Objective and Purpose of the Assignment
 | Background of the Facility The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is supporting the Government of Bangladesh to operationalize the River Restoration Facility (3RF) through the Small Expenditure Financing Facility (SEFF) modality. The proposed project (Facility) is being prepared to systematically support the preparation of priority pipeline projects and to establish a coordination mechanism for strengthening river system management through a holistic, integrated, and programmatic approach to river corridor development. The Facility is designed to address Bangladesh’s complex water resource management challenges, with a particular focus on river restoration and river corridor development. The Facility’s envisaged outcome is resilient river system management enabled through a holistic, integrated, and systematic framework (hereinafter referred to as “programmatic approach”). Implementation of the programmatic approach will be initiated in selected areas of the North Central hydrological region, covering the Jamuna River corridor and its distributaries extending toward the Dhaka area. The Facility aims to (i) strengthen the enabling environment for cross sector coordination in river system management, supported by high level engagement; (ii) support preparation of pipeline projects and knowledge services to enhance institutional capacity and programmatic solutions for river corridor development; and (iii) improve the functionality and sustainability of river infrastructure, including through rehabilitation and operation and maintenance of key water infrastructure. The Facility will build on the coordination mechanism developed under the Umbrella Investment Program for Dhaka river system restoration and expand its application to a broader geographic scope. It will coordinate closely with the government and development partners to build synergies among ongoing and planned investments. Through this approach, the Facility is expected to support strategic investment planning and contribute to longer term impacts on project preparation and coordination in the water sector. The Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), under the Ministry of Water Resources, will be the executing agency of the Facility, with the River Management Division of BWDB serving as the key implementing agency. The Facility is expected to be considered by the ADB Board in 2026, with effectiveness targeted in the same year. Objective and Purpose of the Assignment The objective of the assignment is to support the preparation of the proposed Resilient River Restoration Facility and its associated loan documents under the Small Expenditure Financing Facility (SEFF). To achieve this objective, ADB will engage technical and due diligence consultants to support Facility preparation and coordination. The Senior Water Resources Management Specialist will provide technical leadership and coordination in support of (i) Facility design and due diligence, (ii) facilitation of coordination mechanisms to support a programmatic approach to river system management, and (iii) advanced project readiness actions to support implementation of the Facility. The consultant will contribute to preparation of loan documents and support ADB missions to Bangladesh, primarily before and during the fact-finding mission, tentatively scheduled from June onwards 2026. The consultant will work closely with the ADB Mission Leader and project team and will complement and synergize with ongoing ADB financed initiatives, including the BAN: Adaptive River System Management Project (ARSMP) and other pipeline projects. The consultant is expected to familiarize themselves with the SEFF modality, which differs from the standard project modalities, as part of the Facility preparation process. |
Scope of Work
| The consultant will support the ADB project team in preparing the proposed Facility for Board consideration and investment readiness under the SEFF modality. The consultant will provide technical leadership and inputs, coordination support, and analytical assistance in close collaboration with the ADB Mission Leader and project team. Key tasks will include the following: (i) Lead and contribute technical inputs to the preparation of the draft Report and Recommendation of the President (RRP), its appendices, and associated loan documents, in line with ADB templates and requirements, including compiling relevant data, practices, lessons learned, and background information, and by supporting responses to interdepartmental review comments. (ii) Conduct project due diligence to ensure that the proposed Facility is fit for purpose under the SEFF modality. (iii) Coordinate with executing and implementing agencies to support Facility readiness, including preparation and review of relevant government documents, such as the Development Project Proposal (DPP). (iv) Collect, synthesize, and validate country-level and Facility-specific data and information to support project documentation and design, ensuring credibility, accuracy, and relevance of all data sources. (v) Facilitate and participate in meetings and consultations to gather input, monitor progress, and proactively identify issues and constraints affecting Facility preparation. The consultant will be engaged on an intermittent basis from approximately 1 April 2026 to 31 December 2026. The consultant will work as part of the ADB project team while independently undertaking assigned tasks to ensure timely delivery of outputs. Physical travel outside of Dhaka may be required. The consultant will report to the ADB Team Leader and collaborate with relevant team members, primarily through virtual platforms (e.g. MS Teams, Zoom, WhatsApp). |
Detailed Tasks and/or Expected Output
| The Senior Water Resources Management Specialist will provide overall technical leadership and be accountable for integrating inputs from other consultants to prepare the Facility in line with ADB requirements and the SEFF modality, with the objective of achieving readiness for fact-finding by June 2026. The consultant will manage and coordinate due diligence and readiness inputs required under SEFF, in close coordination with the ADB Mission Leader and project team, and in consultation with BWDB. The consultant will integrate river corridor development, national coordination mechanisms, and sustainability issues, mainly operation and maintenance (O&M) of infrastructure, into a coherent, climate-resilient, and socially inclusive investment program aligned with the National River Stabilization Plan. Specifically, the consultant will undertake the following, subject to SEFF delivery requirements: (i) Program integration and technical leadership • Lead and integrate the technical work of all other consultants to develop a coherent, climate- resilient and socially inclusive Facility investment program that aligns technical and non-technical components with Government priorities and the SEFF approach. • Outline key elements of the cross-sector coordination mechanism and framework for river system management (Jamuna River, distributaries, and the four rivers around Dhaka), and prepare a brief note identifying key constraints and opportunities, for discussion and validation with ADB and BWDB. • Outline a strategy for implementing a programmatic approach across ensuing investments, incorporating multi-criteria options analysis, detailed analysis of suitable alternatives, selection of preferred alternatives in close coordination with the SEFF team and BWDB. (ii) Sector assessment and baseline consolidation (as needed) • Prepare or consolidate sector diagnostic narratives drawing on existing studies and pre-feasibility work, covering river corridor development, institutional fragmentation, and lessons learned; • prepare a draft problem tree and theory of change consistent with the approved concept note. (iii) Feasibility and preliminary design oversight • Assess needs and priorities related to (i) technical and knowledge resources, and (ii) innovative solutions to be supported under the Facility. • Prepare a consolidated list of sub-outputs with outline design to be delivered under the Facility, including: (a) digital platforms, training manuals, and innovative river management technologies and pilot interventions (e.g., bamboo bandalling and nature-based solutions). • Analyze erosion-prone zones and sediment dynamics, and prepare proposals for a sediment-focused monitoring system and early-warning systems to be supported under the Facility. • Provide technical direction to the engineering team to complete feasibility-level designs for rehabilitation of priority water regulators, ensuring adequate consideration of alternatives analysis, constructability, O&M requirements, and implementation scheduling. (iv) Safeguards due diligence • Coordinate with national consultants and safeguards specialists to support preparation of ADB- compliant environmental and social safeguards documents. (v) Finance and procurement readiness • Lead and coordinate preparation of inputs related to finance and procurement readiness required under the SEFF modality, in close coordination with the ADB project team. (vi) Climate risk assessment and hydrology (as needed) • Oversee climate risk assessment, hydrologic/hydraulic modelling, and flood risk analysis; • Support confirmation of adaptation finance and mitigation estimates for ADB climate tagging purposes. (vii) Institutional and governance strengthening • Lead preparation of a sequenced investment roadmap to operationalize the Facility and support transition toward a longer-term river corridor development program. • Liaise with BWDB, MoWR, and relevant government stakeholders to support preparation, review and refinement of the Development Project Proposal (DPP), and facilitate timely approval processes, as required. (viii) Mission support and other tasks • Provide technical inputs to ADB missions, including fact finding missions, and contribute to aide memoire preparation, as requested. • Perform other tasks as may be reasonably requested by the ADB project team from time to time, adapting to evolving project needs and priorities. |
Minimum Qualification Requirements
| The following minimum qualifications are required for the assignment: (i) A Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, water resources engineering, agricultural engineering, or a closely related discipline from a recognized institution. A Master’s degree in a relevant field is preferred. (ii) At least 15 years of relevant professional experience in water resources management, with substantial experience in flood management, riverbank erosion control, and river engineering in Bangladesh, particularly in relation to the Jamuna River system, the Brahmaputra River, their distributaries, and the rivers surrounding Dhaka. (iii) A minimum of 10 years of experience on ADB- or World Bank-financed projects, including large-scale infrastructure projects related to flood management, river engineering, riverbank erosion control, or agricultural development in large river basins. (iv) In-depth institutional knowledge of water-related public sector agencies in Bangladesh, including BWDB, MoWR, and relevant government procedures and processes. (v) Experience in river corridor development, agricultural development within river basins, and nature- based solutions will be considered an advantage. (vi) Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, with proven ability to prepare high- quality technical and analytical outputs. (vii) Strong interpersonal and team coordination skills, with demonstrated experience working effectively with government counterparts, development partners, and multidisciplinary consultant teams. (viii) Proven ability to work independently and responsively, manage multiple tasks, and deliver outputs in a timely manner. (ix) Demonstrated experience leading or coordinating multidisciplinary consultant teams on complex investment project preparation assignments. |
