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

Contract

This is a National Consultant contract. More about National 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.

UNDP intends to employ the services of Individual National Consultants 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 Consultants shall be selected competitively based on UNDP’s procurement procedures. Because of the nature of the work, the National Consultants shall be resident in the following countries that are participating in the project – Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. One consultant shall be selected per country.

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=93227. 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

• The National Consultants shall support the Team Leader/ International Consultant in all aspects of the assignment with national level and aquifer level information and assessments.
• The National Consultants will be responsible for the preparation of the country Action Plan Reports, carrying out national and aquifer level consultations, providing stakeholders inputs at the various stages.
• Consultancy/Assignment Scope:
• In carrying out the above tasks****, the consultant is expected to conduct this work with a consultative national team representing all stakeholders including experts from focal institutions, academia, and the local authorities at the shared aquifer level.
• Review for the updating of groundwater monitoring practices, surface water groundwater conjunctive use practices, current institutional arrangement at local and national levels pertaining to the shared aquifers and make an inventory of groundwater dependent aquatic ecosystem. [Considering gender disaggregated data collection procedures].
• Preparation of national action plan document for improving groundwater monitoring & national technical manuals and guides for conjunctive use of surface water and groundwater and recommendation of institutional mechanism. [consider including gender aspect in the action plans]
• Conduct of 2 workshops for validation of reports (local & National level)
• In carrying out the above tasks, the consultant is expected to work very closely with the international consultant and to work very closely with local staff in the respective country to ensure skills transfer/capacity building.

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 hydrogeology, 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 water, or related fields.
3. Previous proven experience in carrying out shared aquifer diagnostic/ assessments on at least one assignment.
4. Proven experience in GIS and remote sensing applications for groundwater
5. Previous experience of working in the Nile Basin or will be an added advantage.
6. Previous experience related to managing or researching international waters is an advantage.