 | ExpertiseClimate change, water resource managementExpertise GroupEconomics/Financial Analysis | | Consultant SourceInternationalTOR KeywordsABEC, STREAM, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic |
Objective and Purpose of the Assignment
| The Almaty-Bishkek Economic Corridor (ABEC) Sustainable Transboundary River Enhancement and Adaptation Management (STREAM) project will develop a comprehensive transboundary management framework for the Chu- Talas River basin shared by Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic. The project will: (i) conduct climate and hydrological assessments; (ii) develop an Integrated River Basin Management Plan (IRBMP); and (iii) prepare bankable investment projects to enhance climate resilience and water security for approximately 3 million people in the basin. The Chu-Talas basin is increasingly affected by rising temperatures and glacier retreat, leading to altered river regimes and shifts in seasonal water availability, with critical implications for regional water security, threatening both urban water supplies and agricultural productivity. The impacts of floods, mudflows, and Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) are also expected to rise due to more extreme precipitation and seasonal peak flows. This calls for increased cooperation between Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic on transboundary disaster risk management and early warning. Riverbank erosion along the shared border presents a collaborative management challenge that requires coordinated approaches from both countries. |
Scope of Work
| The Hydrology and Water Resources Specialist will develop a basin hydrological model as a jointly validated technical tool to support transboundary decision-making in the Chu–Talas basin and to evaluate climate impacts on river flows and water availability, supporting water allocation planning, infrastructure design, and GIS integration. The model shall be documented in a transparent and reproducible manner, including a clear description of data sources, assumptions, calibration steps, and limitations. Model development will include version tracking of key updates and adjustments, and preparation of bilingual (in both languages) metadata for core datasets and parameters to ensure shared understanding and long-term usability by national institutions and the Chu–Talas Water Commission. |
Detailed Tasks and/or Expected Output
| • Lead hydrological and water resources analysis • Develop a continuous, semi-distributed hydrological model for the Chu-Talas basin • Use existing global databases for key variables (precipitation, temperature, PET, snow cover, etc), in cooperation with the GIS and remote sensing specialist, to feed the models, once calibrated with available land-based hydrometeorological data • Prepare a groundwater analysis based on available data • Develop a water allocation and management model based on the natural flows derived from the previous hydrological model. • Analyze climate projections and assess impacts on river flows and water availability • Estimate natural and modified flows under historical and future climate conditions • Assess glacier dynamics and snow accumulation/melting patterns • Support the development of water allocation scenarios • Provide technical input to investment project design, particularly for water infrastructure • Collaborate with a GIS specialist on spatial data integration |
Minimum Qualification Requirements
| • Master’s degree in Hydrology, Water Resources Engineering, or related field • Minimum 5 years of experience in hydrological modeling and water resources assessment • Proven expertise in climate change impacts on water resources, particularly in snow-dominated and glacier-fed river systems • Experience in hydrological modeling (e.g., SWAT, HEC-HMS, MIKE SHE, or similar). Experience in coupled river-aquifer modeling is a plus. • Experience in hydraulic and flood risk modeling (HEC-RAS, Infoworks, Lisflood, SFINCS, or similar). • Experience with water management models and tools (HEC-ResSim, WEAP, Modsim, WRAP, or equivalent) • Knowledge of water allocation frameworks and transboundary water management • Experience working in Central Asia or similar mountain water systems is highly desirable • Fluent in English |
| Minimum General Experience10 Years Minimum Specific Experience (relevant to assignment) 5 YearsRegional/Country Experience  Required Desired Not Required |
