices for Rajasthan. • Provide inputs on how international best practices can be contextualized for Rajasthan. 4. Deliverables and Timeline The assignment will run for 2 person-months (44 person-days), with extensive field work and desk-based analysis. Deliverables will be aligned with the international expert’s outputs and include: 1. Technical Inputs and Data Notes – ongoing, to support the international expert’s review. 2. Draft Contribution to the Assessment Report – within 1.5 months. 3. Final Contribution to the Consolidated Report – incorporating comments from ADB, PHED, and RUIDP, within 2 months. 4. Support to ADB in integrating findings into new DNI package design under RULIP Phase V. The final consolidated Assessment Report will be prepared jointly with the International Expert, within two months of mobilization of the overall assignment. 5. Duration and Inputs • Total duration: 2 person-months (approx. 44 person-days); intermittent basis • Location: Field work in Rajasthan (Jaipur, Tonk, Pali, Jhunjhunu, Sri Ganganagar, Delhi) and home office . • Period of assignment: 20 September 2025 to 28 February 2026 6. Reporting The consultant will work in close coordination with the International Water Supply Expert and report directly to the ADB Project Officer. The national expert’s contributions will ensure that the assessment reflects ground realities, institutional arrangements, and operational practices in Rajasthan, and will feed into the Rajasthan Urban Livability Improvement Project (RULIP) – Phase V. |
Minimum Qualification Requirements
| • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Civil Engineering, Water Supply Engineering, or related fields. • Minimum 10 years of professional experience in the urban water supply sector and sanitation sector. • Demonstrated experience in reviewing DPRs, feasibility studies, and water supply operations in India. • Prior experience in ADB- or other multilateral-funded projects is preferred. • Strong understanding of institutional structures and urban water management practices in India, especially Rajasthan. |
