Consultancy services for water management research in the Eastern Kalahari-Karoo Basin Transboundary Aquifer

WORLD BANK ASSISTED

Project ID: P127086

Issuance Date: 05 August 2019

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (EOI)

CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION

CONSULTANCY FOR WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT RESEARCH IN THE EASTERN KALAHARI-KAROO BASIN TRANSBOUNDARY AQUIFER

Contract No. ZA-SADC-GMI-114839-CS-QCBS

BACKGROUND:

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat, through the Directorate of Infrastructure and Services – Water Division, in Gaborone, Botswana received a grant through the World Bank to implement the Sustainable Groundwater Management in SADC Member States project. The SADC Secretariat has delegated the implementation of the project to the Southern African Development Community Groundwater Management Institute (SADC-GMI), a newly established regional centre of excellence on groundwater management hosted by the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein, South Africa.

One of SADC-GMI’s mandate is to enhance the management of Transboundary Aquifers (TBAs). This is only possible if the characteristics of the TBAs are known. However, there is a glaring lack of understanding of the geophysical, environmental and institutional characteristics of the TBAs. Although the SADC region is believed to have about 30 Transboundary Aquifers some comprehensive research work has been undertaken by various stakeholders in only 4 TBAs as follows; Stampriet TBA shared by Botswana, Namibia and South; The Ramotswa TBA shared by Botswana and South Africa; Shire River/TBA system shared by Malawi and Mozambique; work is being undertaken on the Tuli-Karoo TBA shared between Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

The SADC-GMI wishes to apply part of the current World Bank grant to procure consulting services (“the Services”) to support Water Resources Management Research in the Eastern Kalahari-Karoo Basin Aquifer, shared between Botswana and Zimbabwe to provide a basis for joint understanding and management of the Aquifer.

OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

The objectives of this project are to undertake research in the Eastern Kalahari Karoo Basin Transboundary aquifer system (shared between Botswana and Zimbabwe) through:

Compiling, synthesizing and disseminating groundwater (and surface water) data and information (including on their dynamic interaction) in the Eastern Kalahari Karoo Basin Transboundary aquifer system with respect to climate, geology, soils, land cover, land use, and hydrology. (ii) Review the extent of the Eastern Kalahari Karoo Transboundary aquifer as mapped by IGRAC (2017), to establish if the Nyamandlovhu aquifer and Epping Forest Aquifer are part of the Eastern Kalahari Karoo Transboundary Aquifer. (iii) Participatory identification of cross-border water issues requiring shared management and develop institutional mechanisms that support the achievement of equitable and sustainable resilience and strengthening joint water use approaches based on conjunctive management.

SCOPE OF WORK AND SPECIFIC TASKS OF THE CONSULTANTS:

To achieve the objectives of this assignment, the successful Consulting firm will undertake the following core tasks:

• Undertake a Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) to gather the state of knowledge in the system so as to facilitate identification of priority issues and key ways forward;

• Implement Stakeholder Dialogues to understand relevant issues and raise consensus on the joint conjunctive management of water resources in the system;

• Performing joint Strategic Action Planning (SAP) for enhanced national and transboundary water management issues in the Eastern Kalahari Karoo Basin aquifer system;

• Knowledge Management of the Research Results to share the experiences for Eastern Kalahari Karoo Basin aquifer system as a case study.

ELIGIBILITY

The ideal Consultant to implement this assignment should:

• Be a registered firm with proven experience in undertaking research in the water sector for more than 10 years and specific expertise in the conjunctive surface/underground water resources management concept and development of conceptual and numerical groundwater models;

• Consultant must demonstrate familiarity with undertaking TDA/SAP processes

• Have geographic experience in sub-Saharan Africa, and particularly the SADC region;

• Essentially have previous experience successfully implementing at least 2 similar research projects involving two or more countries sharing a transboundary water resources system, with specific focus on transboundary aquifer systems in the SADC region;

• Be familiar working on projects with complex institutional settings in a regional context.

SCHEDULE AND DURATION OF ASSIGNMENT

This is a once-off assignment without any obligation for follow-up work and it is intended to be implemented over approximately 12 months from contract signature.

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Interested consultancy firms are requested to submit an expression of interest. The expression of interest should include the following;

• Valid Business License

• Registration Certificate of TIN and VAT

• Company Certificate Registration/Incorporation

• Evidence showing that the firm is a legal entity (certificate of registration);

• Experience of working in a similar geographical region (SADC region);

• Availability of Professional Key Staff with Suitable Qualifications in the field of assignment;

• Evidence of at least 3 similar projects previously successfully completed, of which 1 was in the SADC region;

• Evidence showing the technical and managerial capabilities of the firm in the field of assignment;

• Brief description (not more than 3 pages) of the proposed Methodology of carrying out the scope of the work;

• The EOI submission should not exceed 30 pages.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours i.e. 08:00 am-4:00pm, Monday – Friday or at [email protected]

Bidders must submit Request for Expressions of Interest (EOI) by mail or by e-mail to [email protected] or submit the documents in a sealed envelope by hand or post to the address provided below by 12:00 noon (RSA Time) on 26 August 2019.

Tender envelopes shall be marked “Tender No. ZA-SADC-GMI-114839-CS-QCBS

CONSULTANCY FOR WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT RESEARCH IN THE EASTERN KALAHARI-KAROO BASIN TRANSBOUNDARY AQUIFER

Attention:

Procurement and Grants Office

SADC Groundwater Management Institute

Institute for Groundwater Studies

University of the Free State

Bloemfontein, SOUTH AFRICA

Office Tel: +27 51 401 7721

www.sadc-gmi.org