International Consultant in Relational to Modelling Initiative for Cambodia

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Mekong River Commission 

The role of MRC is to promote and coordinate sustainable management and development of water and related resources for the countries’ mutual benefit and the people’s well-being 

MRC Secretariat is now recruiting a highly qualified consultant for the following consultancy 

International Consultant

in Relational to Modelling Initiative for Cambodia

Information and Knowledge Management Programme, Technical Support Division

 Maximum of 15 working days starting from September to October 2011, based at the Office of the MRC Secretariat in Phnom Penh, Cambodia 

The Term of reference and other information can be obtained at MRC website http://www.mrcmekong.org Women are encouraged to apply.  Only short-listed candidates will be notified.

Application procedures:

The application should include (i) a cover letter outlining clearly how the candidate meets the requirements of the position, (ii) a detailed CV, and (iii) MRC Personal History Form. The position title and division/section must be indicated in the cover letter. The application should be sent to:

Mekong River Commission Secretariat
P.O. Box 6101
Vientiane 01000, Lao PDR
Email: mrcs@mrcmekong.org

Closing date for applications: 29 August 2011

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TERMS OF REFERENCE

1. Project Title                     : Consultant to formulate options to build up the water resource modelling  capacity in Cambodia    

2. Title of Consultancy      : International Consultant in Relational to Modelling Initiative for  Cambodia

    Programme                : Information and Knowledge Management Programme (IKMP) and Mekong IWRM Project

3. Duty Station                     : Office of The MRC Secretariat in Phnom Penh (OSP), Cambodia

4. Duration                           : 15 working-days. Starting date: tentatively 1 September 2011

The Mekong River Commission has been helping to build capacity for Water Resource modelling in the four member countries since the initiation of the Decision Support Framework in 2002 under the Water Utilization Programme (WUP-A) funded by the World Bank.  The DSF system development aimed to have a transparent modelling system that could be used by each and any of the member countries to study and check proposals and strategies for water resource developments.  The system has been developed and expanded under the Information and Knowledge Management Programme Phase 1 (IKMP 2005-2010) including capacity building work through Case Studies and an Associate Modeller programme within the Modelling Team.   The original models have been supplemented by the more detailed models IWRM and 3D modelling developed under the WUP-FIN component and improved by Syke in IKMP Phase 1.  It is expected that such activities will continue in a second phase of IKMP if current funding application are successful.

In 2010 a new cross sector Mekong Integrated Water Resource Management Project (IWRM) regional project began managed by MRCS with the specific aims of improving the ability of countries to apply IWRM techniques.  National components in Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia complement the regional work.

The pace of change within the Lower Mekong Basin is increasing, there is increasing concern about climate change impacts and increasing use of modelling techniques for planning purposes.  The situation for modelling within each country differs markedly. Vietnam already has a number of large Institutes and significant existing modelling capability and Thailand has a well developed academic and private sector modelling capacity.  Laos, whilst coming from a low level of modelling capacity has a clear strategy and commitment to develop a strong modelling group within the Water Resource and Environment Administration (WREA).  In Cambodia there are issues of flooding and floodplain development, of managing the unique Tonle Sap and Great Lake system and of irrigation and hydropower development that would benefit greatly from use of advanced modelling techniques.  As one of the Lower countries Cambodia is potentially the most vulnerable to change in the Mekong flow and sediment regime and needs to be in a position to understand likely effects.

In order to ensure an adequate capacity to plan and study proposals for developments in Cambodia and those that may affect it, it is necessary to build a stronger modelling capacity than has been possible to date and thus a specific initiative to speed up the capacity building process is to be considered.  It is unlikely that the IKMP/IWRM programmes alone could fund a new modelling institute but formaulation of the initiative needs to give due consideration to the available options and the synergies with other projects within Cambodia and potential funding sources. 

There are clearly a number of  different potential templates of how a modelling focus point in a country can be set up: 

o    The Institute of  Water Modelling  in Bangladesh:  Now a semi autonomous trust this facility grew out of an initiative of the Bangladesh Water Resources Planning Organisation under the Ministry of Water Resources in 1986.  The main objective of the Institute is the enhancement of hydraulic and hydrologic knowledge base of the country to enable better planning and design studies of the country’s water management investments.  The scope covered includes rivers, estuaries and coastal, morphology, groundwater and water quality.  The initial set up was strongly supported by a donor Danida and there were training exchanges to the European institute DHI and full time international expertise stationed in the centre during the first years so that a high capacity to serve the country needs was available quickly and the outside support was gradually reduced over a period of around 10 years. 

o    Southern Institute of Water Resource Planning, Vietnam: The SIWRP and similar Institutes in Vietnam are large government institutions that have developed full capacity in use of models as well as providing a facility to have a “National Model” that serves as a reference for all others. 

o    Singapore University,:  NUS has developed a centre for excellence in water and coastal management through collaborative initiatives with DHI and Delft Hydraulics and forms a good  example of capacity building through University based collaborations.

HR Wallingford UK:  Hydraulic engineers returning from India set up the Hydraulics Research Station along the lines of those already established at Puna and Lahore/Amritsar in India.  The hydrology component split off in the 1970s to form the Institute of Hydrology which later became the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology supported by the National Environment Research Council.  The Hydraulic Research Station became a quasi independent company in 1980. 

The MRCS is moving towards a new strategic plan to focus on specific core areas.  One of these is modelling which supports analysis for Basin Planning, Prediction of floods and droughts, analysis of specific proposals and Climate Change.  An example specific project is one of those formally notified as the first of these proposed projects on the mainstream, the Xayaburi project, and whilst the MRCS will carry out analysis to support country deliberations, the potential importance and possible impacts  indicate that a good capacity for assessment is needed within the country.

It is expected that a single Consultant could complete all necessary tasks.

The (international/regional) consultant will work in close collaboration with the MRCS modelling team and the Cambodia National Mekong Committee and consult with relevant institutions in Cambodia and in the MRCS.

The main activities envisaged are as follows:

o    Determine the current organization within Cambodia of Water Resource Modelling including all relevant government departments including but not exclusively those associated with hydrology, hydropower planning, irrigation development, and others such as roads and highways, forestry water supply and fisheries, River Basin Authorities and existing initiatives;

o    Determine likely current and future initiatives in the immediate future including current proposals under the national and regional component of the M-IWRM project and those being considered by ADB, World Bank etc.

o    Determine current University and academic capacity in Cambodia and links to government and other institutions.

o    Consider the likely needs for modelling capacity in Cambodia and number of staff/the size of any institute that may be sustainable.

o    Consider the merits of various models for building capacity including those in other member countries and current achievements

o    Following above Present a number of potential scenarios for capacity building in Cambodia including the role of MRCS for discussion and to allow CNMC to guide on what is likely to be possible.

o    Discuss feedback on proposals

o    Prepare a more detailed proposal and roadmap of a specific initiative for Model Capacity Building in Cambodia.

o    Final reporting

All issues should be put into an integrative context taking into account institutional issues and long term sustainability of the initiative.  The modelling capacity considered must take account of the needs for a full IWRM approach including not only water flows but others such as sediment, nutrient, social, environment, and fisheries aspects. 

The roadmap should show the specific needs of the preferred initiatives so that the resources needed may be defined and likely funding needs and possible sources outlined. 

o    The estimated maximum number of working days during this period is 15 including travel.

o    The engagement and mobilization of the Consultant would be expected as soon as practical (tentatively early September 2011) and work would primarily be in country and final agreed reporting completed before the end of October 2011 (Could be updated by MRCS).

o    Working in OSP with involvement of IKMP Chief Technical Advisor, Senior Modelling Advisor and other Modelling Staff.

o    Visit and work closely with Cambodian National Mekong Committee and relevant Line Agencies on Water Resources Management in Cambodia.

o    Visit and work with Mekong IWRM project and other MRC programmes if required

o    The consultants work will  be coordinated and managed by the IKMP Modelling Team

o    The M-IWRMP in cooperation with the respective experts in the MRCS will be responsible to recruit the consultants.

o    Work with the Cambodia National MRC and relevant Cambodian government departments is essential

o    Other MRC Programmes/sections involved in modelling related capacity building that must be consulted include ICBP (OSV) and FMMP (OSP) .

o    The consultant reports to the IKMP Coordinator ;

o    Close guidance will be given by CNMC;

o    MSc. or PhD university degree in hydrology, water resources engineering and management, Natural Resources Management, mathematic or a related field;

o    At least 10 years experience in working in relation with computer modelling for water resource management, natural resources planning and management or a related field;

o    Demonstrated experience and knowledge in Institutional Development and Organization Structures in general and Mekong Member Countries in particular;

o    Strong experience and Capacity Needs Assessment and Capacity Development formulation;

o    Good knowledge and experience in stakeholder analysis and scenarios assessment

o    Excellent skill in proposal formulation and writing;

o    Experience in the Mekong region and familiarity with the LMB and Mekong River Commission is an asset;

o    Ability communicate effectively, verbally and in writing with a wide range of people and to work in a multicultural environment;

o    Excellent written and oral communication skills in English

o    The international or regional expert will be financed through the M-IWRM Project budget;

o    The involved staff of the MRC Programs will provide their expertise as MRCS in-kind contribution.

o    Daily subsistence allowance will be paid for travel days and time in according to normal MRC rules and regulations.

o    Airfares will be reimbursed based on provision of original receipts. Other incidental expenses (visas, taxis to and fro airports) will be paid based on provision of receipts.

o    A Service Fee will be paid based on provision of invoices, which will be duly certified by the supervisor. The service fee will be based on a daily rate which will be negotiated independently by the Finance Section of MRCS.

o    One (final) payment will be made to the consultant upon submission of the final report and evaluation form certified by IKMP Coordinator.

The TOR may be updated or amended as necessary by mutual agreement.