Expertise: Water security
Expertise Group: Engineering
Consultant Source: International
TOR Keywords: Water security, AWDO, micro-AWDO
Objective and Purpose of the Assignment
The Asian Water Development Outlook (AWDO) is ADB’s flagship framework for assessing water security
across five Key Dimensions: rural household water security, economic water security, urban water
security, environmental water security, and water-related disaster security. Building on AWDO 2025, ADB
is developing the Micro-AWDO approach to translate national water security findings into actionable
country-level and subnational diagnostics, investment priorities, policy reforms, and implementation
pathways.
Under the initial phase, ADB developed the preliminary Micro-AWDO methodology, analytical framework, and
proof-of-concept applications. Building on these foundations, the next phase will focus on validating
and operationalizing the approach, supporting country applications, strengthening government ownership,
refining analytical tools, and establishing implementation guidance and institutional arrangements for
wider adoption and scaling across developing member countries.
The objective of the assignment is to support ADB in operationalizing and scaling the Micro-AWDO
approach by:
• strengthening and refining the methodology, analytical tools, and implementation framework;
• supporting the application of Micro-AWDO in selected countries and subnational contexts;
• facilitating government-led interpretation of results and development of water security priorities and
action pathways;
• strengthening institutional capacity and ownership for long-term application of the approach; and
• preparing operational guidance, tools, and recommendations for future replication and scaling.
Scope of Work
The consultant will serve as Technical Lead of the Micro-AWDO initiative. The consultant will build on
the outputs developed under the initial phase and support the refinement, validation, application, and
scaling of the Micro-AWDO approach across selected countries and assessment areas identified by ADB. The
consultant will provide methodological leadership, analytical oversight, stakeholder engagement,
capacity development support, and operational guidance to facilitate the transition of Micro-AWDO from a
proof-of-concept initiative to an operational tool for government-led water security planning and
investment prioritization.
Detailed Tasks and/or Expected Output
The consultant will carry out the following tasks:
A. Methodological Refinement and Quality Assurance
• Review and refine the Micro-AWDO methodology based on lessons learned from initial applications and
stakeholder feedback.
• Strengthen approaches for indicator selection, proxy development, scoring, weighting, aggregation, and
validation.
• Review data requirements and analytical assumptions to improve the robustness, transparency, and
usability of the Micro-AWDO framework.
• Update and maintain technical guidance, templates, quality assurance procedures, and documentation for
future applications.
• Ensure consistency between Micro-AWDO and the broader AWDO framework while accommodating country-
specific contexts and priorities.
B. Support Country and Subnational Applications
• Provide technical leadership and advisory support for the implementation of Micro-AWDO assessments in
selected countries and subnational contexts.
• Guide assessment design, including selection of assessment areas, indicators, data sources, analytical
approaches, and stakeholder engagement processes.
• Support identification of data gaps, validation requirements, and opportunities to strengthen country
datasets and evidence bases.
• Review and quality assure country assessment outputs, analytical findings, maps, visualizations, and
technical reports.
• Support interpretation of results and identification of key water security challenges, risks,
disparities, and opportunities.
C. Analytical Model Enhancement and Scenario Analysis
• Refine and improve the Micro-AWDO analytical model and decision-support tools based on implementation
experience.
• Develop and test scenarios that assess the potential impacts of policy reforms, institutional
improvements, capacity development interventions, and infrastructure investments on water security
outcomes.
• Undertake sensitivity analysis and validation exercises to strengthen confidence in model outputs.
• Document model assumptions, limitations, methodological changes, and recommended applications.
• Support development of user guidance and training materials for future users of the model.
D. Government Engagement and Water Security Planning Support
• Support government counterparts in interpreting Micro-AWDO findings and identifying priority water
security issues.
• Facilitate technical discussions on policy, institutional, financing, capacity-development, and
investment implications arising from assessment findings.
• Provide technical inputs and analytical evidence to support government-led water security planning and
prioritization processes.
• Prepare technical background materials, presentations, and evidence packages to support stakeholder
consultations and decision-making.
• Support validation of findings and incorporation of government feedback into final outputs.
E. Capacity Development and Institutional Strengthening
• Assess institutional and technical capacity requirements for sustaining and updating Micro-AWDO
applications.
• Design and deliver technical workshops, training sessions, and knowledge-sharing activities for
government agencies and partners.
• Support development of institutional arrangements for data management, model stewardship, validation,
and periodic updating of assessments.
• Prepare training and knowledge-transfer materials to enable long-term use of the Micro-AWDO framework
and tools.
• Promote knowledge exchange among participating countries and relevant institutions.
F. Operationalization and Scaling of Micro-AWDO
• Document lessons learned from country applications and implementation experiences.
• Refine operational guidance, implementation procedures, and delivery models for future applications.
• Develop practical tools, templates, and technical resources to support replication and scaling.
• Identify opportunities to integrate Micro-AWDO findings into country planning processes, sector
dialogue, project preparation, and investment prioritization.
• Provide recommendations on institutional partnerships, technical support arrangements, and future
development of the Micro-AWDO program.
• Support preparation of concept notes, knowledge products, presentations, and communication materials
to promote wider adoption of the approach.
G. Coordination and Reporting
• Coordinate with ADB sector and country teams, resident missions, government counterparts, development
partners, research institutions, and technical experts.
• Support planning and delivery of consultations, workshops, validation sessions, and technical meetings.
• Maintain an updated work program and monitor progress against agreed milestones.
• Provide periodic progress reports and recommendations to ADB.
• Undertake other related activities necessary for the successful implementation and scaling of the
Micro-AWDO initiative.
Minimum Qualification Requirements
- Advanced degree in water resources, environmental science, or any related field
- Proven experience in the development of Asian Water Development Outlook (AWDO), the application of
micro-AWDO methodology and the testing of Micro-AWDO proof-of-concept assessments - Strong analytical and writing skills.
- Experience working with international organizations and stakeholders.
Minimum General Experience: 7 Years
Minimum Specific Experience (relevant to assignment): 5 Years
