Technical monitoring and implementation support for WRA water infrastructure under TWENDE Project

**Terms of reference for IUCN Consultancy** **Title: Technical monitoring and implementation support for WRA water infrastructure under TWENDE Project.** **Objective of the Consultancy** This consultancy has the following objective(s): **Specific Objectives** The consultancy shall pursue the following specific objectives: 1. Undertake an independent technical assessment of all completed and ongoing water infrastructure to determine compliance with approved engineering designs, technical specifications, contractual requirements, Bills of Quantities (BoQs), and applicable engineering standards. 2. Assess the quality, functionality and sustainability of the water infrastructure by evaluating workmanship, structural integrity, operational performance, safety, operation and maintenance arrangements, and compliance with applicable environmental and social safeguard requirements. 3. Identify technical deficiencies, implementation gaps and risks affecting the functionality, safety, durability and sustainability of the infrastructure, and assess whether project resources have been utilised efficiently and delivered value for money. 4. Develop prioritised corrective action plans for each infrastructure, detailing the engineering, operational and management measures required to rectify identified defects, improve performance and ensure long-term functionality and sustainability. 5. Provide independent technical supervision and quality assurance for the implementation of agreed corrective works on existing water infrastructure, ensuring that all remedial works comply with approved engineering standards, technical specifications and contractual requirements. 6. Provide technical oversight and quality assurance during the construction of any new water infrastructure implemented under the TWENDE Project, including review of designs where required, verification of construction quality, materials, workmanship and compliance with approved standards and safeguards. 7. Provide practical recommendations and build capacity of the implementing teams through on-site technical guidance, periodic inspections and final certification of completed corrective and new infrastructure works to ensure they are fit for purpose and capable of delivering sustainable water services. **Background and about the project** Project Reference: **P02886** Donor Reference: **N/A** **About IUCN** IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together. Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 Member organisations and around 15,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards. IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous peoples’ organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development. Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve people’s well-being. [www.iucn.org](http://www.iucn.org) [https://twitter.com/IUCN/](https://twitter.com/IUCN/) **About the Project** The IUCN Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) implements a diverse portfolio of programmes across twenty-four countries in the Horn of Africa, Eastern Africa, Southern Africa and the Western Indian Ocean. Among these is the Towards Ending Drought Emergencies (TWENDE): Ecosystem-based Adaptation in Kenya's Arid and Semi-Arid Rangelands Project, a five-year initiative financed by the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The project contributes to Kenya's Vision 2030 and the national Ending Drought Emergencies (EDE) strategy by strengthening the resilience of communities, ecosystems and livelihoods to climate change in Kenya's Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs). The project seeks to reduce the economic impacts of recurrent drought by restoring degraded rangelands, strengthening climate-resilient natural resource management and promoting sustainable investments that enhance ecosystem services and livelihoods. The TWENDE Project is implemented across the Sabarwawa, Mid Tana and Chyulu Hills landscapes, covering eleven counties. These landscapes are characterized by increasing climate variability, land degradation, weak landscape governance, inadequate access to climate information, and limited investment in sustainable natural resource management. To address these challenges, the project is implemented through three complementary components. Component 1 strengthens climate-informed planning and governance for drought resilience through improved climate information, participatory planning and coordinated landscape management. Component 2 supports the restoration and sustainable management of priority rangeland ecosystems and water resources to enhance ecosystem-based adaptation and climate resilience. Component 3 promotes climate-resilient public, private and community investments that improve sustainable natural resource management, livelihoods, market access and financial inclusion. The project is implemented by IUCN as the Green Climate Fund Accredited Entity in partnership with the Government of Kenya and Conservation International (CI). The National Drought Management Authority (NDMA), the State Department for Livestock Development (SDLD) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, and Conservation International serve as the Executing Entities for Components 1, 2 and 3 respectively. To deliver project interventions, the Executing Entities engage specialized government agencies, service providers, contractors and other technical partners through subsidiary and procurement agreements. Under Component 2, the Water Resources Authority (WRA) as service provider to the State Department for Livestock Development (SDLD) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has implemented a portfolio of climate-resilient water infrastructure interventions, including water pans, sand dams, spring protection systems, rainwater harvesting facilities and groundwater monitoring boreholes. These investments are designed to improve access to water for domestic, livestock and ecosystem needs while supporting landscape restoration, groundwater recharge, climate resilience and sustainable livelihoods in the target landscapes. Following the substantial completion of these infrastructure investments, IUCN intends to engage an independent engineering consultancy to undertake a comprehensive technical assessment, quality assurance and compliance audit of the completed and ongoing works. The assignment will independently verify compliance with approved engineering designs, technical specifications, contractual obligations and applicable engineering standards, while assessing construction quality, structural integrity, operational functionality, sustainability and value for money. The findings will provide assurance on the quality and performance of the completed infrastructure, identify any technical deficiencies requiring corrective action, strengthen accountability for project investments, and generate lessons to inform the design and implementation of future climate-resilient water infrastructure programmes. **Description of the Assignment** The purpose of this consultancy is to undertake an independent technical