Expertise: civil engineering/ water resources/ hydrology/hydrogeology/ watershed management
Expertise Group: Engineering
Consultant Source: International
TOR Keywords:
Objective and Purpose of the Assignment
Project Background
Meghalaya is in north-eastern India with the country of Bangladesh to its south and State of Assam to
its north. It is hilly and is mainly covered in tropical rainforest. The state is described as one of
the wettest places on earth and every year it receives from 2,000 millimeters (mm) to 12,000 mm of rain
during its 7-month monsoon season. Agriculture is a primary industry in Meghalaya and contributed about
20% to the gross state domestic product in FY2021. Most farmers have only small holdings, where only 11%
of the state’s geographical area is cultivated.
The Government of Meghalaya has requested the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to support the Climate
Adaptative Community-based Water Harvesting Project under Soil and Water Conservation Department (SWCD).
The proposed project will: (i) build climate resilient water harvesting systems (WHS) through community
demand driven participatory approach to ensure universal access to water for enhancing sustainable and
efficient water-based livelihood opportunities for the rural areas, and enhance resilience to climate
change impacts and acute water shortage during non-rainy season; and (ii) establish institutional
mechanisms for community ownership and integrated management of natural resource in line with central
and state government programs and policies. The primary beneficiaries for the project will be
communities with improved access to drinking water and increased agricultural production from secure
irrigation water supplies, particularly for the rabi season crop.
The Soil and Water Conservation Department, Govt of Meghalaya is currently preparing detailed project
reports (DPRs) of 400 priority subprojects out of 1000 subprojects to achieve 30 percent loan approval
readiness criteria following government guidelines. The template of the DPR used by SWCD has been
finalized in consultation with ADB and SWCD specialists addressing climate change adaptation and
mitigation measures besides incorporating livelihood opportunities as per project design.
Objective and Purpose of the Assignment
The team leader/ institutional strengthening specialist (International) will support ADB and SWCD in
preparing the loan documents (i.e. institutional capacity assessment, project administration manual,
project implementation consultant TOR and report and recommendations of the President and the risk
management plan). The specialist shall also review the existing capacities of SWCD in line with the
proposed project and suggest institutional strengthening measures to transform the existing department
to plan, design and implement the water harvesting projects in the state in the future
Scope of Work
In close consultation with ADB, the Specialist will undertake the following preparatory tasks:
• Acquire an understanding of various components of project interventions described in Project Concept
Paper (PCP) and the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) prepared by SWCD.
• Liaise with SWCD and ADB staff and Sectoral Specialists (and consultants) who have collected baseline
field information, carried out consultation with the communities, and prepared the reports for their
respective sectors/ thematic areas as per loan application requirement.
• Receive letter of authorization from SWCD to visit field sites and State Level offices. SWCD and DO
shall facilitate field visits and consultations (if required).
• Develop a workplan with SWCD and ADB for the timely production of report to be submitted to ADB for
review and clearance.
The Specialist will provide inputs in two capacities namely Team Leader for assisting ADB and SWCD in
compiling the loan documentation and as Institutional Strengthening Specialist to analyze existing
departmental structure and propose strategies to transform the existing institution to plan, design and
implement water harvesting systems independently across the state.
Detailed Tasks and/or Expected Output
The Consultant will be responsible for the following detailed tasks:
Tasks as Team Leader:
(i) Managing relationships with the Government of Meghalaya and ADB.
(ii) Supporting ADB Project Officer(s) to prepare the loan documents for the project.
(iii) Support SWCD in addressing technical queries of technical appraisal committees (TAC) of Govt of
Meghalaya and Central Water Commission, if any.
(iv) Facilitating and supporting ADB missions and consultations with the SWCD and Govt of Meghalaya till
loan is approved by ADB Board.
a) Liaise with the national consultants to review their work progress and coordination with the
department to expedite the activities for timely delivery of the outputs.
b) Until the HLT Consultants are onboarded, review the master plan prepared by SWCD with Northeastern
Space Application Center (NESAC) to establish linkages with the sub-watershed and micro-watershed basis,
various thematic reports prepared by consultants engaged by ADB and SWCD.
c) assess appropriateness of incorporation of relevant state and national guidelines/policies and
international practices.
d) Interact with ADB Climate Change Expert to understand the potential climate risks of the project and
corresponding adaptation and mitigation measures on the proposed WHS infrastructures.
e) validate whether the aspects related to operation and maintenance and community-based interventions
have been communicated to the stakeholders by DOs appropriately.
f) Track whether the DPRs have been checked and endorsed at ADB Consultants, DO, DC and State Level
approving authorities and all comments/ suggested by the respective committees have been incorporated in
the final DPRs.
g) Assist the ADB Mission Leader(s): (i) during missions; (ii) preparing aide memoires; and (iii) with
other related tasks and document preparation, as necessary from time to time.
h) In addition, the Specialist will be required to contribute to the drafting of ADB’s loan
documentation, specifically: the ADB report and recommendations of the President (RRP), Project
Administration Manual (PAM) Document, Integrated Risk Assessment and Mitigating Measures, and other
documents as necessary as directed by the ADB Mission Leader(s) tasks as Team Leader.
Tasks as Institutional Strengthening Specialist:
a) Review the current institutional arrangements for project implementation and synthesize lessons
learnt from previous projects implemented by SWCD/ Govt of Meghalaya (GoM).
b) Undertake an institutional capacity assessment to analyze current institutional arrangements,
especially the respective roles and responsibilities of the SWCD/ GoM. Identify key personnel
responsible for project management, identify changes to further strengthen regulatory functions, project
planning, implementation, contract management, procurement functions, operation & maintenance and other
related tasks. Assessment should cover governance (financial management, anticorruption, and
procurement), sector agendas (policy framework, investment plans, institutions, and capacities), and
undertakings to meet ADB loan requirements.
c) Based on the findings of the institutional capacity assessment, propose the project management and
organization structure, staffing with terms or reference, capacity development and capacity building
requirements, to further strengthen SWCD’s functions including job descriptions that document all roles
and responsibilities for existing and new positions under EA and SPMU/DPMU/PIUs;
d) Discuss the proposed structure, organization and staffing with the SWCD, ADB and other stakeholders
and finalize the structure, staffing, implementation arrangement and capacity development and capacity
building requirements based on feedback from stakeholders.
e) Prepare a training needs assessment (TNA) TOR for both former and newly created positions and
identify suitable training opportunities to develop staff capacity in relevant areas,
f) assist ADB project team to respond to comments received during ADB internal review on the
deliverables produced above, and
g) finalize the deliverables by incorporating and addressing the comments received.
h) Review existing Water policy to align its operationalization modality through current project
activities.
With reference to coronavirus disease (COVID-19), any need for international and national travel shall
be assessed by ADB and the Specialist using ADB’s advice at the time of travel. Subject to ADB’s
approval, the Specialist may use remote video technology meetings to replace face-to-face meetings as
considered necessary.
Minimum Qualification Requirements
At least a post-graduate qualification in civil engineering/ water resources/ hydrology/hydrogeology/
watershed management and equivalent education. Preferably 20 years of applicable experience including:
(i) preparing, planning, designing and implementing water resources/ watershed/ irrigation/ agriculture
development projects preferably MDB-financed projects; (ii) experience of handling projects in hilly
terrain/ areas will be preferred; (iv) experience of working on MDB funded projects in India/ South
Asian countries and/ or similar developmental institutions/regions.
Minimum General Experience: 10 Years
Minimum Specific Experience (relevant to assignment): 10 Years
