Expertise: National Hydromorphologist / Water Management Specialist
Expertise Group: Biological Sciences & Ecology
Consultant Source: National
TOR Keywords:
Objective and Purpose of the Assignment
The objective of Phase 1 is to deliver Output 1 of TA by completing the upstream consultations, field
surveys, and preparatory technical, social, institutional, and land management studies required to
define, validate, and finalize the location, scope, and design parameters of Kathmandu Valley Ecological
Urban Renewal (the project). Phase 1 will ensure that the ensuing feasibility studies and detailed
preparation under Output 2 are firmly anchored in on-site conditions, stakeholder and community
priorities, land tenure realities, and climate and disaster risk considerations. This phase will confirm
the feasibility of valley-wide extrapolations proposed at pre-feasibility stage, translate conceptual
approaches into site-specific investment packages, and establish agreed development and redevelopment
models for river parks, wetlands, informal settlements, and wastewater interceptor corridors.
Phase 1 will focus on intensive, site-specific preparatory work across priority river corridors,
wetlands, water retention areas, informal settlements, and wastewater interceptor catchments in the
Kathmandu Valley. The work will combine technical field investigations, institutional and land
diagnostics, and structured stakeholder and community consultations to confirm the feasibility and
social acceptability of the proposed ecological urban renewal approach. The international team leader,
supported by national experts, will lead a comprehensive program of consultations and field surveys to
inform the technical, environmental, social, institutional, and land management design of the project.
Building on the pre-feasibility study, which outlined alternative ecological renewal approaches and
extrapolated investment needs at valley scale, Phase 1 will confirm these assumptions through on-site
verification. This will include validating the feasibility of proposed river parks and wetlands in terms
of land tenure, willingness of local governments and communities, resettlement implications, and
integration with existing and planned urban development.
Specialized surveys will be undertaken to define and refine the scope of riverbank restoration,
wetlands, water retention ponds, and river parks, with a strong emphasis on nature-based solutions and
climate resilience. Parallel field investigations and surveys will define the wastewater interceptor
network scope, routing, priorities, and interfaces with flood risks, land access, and proposed corridor
development. Throughout Phase 1, attention will be paid to disaster risk exposure, extreme rainfall
events, and climate change scenarios to ensure resilient design.
Land tenure confirmation, resettlement diagnostics, and exploration of innovative land management
approaches—including land pooling, land readjustment, land swapping, and on-site upgrading—will be
integral to Phase 1, particularly for river parks, wetland systems, and informal settlement
redevelopment areas such as Thapathali, Manohara, and Gokarna. The phase will ensure that proposed
development and redevelopment models are compliant with ADB’s safeguards requirements while being
adapted to Nepal’s legal and institutional framework.
In addition to completing consultations and preparatory studies, Phase 1 will overlap and explicitly
structure the handover to Output 2 by translating upstream findings into clear feasibility-ready inputs.
Stakeholder and community consultations conducted under Phase 1 will be synthesized into agreed design
principles, social risk mitigation measures, and engagement requirements that must be reflected in
feasibility and detailed design work. Institutional and governance diagnostics will be translated into
recommended implementation arrangements, coordination protocols, and capacity-building actions to be
incorporated into the feasibility and project implementation framework.
Reconnaissance-level technical surveys, including wastewater interceptor alignment scoping and land and
right-of-way screening, will be prepared in a format that enables the consulting firm to proceed
directly to detailed analysis and design optimization without redoing upstream surveys. Baseline
environmental, social, climate, and gender information compiled under Phase 1 will define the safeguards
categorization, climate risk profile, and analytical depth required under Output 2, thereby preventing
scope creep or delays during feasibility.
Phase 1 will deliver the full suite of consultations, surveys, and preparatory studies required under
Output 1. Key deliverables will include (i) documented stakeholder and community consultation outcomes,
including agreements, concerns, and conditions for acceptability; (ii) site-specific technical survey
outputs defining the scope, location, and preliminary cost estimates for river restoration, wetlands,
water retention ponds, river parks, and wastewater interceptor networks; (iii) institutional and land
management diagnostics supporting implementation and redevelopment models; and (iv) preliminary
safeguards and climate readiness inputs, including land acquisition and resettlement frameworks. All
outputs will be consolidated into a Phase 1 Synthesis and Transition Report, which will formally define
the confirmed investment scope, priority sites, phasing logic, technical options, land and resettlement
implications, and risk mitigation measures to be taken forward under Output 2.
All surveys, consultation records, GIS layers, and preliminary designs prepared under Phase 1 will be
delivered in formats directly usable by the Output 2 firm, enabling immediate progression to detailed
feasibility, design review, and procurement preparation without duplication. Selected Phase 1
consultants will support initial briefings and clarifications during Output 2 mobilization to ensure
continuity, preserve institutional memory, and avoid scope drift.
To ensure effective continuity between Output 1 and Output 2, selected members of the Phase 1 individual
consultants team, particularly the international team leader and key national specialists, will support
the initial mobilization of the Output 2 consulting firm through structured briefings, clarification
meetings, and data handover. This continuity will minimize information loss, avoid duplication of
effort, and preserve institutional memory across the two outputs, while maintaining clear separation of
roles and responsibilities.
Scope of Work
The national hydromorphologist/water management specialist will support Phase 1 field investigations for
river restoration, wetlands, and water retention components and will work under the technical guidance
of the international hydromorphologist. The assignment focuses on leading surveys, compiling and
interpreting field data, and supporting refinement of conceptual designs and scope definition based on
on-site conditions.
Detailed Tasks and/or Expected Output
(a) Work under the guidance of and report to the international hydromorphologist.
(b) Lead field surveys related to river restoration, wetlands, and water retention components.
(c) Support technical refinement of river-related components based on survey findings.
Minimum Qualification Requirements
(a) Professional experience in hydromorphology, hydrology, water resources management, or a closely
related discipline. (b) Demonstrated experience conducting field surveys related to river systems,
wetlands, and/or retention systems. (c) Ability to work under international technical guidance and
produce survey outputs usable for design refinement and scoping.
Minimum General Experience: 10 Years
Minimum Specific Experience (relevant to assignment): 10 Years
