Water supply and Sanitation Research Engineer

Objective/Purpose of the Assignment:  

The consultant will be responsible for supporting the Department of Water Supply and Sewerage (DWSS) to revise its engineering guidelines, undertake case analysis to further understand how irrigation works can be made more resilient to climate change, and train department staff both centrally and through regional events. DWSS will revise a number of its 12 volumes for designing water supply systems. The consultant will also provide similar support to the Department of Local Infrastructure Development and Agricultural Roads (DOLIDAR) for the review and revision of water supply and sanitation engineering designs and standards.

Scope of the Work:  

There is a growing concern over declining water yield in previously reliable sources, particularly during the dry season. The consultant will examine technology options  for  increasing  water  recharge  and  retention  during  the  rainy  season  as  well  as technology options for sanitation in water stressed areas including knowledge and technologies for  ‘demand-  side-management’. Potential case studies will be developed in Bandipur, Bardiwas, Makwanpur and in Ramechhap, and a couple of additional locations/districts representing various scenarios and ecological situations.  The consultant will assist DWSS

Detailed Tasks to be performed by the consultant

• Work  with  the  Department  and  national  consultant  to  identify  case  analysis scope, terms of reference.
• Provide support to the national consultant in undertaking the case analysis.
• The consultant will review and recommend technology options for increasing water recharge and retention during the rainy season, technology options for sanitation in water stressed areas including knowledge and technologies for ‘demand- side-management’.
• Review and assess current engineering designs, standards and guidelines to withstand current and future climate change risks.
• Drawing from international experiences,         provide recommendations on adjustments  that  can  be  made  to  the  above  in  order  to  better  incorporate considerations of climate change risks and natural hazards.
• Upon agreement with the Department, make changes to the engineering guidelines.
• Review international experiences to indicate cost implications from existing case studies and models to follow.
• Contribute to training and capacity building activities.
• In light of Nepal’s Climate Change Policy and the knowledge developed through the TA, assist DWSS to review its policy and make recommendations for policy revisions.

Outputs:  

• Revised  engineering  guidelines
• Terms  of  Reference  for  Case  Analysis
• Training Materials
• Policy Recommendations

Skills required:

• Advanced degree in engineering research, particularly for water supply and sanitation (WSS) infrastructure and water supply.
• Experience in the development of engineering guidelines, particularly for WSS, manuals and standards.
• Knowledge of the fragile mountainous environmental conditions relevant to engineering  specifications is needed, including of water supply.
• Some exposure to climate change risk management is also needed.
• Strong ability to work in teams and multi-disciplinary/sectoral projects is required.
• Some experience in Nepal is an asset.