Local recruitment: Infrastructure Engineers - water (Uzbekistan nationals)

Expertise: Infrastructure, Water, Engineering
Expertise Group: Engineering

Consultant Source: National
TOR Keywords: Infrastructure, Water, Engineering

Objective and Purpose of the Assignment

I. Background and Objective of the Assignment

1. The Government of Uzbekistan, with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), is preparing the
   Special Economic Zones (SEZ) Competitiveness, Access, Linkages, and Efficiency Program under ADB’s
   Results-Based Lending (RBL) modality. The program is a $200 million RBL program that aims to modernize
   priority infrastructure in selected SEZs, strengthen SEZ management and operations, and enhance their
   sustainability, ultimately to attract higher-quality private investment, improve service delivery, and
   create high-value jobs. The program has a strong systems-strengthening focus, emphasizing improvements
   to government program processes, institutions, and capacities rather than stand-alone projects.
2. The proposed technical assistance (TA), Preparing the SEZ Competitiveness, Access, Linkages, and
   Efficiency Program, supports the design and readiness of the RBL program. Financed at $1.23 million the
   TA will engage 25 person-months of international and 46 person-months of national consulting services to
   conduct the necessary due diligence studies (technical, economic, financial, institutional, fiduciary,
   safeguards, social), design the program’s results framework (including the Design and Monitoring
   Framework, Disbursement-Linked Indicators, and verification protocols), formulate the Program Action
   Plan (PAP), and facilitate initial capacity building and inter-agency coordination.
3. The TA will support all required program technical assessments (program soundness, expenditure and
   financing, results framework, economic justification) and program system assessments (monitoring and
   evaluation, fiduciary systems including financial management, procurement, and anticorruption/integrity,
   and safeguard systems). The TA will also support the formulation and verification of DLIs, the
   preparation of the Program Action Plan, and the Program Implementation Document (PID).
4. The executing agency is the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade (MIIT), with implementation
   support from SEZ Directorates, Ministry of Economy and Finance, Ministry of Energy, and Ministry of
   Construction and Housing and Communal Services.
   

Scope of Work

Three National Infrastructure Engineers, with this position focusing on water, will work as a team to
support the technical assessment of SEZ infrastructure needs. Under the guidance of ADB staff or
consultants appointed by ADB, their tasks include:

1. Field data collection and validation. Visit designated SEZ sites to gather detailed data on existing
   infrastructure conditions (power and gas supply, water supply and treatment, wastewater, roads,
   communications, etc.). Coordinate with local SEZ directorates, utility companies, and construction
   authorities to collect technical details (capacity, service levels, equipment condition, maintenance
   records).
2. Cost estimate and scheduling inputs. Provide on-the-ground data to update cost estimates and
   scheduling for due diligence. Assist in refining engineering cost estimates, technical specifications,
   and procurement packaging for the program’s infrastructure components.
3. Land and permit verification. Validate that proposed infrastructure works have required land and
   permits in place, feeding into the Safeguard Systems Assessment for land-related risks. Identify any
   foreseeable delays related to land acquisition or clearances and report these for inclusion in the PAP.
4. Implementation schedule support. Assist the international engineers in refining the implementation
   schedule for civil works across the priority zones, ensuring that timelines consider local construction
   seasons, procurement lead times, and capacity constraints.
5. Note energy use and decarbonization opportunities (e.g., rooftop solar, energy efficiency) where
   observed.

Detailed Tasks and/or Expected Output

Deliverables and Outputs

1. Field assessment reports: Brief reports or data tables for each site visit summarizing existing
   infrastructure conditions, key gaps, and site-specific issues (land, technical, regulatory).
2. Technical data and cost inputs: Updated cost estimates, schedules, and technical parameters feeding
   into the Program Expenditure and Financing Assessment and the Program Soundness Assessment.
3. Inputs to Program Safeguards Systems Assessment (PSSA): Observations on land, health and safety, or
   environmental concerns derived from field assessments.
4. Infrastructure implementation schedule: Contributions to the integrated schedule for civil works,
   including procurement packaging and sequencing recommendations.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

1. Education: Bachelor’s or higher degree in engineering (civil, electrical, environmental, mechanical,
   or related field).
2. Experience: At least 5 years of experience in infrastructure planning, design, or construction
   supervision in Uzbekistan. Exposure to SEZ, industrial park, or urban infrastructure projects is an
   advantage. Experience working with government infrastructure projects is highly desirable.
3. Skills: Strong field engineering and analytical skills. Familiarity with national technical
   standards, permit procedures, and construction practices. Ability to work collaboratively with diverse
   stakeholders. Good communication skills for reporting technical findings in written English; proficiency
   in Uzbek or Russian for field coordination.

Minimum General Experience: 5 Years
Minimum Specific Experience (relevant to assignment): 5 Years