Tajikistan Water Infrastructure Specialist

N.B. This position is dependent on the selection of ACTED as the executing agency for the ADB Project Preparatory Technical Assistance. Position: Water Infrastructure Specialist Contract duration: 6 months ACTED is looking for an international Water Infrastructure Specialist who will be part of the consultancy team for a Project Preparatory Technical Assistance (PPTA) mission. This mission will carry out technical, economic and social due diligence for a future ADB funded project entitled Building Climate Resilience in the Pyanj River Basin. The outcome of the PPTA will be a full project design, including implementation arrangements, and total project readiness for the future sub-projects under the aforementioned project. This will include detailed engineering design and preparation of bidding documents, endorsed by the Government of Tajikistan and ADB.

Project summary:

The PPTA will identify the most vulnerable communities in the Pyanj River Basin, and for each sub-district select and design physical and non-physical adaptation measures to reduce the adverse effects of climate change on water resources. Potential adaptation measures in the Pyanj river basin have already been identified in a climate change risk assessment carried out under the Pilot Program for Climate Resilience with ADB support and extensive consultations with line ministries, international organizations, civil society, local governments, sub-districts and community-based organizations in the Pyanj River Basin. Infrastructure needs included rehabilitation or construction of climate-proofed infrastructure for: (i) small scale irrigation systems and drainage, including water storage and discharge and other drought management measures; (ii) supply of drinking water; and (iii) flood and mudflows management, including small-scale riverine embankments, soil stabilization and reforestation. Other measures identified include: (i) early warning systems for floods and droughts; (ii) micro-finance to support the introduction of adaptation measures at the farm and household level, especially for women; (iv) index-based micro-insurance as a climate change risk transfer mechanism and (v) advisory services to provide and disseminate

Overview of position:

The Water Infrastructure Specialist will be part of a team of 6 international consultants and 18 national consultants covering a number of sectors including water infrastructure and management, climate change, gender elements, and international and national procurement issues. S/he will be responsible for identifying infrastructure solutions that are suitable to the changing climate conditions of the project areas and address the adaptation needs identified in the target sub-districts and communities. He/she will be responsible for climate-proofing the engineering design. The Water Infrastructure Specialist will work closely with the Infrastructure Engineers within the mission team to produce detailed engineering designs of the infrastructure components of the sub-projects, including operational and maintenance requirements.

Background:

• The Water Infrastructure Specialist will have at least 15 years working experience in designing water infrastructure projects including irrigation, water supply and flood protection in developing countries and has extensive experience in Central Asia (CA).
• Excellent English (Knowledge of Russian is preferred)
• Previous experience working in an international and national team of consultants
• Previous experience of working under ADB projects is preferable
• Strong communication skills
• Previous experience in project design and implementation
• Flexible operating in challenging work environments

How to apply:

Submission of CVs should be made to tenders@acted.org Deadline for application: 7th December 2011