Government of the People’s
Republic of
Local Government Engineering
Department
Participatory
Small Scale Water Resources Sector project
LGED HQ, RDEC Bhaban (Level-5), Agargaon
Sher-E-Bangla Nagar,
Dhaka-1207
Memo No. LGED/PSSW/PD/C-10/2011/1084 Date: 11-07-2011
Invitation
for Applications for Individual Consultants
Invitation for submission of applications
for Consultancy Services
for Water Cell in the Department of
Cooperatives
Participatory Small Scale Water Resources Sector Project
(PSSWRSP): Loan No-2542-BAN(SF)
1. The Government of the People’s Republic
of
2. The Government
of
3. The engagement of Consultants is
tentatively scheduled from 15 October 2011 to 14 October 2014. About 2
person-months for international and 42 person-months for national consultants will
be required to conduct the services.
4. The Employer reserves the right
to select or not to select any or all of the applicant(s) or to cancel the
entire process without assigning any reason. No liability will be accepted for
loss or late submission.
5. The Consultants shall be selected and engaged in accordance
with the Guidelines on the Use of Consultant by ADB and Its Borrowers (February,
2007 or as amended from time to time). The candidates for the individual
consultant positions, mentioned above, may apply directly or through an organization
such as consulting firm / academic institution or a government / international
agency.
6. The LGED now invites
eligible consultants to submit applications
for providing the required services not later than 5 September 2011 up-to 12:30
PM local time in sealed envelope to the address of the undersigned.
(Md. Shahidul
Haque)
Project Director
Fax : 880-2-9123169
CC:
1.
Chief Engineer, LGED, Agargaon,
2.
Additional Chief Engineer
(Implementation/IWRMU), LGED, Agargaon,
3.
Country Director, Asian Development Bank,
4.
Central Procurement and Technical Unit
(CPTU), IMED, Dhaka.
Terms of Reference (TOR) for Consultants for DOC Water Cell
1. Background
Based on the successful outcome of ADB
supported sector projects SSW-1 and the SSW-2 and the Government request for further
investment support, the Project Participatory Small Scale Water Resources
Sector Project (PSSWRSP) has been included in the ADB Country Strategy and
Program for Bangladesh. Both SSW-1 and SSW-2 have enhanced rural incomes by
developing community based water management associations and community managed
small scale infrastructure and this approach has proved effective in the drive
to reduce rural poverty.
The Project will work with a well
established institutional and policy framework, the integrated Water Resources
Management Unit (IWRMU), a unit within the Project’s Executive Agency, LGED was
established in 2004 and is strategically placed to support the Project. Partner
agencies including DOC at district and Upazila levels provided support their services
in order to make the water management organizations sustainable as well as to
increase agricultural production to reduce the poverty at micro level.
The Project will enhance the
effectiveness and increase sustainability in agriculture and fisheries
production along with poverty reduction through small scale water resources
development. The Project will continue to institutionalize and internalize the
beneficiary driven approach for sustainable small scale water resources
management. At the same time, the Project will give particular attention to
poorer sections of the community by targeting locations having more than 40% of
the subproject benefit area owned by landless sharecroppers, marginal or small
farmers.
Project activities will comprise:
-
Institutional strengthening of the IWRMU in planning,
design, operations and maintenance (O&M) and benefit monitoring and
evaluation (BME) functions in order to internalize and institutionalize the
SSWR development process, as well as supporting partner agencies involved in
the SSWR development process;
-
Develop the capacity
of Department of Cooperatives (DOC) and establish links with other line
departments;
-
Beneficiary
participation and WMCA strengthening through further refinement of critical
aspects of the participatory project process and value addition to WMCAs
through structural and non-structural interventions and
-
Implementation of
sub-projects involving the development of SSWR management systems with
appropriate and coordinated agricultural extension and fisheries development
activities.
2. Water Management Cooperative and
the Demanding Role of DOC
With increasing investment in the water
sector, there are over 1000 DOC registered water management organizations
(WMOs) including WMCAs of Local Government Engineering Department (LGED)
subprojects and water management cooperative societies (WMCSs) of the
Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) for subprojects in excess of 1000 ha.
The regulatory, statutory and promotional roles of DOC becomes an increasingly
vital requirement for continued strengthening and maximizing economic and
social potential through a jointly owned and democratically controlled
enterprise.
Key constraints in satisfactorily
performing core areas of cooperation and strengthening WMCAs as multi facetted,
self regulating entities capable of maximizing development potential
include i) lack of specialist knowledge
and orientation of DOC headquarter and field personnel on specific support and
strengthening requirements for water management cooperatives as opposed to
conventional cooperative societies ii)
absence of dedicated personnel and institutional arrangements to plan,
supervise and monitor implementation of WMCA-specific statutory, regulatory and
promotional activities iii) WMCA-
specific training materials have not been developed for capacity development of
DOC staff and WMCAs iv) MIS database
sharing v) link between DOC and LGED, knowledge sharing and mutual capacity
building vi) lack of logistical support and limited field mobility. According
to Institutional Studies for Legal Framework of Water Management Organizations
(LGED, 2006), one of the main reasons hampering DOC officials in discharging
their duties more efficiently and at regular intervals is lack of logistics.
The report further comments that, “In neither phase of SSWRDSP, the issue of
project support to the DOC was considered by project authorities. This was a
notable omission and may be rectified for the remaining period of SSWRDSP II by
making suitable provisions for transport, TA/DA and training for the DOC
officials through exchange of letters between the Local Government Division and
the ADB”.
The activities for DOC strengthening
will: (i) undertake organizational and capacity review (including establishment
of water Cell) to ascertain appropriateness to perform core functions for WMOs;
(ii) review content of training program for WMCAs and trainer skills and
training materials; (iii) institutionalizing links with LGED for improved
condition and to increase efficiency in provision of support services; (iv)
training and capacity building of DOC (and appropriate level LGED) staff to
meet field support requirements; and (v) operational support at the district
level.
3. General Objectives
of the Consultancy
The general objectives of this
assignment are to institutional strengthening and capacity building of
Department of Cooperatives (DOC), including establishment of a Water Cell, to
improve statutory, developmental and promotional functions for water management
cooperative organizations and to provide operational support for increasing
field staff outreach and mobility.
4.
Methodology to be Followed and Key
Activities to be Performed
The CDTA will: (i) review and assess
legislation pertaining to establishment and registration of WMOs; (ii)
organizational and capacity review (including establishment of Water Cell) to
ascertain appropriateness to perform core (regulatory and statutory) functions
for WMCAs; (iii) review of relevance and content of training program adopted
for WMCAs and assessment of trainer skills and training materials; (iv)
opportunities for forging and institutionalizing links with LGED for improved
coordination and to increase efficiency in provision of support services; (v)
training and capacity building of DOC (and appropriate level Local Government
Engineering Department, LGED) staff to meet field support requirements; and
(vi) operational support at the district level to improve mobility, data
sharing, reporting and communications.
Consultants will fully utilize existing
WMCA related reports, management information systems (MIS) database, and analysis data collected by the Local
Government Engineering Department (LGED) and other relevant agencies and work
closely with the staff of these establishments. The consultants will also
consult participating communities and other stakeholders. Close coordination
will be maintained with implementation staff of the associated Participatory
Small Scale Water Resources Sector Project (PSSWRSP) to ensure uniformity in
approach, proactive development of capacity building plans and coordination in
planning and implementation of activities.
The assignments of the consultants will require substantial experience
in their respective fields. Preference would be given to international
consultants with experience in South Asia and fluency in English will be
essential for all consultants.
The terms of
reference and the person-month requirements of the consulting services are
summarized below:
1. Institutional
Specialist/ Team Leader (International) - 2 person-months
2.
Institutional/
Cooperative Specialist (Deputy Team Leader) - 36 person-months
3.
Legal (Cooperative
Law) Expert - 3 person - months
4.
Training and Media
Specialist - 3 person - months
Institutional Specialist
(International- 2 person-months)
The consultant will be specialized in
community based institutions (including cooperative societies, water user
associations etc.) and their strengthening and capacity building. The expert
will have demonstrable experience in these aspects with minimum 10 years of
international (regional) experience and post graduate qualifications in a
relevant discipline. The specialist will work in close coordination with national
specialists and will be overall responsible for TA institutional strengthening
and capacity building related outputs. Specific activities will include:
1)
Review water resources sector projects and the role of water
management cooperative associations and review required coordination with the
JBIC project and capacity of LGED’s IWRMU to handle increased tasks and ensure
quality.
2)
Review present role, capacity and
staffing of IWRMU. Prepare a time-bound action plan for strengthening the
IWRMU.
3)
In conjunction with national institutional
specialists review and assess overall institutional structure of DOC and
identify key weaknesses in existing arrangements and functions.
4)
Review existing performance of DOC in its
statutory, regulatory, promotional roles and identify opportunities for
performance enhancement.
5)
With advice and recommendations of legal
expert make recommendations (as required) for strengthening existing legal
frameworks pertaining to cooperatives.
6)
Assess training needs of IWRM Unit and DOC
Staff and develop capacity building program and training aids.
7)
Review MIS database and opportunities for
strengthening coordination through information sharing and data interpretation
to respond to WMCA evolving needs,
8)
Fulfill reporting
outputs and arrange and conduct workshops
9)
Coordinate with DOC and LGED to finalize TA
outputs and seek advice and guidance for finalizing recommendations.
10)
Review and update Terms of Reference,
organization chart and linkages with other associated line agencies and make a
similar review and preparations for the LGED’s Project Management Office while
considering how to strengthen linkages.
11)
Review effectiveness of the SSWRSP phase-II
capacity building plan for LGED personnel and recommend possible further
refinements. Explore possibilities for an increased involvement of the LGED’s
training unit in capacity development for the participating institutions.
12)
Explore possibilities for improving and
internalizing feedbacks and use of the management information system to better identify
and react to the evolving needs of WMCAs. Recommend methods for sharing data
with partner agencies.
13)
Consider options for
raising the project’s profile at regional level through linkages with
international water resources or research organizations.
14)
Propose a project
design that provides an integrated approach to water service delivery and to
water resources management, consistent with ADB’s country assistance program
and ADB’s water policy.
Institutional/
Cooperatives Specialist & Deputy Team Leader - (National- 36 person-months)
The task of
the Institutional Cooperatives Specialist/Deputy Team Leader will include but
not limited to:
1)
Provide overall support to Project Management Office (PMO)
for Loan 2542 BAN (SF) Participatory Small-Scale Water Resources Sector Project
and Department of Cooperatives (DOC) in implementing the project component;
2)
Support PMO/ DOC to establish the Water Cell in the
Department of Co-operatives;
3)
Act as Team Leader in absence of the International Team Leader;
4)
Prepare an organogram for the Cell;
5)
Prepare
terms of reference for the Cell;
6)
Prepare terms of reference for staffing of the Cell;
7)
Prepare mandate/ vision statement for the Cell defining its
link with Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) and Bangladesh Water
Development Board (BWDB),
8)
In collaboration with LGED develop mechanism to establish
effective linkage between the Cell and LGED’s Integrated Water Resources
Management Unit (IWRMU),
9)
In collaboration with LGED and the Cell develop performance
criteria for Water Management Cooperative Associations (WMCA) which will feed
into the Management Information System (MIS) and capacity building plan,
10) Support
developing the data base and monitoring of water management cooperative
associations (initially to start with small scale water resources sector
operated by LGED) in collaboration with the IWRM MIS Specialist,
11) Identity of
opportunities for strengthening coordination through information sharing and
data interpretation to respond to the evolving WMCA needs,
12) Support in
preparing the quarterly and annual performance reports,
The consultant
will be responsible to LGED, PSSWRSP, and the DOC and work closely with the
International Institutional Specialist and the National Legal Expert in the
performance of his/her responsibilities national consultants working with DOC.
He / she will work directly under the supervision of the Project authority of
LGED and the DOC counterpart and will report to ADB through the PMO. The
consultant will prepare a work plan and develop quarterly activity plan in
consultation with the concerned Joint Registrar who will also be responsible
for coordinating with the Project Director, PSSWRSP on progress and other
component related matters. The consultant will provide written outputs,
training etc as required in accordance with a work plan to be agreed in advance
with relevant persons of ADB, DOC and PMO, PSSWRSP.
Legal
(Cooperative Law) Expert- (National- 3
Person-Months)
The consultant will be experienced in cooperatives
laws and details task will include but not limited to the following:
1)
Review all relevant legislation pertaining to Cooperatives
Societies Laws particularly in the context of WMCA and recommend for any
further amendments in rules and regulations as deemed appropriate;
2) Recommend
appropriate legal framework for DOC Water Cell and provide time bound action
plan for legal recognition that may be required, and
3) Facilitate
implementation of key actions in the action plan in coordination with relevant
agencies/ departments.
Training and Media Specialist –
(National- 3 Person-Months)
The
consultant will be experienced in media and extension practices and will report
to, and assist, the Team Leader in the execution of the terms of that position,
particularly the:
1)
identification of training and
extension needs for the dissemination of the findings and recommendations of
the program, as appropriate, to DOC staff in offices at all levels;
2)
development of a capacity building program and training aids for the
first round of training to meet the training and extension needs identified in
the first term; and
identification
of opportunities for strengthening coordination through information sharing and
data interpretation to respond to the evolving WMCA needs.