1. Background and Context
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Pacific face mounting challenges in managing water supply and wastewater services in ways that protect fragile coastal and marine ecosystems, support tourism-based economies, and respond to climate risks. In Fiji—and particularly in Vanua Levu—most households and tourism facilities rely on septic tanks or informal wastewater systems, resulting in nutrient runoff that threatens reefs, mangroves, and lagoons. Similar challenges are observed across neighboring Pacific SIDS, including Solomon Islands and Kiribati.
Nature-Based Solutions (NBS)—including constructed wetlands, riparian buffers, mangrove restoration, rainwater harvesting, greywater reuse, and water‑sensitive landscaping—offer promising opportunities to complement conventional engineered infrastructure. These approaches can reduce marine and coastal pollution, enhance climate resilience, deliver biodiversity co‑benefits, and, when designed well, strengthen gender and social inclusion in planning, implementation, and operations.
Under Component 1: Nature‑Based Solutions (NBS) for Water and Wastewater in SIDS of the PROBLUE‑supported activity linked to the Fiji Tourism Development Program in Vanua Levu, the World Bank seeks to engage an individual consultant to (i) undertake a focused literature and case study review on NBS for water and wastewater in Fiji and selected Pacific SIDS; (ii) prepare a concise, practitioner‑oriented guidance note to support integration of NBS into water‑sector strategies; and (iii) support preparation for and participation in a regional dissemination workshop, including engagement of Solomon Islands, Kiribati, and other interested Pacific countries.
2. Objective of the Assignment
The objective of this assignment is to strengthen the evidence base and provide practical guidance on how nature‑based solutions can be applied alongside conventional infrastructure to improve water supply and wastewater management, as well as overall water resources management in Pacific SIDS, with explicit attention to:
- marine and coastal pollution reduction and biodiversity outcomes;
- gender and social inclusion in water‑sector planning and delivery; and
- relevance to tourism‑linked development and small‑island service contexts.
3. Scope of Work
The consultant will undertake the following tasks:
Task 1: Literature and Case Study Review on NBS (Activity 1.1)
The consultant will:
- Conduct a targeted review of global and Pacific SIDS literature on nature‑based solutions for water supply and wastewater management, covering both nature‑based wastewater treatment and water‑efficiency/demand‑management approaches;
- Review documented and emerging case studies from Fiji, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, and other relevant SIDS (e.g. Vanuatu, Samoa, Tonga), drawing on published literature and grey sources where appropriate;
- Assess NBS applications across the water cycle, including:
- wastewater treatment and nutrient reduction (e.g. constructed wetlands, lagoon and pond systems, mangrove buffers);
- water demand management (e.g. rainwater harvesting, greywater reuse, water‑sensitive landscaping);
- catchment and coastal protection linked to water‑quality improvement and reef/mangrove health;
- Identify key lessons on enabling conditions, policy and institutional arrangements, costs and financing considerations, operational requirements, scalability, and sustainability in small‑island contexts;
- Highlight examples that demonstrate:
- biodiversity and ecosystem co‑benefits;
- participation or leadership of women, youth, or marginalized groups;
- applications relevant to tourism areas or coastal economic activities.
Output: A concise literature and case study review report with clear implications for water‑sector practitioners and policymakers in Pacific SIDS.
Task 2: Preparation of a Guidance Note on Integrating NBS into Water‑Sector Strategies (Activity 1.2)
Building on Task 1, the consultant will prepare a practical guidance note targeted at government agencies, utilities, and development partners working in Pacific SIDS. The guidance note will:
- Present a clear typology of NBS options suitable for small‑island water supply and wastewater contexts;
- Demonstrate how NBS can complement conventional infrastructure under different service scenarios (urban and peri‑urban areas, tourism hubs, small towns, and dispersed settlements);
- Identify entry points for integrating NBS into water‑sector policies, strategies, feasibility studies, and investment planning processes;
- Provide design and implementation considerations related to:
- marine and coastal biodiversity protection;
- gender and social inclusion in planning, implementation, and operations and maintenance;
- tourism‑related applications and public–private or community partnerships;
- Include short, practice‑oriented examples drawn from Fiji, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, and other Pacific SIDS.
The consultant will coordinate closely with the World Bank task team to ensure the guidance is aligned with ongoing operations and policy dialogue, including relevance to the Fiji Tourism Development Program in Vanua Levu and potential applicability across the Pacific.
Output: A concise, user‑friendly guidance note suitable for regional dissemination.
Task 3: Regional Dissemination and Workshop Support
The consultant will support preparation for and participation in a regional dissemination workshop focused on NBS for water and wastewater in SIDS. The consultant will:
- Prepare presentation materials summarizing key findings from the review and guidance note for a regional audience;
- Ensure that examples and discussion points explicitly reflect the contexts and priorities of Solomon Islands, Kiribati, and other participating Pacific countries;
- Support development of workshop sessions that encourage peer exchange and practical discussion among country representatives, utilities, development partners, and other stakeholders;
- Participate in the workshop (in person or virtually, as agreed with the task team), including presenting findings and supporting facilitated technical discussions;
- Provide brief written inputs summarizing key discussion points, country perspectives, and lessons emerging from the workshop, to inform finalization of deliverables and future regional dialogue.
Output: Workshop presentation materials and concise post‑workshop summary inputs.
4. Deliverables and Indicative Timeline
The consultant is expected to deliver:
- Literature and case study review report on NBS for water and wastewater in Pacific SIDS;
- Draft guidance note on integrating NBS into water‑sector strategies;
- Final guidance note incorporating World Bank and stakeholder feedback;
- Workshop presentation materials and short synthesis of regional discussion points.
The detailed timeline will be agreed with the task team at contract inception and aligned with Component 1 milestones.
5. Client and Reporting Arrangements
The consultant will work under the guidance of the World Bank Task Team Leader, Rebecca Gilsdorf, and will coordinate with relevant World Bank staff and country counterparts in Fiji and participating Pacific SIDS. All deliverables will be reviewed by the task team prior to finalization.
6. Required Qualifications and Experience
The consultant should have:
- An advanced degree in environmental engineering, water resources management, environmental science, or a related field;
- Demonstrated experience with nature‑based solutions for water supply and/or wastewater management;
- Experience working in or with Small Island Developing States, preferably in the Pacific region;
- Proven ability to synthesize technical literature into concise, practitioner‑oriented guidance;
- Strong analytical and writing skills in English;
- Experience engaging with government agencies, utilities, and development partners;
- Experience integrating biodiversity, gender, and social inclusion considerations into water‑sector work is an asset.
7. Duration and Level of Effort
The assignment will be carried out over a six-month period, involving an estimated 40 working days, with inputs aligned to the literature review, guidance development, and regional workshop activities.
8. Location
The assignment includes some remote work, with travel expected to Fiji at least once during the assignment, subject to task team confirmation. Engagement with Solomon Islands, Kiribati, and other Pacific countries may be undertaken virtually and/or in person, as appropriate.
Please email CV and cover letter to: rgilsdorf@worldbank.org
