Expertise: Water Resources, Hydrology, Environmental Engineer
Expertise Group: Biological Sciences & Ecology
Consultant Source: National
TOR Keywords: Water Resources, Hydrology, Environmental Engineer
Objective and Purpose of the Assignment
A river basin links the terrestrial ecosystem surrounding it, such as forests and soils, with the
freshwater ecosystem, such as rivers, wetlands and groundwater. Degradation of environment around the
river basin affects nature-related sectors from land, water resources (surface and groundwater) and
watersheds to agriculture, forests and energy. The nature-related sectors around river basins are likely
to come under stress as they try to adapt to climate change impacts. This may heighten tension between
upstream and downstream communities. Hence, a holistic approach must be taken for proper conservation
and management of basin areas to safeguard biodiversity and ensure sustained access to ecosystem
services, which work as buffers against climate change hazards and directly affect people’s livelihood.
The Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) is a process which promotes the coordinated development
and management of water, land and related resources to maximize economic and social welfare in an
equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems and the environment. As
guided by the National Water Plan (2005) and Water Resources Strategy (2002), water resources
development and management are to be undertaken in accordance with the principles of IWRM. This requires
embedding IWRM into basin-level planning to safeguard ecosystems and build inclusive water security for
the future. In this regard, the Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS) has formulated river
basin plans of four major basins (Mahakali, Karnali, Gandaki and Koshi), five medium basins (West Rapti,
Babai, Kamala, Kankai and Mechi) and the Southern River Blocks. Separately, the Ministry of Forests and
Environment (MOFE) has introduced the National River Basin Management Strategy to protect river basins
and watersheds from ecological damage and implement a climate adaptation plan for prioritized watersheds
in a coordinated manner at all three tiers of government. The Green, Resilient and Inclusive (GRID)
Program, a policy-based lending program designed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the Government
of Nepal (GON), is supporting the government to develop watershed management plans in line with river
basin plans developed by WECS.
Scope of Work
The expert hired for this assignment shall extend support to WECS to update the Bagmati River Basin
Development Plan, and develop watershed management plans for Bagmati River Basin, and Southern River
Block covering Chure Hills and the Terai region of Madhesh Province to improve groundwater recharge,
soil health, agricultural resilience and climate change adaptation. The expert shall also conduct
necessary hydrological analysis, extend necessary support during preparation of SESA guidelines and NAP
implementation roadmap for water resources sector, and prepare a training manual on water accounting and
auditing and organize capacity building workshops for officials of WECS and the Ministry of Energy,
Water Resources and Irrigation (MOEWRI). The expert shall work closely with MOEWRI, WECS, MOFE, other
ministries concerned, ADB, and basin development planning and SESA expert, and SESA/environmental
specialist hired under the GRID Program.
Detailed Tasks and/or Expected Output
a. Update the Bagmati River Basin Plan (BRBP)
i. Conduct inception and scoping study to prepare BRBP considering various scenarios.
ii. Make overall arrangements for and organize stakeholder consultation to inform the development of
BRBP.
iii. Analyze water availability and flow regimes.
iv. Conduct hydrological analysis and other studies as necessary.
v. Assess impact of basin-level development interventions.
vi. Ensure environmental and social concerns are adequately integrated into BRBP.
vii. Finalize Environmental and Social Management Plan for BRBP setting out measures, roles and
responsibilities for various stakeholders.
viii. Update BRBP in line with the other river basin plans and best international practices applying
the findings of SESA. Prepare the final report in a format acceptable to the government.
ix. Make overall arrangements for and organize validation workshop to share findings of assessment
and finalize the report.
x. Make overall arrangements for and organize dissemination workshops to share findings of assessment
and discuss next steps for stakeholders.
xi. Work in close coordination with WECS, MOEWRI, other relevant government ministries, departments
and offices, and ADB.
b. Extend support to prepare SESA guidelines for water resources sector
i. Conduct review of literature, policies and legal framework related to the water resources sector.
ii. Recommend methodologies to establish environmental and social baselines, develop scenarios, and
conduct scenario analysis.
iii. Make overall arrangements for and organize stakeholder consultation to identify key
environmental and social issues that need to be considered while formulating plans, policies and
programs for the water resources sector.
iv. Recommend monitoring mechanisms to oversee integration of SESA during formulation of plans,
policies and programs for the water resources sector.
v. Provide examples of best international practices.
vi. Prepare the final draft of the SESA guidelines for the water resources sector in close
coordination with WECS, MOEWRI and other relevant government agencies.
vii. Work in close coordination with SESA Expert and Lead Advisor.
c. Prepare training manual on water accounting and auditing and organize capacity building workshops
i. Review international best practices and identify factors that affect water supply, demand,
accessibility and use in Nepal.
ii. Identify data that needs to be collected to conduct water accounting and auditing.
iii. Recommend methodologies and tools to process data, conduct various assessments, build models to
support water accounting and auditing. (This may include water balance analysis, evapotranspiration
measurement, water quality and trend analysis, modelling of water flows, resource audit, supply side
audit, etc.) Recommend intervals at which these studies must be conducted.
iv. Propose ways to conduct analysis of historical and current data for scenario planning to adapt to
changing conditions triggered by various events such as transformation in land use practices, climate
change, and revision in government policies.
v. Suggest data collection, presentation and reporting standards and formats.
vi. Identify steps for water accounting and auditing for household, irrigation, energy, agriculture
(including livestock), recreational, industrial and aquatic ecosystem sectors for both one-off and long-
term purposes.
vii. Propose measures to embed information related to water accounting and auditing in the workflows
of relevant government bodies or project cycles to address challenges related to water resource
management.
viii. Recommend mechanism to share knowledge among implementing agencies to avoid duplication.
ix. Recommend measures to avoid or minimize significant adverse impacts of significant water use on
communities and the environment.
x. Recommend ways to benchmark water use efficiency against industry standards.
xi. Prepare the training manual; and make overall arrangements for and organize capacity building
programs.
xii. Conduct post-training assessment to measure improvement in knowledge, skills, and confidence,
and evaluate the relevance and effectiveness of the capacity building program.
xiii. Work in close coordination with WECS, MOEWRI, other relevant government ministries, departments
and offices, and ADB to prepare the draft of general guidelines on water accounting and auditing.
d. Prepare draft of the watershed management plan for Bagmati River Basin
i. Create climate change and development scenarios to project their impacts on forest, water
resources (surface and ground water) and wetlands, and ecosystem services they provide. Elaborate on
competition and coordination relationship between the identified nature-related sectors.
ii. Conduct economic, social and environmental analyses, review all necessary documents, and hold
consultations with the stakeholders, including communities and the private sector, to identify existing
issues related to watershed management.
iii. Recommend methodologies to regulate water resources for forest, water resources (surface and
ground water) and wetlands, considering climate change.
iv. Recommend coordination mechanism between various nature-related sectors surrounding the watershed
area.
v. Conduct a study on trade-offs that need to be made to maximize economic and social welfare in an
equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems and the environment,
particularly forests, water resources and wetlands.
vi. Clarify roles and responsibilities of implementing agencies of the watershed management plan.
vii. Recommend measures to monitor the implementation of the watershed management plan with focus on
conservation and management of forests, water resources and wetlands, and improve ecological knowledge
for sustainable water management.
viii. Identify institutional and individual capacity needs to implement the watershed management plan.
ix. Make overall arrangements for and organize stakeholder consultation and validation workshops.
x. Prepare the final draft of the watershed management plan in a format acceptable to the government.
Translate the document into Nepali if requested by the government.
xi. Work in close coordination with MOFE, other relevant government ministries, departments and
offices, and ADB to prepare the plan.
e. Prepare watershed management plan for Southern River Block covering Chure Hills and the Terai region
of Madhesh Province
i. Review literature related to reduction in groundwater recharge in Madhesh Province and its ripple
effects in other sectors.
ii. Review literature related to socio-economic condition in the province.
iii. Conduct environmental analysis of Chure-Bhabar region and the Terai.
iv. Review related policies, laws, strategies and guidelines of federal and provincial governments
and hold consultations with the stakeholders, including communities and the private sector, to draft the
integrated watershed management plan covering Chure Hills (upstream) and the Terai region (downstream)
of Madhesh Province.
v. Recommend coordination mechanism between various interrelated sectors and methodologies to
improve groundwater recharge.
vi. Recommend mechanisms to automate groundwater monitoring.
vii. Identify institutional and human capacity gaps to implement the plan.
viii. Clarify roles and responsibilities of implementing agencies of the plan.
ix. Recommend mechanism to monitor implementation of the plan.
x. Make overall arrangements for and organize stakeholder consultation and validation workshops.
xi. Prepare the final draft of the watershed management plan in a format acceptable to the
government. Translate the document into Nepali if requested by the government.
f. Others
i. Extend necessary support to Climate Adaptation Expert to prepare and finalize the National
Adaptation Plan implementation roadmap, including financing strategies, for water resources sector. The
expert shall perform the task under the guidance of the Environmental and Natural Resources Specialist
and Team Lead.
Deliverables
- Inception Report – should include workplan and deliverable timelines, including areas the final
report would cover – within 7 working days of signing the contract - Provide drafts (by 31 July 2026) of (i) Watershed management plan for Bagmati River Basin; (ii)
Watershed management plan for Southern River Block covering Chure Hills and the Terai region of Madhesh
Province; (iii) Updated Bagmati River Basin Development Plan; and (iv) Training manual on water
accounting and auditing. - Make overall arrangements for and organize consultation and validation workshops. Make overall
arrangements for and organize capacity building workshops on water accounting and auditing based on
training manuals approved by WECS; and - Final Report – should incorporate all the feedback and recommendations included in the draft reports
- by the end of the contract period.
Minimum Qualification Requirements
The candidate should have a postgraduate degree in water resources management, hydrology, environmental
engineering or related fields with at least 10 years of experience in river basin planning and water
resources management. He/She should have good understanding of relationships between various ecosystems
for water consumption and methodologies to regulate water resources for the ecosystems. The candidate
should have sound analytical and writing skills.
Minimum General Experience: 11 Years
Minimum Specific Experience (relevant to assignment): 10 Years
