Expertise: Institutional, Commercial, Utility Performance & Policy Specialist
Expertise Group: Project Management/ Institutional Development
Consultant Source: National
TOR Keywords:
Objective and Purpose of the Assignment
- Background
The Government of the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, through the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), is
preparing the Water Supply Improvement Project in the Wazirabad WTP command area to enable equitable,
continuous, pressurized potable water and strengthen institutional and operational systems. The project
will also support expansion and modernization of wastewater treatment and collection and promote the
reuse of treated wastewater for non‑potable urban and industrial applications and biosolid management. A
project management unit (PMU) will oversee key elements, including supervisory control and data
acquisition (SCADA), geographic information system (GIS) based network mapping, district metered area
(DMAs), non‑revenue water (NRW) reduction, and customer engagement via smart metering and digital
platforms.
In parallel, the Government of Rajasthan (GoR) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) are preparing the
Rajasthan Urban Livability Improvement Program (RULIP) to enhance water supply and wastewater services
statewide. RULIP emphasizes institutional strengthening, PPP/Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) for O&M, and
digital performance systems. This assignment will therefore also cover Rajasthan’s implementing and
operating agencies (including Rajasthan Urban Drinking Water, Sewerage and Infrastructure Corporation
Limited (RUDSICO), Rajasthan Urban Infrastructure Development Project (RUIDP), Public Health Engineering
Department (PHED), and Rajasthan Water Supply and Sanitation Corporation (RWSSC)) and other relevant
agencies responsible for urban services in state to inform RULIP design and readiness. - Objective and Purpose of the Assignment
The expert will provide an integrated Institutional Assessment and preliminary Roadmap for Delhi
covering: (i) institutional and commercial diagnostics; (ii) utility performance diagnostics and
benchmarking; and (iii) policies, institutions, and regulations (PIR) assessment. The work will
culminate in a consolidated, evidence‑based pre‑investment roadmap and a policy brief to inform the
design of the ensuing ADB‑funded project and executing agencies of the projects. The assignment is for
project preparation and design, and preliminary diagnosis, which will support downstream implementation
in the proposed project scopes.
In addition, the expert will deliver a Rajasthan (RULIP) Institutional Assessment and preliminary
Roadmap, assessing institutional, policy, regulatory, and technical gaps in water supply and wastewater
projects and agencies (RUDSICO/RUIDP/PHED/RWSSC). The consultant will work closely with other
international experts and advise ADB on implications for RULIP design, readiness filters, PPP/HAM
structuring, and KPI frameworks.
Scope of Work
The Consultant will work closely with ADB, DJB/PMU, and other stakeholders to undertake the following
tasks:
Detailed Tasks and/or Expected Output
A. Program Coordination
• Coordinate overall policy level coordination, planning, quality control, and integration of inputs
across technical and other workstreams together with other consultants under the project.
• Coordinate data requests, agree data cut‑off for baselines, and ensure consistent assumptions across
tasks and outputs.
• Coordinate with GoR/RUDSICO/RUIDP/PHED/RWSSC to align baselines, KPIs, and assumptions; ensure
methodological consistency.
• Coordinate with state government officials in Rajasthan, Delhi, and Tamil Nadu, and facilitate 2–3
exposure visits in consultation with the responsible ADB project officer. Each exposure visit will cover
costs related to travel and accommodation for 3–4 participants from each state, as nominated by the
respective government in coordination with ADB.
B. Institutional and Commercial Diagnostics
• Review sector governance organizational structures, and commercial operations at state/utility/zonal
levels; and identify institutional readiness gaps to support details for the ensuing project.
• Assess financial sustainability: revenue streams, cost recovery, tariff structures (including
potential for treated wastewater reuse pricing), subsidies, and implications for regulatory/tariff
modeling.
• Analyze customer service systems and commercial practices: billing, collection efficiency, and digital
customer engagement.
• Identify options for utilities to enhance efficiency and economies of scale, and outline implications
for project design.
• Undertake an initial review of the zonal model (“mini‑CEO” approach) for effectiveness, scalability,
and relevance to implementation readiness.
• For Rajasthan, assess institutional readiness for PPP/HAM-based O&M, including payment security/escrow
options, ring-fencing of O&M, and interfaces among RUDSICO/RUIDP/PHED/RWSSC/ULBs; provide a concise
memorandum with priority institutional actions.
C. Utility Performance Diagnostics and Benchmarking
• Carry out an operational diagnostic across production, distribution, and wastewater; assess operation
and maintenance (O&M) arrangements, staffing, and technical capacity together with other experts.
• Evaluate non‑revenue water (NRW), energy efficiency, and asset condition; outline preliminary NRW
reduction options to inform design and implementation sequencing.• Apply fit‑for‑purpose benchmarking to
assess efficiency, service quality, and customer outcomes for water supply; propose benchmarking for
biosolids and reuse operations.
• Review current digital systems and SCADA/telemetry readiness and identify integration gaps for the
ensuing project.
• For Rajasthan, review District Metered/Network Improvement (DNI) conditions and lessons from earlier
contracts; define realistic NRW baselines and phased KPIs; assess GIS/asset register completeness and
command-and-control dashboard integration; and evaluate suitability of DBO vs. HAM packaging for
treatment/O&M.
• Guide the procurement specialist on procurement planning and readiness analysis, including suitability
of performance‑based design-build-operate (DBO) contracts or similar models in the ensuing project.
D. Policies, Institutions, and Regulations (PIR) Assessment and Reform Options
• Undertake a rapid desk review; issue a concise data needs request (≤3 pages) and agree baseline
cut‑off date.
• Prepare baseline service snapshots (coverage, pressure, NRW, wastewater collection & treatment
utilization, energy intensity, customer service indicators) and gaps.
• Map mandates, accountability lines, and overlaps across entities; identify priority
institutional/regulatory gaps and implementation risks that could affect project readiness and
implementation.
• Conduct stakeholder mapping (decision‑makers and other relevant agencies) and summarize
readiness/constraints (capacity, approvals, data systems, procurement).
• Shortlist 3–5 immediate institutional actions per state/city to improve implementation readiness (e.
g., standard operating procedures (SOP) standardization, responsibility & accountability clarifications,
minimal M&E pack).
• Draft a phased pre‑investment roadmap enabling ADB due diligence and early implementation (e.g.,
pilots, quick‑win, and other improvements), including tariff/regulatory modeling, service standards,
compliance, Public–Private Partnership (PPP) / Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) options and Key Performance
Indicators (KPIs), reuse/biosolids frameworks, corporate pathways, utility consolidation/zonal analysis,
and digital infrastructure updates.
• For Rajasthan, tailor the PIR assessment to state policies and regulations, identify
approvals/clearances critical to RULIP packages, and propose short-/medium-/long-term institutional
reforms aligned with RULIP outputs.
E. Reporting and Advisory Support
• Draft consolidated sections on institutional arrangements; utility performance and benchmarking; and
PIR analysis for Delhi.
• Present findings at consultation and validation workshops (numbers to be agreed with project team) and
incorporate stakeholder feedback into final deliverables.
• Inputs to Detailed Project Report (DPRs) and Project Preparation Reports (PPRs) section related to
institutional reforms and other relevant sections.
• Prepare companion sections for Rajasthan (institutional arrangements; performance/benchmarking; PIR)
and periodic advisory notes to ADB on RULIP risks/mitigations (e.g., payment security, reuse offtake,
IVA/KPI verification framework).
Reporting, Interfaces, and Data Access
Reporting. The Consultant will report to ADB’s responsible project officer and coordinate closely with
designated counterparts at Government of Delhi, Delhi Jal Board (DJB), and Project Management Unit. The
Consultant will also coordinate with GoR counterparts (RUDSICO/RUIDP/PHED/RWSSC) for Rajasthan-specific
tasks.
Interfaces. Collaboration with technical, financial, environment and social/gender specialists engaged
under parallel assignments, as applicable. Interfaces will include other international experts under
RULIP to ensure alignment on PPP/HAM, KPIs, and digital systems
Data access. Government and utility counterparts will facilitate access to available data, prior
studies, and relevant systems to support diagnostics and baselines.
Confidentiality and Conflict of Interest
The Consultant will maintain confidentiality of all non‑public information and disclose any potential
conflicts of interest. Outputs are INTERNAL to ADB unless otherwise agreed.
Minimum Qualification Requirements
The consultant shall hold an advanced degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering, Public
Administration, Economics, or a related discipline, with advanced management training desirable. They
must have at least 20 years of professional experience in the water supply and sanitation sector,
including a minimum of 15 years in utility management and capacity development and at least 7 years in
consultancy. The candidate should demonstrate strong expertise in institutional reform diagnostics,
governance assessments, commercial operations, utility performance diagnostics and benchmarking, water
and wastewater management capacity training, and PIR analysis. Experience in tariff and regulatory
modeling, performance-based contracting, Hybrid Annuity Model for Public-Private Partnerships
arrangements, corporatization pathways, and customer-facing digital systems is essential. A track record
of leading multidisciplinary assignments for ADB, the World Bank, or similar institutions preferably in
South Asia/India is required, along with excellent analytical, communication, and stakeholder engagement
skills and fluency in English.
Minimum General Experience: 20 Years
Minimum Specific Experience (relevant to assignment): 7 Years
