TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE – STUDY ON THE FEASIBILITY OF RAINWATER HARVESTING IN THE CARIBBEAN - REGIONAL
TERMS OF REFERENCE
1. BACKGROUND
1.01 Diversification of the agricultural sector is one of the strategic objectives being pursued by Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member States to improve competitiveness and access to domestic, regional and international markets. In support of this initiative, farmers are being encouraged to adopt practices and technologies which support the production of price competitive, high value crops on a consistent basis. Currently in many of the islands, access to a reliable source of affordable water has proven to be a limiting factor. To further exacerbate the situation, the available water resource is declining due to a combination of factors, both man-made and natural. Moreover, the climate change scenarios predicted for the Caribbean indicate that with increased temperatures and the resultant higher evapo-transpiration rates which are likely to occur with global warming, there is expected to be a further reduction in the available water resources.
1.02 Recent trends suggest that the agricultural sector may be the worst affected by the reduced water supply, since water for agriculture is usually given the lowest priority after the demands of the domestic, manufacturing and tourism sectors, have been satisfied.
1.03 One source of water which has not been exploited in the Region is rainwater harvesting (RWH). Consequently, with the cooperation of the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the Ministries of Agriculture in selected islands, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) intends to engage the services of a Consultant with the requisite training and experience in RWH to explore the possibilities to employ the system in support of the regional agricultural sector.
1.04 The Consultant will be required to work in close consultation with staff of the FAO, IICA, CDB and the technical staff of the Ministries of Agriculture and Water Resource Management, and related agencies in the following islands - Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada and Montserrat.
2. SCOPE OF WORKS
2.01 For each island, the Consultant will be required to perform, but will not be limited to, the following tasks:
(a) conduct a comprehensive assessment of RWH systems with the aim of recommending improvements which will result in improved water supply to the agricultural sector in the selected countries;
(b) identify and recommend, where feasible, the development of new RHW systems in support of the agricultural sector in the selected countries;
(c) conduct the required analyses of various technical options to determine the feasibility of recommended improvements/new systems;
(d) prepare draft strategic plans (including outline designs for RWH systems) for improvement of RWH practices in country. The strategic plans should contain indicative implementation costs; and
(e) identify and develop suitable training programmes, geared towards raising awareness and building capacity in Caribbean countries in planning, design and implementation of RWH systems.
3. DELIVERABLES AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
3.01 The Consultant will be required to submit the following reports and other deliverables;
(a) a presentation and electronic copies of an Interim Report to the coordinating team (IICA, FAO and CDB) with key findings, issues and recommendations after completion of the required field work in the selected countries. The Operations Officer (Agriculture) at CDB will be responsible for making the necessary arrangements to facilitate the presentation;
(b) an electronic copy of a Draft Final Report two weeks after presentation of the Interim Report. The report should detail the feasibility of RWH in each of the selected countries. Where feasibility has been established, the report should detail strategies for improving RWH in the country with an outline of the training requirements for the stakeholders;
(c) twelve copies of the Final Report incorporating comments from the Coordinating Team, as may be agreed to, within two weeks of receiving comments. The Final Report shall include an Executive Summary and an annex detailing areas Regional Strategic Plan for RWH development in the Caribbean;
(d) proposals for required training; and
(e) proposals for further development of RWH in the Caribbean.
4. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
4.01 The Consultant should possess the following:
(a) expertise in agricultural engineering, irrigation, and water resources management;
(b) at least ten years experience in integrated approaches to RWH, including practical experience working with farms in developing affordable water harvesting structures for small farmers;
(c) ability to prepare and review technical reports and relevant national and international documentation; and
(d) ability to write and speak English fluently.
