Expertise: Technical Advisor
Expertise Group: Engineering
Consultant Source: International
TOR Keywords: technical advisor; design and delivery of water supply projects
Objective and Purpose of the Assignment
The Government of Nauru is implementing the Nauru Sustainable and Resilient Urban Development Project
(NSRUDP). The project, financed through a grant from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), will improve
access to integrated and resilient urban water supply, sanitation, and solid waste management services
across Nauru.
Water supply infrastructure investments under NSRUDP include: (i) network-based and reticulated potable
water supply system, (ii) reservoir storage tanks, and (iii) supply pump stations. Sanitation
infrastructure investments include: (i) a new septage and biosolids processing facility, (ii) new
desludging vehicle for the collection of waste from household and commercial septic tanks and (iii) the
decommissioning of the existing organic waste processing facility at the Nauru Primary School. Solid
waste infrastructure investments include: (i) upgrade and augmentation of the solid waste collection and
drop off system; (ii) new resource recovery and processing facility and (iii) a new composting facility
for green waste. Non-physical interventions will also be supported under the project, including: (i)
strengthening of enabling environment and institutional strengthening; (ii) supporting services
improvement; and (iii) optimization of equipment, services, personnel where practical across all sectors.
The project has three implementing agencies which are the Nauru Utilities Corporation (NUC) responsible
for Water Supply and Sanitation services, the Nauru Rehabilitation Corporation (NRC) responsible for
Solid Waste management, and the Department of Climate Change and National Resilience (DCCNR) as the lead
implementing agency for the enabling environment component of the project. A project management unit
(PMU) under the leadership of the Secretary, DCCNR has been established. The capacity to implement the
project will be strengthened by the recruitment of technical specialist consultants to work alongside
the government staff.
To facilitate the implementation of the project, ADB will provide grant resources through the NSRUDP
Project Management Unit (PMU). The PMU will (i) manage the overall implementation of the project; (ii)
lead and ensure compliance with the provisions of the grant agreement and ADB and government policies
and guidelines on procurement, financial management, and gender and safeguards compliance; (iii) lead
community public awareness activities under guidance of implementing agencies; (iv) procure, oversee,
and administer contracts in coordination with the implementing agencies; (v) prepare grant withdrawal
applications; (vi) Support development partner coordination through the project steering committee. The
PMU is led by the PMU Head who in turn reports to the Secretary of DCCNR.
DCCNR now wishes to recruit a Technical Advisor to support the PMU with project implementation. The
Technical Advisor will be recruited on an intermittent basis providing 8 person-months input over a
period of 18 months. At least 2.5 person-months of input will be spent in Nauru on a milestone basis,
with the remaining balance delivered from the Advisors Home Office.
Scope of Work
The Technical Advisor will report to the Project Manager and PMU Head and be responsible for the
monitoring, quality assurance and compliance aspects of the new Water Supply, Sanitation and Solid Waste
infrastructure. The Technical Advisor will: (i) work within the NUC and NRC to ensure the delivery and
operability of the new infrastructure meets the requirements of the design specifications and project
outputs; (ii) provide advice to ensure the construction, integration, operation and management is
sustainable; and (iii) assist the PMU and enabling environment consultant with institutional
strengthening and utility twinning.
Detailed Tasks and/or Expected Output
The responsibilities of the Technical Advisor will include, but not be limited to, the following tasks:
(i) Review of the Contractor’s detailed designs of the CW01 Water Supply works package and the CW02
Sanitation and Solid Waste works package. This will be completed in close coordination with the
Supervision Consultant firm.
(ii) Ensure the Supervision Consultant firm has strong oversight of the Contractor’s performance
ensuring compliance with the requirements of the design and specifications.
(iii) Provide guidance to PMU, NRC and NUC on any required or requested changes to the designs and their
integration and operation.
(iv) Support the PMU to address technical queries relating to the Water Supply, Sanitation and Solid
Waste infrastructure from contractors, Consultants and other stakeholders.
(v) Provide guidance to DCCNR, NUC and the PMU on matters relating to the integration of the water
supply network into the existing NUC water supply operations and maintenance.
(vi) Work closely with the Enabling Environment consultants and potential utility twinning organizations
to ensure NUC and NRC receive adequate support as part of the project’s institutional strengthening
requirements.
(vii) Assist in facilitating the implementation of the enabling environment implementation plan to
ensure DCCNR, NUC and NRC have sufficient knowledge, capacity, structures and processes to sustainably
manage and operate new infrastructure.
(viii) Assist the Project Manager and provide project management advice as necessary, including acting
as the Project Manager in the Project Manager’s absence.
(ix) Provide inputs where appropriate to relevant PMU specialists in relation to communications, WASH,
gender, social and environmental aspects of the project.
(x) Assist in the preparation of quarterly, and annual progress reports and ensure timely submission to
ADB and the GON;
(xi) Participate in ADB review missions where required.
(xii) Other tasks as identified and required by the PMU or ADB.
Minimum Qualification Requirements
The Technical Advisor will have a degree in engineering, and at least 15 years of professional
experience, including at least 10 years of experience in design of or integration of water supply
networks for utility organizations. A minimum of 5 years’ experience in project implementation in the
Pacific Islands is required.
The consultant must have:
(i) a degree in engineering or another relevant subject.
(ii) at least 15 years’ general experience.
(iii) at least 10 years’ experience in design or delivery of water supply projects.
(iv) relevant experience in Nauru and/or another of ADB’s developing member countries in the Pacific;
(v) relevant experience in working with multilateral development agencies,
(vi) relevant experience in working with government ministries, departments and senior staff;
(vii) an excellent command of written and spoken English.
Minimum General Experience: 15 Years
Minimum Specific Experience (relevant to assignment): 10 Years
