Objective and Purpose of the Assignment
 | 1.Wetlands are the ecosystems where the water table is at or near the surface of the land or where the land is covered by water. The wetland ecosystem is a source of water, water purifiers, habitats for migratory birds, flora and fauna, source of food and places for recreation and tourism. Wetlands also provide hydrological regulation services such as flood mitigation, groundwater recharge, river flow regulation, erosion control, etc. As per the national wetland inventory assessment 2007-2011, around 4.63% of the India’s geographical areas is under wetlands, and the state of Assam has 9th largest geographical areas under wetlands. Assam’s total wetland area estimated is 764,372 ha that is around 9.74% of the geographic area. These waterbodies form the creation of two important river systems, the Brahmaputa and the Barak. 2.Geophysical transformation of wetlands develops due to natural processes and human-induced activities. The most well-known factors that affect wetlands and degrade wetland ecology are: (i) water logging due to flood, construction of embarkment and roads; (ii) expansion of human settlements and agricultural activities including excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides; (iii) soil erosion and increased sediment load due to deforestation on the banks of wetlands, changing water quality of wetlands which causes changes in biodiversity pattern of wetlands; (iv) inflow of large quantities of pollutants; and (v) unsustainable mining of riverbed. Field observations report that there is a general decrease of water level and different ecological elements from the wetlands during winter seasons, and this results to transformation of the shallow wetlands into grazing land. A lack of effective management policies and plans is also a threat to wetland conservation. 3.According to district-level climate projects made across Assam, temperatures continue to rise and may increase by 1.7-2.0oC with reference to baseline. Only the western part of the State will experience a slight decrease in rainfall, but the rest of Assam is projected to have an increase in rainfall. There is likely to be increase in extreme rainfall event by 5 to 38% with reference to baseline. Drought’s weeks are going to rise, with Southern districts showing a marginal reduction in drought weeks but rest of the districts show an increase by more than 75% with reference to baseline. As regards floods, it will be going to rise by more than 25% in the southern parts of Assam. A threat such as a climate change calls for timely and coherent policy response and action plan to reduce vulnerability and build resilience against climate impacts. 4.ADB is supporting the Department of Fisheries ( DOF), Government of Assam for the proposed Sustainable Wetland and Integrated Fisheries Transformation (SWIFT) Project (PPR ID – 11137) . DOF’s initial proposal aims to achieve (i) restoring wetlands as the natural habitat for indigenous fish species, (ii) remote sensing of wetlands and its surroundings, (iii) new sources of livelihood, and (iv) capacity building and skill development for community/ cooperative; and ADB loan of $164.6 million has been sought. 5.ADB fielded a consultation mission during (17January – 10 February 2023) to (i) agree on the project rationale; (ii) discuss the state’s proposed project scope and financing and identify areas for improvement; (iii) discuss the preliminary project implementation structure; and (iv) discuss and agree on the processing timeline and next steps. ADB and DOF agreed on the tentative outcome of the project as “ water quality of and fishery productivity in project-financed beels improved”. The project shall have following outputs and activities: (i)Output 1: Institutional and policy framework for wetland assessment, monitoring and management developed and operated. To achieve integrated wetland ecosystem management, which balances between biodiversity and aquatic ecosystem conservation, and sustainable utilization, this output will (i) monitor and update wetland health in terms of area, hydrology and catchments, biodiversity; (ii) demarcate wetlands maps and announce/declare wetlands by concerned regulatory authority; (iii) prepare the draft integrated wetlands management plan for approval by CWLW; (iv) identify key stakeholders and raise awareness of stakeholders; (v) enhance capacity of government officials, relevant agencies and stakeholder leaders and equip them with necessary facilities and advanced technologies. The output will also focus on improving climate resilience of the wetland management. (ii)Output 2: Wetland ecosystem restoration and conservation actions implemented. This output will support improving capacity of the communities, and fisheries department in sustainable management of wetland resources and biodiversity management to achieve improved wetland health. This output comprises two elements: (i) state government led actions; and (ii) community-driven sustainable wetland management. (iii)Output 3: Community-based sustainable use of wetlands for livelihood development. This output is mainly to support indigenous freshwater fisheries. It will finance: (i) formation and strengthening of fishery co-operatives for sustainable production and management; (ii) construction and operation of facilities and infrastructure for indigenous freshwater fish production and marketing; and (iii) investment in other income generating activities. 6.Project target areas. The total proposed target wetlands areas are approximately 8,000 ha. Out of 8,000 ha, about 3,000 ha (107 wetlands) in 18 districts are already identified by DOF, and the remaining 5,000 ha are to be identified through project design. The list of already identified wetlands in 18 districts. 7.In the consultation mission, it was noted that DOF will require support to prepare the feasibility studies and detailed project report that meets ADB’s requirements and to conduct due diligence of the proposed project, through a team of experts in hydrology, wetland quality management, sustainable fishery and aquaculture, structural engineer – water resource planning, community and livelihood development (institutional development), climate change assessment, economic and financial analysis, financial management, procurement, environment safeguards, social safeguards, and gender. 8.ADB will initially engage some of the above mentioned consultants to conduct upstream work with research for inputs to project concept preparation, utilizing an ongoing technical assistance— TA-9738 IND: Strengthening Capacity to Design and Implement Water and Rural Infrastructure Facility —as part of Output 3 of the TA. The team is expected to prepare a high-impact project with strategic and cross- sector development significance and will also assist the executing agency, UTDB, in early-stage conceptualization through analytical studies for developing the loan project. The upstream work consulting team will comprise of: (a)Hydrology Specialist ( International , 33 working days, intermittent) (b)Wetland water quality management and environment safeguards ( National, 66 working days, intermittent) (c)Sustainable fishery and aquaculture specialist ( National, 44 working days, intermittent) (d)Structural engineer / Water resource planning specialist ( National, 44 working days, intermittent) (e)Community and livelihood development specialist (institutional development) ( National, 44 working days, intermittent) |
Scope of Work
| This assignment is for a Hydrology Specialist to assist in reviewing the hydrological functions, assessment of hydrology to confirm water sources, flow regime, variance through the seasons, sedimentation, water quality of selected wetlands/beels. The expert will support ADB and DOF in preliminary assessment of hydrology related issues of selected wetlands, prepare the framework for primary and secondary data collection for hydrology/water budgeting to support preparation of feasibility studies (FS)and detailed project reports (DPRs) for wetland restoration and livelihood activities. The expert will assist ADB in review of the DPRs, FS and other documents prepared by DOF and other consultants. The expert is expected to work together with other experts – Wetland water quality management and environment safeguards, Sustainable fishery and aquaculture specialist , Structural engineer / Water resource planning specialist, Community and livelihood development (institutional development). |
Detailed Tasks and/or Expected Output
| The expert/specialist will: o Conduct a landscape (watershed) review including the landuse/human activities and ecological issues within the catchment that affect the integrity and biodiversity of the selected wetlands/beels o Document and review all available reports and data on water resource assessments in the project area; o identify the data gaps, prepare methodology to collect additional data this may include use of remote sensing for better spatial coverage, carry out and document hydrological analysis for assessing river flows and seasonal variability for selected wetlands/beels; o carry out rainfall and river flow analysis required to forecast extreme climate events for incorporating climate change adaptation measures for coping floods and droughts; o Review implementation of the regulatory compliances of the central and state legislation, rules and regulations ( for example Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 and related documents). o Review policies and projects in the entire area and propose necessary reforms, if required. o Review the existing integrated plans for wise use and other existing literature. o Based on the above review, prepare a background paper on key hydrology related issues for the selected wetland/beels, to guide the project teams for way forward. o prepare the framework for primary and secondary data collection for hydrology/water budgeting to support preparation of feasibility studies (FS)and detailed project reports (DPRs) for wetland restoration and livelihood activities. o prepare framework for Water budgeting of wetlands based on exchanges with atmospheric inputs and outputs, including rainfall, snow, evaporation, and transpiration. subsurface inflows and outflows; with surface water, including overland o Preliminary design guidance on Chanel control structure based on current global best practices and innovations. o Prepare a framework for wetland hydrology monitoring ( to be managed by the community) with necessary designs and operational models. o Review feasibility studies, detailed project reports and other relevant documents. o Provide support in design and estimate cost of subprojects; and o Support team members in interconnected tasks to help ADB and DOF prepare project concept paper, feasibility studies, detailed project reports etc. o Support ADB in missions and other relevant meetings. Reporting and Timing The consultant will work for 6 months with 44 days of intermittent inputs starting from 1 June 2023 (expected commencement) in consultation with DOF, under the guidance ADB’s project team comprising Senior Specialist, SAER (project lead); and Associate Project Officer (Infrastructure), INRM (country focal). The consultant will present (i) a detailed work plan in the first week of the assignment that indicates dates for field visits, who to meet for discussions and how to obtain relevant data ; (ii) an interim report and presentation before and during ADB’s reconnaissance mission expected in XXX 2023; and (iii) a final report at the end of the assignment. The consultant is expected to travel to Assam, India and the project site twice—the first in second quarter 2023 and the next during the reconnaissance mission (expected in xxx 2023). |
Minimum Qualification Requirements
| The specialist should preferably have a Master’s Degree in hydrology or other relevant discipline. Preference will be for consultants with at least 10 years of relevant work experience including: (i) Applied technical knowledge of hydrology and the environmental impacts of wetlands/beels, (ii) Sound understanding and experience in supporting and building capacity for more sustainable water and flow management, (iii) Experience in identifying options for improving environmental flows to optimize economic, social, and environmental benefits, and (iv) Experience in working with international organizations/ agencies, especially with ADB or other multilateral development agencies. Preference will be given to the specialists with regional working experience particularly in India and Assam. |
