Solomon Islands Water Authority Solomon Water Tender

Expression of Interest:Consultant for Catchment management and paid ecosystem services Engagement Period: 36 month Consulting Services Budget: USD 1,145,000 Deadline of Submitting EOI: 24-apr-2022 11:59 pm manila local time Estimated Commencement Date: 15-aug-2022 Objective and Purpose of the Assignment Through the Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project (UWSSSP), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is assisting the Solomon Islands Government in developing a sustainable, inclusive, and climate resilient water supply in the greater Honiara area (GHA). Implemented by Solomon Water (SW), the project is increasing access to piped water supply and sanitation services (especially among the poor households), reducing reliance on groundwater and rainwater harvesting, and ensuring more efficient use of water. The project is also enhancing hygiene awareness, promoting water conservation, and improving fecal sludge management. With funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), another outcome of UWSSSP will focus on protecting GHA’s catchment areas, which are vital to the city’s climate resilience and current and future water supply. A key part of achieving this objective is ensuring that communities in charge of the catchment areas have a steady income other than the proceeds from logging operations, which threaten the water supply. Logging activities have increased over the past five years, causing a number of adverse impacts to watersheds, including greater turbidity and sediment loads, higher rates of runoff and landslides during rainstorms, and changes in seasonal flow regulation. The catchment areas that pose the most immediate threat to Honiara’s water supply are above the western part of GHA. This area is composed of three distinct watersheds (Kongulai, Kovi, and Kohove) that cover about 32 km2 and serve as the important water source area for the city. In particular, sink holes in the Kovi and Kohove watersheds provide important inflow for the Kongulai Spring in an adjacent catchment. In eastern GHA, the catchment area of the Lungga River is 377 km2. Several logging concessions are in operation in areas along the middle Lungga River, with levels of riparian zone degradation likely similar to the Kongulai/Kovi/Kohove watersheds. A new water intake and treatment plant on the Lungga River is planned for the near future. Supported by two catchment specialists (international and local) in SW, catchment work will be composed of three distinct but interrelated outputs: • Output 1 will strengthen capacity for planning and informed decision making by gaining an improved understanding of watershed biophysical and social boundaries, resources, and processes. The Output will be supported by mapping and hydrological monitoring work carried out by the University of Queensland. • Output 2 will help facilitate interagency and inter-sectoral coordination and governance and support development of integrated climate-responsive catchment manag ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (ADB),