Lake Tanganyika Region Water, Sanitation and Environment Management Initiative - Environmental Engineer

LAKE TANGANYIKA REGION WATER, SANITATION AND ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE - ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER
Location :	Bujumbura, BURUNDI
Application Deadline :	15-Apr-12
Additional Category	Environment and Energy
Type of Contract :	Individual Contract
Post Level :	National Consultant
Languages Required :	English French
Starting Date : (date when the selected candidate is expected to start)	15-Feb-2012
Duration of Initial Contract :	2 months
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Background
Background and Project Rationale: Lake Tanganyika is located in a region characterised by instability and insecurity resulting from long years of conflict in the eastern regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as well as Burundi and Rwanda. Instability, conflict, rural poverty and the inherent attractions of the lake as a source of water and food, are major factors in the expansion of human settlements around the lake. Rapid urbanization is occurring with towns growing at 3% to 7% per year and placing severe pressures on the infrastructure and the fragile institutional arrangements to deliver basic services. The discharge of increasing volumes of untreated wastewater and faecal sludge from expanding urban settlements is one of a number of major environmental hazards threatening Lake Tanganyika. Other threats arise from poorly managed and (in some towns), non-existent solid waste collection and disposal systems, deforestation, over-exploitation of biological resources, and siltation caused by soil erosion, inappropriate agricultural practices and poor drainage. Siltation is already causing operational problems at some of the ports, including the port of Uvira in the DRC, and resulting in significant reductions in voyage loads. The Main Dimensions of the Problem: The chronic and worsening development problem around Lake Tanganyika manifests in five main dimensions: Social: This is characterised by widespread poverty arising from conflicts and the subsequent displacement of large population groups, and loss of livelihoods. Environment: excessive run-off and attendant soil erosion, solid waste management. Health: The pace of the rapid and unplanned growth of the towns far exceeds the levels of investments in water, sanitation and solid waste management services, resulting in the use of untreated water, poor sanitation and exposure to hazards. Institutional: Old and dilapidated infrastructure and untrained personnel result in capacity deficiencies in terms of adequacy and management of services. Economic: negative impacts on the growth of regional trade around L. Tanganyika. The Causes of the Problem: The Lake Tanganyika basin, in particular Burundi, Rwanda and DRC Congo have seen severe civil unrest for the last 20 to 30 years, with refugees fleeing to Tanzania and Zambia. As a consequence little or no progress has been made in water and sanitation development. Coverage is very low in all selected towns and funding has been inexistent or insufficient over this period. Furthermore, displacement of people from rural areas into urban centres has resulted in the proliferation of expansive low income settlements in all the towns, mostly in exposed hilly areas. Low levels of literacy among the displaced exacerbate the environmental problem. High levels of poverty among them puts heavy strain on social services for which they are often unable to pay, forcing them to resort to risky solutions, such as use of untreated and contaminated water sources. Investments required will be very substantial. Why the Solution is Important: During the period, August 14th to September 3rd 2011, UN-HABITAT, in collaboration with the Governments of the DRC, Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Zambia, carried out a rapid appraisal of 14 towns in the five riparian countries to establish the current socio-economic conditions in the towns and to assess the developmental needs in the area of water, sanitation, solid waste management, environmental conservation as well as institutional development and urban management. The findings of the rapid appraisal include: The complex conflict situation in the DRC Congo has in its wake resulted in the displacement of families within and outside the DRC. Thus, virtually all the towns that were assessed around the Lake Tanganyika and its immediate environs, had refugees or internally displaced persons (in DRC). The consequence has been proliferation of expansive low income settlements, in largely unplanned areas, making it difficult to plan the provision of services. The region has considerable potential to make a greater contribution to intra-regional trade and economic growth but this potential is severely constrained because of extremely poor infrastructure, insecurity, lack of basic services, extensive poverty and vulnerability and weak governance. Uvira port in DRC is forced to cut loading by up to 50% while Mpulungu in Zambia has to cut by 10% while loading vessels destined to silted ports. In most towns, access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation is less than 30% (in some towns, it is as low as 10%). As the towns continue to expand, this figure will continue to decrease since there are no significant investment programmes planned in the near future. Such a low access to water and sanitation contributes to severe public health problems, with cholera, typhoid and other waterborne diseases, endemic in several towns (especially in the DRC). A number of towns also report HIV/AIDS to be a major problem. While there are plans to improve the transportation infrastructure (for example, in Tanzania and Zambia), there are major investment needs in water, sanitation and waste management, which are not being addressed by the on-going and planned investment programmes. Lake Tanganyika is facing increasing environmental threats, one of which is caused by poor sanitation in the expanding towns and non-existent or poorly management solid waste management systems. The lack of proper systems to collect and dispose of waste (both solid and liquid) is a serious environmental and public health hazard that will get progressively worse as urbanization increases. The poor delivery of services is further compounded by severe institutional weaknesses at the town level. Water service providers, for example, are plagued with inefficiencies (non-revenue water is as high as 70% in most of the towns), limited and out-dated infrastructure, low revenues and weak management at all levels. Municipal authorities are overwhelmed with a multitude of problems, including rapid urbanization, pollution hazards, rising demand for services and the absence of basic municipal planning and management systems to cope with these problems. The high cost of investment needed after over 25 years since the last substantive investment only exacerbates the problem. There is need for a comprehensive capacity enhancement programme targeting municipal authorities, service providers and civic society. In the case of the DRC, there is a need for a sector reform programme to provide an effective legal and institutional framework for the delivery of urban services. A number of countries in the Common Markets for East and Southern Africa (COMESA) region have signed or ratified regional and other agreements related to the conservation of restoration of the Lake Tanganyika ecosystem. However, a number of the countries lack the capacity to implement fully the expected contribution for this purpose. There is also consensus that some of the laws in the member states are obsolete in terms of being able to provide a sound framework for effectively protecting and conserving the lake environment. Beneficiaries of the Project: Beneficiaries are the local population in the 14 urban centres, in particular the poor. The total number will be over 1.2 million. The majority of the beneficiaries are those that do not receive basic services, especially the poor, living in the low income areas, particularly the women, children and vulnerable groups, who are at the highest risk. Through the capacity building component, the service providers and local councils will benefit in terms of being enabled to provide better service by way of equipment, knowledge and skills. In the long run, the trading member states using the lake will benefit from reduced threat of pollution and siltation of the harbours, particularly in the DRC. Potential Partners: Possible implementing partners for the proposed initiative include the two Regional Organisations (ROs) in the Lake Tanganyika Water, Sanitation and Solid Waste Management Programme, namely, COMESA and the Lake Tanganyika Authority. Both have mandates and or strategies for sustainable management of this key resource. The four member countries that affect the lake include Burundi, DRC, Rwanda, Tanzania and Zambia. The partners in those countries are expected to be the line government ministries, utilities, as well as local town or municipal authorities. In the context of the environment component, other regional organisations to collaborate with include UNDP and IGAD, focusing on priorities to ensure the sustainability of environmental and biodiversity resources. Water Sector Reforms: The appraisal mission found that all the 5 countries have made positive strides towards water and sanitation sector reforms. Burundi and DRC are in the process of developing a water and sanitation sector reform, with the support of the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ).Rwanda recently finalised reforming the water and energy sectors in a new structure geared towards better focus and effectiveness. Tanzania and Zambia have existing water and sanitation reforms, and have developed strategies and action plans for investment for rural and urban areas. Considerable work, still needs to be done in terms of formulation and enforcement comprehensive policies with regard to terrestrial and maritime environmental conservation. In all the countries, however, there exist functional frameworks for investments in the water, sanitation and solid waste management. Building the capacity of Member States is one of the cornerstones of the Regional Organisations strategies and policies. A key strategy is also to leverage financial and technical support from international development partners, including the European Commission in view of their regional and international obligations. Other Relevant Donor-supported Initiatives: The two Regional Organisations (ROs) in the Lake Tanganyika Water, Sanitation and Water Management Programme, namely COMESA and the Lake Tanganyika Authority (LTA), have under the environment component of NEPAD, IGAD, EAC and COMESA jointly prepared a Sub-regional Environment Action Plan (SREAP), supported by IOC, and focuses on priorities to ensure the sustainability of environmental and biodiversity resources. The biodiversity programme that the LTA has been implementing mainly focuses on the lake ecosystem, and partially addresses the problems targeted; the actions are taken into account. Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zambia have existing water and sanitation reforms, and have developed strategies and action plans for investment for rural and urban areas. Burundi and DRC are in the process of developing a water and sanitation sector reform, with the support of GIZ. However, active or planned investments in terms of water, sanitation and environment are very low or none at all. At individual member states, donations given to improve water supply are limited. These include private donations to expand Kalemie (DRC) water treatment works, and Irish grant to Mbala (Zambia) to install new pumps to replace the old one and partial rising main. Investments in Kigoma (Tanzania) focus on long term commercial development of the town and do not adequately address the water, sanitation and environmental problems in the town. LAKE TANGANYIKA WATSAN INITIATIVE: The proposed Lake Tanganyika Water, Sanitation and Environmental Management Initiative aims to create the conditions for regional economic development by improving water management, infrastructure and services and strengthening the capacity of Governments, Service Providers and non-state Actors to play a stronger role in environmental management, urban planning and local economic development and to ensure more effective systems of service delivery, especially for the poor. The Initiative will provide inputs into the formulation of regional policies and approaches in environmental management and will institutionalize the necessary capacity in the Lake Tanganyika Authority to manage a long term programme to enhance water resources management and water and sanitation development in the Lake Tanganyika Basin. Meetings held with the various government ministries, local authorities, utilities and councils all the countries, identified water, sanitation, solid waste management and deteriorating environmental degradation as key threats to the economic and social development of the population, in addition to the widespread problem of the crisis in the DRC. At regional level, the Lake Tanganyika Authority had identified and is implementing the pollution of Lake Tanganyika and attendant loss of biodiversity as a primary priority, which the countries are implementing as one of the first major initiatives in the lake region. In a more global sense, the Lake Tanganyika Water, Sanitation and Environmental Management Programme is in line with EU policy on Sustainable Use of Natural Resources. The programme is also consistent with the EU Strategy for Africa, where sustainable development is underlined. Its contribution is fully in line with the aims and objectives of a number of EC policies and programming frameworks such as the Cotonou Partnership Agreement, which requires that regional integration organisations (RIOs) with overlapping memberships need to participate in the development and implementation of common programmes. In accordance with the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness, the project will ensure member states and regions share information, experiences and best practices across borders to avoid duplication and to make better use of resources. The positive impacts of the programme will in the long run also indirectly have impacts on various cross-cutting issues at the community level and in particular to reverse loss of environmental resources.
Duties and Responsibilities
Development Objective: The proposed “Lake Tanganyika Water, Sanitation and Environmental Management Programme” will complement and strengthen the on-going Multi-Donor Programme by delivering an integrated program of infrastructure improvements, capacity building and institutional development in 14 towns. The overall objective of the Project is to promote economic growth and social stability in the Lake Tanganyika Basin by improving living conditions in the towns, reducing poverty, and generally to contribute to an equitable and sustainable development – economic, social and environmental – of the Lake Tanganyika Region, to the benefit of the people living in the area. Specific Objectives of LT-WATSAN: Provide access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation to the residents of the selected 14 towns in the Lake Tanganyika Basin with a population of about 1.2 million persons. Strengthen environmental protection and conservation to provide a healthier environment that is conducive to higher standards of public health and economic growth in the towns. Reduce the environmental impact of urbanisation in the Lake Tanganyika Basin. Contribute to social stability and conflict resolution in the region. Ensure linkage with Great Lakes Region Initiative Enhance the capacity of Municipal Governments and Water & Sanitation Service Providers to deliver basic services and promote local economic development in the expanding urban settlements in the Lake Tanganyika Basin. PROVISIONAL DESIGN MISSION for ACTION FICHE shall consist of the following 4 specialists below: Infrastructure Engineer Environmental Engineer Social Scientist Financial Specialist Scope of Work: The team will undertake a field mission to the selected towns to identify the prevailing infrastructural and environmental conditions and prepare a programme of physical and capacity building interventions in the selected towns. This field mission will include all 4 team members and receive backing from the UN-HABITAT programme team. The team will propose interventions based on their assessment of the current constraints in access to water supply services, sanitation facilities, solid waste and drainage, with respect to service provision for the poor in the selected towns, as well as assessment of prevailing environmental conditions. The field assessment will complement existing information generated during the initial rapid appraisal undertaken by UN-HABITAT in August and September 2011. The objective of the initial appraisal was to estimate the level of investment required to rehabilitate and upgrade water and sanitation facilities and to improve solid waste management and drainage structures for the estimated one million people who live in the selected small towns in the Lake Tanganyika basin. The assessment revealed that in all fourteen urban centres, lack of water and sanitation is a major problem, especially in low-income settlements. The problem is exacerbated by inadequate and malfunctioning raw water treatment plants, as well as a lack of sewerage networks and sewage treatment plants. The latter creates serious point-sources of contamination for Lake Tanganyika water, in particular near the larger urban centres. Problems with solid waste collection and disposal are very similar around the Lake, while drainage is a problem in the majority of the towns. It was further observed that little attention has been given to provision of services for the poor, and that as a first priority, the best way to meet their immediate needs would be by rehabilitating the existing systems where appropriate, and extending the coverage through network expansion and making it more affordable for them to become connected. In addition, simple schemes including public standposts, shallow well and protected springs should also be improved or developed based on local needs. Sanitation in the low-income settlements is a high priority not only from health considerations, but also to avoid most of the human waste reaching the Lake as the ultimate sink. Uncollected solid waste also finds its way to the Lake, adding to the nutrient load with consequent eutrophication. Since the initial appraisal was carried out by UN-HABITAT at a time when there was no prior assurance of funding for the required interventions, the methodology was designed with care not to raise undue expectations among the prospective beneficiaries (particularly among the resident communities in these towns) which could not be met. For the stated reasons, this restricted the scope of the field appraisal. As the project area falls within the Lake Tanganyika Basin and involves upgrading, rehabilitating, maintenance and in some cases construction of new water and sanitation facilities, the project is required under UN-HABITAT’s Environmental Guidelines to undertake a preliminary environmental assessment. This is particularly pertinent for the LT-WATSAN as the fragile ecosystems of the Lake must be ensured. This terms of reference refers to water and sanitation engineering aspects of the first phase of LT-WATSAN towns.
Competencies
Overall Objective of the Consultancy: The overall objective of this consultancy is to identify and design immediate physical and capacity building interventions in water and sanitation infrastructure, solid waste management and drainage, and propose long term interventions in the selected towns. The overall purpose is, moreover, to minimize potentially adverse impacts that planned interventions might have on the environment and to enhance the overall quality of LT-WATSAN project. Specific Objectives: Assess the current constraints in access to water supply services, sanitation facilities, solid waste and drainage, with respect to service provision for the poor. Identify all available technical design options and recommend immediate and long-term interventions based on their respective cost estimates, beneficiary population and management implications. Assess the capacity of the municipal authorities and local contractors to undertake the implementation of the proposed immediate interventions. Assess the local capacity building needs for water and sanitation infrastructure, drainage and solid waste management and propose capacity building activities required by different local actors to support the proposed physical interventions. Consolidate input of all other design mission team members into a single report. Activities and Outputs: Under the supervision of the Programme Manager of UN-HABITAT and in close consultation with the LT-WATSAN project team, the Consultant will, together with the design mission team, undertake the following activities and produce the following outputs: Output 1: Inception Report, including a detailed work plan Carry out a review of existing documentation, including the LT-WATSAN initial rapid appraisal report (a list of relevant documentation is contained in the Aide Memoire and is available at UN-HABITAT offices). Hold consultations with relevant UN-HABITAT programme staff. Prepare an Inception Report outlining a detailed work plan. Output 2: Individual and Consolidated Field Mission Reports: Undertake at least one field mission, as leader of the design mission team. Prepare individual field mission feasibility report detailing the infrastructural design options as part of the findings and recommendations of the mission team. Prepare a consolidated field mission report including contributions from the other mission team members. Output 3: Technical Designs of proposed immediate physical interventions: Prepare, together with the design mission team, preliminary technical designs of proposed immediate interventions, including drawings, sketches, photographs, estimated required inputs and additional services. Work Plan and Timeline: The Consultant will be expected to submit the following outputs as given below: Timeline Outputs 1 week Inception Report, including a detailed work plan 3 weeks field mission Mission Report 4 weeks reporting Technical inputs for the Action Fiche Report 4 weeks Participate in Final preparation of Action Fiche Field Mission: Reporting - The Consultant shall report to Robert Goodwin, Human Settlements Officer, UN-HABITAT and Programme Manager of LT-WATSAN. The consultant shall be required to present the field mission findings and recommendations to UN-HABITAT project team. Reports are to be submitted in two hard and electronic copies each.
Required Skills and Experience
Education: Minimum postgraduate degree in civil engineering or equivalent with relevant experience in community-based water and sanitation projects. Experience: Minimum 5 years’ experience in the design and implementation of gender-sensitive community-based urban water and sanitation projects. Previous experience working with CBOs and NGOs is desirable.
UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.