Expertise: Deputy team leader, irrigation design engineer
Expertise Group: Agriculture/Rural Development
Consultant Source: National
TOR Keywords: Deputy team leader, irrigation design engineer
Objective and Purpose of the Assignment
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has supported Nepal since late 1980s in rehabilitation of old and
damaged farmers-managed irrigation systems (FMIS). Those FMIS were constructed by farmers without
engineering design and mostly having annually constructed temporary intake and earthen canal with high
seepage loss. The irrigation sector projects included (i) rehabilitation of old systems with
construction of permanent intake and lined canals and infrastructure to minimize seepage loss, (ii)
institutional strengthening of farmers and formation of their socially inclusive and gender sensitive
water users association (WUAs) for taking responsibility of appropriate operation and maintenance of the
system, (iii) capacity building of executing and implementing agencies in better implementation of
project and (iv) capacity building of farmers in improved agricultural practices. The outcome of the
project was effective and popular among farmers and the government. The project started in late 1980 and
is still continuing with four projects in series (community-managed irrigated agriculture sector project-
additional financing (CMIASP-AF) currently under implementation).
With the successful project results and large demand from medium to marginal farmers, Government
requested ADB during their country programming mission (CPM) 2021 and 2022 to continue the support in
similar modality after closure of CMIASP-AF in December 2022. Following the Government request, the ADB
CPM recorded the Climate Resilient Community Managed Irrigation Sector Project (the project) and
allocating $70 million from ADB’s ordinary capital resources for ADB Board consideration firm in 2024
and standby for 2023.
The proposed CRCMISP will be designed for rehabilitating or constructing the following three types of
irrigation systems: (i) rehabilitation of more than 100 numbers of minor FMIS in Province 1, Madhesh
Pradesh and Bagmati Province; (ii) construction of 13 new lift irrigation systems irrigating more than
1,400 hectares (ha) in the dry uplands of Gandaki Province; and (iii) rehabilitation of the Rajapur
Irrigation Project (RIP) in Sudur Paschhim Province (15,000ha gross command area).. In 1991, ADB
approved the Rajapur Irrigation Rehabilitation Project (Loan 1113-NEP[SF]) that was rated as overall
successful.
Scope of work in all the three types of systems in addition to climate resilient civil works (permanent
intake or pumping well, canal lining and pipe laying, and other infrastructures such as intake
modification and desilting basins in Rajapur Irrigation System) will include (i) institutional
strengthening of farmers including promotion of crop pooling; (ii) commercialization through formation
of farmers cooperatives; (iii) promoting climate resilience in farming through adaptive agricultural
practices; post-harvest support through construction of cooling chambers; and (iv) building knowledge on
climate risk management and adaptive capacity in farming of the local government and farmers.
The project outputs are: Output 1: irrigation infrastructure constructed or rehabilitated in subproject
areas; Output 2: Irrigation Management strengthened to ensure sustainability, productivity and climate
resilience; and Output 3: Farmers adopt improved and climate-resilient agriculture and irrigation
practices. These interventions will result in the following outcome: Climate resilient agricultural
productivity and sustainability of existing FMIS enhanced.
A regional transaction technical assistance (TRTA) will support the project preparation.
The objectives of the TRTA for this project are to support analysis and preparation of the CRCMISP in
accordance with the Government’s and ADB’s standards and expectations. They shall assess the current
CMIASP-AF projects and study reports of the RIP and Lift Irrigation Schemes and recommendations made for
modifications to design and implementation arrangements. The consultants will recommend CRCMISP’s scope,
baselines, and targets, and prepare all project appraisal documentation, in addition to preparing
safeguard frameworks. 5 international and 9 national individual experts are being recruited by ADB to
perform these services. The scope of the team’s work is to:
The objectives of the team of consultants for this project are to support analysis and preparation of
the project in accordance with the Government’s and ADB’s standards and expectations. They shall assess
the current CMIASP-AF projects and study reports of the Rajapur Irrigation Project and Lift Irrigation
Schemes and recommendations made for modifications to design and implementation arrangements. The
consultants will recommend the project’s scope, baselines, and targets, and prepare all project
appraisal documentation, in addition to preparing safeguards frameworks. Five international and 9
national individual experts are being recruited by ADB to perform these services. The scope of the team’
s work is to:
• Conduct technical, financial, economic, governance, social, environmental safeguards and GESI related
due diligence for CRCMISP. In doing so, ensure harmonization among other similar projects/programs in
Nepal, particularly those supported by ADB.
• Consider review and preparation of: (i) overall project design and economic feasibility; (ii)
procurement and implementation arrangements and procedures for farmers/WUA mobilization and
strengthening; (iii) implementation arrangements and procedures for agricultural development and on-farm
water management; and (iv) climate change risk assessment and management (for irrigation infrastructure
and agriculture), including identification of ways to help farmers better adapt to the risks of climate
change, and (v) prepare bidding document for procurement of works, goods and services.
• Review the integrated crop and water management, implementation guidelines and recommend integrated
crop and water management (ICWM) implementation approach to enhance water use efficiency in CRCMISP.
• Prepare subproject selection criteria and check with the executing agency (EA) on the eligibility of
selected subprojects.
• Review quality of subproject preparation report (SPPR) and detailed design report (DDR), and
agriculture development plan prepared by the implementing agencies (IAs) and recommend if any further
verification is necessary.
• Ensure 50% subprojects are ready for procurement to meet project readiness criteria.
• Assess the irrigation and agriculture sectors policy and institutional frameworks, identify gaps
associated with achieving the project objectives and improvement recommendations.
• Review technical capability of Rajapur IP intake design for flood and sediment management and
alternatives and provide inputs to finalize the design.
• Keep water efficiency, sustainability in operation, climate resilience and economic rate of return as
priority elements to ensure in subproject design.
• Modernize the irrigation system design criteria to address farmers evolving needs and resilience to
climate change and ensure appropriate and economical design of the schemes.
• Prepare draft loan documents for ADB Board consideration foreseen in 2023.
• Prepare consulting packages, construction supervision, project implementation support, farmers
agriculture support services and institutional strengthening.
• Prepare the terms of reference, cost estimate, shortlisting criteria for project implementation
management consultant (PIMS) package for overall project management support to EA and IAs.
• Quality assurance and timely submission of all project related documents including project
administration manual and link documents satisfying ADB requirements.
• Prepare project design and monitoring framework of the project.
The ADB, in consultation with DWRI, will undertake the recruitment and contract management of a team of
International and national individuals.
Scope of Work
The National Deputy Team Leader (DTL) /Irrigation Design Engineer will be responsible for supporting the
Team Leader with the overall management of the TA including meeting all the TA deliverables. In
addition, as Irrigation Design Engineer will support the preparation of the detailed designs and tender
documents to ensure at least 50% of the proposed works are technically viable with adequate resilience
to climate change and are adequately prepared and fully ready for tender. The deputy team leader will
manage under his/her contract the team budget for (i) vehicles, (ii) reports and communication; and
(iii) miscellaneous administration and support costs.
Detailed Tasks and/or Expected Output
As Deputy Team Leader will;
(i) Support the Team Leader with the overall management of the team.
(ii) Ensuring the close liaison with the DWRI and consultants’ team
(iii) Support the preparation and implementation of the procurement plan
(iv) Support the government with preparation of the necessary safeguard documents
(v) Supporting the liaison and coordination with the government and ADB.
(vi) Providing guidance to the national consultants to ensure the outputs meet the requirements and are
provided as per the schedule.
(vii) Conducting quality control of outputs from the team members.
(viii) Advising on overall sequencing of the investment project and work with government to ensure the
preparation program follows the schedule
(ix) Supporting the preparation of the various documents required for loan processing.
(x) Supporting preparation and editing of the consultants’ outputs.
(xi) Supporting the overall management of team expenses for vehicles, reports and communication,
miscellaneous administration, and support costs.
As Irrigation Design Engineer will work with the team and be responsible for, among others:
• Ensuring all the relevant documents are collected and ready to be made available to the team.
• Coordinate the actions and program the work to undertake adjustments to the schemes already designed
within the time frame of project readiness and designer resources
• Working the with designers to ensure the design review and recommendations are properly taken up and
incorporated into the designs and tender documents.
• Ensure the designs prepared are viable and appropriate to meet needs of efficiency climate resilience
and meeting the economic viability thresholds.
• Support the preparation of the bid documents to ensure the proposed works are adequately presented and
specified and the cost estimates are realistic.
• Comment on the design criteria for minor FMIS and identity areas where adjustments could be made to
improve effectiveness and improve resilience to climate change.
• Collect information on other relevant irrigation projects in Nepal including the completed FMIS
through ADB and other agencies and relevant programs elsewhere with special focus on new and appropriate
technologies that could potentially be applied to the Minor FMIS schemes under the project including
alternative lining designs, piped irrigation, etc.
• Carry out a preliminary cost analysis of the existing designs and possible alternative designs
• In liaison with the DWRI prepare a draft plan for the minor FMIS to be taken up by the project
investment that fit the project budget and also within the threshold of economic viability.
• Liaise with the DWRI and the Team Leader and other consultants on the project requirements.
Expected Outputs
The duration of the services will be 66 days over a period of 9 months (March 2023 to November 2023),
The assignment will be carried out in the field and in the DWRI office. The key outputs from the deputy
team leader working with the consultants’ team will include
(i) Detailed design documents of the works proposed for advance contracting including bid documents.
(ii) Procurement for advance works is on schedule as per the proposed program
(iii) ADB loan documentation is prepared as per schedule and meets requirements
(iv) Safeguards documents are prepared and submitted and necessary government and ADB approvals are in
place
Minimum Qualification Requirements
The Consultant shall meet the following qualification requirements:
• Preferably a master’s degree in civil or irrigation engineering (or equivalent).
• 15 years of work experience in planning and design of irrigation projects including positions of
managements.
• Regional/Country experience and extensive knowledge of irrigation in Nepal. .
• Strong analytical skills, written English skills including quality report making.
• Have computer proficiency.
• Ability to carry out consultations effectively, excellent communication skills and ability to perform
effective teamwork.
Minimum General Experience: 15 Years
Minimum Specific Experience (relevant to assignment): 15 Years
