Consultant for the Development of a Capacity Development Strategy for the MRC Procedures and the Toolbox in the frame of the Mekong IWRM Project

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Mekong River Commission 

The role of MRC is to co-ordinate and promote co-operation in all fields of sustainable development, utilization, management and conservation of the water and related resources of the Mekong Basin. 

MRC Secretariat is looking for a qualified consultant for the following consultancy  

Consultant

for the Development of a Capacity Development Strategy for the MRC Procedures and the Toolbox in the frame of

the Mekong IWRM Project 

M-IWRM Project and Integrated Capacity Building Programme (ICBP) 

Maximum of 100 person days starting from September 2010 – February 2011,

the Office of the Secretariat in Vientiane, Lao PDR 

The Terms of Reference are available below. Women are encouraged to apply. Only short-listed candidates will be notified. 

Application procedures:  

The application should include a cover letter outlining clearly how the candidate meets the requirements of the position. In addition to the cover letter, the applicant should include his/her detailed CV, three reference contacts and financial expectation. The title of the consultancy needs to be indicated in the application letter.

Application should be send to:

Mekong River Commission Secretariat

Office of the Secretariat in Vientiane
P.O. Box 6101, Vientiane, 01000, Lao PDR
Email: mrcs@mrcmekong.org Subject: Application for Consultant TOR

Closing date for applications:  20 September 2010 (by 12:00 hrs) 

MRC Capacity Development Needs Assessment & Strategy Consultancy

Terms of Reference 

Capacity Development for the MRC Procedures and the Toolbox

in the frame of the M-IWRMP 

Programme: M-IWRM Project and Integrated Capacity Building Programme (ICBP)

Hiring unit: Mekong River Commission Secretariat (MRCS)

Duration: 100 person days

Expected Dates: September 2010 – February 2011 

1.         Background/Rationale

After over a decade since its establishment, the Mekong River Commission (MRC) is facing with several challenges in playing the role of an international river basin organization. With the fast pace of water resources development in the basin, particularly in relation to the developments related to hydropower in the mainstream and the increased water use demand, the MRC is making every effort to materialize “meeting the need while keeping the balance” in the Mekong Basin. 

During 2000-2008, the MRC implemented the Water Utilization Programme (WUP) that developed basin models, procedures and technical guidelines to implement the 1995 Mekong Agreement. The implementation of the procedures and technical guidelines as tools toward applied Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) is still in the early stages and is a priority for the MRC. Therefore and since 2009, a new project, the Mekong-IWRM-Project has been established to follow up on the WUP and help address the IWRM challenges in the Lower Mekong Basin in a more comprehensive framework. The project will apply IWRM principles and address the Mekong respective challenges by promoting the implementation of IWRM at the regional, national and trans-boundary levels. At the regional level, the use of tools and knowledge base, and the implementation of the procedures and guidelines are structured into a coherent and inter-linked framework and link closely with national water resources management activities.  

In principle, the MRC water utilisation procedures and guidelines facilitate harmonised interaction between the Member Countries and provide a mutually agreed basis. In fact, they are the tools and agreed framework to enable sustainable water-related basin development as well as basin-wide IWRM. The Procedures are practical IWRM tools, which guide toward joint aims in the Mekong Basin.  Their implementation is a key aim of the Project to achieve the IWRM objectives in practical terms. Therefore, ensuring the appropriate capacities is crucial and become a further key priority. 

The following Procedures and technical guidelines are addressed within the M-IWRMP to catalyse and ensure long-term IWRM in the MRC framework:

§    Notification, Prior Consultation and Agreement – PNPCA

§    Water Quality – PWQ

§    Data and Information Exchange and Sharing – PDIES

§    Water Use Monitoring – PWUM

§    Maintenance of Flows on the Mainstream – PMFM

Among these Procedures, adoption on the PWQ is still pending but expected by end 2010. The respective PWQ technical guidelines are currently drafted. All Procedures and technical guidelines can be downloaded from the MRC website. 

The MRC Toolbox serves the joint management, analysis and modelling in the MRC framework. The Toolbox will be developed by end 2010 and will be implemented step-by-step within the MRCS and the MRC countries. It addresses and includes relevant analysis/modelling tools regarding all MRC procedures and technical guidelines.  

The establishment of appropriate capacities at all MRC country levels as well as within the MRCS will be important for its successful implementation. The M-IWRMP is designed in such a way that it addresses different levels relevant for IWRM and therefore the implementation of the MRC Tools and Procedures. Regarding capacity building it will be important to address the regional and especially national levels, which involves the MRCS and respective agencies on country level. At each level the respective capacity gaps need to be assessed as well as the future capacity needs identified to enable the implementation of the IWRM tools/procedures. This will have to be done in close, active and direct collaboration with the respective experts on country and MRCS levels. 

The objective of this consultancy is to undertake a capacity building needs assessment for the MRC Procedures and the Toolbox in the frame of the M-IWRMP. The MRCS (Integrated Capacity Building Programme (ICBP) and MIWRMP staff) will support the consultant closely with this work being aware of all challenges involved (i.e. appropriate awareness of MRC tools and procedures, overall Mekong basin requirements, structures within he MRC framework, etc.). 

The World Bank is a development partner of the M-IWRMP and possibly intends to further support the M-IWRMP and MRC on sustainable capacity building toward basin-wide IWRM. The consultant is supposed to summarise the assessed capacity needs in such a way, that they can be used as direct input for a World Bank –Project Appraisal Document. 

2. Objective of the Consultancy

The consultant is expected to perform the work on the following objectives:

-          Conduct an analysis of the capacity constraints/gaps for the implementation of the MRC procedures and toolbox in the MRCS and in each of the four countries;

-          To propose a long-term strategy for capacity development for the implementation procedures and tools for the MRC and an appropriate implementation framework under the M-IWRM-P as the basis for this long term strategy;

-          To define the capacities required for the implementation of the MRC procedures and toolbox on the different MRC levels including the line agencies as well as within the MRCS, prepared in such a way that it can be used as input for the WB Appraisal Document). 

3. Approach to carry out the consultancy

As briefly outlined in Section 1, the performance of the tasks demands a participatory approach and process involving a common assessment template/tool and other analytical approaches proposed by the consultant who will work in close collaboration with the MRC Member Countries and the MRCS. The consultant will be coordinated as well as actively supported by the MRCS (ICBP and M-IWRMP staff) and National Mekong Committee Secretariats. 

4. Specific Tasks

The specific tasks for the consultant with the associated timeframe and number of days are set out in the table below: 

 5. Duration/Intensity of Assignment

The total duration of the assignment is 100 days over the period September 2010 to February 2011. All work will be scheduled in accordance with the availability of MRC members and other relevant consultants. 

6. Deliverables

Long-term capacity development strategy for the MRC and implementation framework for the M-IWRMP that includes:

-          Draft and final assessment template/tool to be applied at MRCS and in the four countries regarding capacities;

-          Defined capacities for the MRC procedures and toolbox on all MRC levels and within the MRCS;

-          Draft and final synthesis capacity assessment for the 5 procedures and toolbox in MRCS and in each of the four countries;

-          Power point presentation on the above synthesis report

-          Capacity development strategy report providing a detailed programme approach to respond to the capacity needs (including best possible methodologies and tools), prepared in such a way that it can be used as input for the WB Appraisal Document (respective Monitoring & Evaluation indicators will be outlined); 

6. Required qualifications

-          15 years of experience leading the design and implementation of capacity development programmes;

-          Proven track record in conducting complex capacity needs assessments;

-          Proven track record in developing capacity development strategy and implementation plan;

-          Strong expertise and experience in facilitating workshops;

-          Able to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing with a wide range of people

-          Master degree in human resources management, social sciences, development management or other related field;

-          Excellent written and oral communication skills in English;

-          Familiarity with the LMB and Mekong River Commission.

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