Expertise: Strategy & Management and Policies, Institutions, and Regulations (PIR) Specialist
Expertise Group: Biological Sciences & Ecology
Consultant Source: International
TOR Keywords:
Objective and Purpose of the Assignment
Rajasthan project. Rajasthan, India’s largest state, is among the most water-scarce regions in the
country, with only 1.2% of India’s surface water and less than 2% of its groundwater. Rapid
urbanization, limited infrastructure, and over-exploited groundwater resources have resulted in chronic
shortages, intermittent water supply, and inadequate sanitation.
The Government of Rajasthan (GoR), in partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), is pursuing
infrastructure modernization, 24/7 water supply, and institutional restructuring. Despite ongoing
efforts, challenges remain, including high non-revenue water, institutional fragmentation, and low cost
recovery.
Delhi project. In parallel, the Government of the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, through the
Delhi Jal Board (DJB), is preparing the proposed Water Supply Improvement Project in the Wazirabad Water
Treatment Plant (WTP) command area. The project aims to achieve equitable access to continuous,
pressurized potable water; and strengthen DJB’s institutional capacity and operational systems. The
project may also support pathways for expansion and modernizing the wastewater collection network;
promoting the reuse of treated wastewater for non-potable urban and industrial applications. A Project
Management Unit (PMU) will be established at DJB to oversee the execution of key components, including
SCADA systems, GIS-based network mapping, DMA creation, non-revenue water reduction strategies, and
customer engagement through smart metering and digital platforms.
Scope of Work
The Consultant will deliver a preliminary needs assessment, baseline snapshots, and a high-level PIR gap
report for Rajasthan and Delhi projects, culminating in a preliminary roadmap for ADB project
preparation. Detailed design and implementation tasks (corporatization, tariff modeling, PPP/HAM, reuse
frameworks, digital integration), which will be reviewed in the scope will be implemented under the
ensuing ADB funded project. The expert will ensure that governance and regulatory considerations are
robustly reflected in the Institutional Assessment Report and contribute to the overall reform strategy
for the sectors in the ADB investment project.
Detailed Tasks and/or Expected Output
The assignment is limited to pre-investment activities and does not include implementation support.
Recommendations will inform the design of the proposed ADB-funded project. The Consultant will work
closely with ADB, the state and city governments, and other experts like Water and Sanitation Utility
Performance Analyst (International) and Institutional and Commercial Specialist (International) – Team
Leader in undertaking the following tasks:
Policy, Institutional, and Regulatory Assessment
- Rapid Desk Review and Data Planning:
• Compile and review existing policies, mandates, organizational charts, service KPIs, prior
diagnostics, and ongoing project documents for Rajasthan (PHED/RUDSICO/ULBs) and Delhi (DJB).
• Issue a concise data need request (≤3 pages) and agree a data cut‑off date for baselines. - Baseline and Service Snapshots:
• Prepare city/zone briefs covering supply coverage, continuity/pressure, NRW, wastewater collection &
treatment utilization, energy intensity, and customer service indicators (billing, collection,
grievances), with data confidence levels and critical gaps. - Preliminary PIR Gap Identifications:
• Map high‑level mandates, accountability lines, and overlaps across sector entities.
• Identify priority institutional and regulatory gaps and risks that hinder ensuing project readiness
and implementation. - Stakeholder Mapping and Institutional Changes:
• Identify key decision‑makers, and implementation units (PMU/PIUs/ULBs).
• Summarize readiness/constraints (capacity, approvals, data systems, and procurement). - Preliminary Reform Options (Shortlist):
• Propose 3–5 immediate institutional actions per state (city or utility) to improve implementation
stage readiness (e.g., SOP standardization, RACI clarifications, minimal M&E pack).
• For each option, provide effort bands, dependencies, and indicative sequencing. - Preliminary Roadmap for Project Preparation and Implementation:
• Produce a phased roadmap focused on actions that enable ADB project due diligence and early
implementation (e.g., pilots, quick‑win data improvements)
• Key outline of project implementation content would include tariff design/regulatory modeling, service
standard regulation, compliance frameworks; performance‑based contract/PPP/HAM design, KPIs, and
verification protocols; reuse/biosolids regulatory frameworks and zoning/master planning;
corporatization pathways and option appraisals; utility mergers/consolidation analysis, and digital
infrastructure updates.) - Validation and Finalization:
• Conduct one validation workshop (Jaipur/Delhi) to confirm gaps and priorities.
• Finalize the Preliminary Assessment and Roadmap reflecting stakeholder inputs.
Reporting and Advisory Support
• Work to coordinate closely with the Team Leader and Utility Performance Analyst to integrate PIR-
related inputs.
• Draft sections on governance, policy reform, regulatory frameworks, and strategic reform options for
both Rajasthan and Delhi preliminary roadmaps.
• Ensure recommendations are practical and aligned with ADB and state government priorities.
• Present PIR-related findings during the online validation workshop. Policies, Institutions, and
Regulations (PIR)
• Revise and finalize relevant sections based on stakeholder feedback.
Deliverables: The deliverables include providing an overview of institutional arrangements in the water
and wastewater sector, conducting an analysis of policy, institutional, and regulatory (PIR) factors
along with identifying key structural constraints and implementation risks, and preparing an initial
assessment of options for utility consolidation or mergers in urban areas.
Minimum Qualification Requirements
The Consultant will have a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental
Engineering, Public Administration, Economics, or a relevant discipline . He/she will have at least 20
years of professional experience in the water supply and sanitation sector, including more than 15 years
in utility management and at least 7 years in consultancy. He/she should demonstrate strong experience
in institutional reform diagnostics, governance assessments, and roadmap preparation for MDB-financed
programs and their implementation. Experience in legal/regulatory modeling, tariff design, and PPP/HAM
structuring is desirable. Experience in utility corporatization, tariff design, regulatory modelling,
and organizational benchmarking is essential. Experience working with ADB, World Bank, or other donor-
funded projects, preferably for South Asia, is preferred. Fluency in English with excellent analytical,
communication, and stakeholder engagement skills is essential.
Minimum General Experience: 20 Years
Minimum Specific Experience (relevant to assignment): 15 Years
