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Integrated Water Resources Management Specialist SOPAC Honiara

Consultancy - Solomon Islands: TA for the development of a national IWRM Plan: 2012/188


Pacific Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) National Planning Programme

Invitation for expressions of interest for providing technical assistance to the Government of the Solomon Islands for the development of a National IWRM Plan


BACKGROUND
The Applied Geoscience and Technology Division (SOPAC) of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) currently executes the European Union (EU) funded Pacific IWRM National Planning Programme. The Programme is designed to support 14 Pacific Island Countries to strengthen their governance structures and frameworks to mainstream IWRM approaches into national planning processes.

Through this programme, SOPAC has been requested by the Government of the Solomon Islands to assist in the assessment of frameworks for the management of water and sanitation, and in development of a National IWRM Plan that responds to this assessment.

The Solomon Islands, like many Pacific Island Countries, are vulnerable to the impacts of water shortages, floods, pollution, environmental degradation and water-borne disease. While data on improved water and sanitation facilities is sparse, it is clear that the Solomon Islands remains one of the few countries in the world that is not on track to meet its water and sanitation related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The provision of safe drinking water supplies and sanitation facilities is challenged by population growth and urbanisation, and further restricted by limitations to technical resources, educational opportunities, financial assistance, transportation and land access.

The emerging impacts of climate change add to these challenges, increasing uncertainties and exacerbating the impacts of existing climate variability.
Further to these challenges, the nation’s rivers and groundwater systems are complex and cover large and often remote areas. This scale and diversity, combined with the complexity of land ownership, makes effective consultation on water and sanitation matters difficult.

As in most countries, the responsibility for protecting and managing the Solomons’ water resources lies across multiple government agencies and community bodies. However, inadequate coordination between these various entities, combined with serious issues of capacity, has led to significant management gaps and an inability to effectively deal with emerging threats. In these circumstances, there is significant potential for the approach of IWRM to help address these issues by encouraging collaboration between the communities who rely on fresh water and the various agencies responsible for its management.

IWRM approaches are already being utilised in the Solomon Islands, primarily through a demonstration project focusing on ensuring sustainable water supply and wastewater services in Honiara City.
The project, funded by the Global Environment Facility and implemented by the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification (MMERE) in partnership with SOPAC, is demonstrating the practical use of IWRM approaches at a catchment level.

Further to this, collaboration between various sectors and stakeholders has been recently attempted through the establishment of a “National Intersectoral Water Coordination Committee” (NIWCC). The NIWCC is in its early stages and it yet to be formally endorsed and mandated by Government, but has already contributed to identification of key issues and threats through the development of a draft national outlook for water and sanitation.

Recognising the opportunity to more fully utilise IWRM approaches at a national level, the Government of the Solomon Islands has requested that technical assistance be mobilised to support the development of a draft National IWRM Plan that identifies a set of practical and achievable measures that can be put in place to ensure a more integrated approach to the management of the country’s water resources, drinking water supplies and sanitation services.


ASSIGNMENT INFORMATION
Position Title: Integrated Water Resources Management Specialist
Location: 1. Water Resources Division (WRD) of the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification (MMERE) (Honiara office);
2. National Water Supply and Sanitation Unit of the Environmental Health Division, Ministry of Health and Medical Services (Honiara office);
3. Department of Environment, Conservation and Meteorology (Honiara office); and
4. Consultant’s home office.
Timing and Duration: The work is required to be undertaken over a total of 8 weeks input, delivered during a period of 6 months (July to December 2012). This input will need to be split between 3 missions in-country, for a minimum total input of 6 weeks, and up to 2 weeks total input from the Consultant’s home office.


SCOPE OF WORK
The consultant is to assist the Government of the Solomon Islands, through its NIWCC, to undertake an IWRM Review and develop a draft National IWRM Plan for the consideration and endorsement of Cabinet. The Plan will articulate Government’s commitment to working towards an integrated approach to water resources management, including an agreed and feasible roadmap for the implementation of a set of practical measures and responses.

An important component of the technical assistance will be improving the capacity and level of engagement of the NIWCC through their active participation in the development of the draft Plan. This “experiential” component will be critical to the success of the technical assistance, and should aim to increase the relevance and profile of the NIWCC, along with the interest and engagement of its members. The key products of the technical assistance will therefore not only be the IWRM Review and draft IWRM Plan but also, importantly, a strengthening of the NIWCC to effectively participate in water resources management decision-making.
These Terms of Reference outline the core activities of this technical assistance, however the details of individual tasks and their implementation will need to be determined during initial detailed discussions with the Solomon Islands Government and the NIWCC.

It is crucial also that the IWRM Plan be consistent and, where appropriate, integrated with the broader policies and initiatives of Government, including those for the delivery of urban and rural drinking water and sanitation services. As such, the development of the National IWRM Policy and Implementation Plan should seek the active input and engagement of the Ministers for: Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification; Health and Medical Services; Rural Development; Home Affairs; and Environment, Conservation and Meteorology.

The development of the IWRM Plan should consider the barriers and opportunities in applying IWRM principles and tools to the many aspects of water management in the Solomon Islands, including but not limited to:
• The provision of safe and efficient drinking water supplies;
• Engagement of the community in the protection of local water resources;
• Water source protection and control of polluting activities;
• Capacity of Government, the community and the National Water Committee to effectively engage in water management issues;
• Improving water resilience in the face of climate change;
• Conservation of water-dependent ecosystems; and
• Water resources data collection, management and assessment.

To assist in the development of the IWRM Plan, the consultant will conduct a comprehensive IWRM Review of current water governance and institutional arrangements for water and sanitation in the Solomon Islands (including the various water related donor programmes operating in the country, and current coordination mechanisms including the NIWCC) and identify gaps and measures to bridge these through the adoption of IWRM approaches and principles. This work will specifically consider the important issue of the Solomon Island’s capacity to adapt to the water-related impacts of climate change, with a view to ensuring that the National IWRM Plan contains provisions to strengthen this capacity.

The Consultant will be required to work under the direction of the MMERE and within the Solomon Island’s existing institutional framework, including the NIWCC. The Consultant will also be required to work closely with other agencies, including the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) and the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Meteorology (MECM). In undertaking this work, the Consultant will contribute to building the ongoing capacity of both the NIWCC members and staff of MMERE’s WRD. The Consultant will therefore be required to apply a highly participatory method during the assignment, and undertake coaching and, where appropriate, targeted training of counterpart staff in order to enable their meaningful participation in this and future policy development processes.

The Consultant shall perform the following services in accordance with the terms and conditions of these Terms of Reference.
1. Conduct initial consultations with the Ministers and Permanent Secretaries for MMERE, MHMS and MECM in order to incorporate their early input into the work plan, and to ensure that the proposed work is aligned with current and proposed Government programs and policy initiatives.
2. Consult with the NIWCC on the design and schedule of a work plan that provides for the effective participation of the NIWCC and its individual members.
3. In accordance with the work plan, conduct a series of initial individual consultation meetings with mangers, partners and stakeholders, including those listed in Annexe I of these Terms of Reference.
4. Complete and transmit to MMERE and SOPAC an Inception Report including a work plan (outlining proposed measures for maximising the participation of the NIWCC and its members) and a summary of all consultations.
5. Undertake a comprehensive IWRM Review of water governance and institutional arrangements for the management of water resources, including an assessment of progress towards the achievement of IWRM principles (the IWRM Review).
6. Attend regular briefing sessions with NIWCC, MMERE, MHMS and MECM to report progress and refine the Consultant’s work plan.
7. In accordance with the work plan, and through a series of appropriately facilitated workshops, consult with the NIWCC in order to develop the IWRM Review and IWRM Plan.
8. Provide coaching and, where appropriate, targeted hands-on training in order to facilitate the active participation of key agency staff in the policy development process, ensuring that capacity is effectively transferred.
9. Conduct debriefing sessions with the NIWCC, and with the Ministers and Permanent Secretaries for MMERE, MHMS and MECM.
10. Complete and transmit to MNRE and SOPAC a draft Mission Report detailing clear conclusions and recommendations in response to these Terms of Reference, and with all consultant outputs attached as appendices.
11. Finalise the Mission Report in the light of comments received and transmit to MNRE and SOPAC.


OUTPUTS
Outputs to be delivered by the Consultant include:
1. A project inception report, including an agreed work plan and schedule for consultation and development of the IWRM Review and IWRM Plan;
2. A summary of results of consultation with all stakeholders;
3. A stakeholder analysis, identifying agencies and groups and their role and stake in the management of water and sanitation.
4. A comprehensive IWRM Review, assessing the effectiveness of water governance and institutional arrangements for the management of water resources against the principles of IWRM, and covering:
• national and regional level governance and coordination frameworks for water and sanitation;
• legal and policy frameworks for the management of water and sanitation;
• the capacity of government to implement current frameworks;
• cooperation and coordination between Government and development partners; and
• progress, barriers and opportunities in meeting IWRM principles.
5. A draft IWRM Plan, articulating Government’s commitment to IWRM principles, and including an agreed and feasible roadmap for the implementation of a set of practical steps to achieve these.
6. A final Mission Report, to be produced within the allocated time period for the project, detailing clear conclusions and recommendations in response to these Terms of Reference, and with outputs 1 to 5 above attached as appendices.


IMPLEMENTATION AND MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS
The consultant will be recruited and contracted by SOPAC in Fiji under the EU-funded Pacific IWRM National Planning Programme, being responsible to Mr Dave Hebblethwaite, IWRM Advisor.
MMERE, acting as the ‘National Executing Agency’ (NEA), is the legal entity responsible for executing the National Project, and will be responsible for the overall co-ordination, management and supervision of all aspects of the project.
Overall supervision of the consulting services will be undertaken by Mr Charlie Bepapa, Water Resources Division, MMERE. Daily technical supervision of the work of the Consultant will be undertaken by the Water Resources Division of MMERE.
Critical to the success of the TA will be the mobilisation of the NIWCC and active high-level representation from key agencies with an interest in water, and appropriate stakeholder representatives. In this regard, it will be important for Government to mandate the NIWCC and its government members to actively participate in the IWRM Review and IWRM Plan development, and the nomination of a suitable chair to lead NIWCC participation. It is envisaged that Government will provide this mandate and nominate a suitable chair before the commencement of this technical assistance.


PROCEDURE FOR SUBMITTING EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
Expressions of interest are to include:
– The applicant’s curriculum vitae highlighting experience relevant to undertaking the tasks described in these Terms of Reference;
– A short brief (no more than two pages) broadly outlining the approach to be adopted in undertaking the tasks;
– A brief work plan to match the scope of work required;
– Examples of relevant work undertaken in the past; and
– An indication of applicant charges per day.

Financial proposals shall include indicative costs detailing fees, travel and other relevant items required to successfully complete the assignment. The costs of implementing local consultations through workshop(s), and printing and copying facilities will be provided by the client at no cost and should not be included in the financial proposal.

Expressions of interest are to be e-mailed to the e-mail address,

director@sopac.org

and copied to fane@sopac.org with the subject heading “Expression of Interest to Develop a National IWRM Plan for the Solomon Islands”.
Enquiries may be directed to Mr Dave Hebblethwaite on e-mail: dave@sopac or telephone (679) 3381377 (extension 309).

Submission of Expressions of Interest must reach the SOPAC Secretariat no later than 1630h, Fiji Time, on 31 May 2012.
Late applications will not be considered.

SOPAC will contact selected applicants for further discussions.
Expressions of Interest will be assessed based on both technical competency and the total professional cost for completing the work.