Expertise: Technical advisory, Urban, climate change, water specialist
Expertise Group: Biological Sciences & Ecology
Consultant Source: International
TOR Keywords: Climate Change Adaptation, Urban
Objective and Purpose of the Assignment
The technical assistance (TA) Supporting Climate-Smart Urban Development through City Climate Action
Planning (C-CAP) assists developing member countries in strengthening climate-smart urban development
and city climate action planning. The TA is currently being implemented in selected cities in Uzbekistan
and Pakistan, with potential expansion to Bangladesh, while providing knowledge and lessons learned
applicable to cities in South, West, and Central Asia and broader regions. The TA support includes the
preparation and implementation of city climate action plans and the development of knowledge products,
integrating both climate adaptation and mitigation considerations. The assignment draws on relevant
international city climate initiatives, global practices, and approaches led by international
organizations and city networks.
As a core team member of the TA, the Technical Advisory Specialist (City Climate Action for Water
Solutions) is expected to undertake the assessment of urban water resources and groundwater availability
and management as a priority theme within city climate action planning. The Specialist will examine the
climate related causes of groundwater stress, governance arrangements for urban water management, and
existing effective measures, including water resource diversification and green technologies, and will
strengthen the technical and analytical quality of city climate action planning activities. The expert
will provide direct inputs to city climate action plans, climate change assessments, and related
knowledge products.
Scope of Work
The Specialist will conduct a review and stocktaking of existing practices related to urban water
resources and groundwater management for cities across South Asia and Central and West Asia, to
strengthen technical outputs of city climate action planning. The scope is intentionally broad at this
stage to allow flexibility and will be further refined under the guidance of ADB. The review will cover
South Asia and Central and West Asia and include reginal practices and localized solutions as well as
broadly applicable approaches, from the perspective of climate change and city climate action planning
The Specialist is not expected to perform detailed engineering, hydrogeological, or water resources
investigations. Instead, the Specialist will review existing studies and assess climate-adaptive and
resilient urban water solutions for cities and areas highly dependent on groundwater resources, and
contribute to city climate action planning and climate investment preparation, as required. Strong
expertise in climate science and climate modeling, combined with experience in urban infrastructure and
investment projects, is required to ensure a robust, science-based approach to climate-resilient urban
water management and planning.
Detailed Tasks and/or Expected Output
Under the guidance of the TA Team Leader and in close coordination with TA team, the Specialist will:
- Review key climate change and disaster factors of the two regions which may affect the current and
future water resource management systems, based on the most recent climate data and analyses. - Review general water availability, use, and management of urban water resources and groundwater in
two regions and selected areas, including levels of dependence on groundwater, monitoring arrangements,
and data availability. - Identify and document key causes of groundwater stress and depletion, including climate and non-
climate factors, and considering competing demands among urban drinking water, industrial use, and
agriculture, and review the associated governance and institutional arrangements for urban water
management. - Review regional, national, and local strategies, studies, and common practices relevant to climate-
adaptive and resilient urban water management, and identify institutional gaps and opportunities, with a
focus on strengthening the linkages between national agendas and local actions. - Evaluate existing or emerging measures and best technologies, specific to the regions and selected
areas, suitable for rapidly growing urban development contexts. - Review selected city climate action plans from the region and identify gaps, lessons, and
opportunities to strengthen the integration of urban water solutions into climate action planning and
climate investment programming. - Provide technical review and substantive inputs to TA deliverables, including city climate action
plans, climate change assessments, city climate profiles, knowledge products, workshop materials,
consultant reports, and other technical outputs, as required. - Provide direct technical support in designing and preparing climate investment proposals for selected
cities, as required. - Participate in activities related to knowledge-sharing, capacity building, coordination with relevant
international organizations and city networks, or ADB missions, as required by ADB. - Undertake any other relevant tasks as required by ADB.
Deliverables Estimated Submission Date
Inception report outlining the proposed approach, workplan, and approach for the assignment
Monthly progress report, summarizing activities undertaken, key findings, progress against the workplan,
and contributions to city climate action planning under the TA By 30 July 2026
End of each month during the assignment period
Final report on urban water solutions for city climate action planning and climate investment
preparation By 15 December 2026
Minimum Qualification Requirements
• Advanced degree in climate change, water resources management, hydrogeology, environmental
engineering, urban development, or a related field, with at least 10 years of relevant international
experience.
• Strong expertise and experience in urban climate modelling, climate data analysis and projections, ADB’
s climate risk and adaptation assessment requirements, and relevant Joint MDB and ADB guidelines.
• Demonstrated experience and expertise in climate-resilient urban water management, including
groundwater-dependent urban systems, water-related climate adaptation and mitigation measures, and the
application of GIS tools and spatial analysis.
• Sound knowledge of climate-smart urban development, and the integration of water resources and
groundwater considerations into city-level planning and investment processes.
• Familiarity with the urban development and climate change contexts of South Asia and Central and West
Asia is required.
• Experience working with ADB/multilateral development banks is required.
Minimum General Experience: 10 Years
Minimum Specific Experience (relevant to assignment): 8 Years
