Consulting services for drought management plans in urban areas — Water and Sanitation Program of the Kingdom of Eswatini

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION) DEVELOPMENT OF DROUGHT MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR URBAN AREAS AND TOWNS IN THE KINGDOM OF ESWATINI Assignment Title: Consulting services to develop comprehensive drought management plans for the urban areas and towns in the Kingdom of Eswatini under the EWSSAP. Reference No.: SZ-EWSC-259721-CS-QCBS (37 of 2021/22) Background to the Assignment Eswatini is prone to recurring droughts that negatively affect national food security, water availability and power generation leading to significant socio-economic impacts stemming from loss of livelihoods.

In recent times, the country has seen an increase in the risks and hazards affecting her causing widespread humanitarian and economic crises that have brought the country to the brink of economic a state of emergency. During 2015/16 rainfall season, the country experienced a severe El Niño- induced drought that resulted in massive negative impacts on the economy and livelihoods, decapitating agricultural production and wiping out traditional forms of savings in rural households. The drought caused a significant decline in water levels and availability in major rivers and water reservoirs resulting in reduced water supply in both urban and rural households.

Urban areas, particularly the capital city (Mbabane) had to go for days without water for the first time in the history of the country, and the water utility company undertook an intensive water rationing for four consecutive days a week. The drought also depleted groundwater sources particularly affecting rural communities and resulting in long-term impacts on aquifer recharge and groundwater supply with springs and boreholes drying up. Furthermore, the drought destroyed wildlife (flora and fauna) and domestic livestock, slowed down economic activity and affected the overall quality of life of households resulting in about 620,000 people relying on food support or cash transfers for survival.

Qualification of Consultancy Firm The consultant should be a firm subject to eligibility as stipulated in the “World Bank Procurement regulations for IPF Bank Borrowers, July 2016, revised November 2017, August 2018 and November 2020. The EWSC & NDMA now invites eligible consulting firms (‘’Consultants’’) to express their interest in providing the above-mentioned services for the development of drought management plans for the Kingdom of Eswatini. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to provide the Services.

The shortlisting criteria are: • At least ten (10) years’ experience in disaster risk reduction, climate variability and change, water resource management, sanitation & hygiene • A minimum of five (05) projects undertaken to demonstrate expertise and experience in the formulation and development of drought preparedness and contingency plans for water, sanitation and hygiene. • Experience in disaster risk reduction, management, creative concept development to trigger change in behaviour for projects no undertaken not more than eight (08) years ago. • At least three (03) projects undertaken within the last five years to prove understanding of disaster risk reduction and resilience, climate change adaptation and water resources management approaches • Experience in Southern Africa communities, disasters and similar environment is essential demonstrated in at least four (04) projects undertaken in the region. • Expertise in communication strategy development and product promotion approaches evident from at least three (03) projects of similar nature.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraphs 3.14 to 3.17 of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers dated July 2016, revised in November 2017, August 2018 and November 2020 setting forth the World Bank’s Policy on Conflict of Interest. Consultants are required to collaborate to enhance qualifications. Where firms are associating, the submission must include verifiable evidence of association from all the parties.

Consultants will be selected in accordance with the QCBS method set out in the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers dated July 2016, revised in November 2017, August 2018 and November 2020. Interested Consultants may obtain further information and/or Terms of Reference in writing at the address below during office hours i.e. 08:00 – 16:45 hrs.

Consultants can request the complete Terms of Reference (TOR’s) at procurement@swsc.co.sz. Consultants may request for further information and or clarification regarding this expression of interest through email to procurement@swsc.co.sz and copy eric@ndma.org.sz,.The Duration of the assignment shall be eighteen (18) Months Expressions of Interest, clearly labelled ‘’[Name of Consultant] EWSSAP: Drought Management Plans’’ should be submitted by 14 January 2022 at 11:00hrs local time electronically to procurement@swsc.co.sz for files less than 6MB (attach submission documents or send through a link) or hand submitted to the physical address is as indicated below: Attention: The Managing Director Eswatini Water Services Corporation Headquarters, Emtfonjeni Building, Corner MR 103 and Cultural Village Drive, Ezulwini Country: Eswatini Telephone: +268-2416-9000 REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION) DEVELOPMENT OF DROUGHT MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR URBAN AREAS AND TOWNS IN THE KINGDOM OF ESWATINI Assignment Title: Consulting services to develop comprehensive drought management plans for the urban areas and towns in the Kingdom of Eswatini under the EWSSAP.

Reference No.: SZ-EWSC-259721-CS-QCBS (37 of 2021/22) Background to the Assignment Eswatini is prone to recurring droughts that negatively affect national food security, water availability and power generation leading to significant socio-economic impacts stemming from loss of livelihoods. In recent times, the country has seen an increase in the risks and hazards affecting her causing widespread humanitarian and economic crises that have brought the country to the brink of economic a state of emergency.

During 2015/16 rainfall season, the country experienced a severe El Niño- induced drought that resulted in massive negative impacts on the economy and livelihoods, decapitating agricultural production and wiping out traditional forms of savings in rural households. The drought caused a significant decline in water levels and availability in major rivers and water reservoirs resulting in reduced water supply in both urban and rural households. Urban areas, particularly the capital city (Mbabane) had to go for days without water for the first time in the history of the country, and the water utility company undertook an intensive water rationing for four consecutive days a week.

The drought also depleted groundwater sources particularly affecting rural communities and resulting in long-term impacts on aquifer recharge and groundwater supply with springs and boreholes drying up. Furthermore, the drought destroyed wildlife (flora and fauna) and domestic livestock, slowed down economic activity and affected the overall quality of life of households resulting in about 620,000 people relying on food support or cash transfers for survival. Qualification of Consultancy Firm The consultant should be a firm subject to eligibility as stipulated in the “World Bank Procurement regulations for IPF Bank Borrowers, July 2016, revised November 2017, August 2018 and November 2020.

The EWSC & NDMA now invites eligible consulting firms (‘’Consultants’’) to express their interest in providing the above-mentioned services for the development of drought management plans for the Kingdom of Eswatini. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to provide the Services. The shortlisting criteria are: • At least ten (10) years’ experience in disaster risk reduction, climate variability and change, water resource management, sanitation & hygiene • A minimum of five (05) projects undertaken to demonstrate expertise and experience in the formulation and development of drought preparedness and contingency plans for water, sanitation and hygiene. • Experience in disaster risk reduction, management, creative concept development to trigger change in behaviour for projects no undertaken not more than eight (08) years ago. • At least three (03) projects undertaken within the last five years to prove understanding of disaster risk reduction and resilience, climate change adaptation and water resources management approaches • Experience in Southern Africa communities, disasters and similar environment is essential demonstrated in at least four (04) projects undertaken in the region. • Expertise in communication strategy development and product promotion approaches evident from at least three (03) projects of similar nature.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraphs 3.14 to 3.17 of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers dated July 2016, revised in November 2017, August 2018 and November 2020 setting forth the World Bank’s Policy on Conflict of Interest. Consultants are required to collaborate to enhance qualifications. Where firms are associating, the submission must include verifiable evidence of association from all the parties.

Consultants will be selected in accordance with the QCBS method set out in the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers dated July 2016, revised in November 2017, August 2018 and November 2020. Interested Consultants may obtain further information and/or Terms of Reference in writing at the address below during office hours i.e. 08:00 – 16:45 hrs.

Consultants can request the complete Terms of Reference (TOR’s) at procu