Consultancy Services to Support Development of Action Plans on groundwater resources governance, management, and protection for inclusion in national, sub-basin frameworks

Contract

This is a International Consultant contract. More about International Consultant contracts.

Background

The Nile Basin Initiative has received funding from Global Environment Facility (GEF) through UNDP to implement a project entitled “Enhancing conjunctive management of surface and groundwater resources in selected transboundary aquifers: Case study for selected shared groundwater bodies in the Nile Basin”. The project aim is to foster the more effective utilization and protection of selected shared aquifers in the selected sub-basin in the Eastern Nile and the Nile Equatorial Lakes region through further improving the understanding of available groundwater resources and demonstrating ‘conjunctive management that optimizes the joint use of surface and groundwater.

NBI intends to employ the services of Individual International Consultant to participate in, and support development of action plans on groundwater resources governance, management, and protection for inclusion in national, sub-basin frameworks: – also including consideration of surface water/groundwater resources conjunctive use for Selected Transboundary Aquifers in the Nile Basin. The assignment described in these ToR is funded through NBI member country contributions, and Global Environment Facility through United Nations Development Program. This document presents the Terms of Reference for the Assignment. The International Consultants shall be selected competitively based on UNDP’s procurement procedures because of the nature of the work.

Application Process

Applicants are requested to apply online at http://jobs.undp.org by 14th July 2022. The application document can be accessed on https://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=93223 . Candidates are invited to submit applications together with their CV for these positions. UNDP applies a fair and transparent selection process that will consider the competencies/skills of the applicants as well as their financial proposals. Qualified women and members of social minorities are encouraged to apply. Interested applicants should send an email to: ug.procurement@undp.org for any inquiries.

PLEASE NOTE THAT – UNDP DOES NOT CHARGE ANY FEES AT ANY STAGE OF ITS PROCUREMENT PROCESSES. UNDP HAS ZERO TOLERANCE FOR FRAUD AND CORRUPTION, MEANING THAT UNDP STAFF MEMBERS, NON-STAFF PERSONNEL, VENDORS, IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS AND RESPONSIBLE PARTIES ARE NOT TO ENGAGE IN FRAUD OR CORRUPTION

Duties and Responsibilities

After reviewing the Shared Aquifer Diagnostic Analysis Report (SADA), Nile Initiative ten-year strategy including transboundary water strategy, the scope of work for the international consultant should be able to increase convergence of national approaches, policies and governance mechanisms for protection and sustainable use of shared aquifers.

In carrying out the above tasks, the consultant is expected to:-

• Develop one action plan for sustainable management for the shared aquifer including appropriate guidelines (technical and policy) on the exploration and use of groundwater as a valuable resource together balancing the use of ground and with surface water towards optimized use of both resources and recommendations for pilot project.
• Develop regional technical manuals and guides to support conjunctive use groundwater and surface water resources. These technical manuals and guides will address, among others, measures for enhancing, monitoring, aquifer recharge (such as through MAR) and sustainable yield, water quality protection, and conservation of groundwater dependent aquatic ecosystems linked to the selected aquifers.
• Develop regional strategies for conjunctive surface and groundwater use as a key climate change adaption measure at national and regional levels and recommend measures to be adopted.
• Conduct two regional workshops (at NBI or at agreed up location) involving the seven countries (NB: aim of local workshops is both to collected field socio economic data from local level stakeholders as well as to engage the local stakeholders as recipients of knowledge and information products).

Competencies

Competences:

• Excellent analytical skills.
• Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards.
• Strong writing and communication skills;
• Fluency in English is required (knowledge of French is an advantage but not required).

Required Skills and Experience

The expert should meet the following academic qualifications and experience as a minimum:

1. Master’s degree or higher in hydro-geology, groundwater management, water management with special focus on groundwater resources or any other closely related field.
2. Minimum 15 years of demonstrable experience in the technical area of water management, international waters, or related fields.
3. Previous proven experience in carrying out shared aquifer guidelines and policy making on at least one assignment.
4. Previous experience of working in the Nile Basin or will be an added advantage.
5. Previous experience related to managing or researching international waters is an advantage.