Consultants on the Development of Awareness strategies on sustainable water resources management in the IGAD region

Duty station: Home based
No. Required: 7 (one per Country)
Contract /Post Level: Short-term Consultancy service
Starting Date: February 17th 2013
Ending Date: Latest March 23rd, 2013
Duration: 11 working days equivalent to 0,5 pm
Dead Line for application: 12 February 2013

Background

The Inland Water Resources Management Programme (INWRMP) forms part of a major donor-supported effort to strengthen and reinforce the mandate of IGAD on behalf of its member states. The key issues that the region has faced in the past decade are related, among others, to instability arising from scarcity of water resources, coupled with the vagaries of the climate. Shortage of water undermines the people’s well-being and is a source of conflicts.

The focus of the INWRMP is, among others, on Result 1 “Regional Cooperation in Water Resources Management established and institutionalized”; Result 2 “Policy & Legal Frameworks in water resources management improved”; Result 3 “Regional and national institutions for water resources management in the region and, Result 4 Regional Water Resources Management Information Systems and observation networks strengthened/developed.

Result 1 includes Activity 1.2 “Develop Awareness Strategies on water resources management as well as on climate change in general”. The strategy will focus on development of awareness strategy and dialogue forum for arid, semi-arid and sub-humid and humid areas as well as for aquifers and ground management in the IGAD region. The target group of the strategy consists of decision makers, water resource managers and, relevant stakeholders who should know the principles, objectives, costs and benefits, best practices of IWRM of transboundary water basins. This will also include different water users such as pastoralists and agro-pastoralists, traditional and commercial farmers, industrial constructions, etc. The strategy should also inform itself from the traditional customary laws in sustainable water use and management in the region. This consultancy will be a Study on awareness strategy creation on Water Resources Management including adaptation to climate change in arid, semi-arid and humid areas in the IGAD regions.

Assessment of National Awareness Strategies within the IGAD Region

Each member state will operate a number of water awareness activities within the water sector with different objectives, different communication tools and with different target groups. The rationale behind this consultancy is therefore to assess current awareness creation strategies on sustainable water resources management in each IGAD member states as a basis for the promotion, and understanding of integrated water resources management by applying common water policy and frameworks on water use and to address sectoral water use conflicts on trans-boundary water resource management at national and regional scale. Important is that awareness strategies are closely linked to the customary water law, national / regional water policy and to the knowledge management and research on issues like drought, climate change, pollutions, and its possible envisage solutions.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the IGAD-INWRMP Programme Manager/TA Leader, the incumbent shall assess / indicate:
1.    Importance of integrated water resources management;
2.    Understanding the importance of equitable water use between the different users at national level and between countries on the sustainable management of transboundary rivers ;
3.    Importance of water dialogue foras at different levels;
4.    Understanding of the constraint and opportunities of a water resources data base;
5.    Appropriate institutional framework to address WRM issues;
6.    Enabling legal and policy environment;
7.    Adequate inter-sectoral coordination so that available water is used to the best human advantage;
8.    Awareness of decision makers, key stakeholders, water users of the significance of water scarcity and water conservation;
9.    Existence of a water awareness;
10.    Public participation in WRM;
11.    Implementation of Water demand approaches;
12.    Integration of WRM aspects e.g. technical, social, financial, environmental, participative and the like;
13.    Degradation of water resources;
14.    Water conservation measures e.g. conjunctive use of surface and groundwater, artificial recharge of aquifers, sand dams etc.
15.    Climate adaptation;
16.    Gender issues i.e. equal participation of women and men in all aspects of water resources management;
17.    Recommendations for the development of a national and regional awareness.
Reporting

The Consultant shall produce:

1.    A two A4 pages report containing the inception concept note and the list of the main finding, main expected key outputs, ONE  weeks after the start of the assignment
2.    A 15-6 page concise DRAFT report containing a 1 and half executive summary; summary assessment of awareness strategies at national level with special focus on arid, semi-arid, and humid areas, description of activities; difficulties encountered, if any; results; discussion of results, conclusions and recommendations for regional action. ,
3.    Annexes TOR of the mission, agenda, list of people met / interviewed should be separate.
4.    IGAD Secretariat to send its comments to the draft report latest by 5 days after receipt of the draft report.
5.    A FINAL report incorporating comments from the IGAD Secretariat to be submitted to secretariat comments – latest TWO days after reception of comments.

Qualifications and Experience

An independent consultant or agency or organization with a background in development of awareness strategies for sustainable natural resources management, Knowledge  and information management, , water advocacy planning, social marketing related to water resources, with at least five years of experience in  water resources management and groundwater issues, related to the arid / semi-arid and humid areas..
BA Degree minimum in natural sciences and related fields

Procedure for the submission of applications

Applications shall include:

-Company profile or personal CV
-Evidence showing that the Firm or individual consultant has relevant experiences in the field of   communication and in the water sector is a requirement

The above should be sent to the following address: ayenew.mequanent@igad.int, Procurement Officer-IGAD/INWRM-Programme, Cc. Debalkew Berhe, Program Manager –IGAD – debalkew.berhe@igad.int