Mexico: Consultancy in Water Harvesting and Wastewater Management
The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) was established as an intergovernmental organization to promote a model of economic growth known as “green growth”. The green growth model integrates variables measuring economic growth, environmental sustainability, poverty reduction and social inclusion. GGGI envisions a resilient world achieved through strong, inclusive, and sustainable green growth, and is dedicated to supporting the transition of GGGI Member countries towards a green growth model. In pursuit of these goals, GGGI aims to design and deliver programs and services that enable new pathways for pro-poor economic growth.
GGGI has a diverse portfolio of programs in developing countries around the world. These country programs, in association with global products and services, focus on developing results through an integrated approach to planning and implementation based on evidence of green growth that articulates with countries' development priorities. The organization also focuses on knowledge development and management activities that strengthen the conditions for a strong theoretical and empirical basis for green growth, while providing concrete options and guidance to policymakers; in addition to creating the appropriate conditions to promote public and private investment in green infrastructure.
Low-income rural communities in Mexico are increasingly vulnerable to climate-related disasters. Climate projections indicate an increase in water scarcity, salination of aquifers and more frequent and violent storms and cyclones. The National Water Program and Nationally Determined Contribution are advocating to ensure climate-resilient and sustainable communities. Hence, the need to implement interventions that increase resilience to the effects of climate change in marginalized rural communities by implementing systemic solutions for water and sanitation access and building sub-national capacities for the implementation of adaptation measures.
The IPCC recommends effective water demand management as an adaptation measure rather than an expansion of supply. Rainwater harvesting systems are a viable alternative to ensure the availability and more efficient use of water resources, as well as enhancing the resilience of populations to climate variability and change. In this regard, in a joint venture with Mexico’s National Water Commission (CONAGUA) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), it has been planned an intervention focusing on developing infrastructure that includes or complements ecosystem services and manages water demand and its efficient use, through the construction of integrated water and sanitation systems to cover (i) drinking water (e.g., nature-based rainwater harvesting systems); (ii) distribution systems and (iii) collective or individual sanitation solutions in accordance with their technical and economic viability. CONAGUA proposed following technologies as potentially implementable:
- Rainwater harvesting[1], the system is based on a set of elements that serve to capture, channel, filter and store rainwater for human use and consumption. It will only be designed to meet the basic needs of a home. The design of rainwater harvesting systems will be carried out considering hydrological data, in which the variation in precipitation due to multiple factors, including climate change, is reflected.
- Biodigesters or septic tanks[2] to treat the household wastewater. The system is based on the collection, treatment, and potential reuse of household water.
- Dry toilets[3] for the management of excreta in populations that do not have any nearby source of water supply. The system consists of a composting chamber and urine separation.
The construction of rainwater harvesting systems and basic sanitation systems at the household level will take place in 148 municipalities and 348 localities located along the Mexican territory (see Annex 1 attached as document) and within its seven main climate regions (see Annex 2 attached as document).
Within this context, an independent consultant is needed to develop technical elements that contribute to the Mexican National Water Commission (CONAGUA).
[1] Technical specifications at: https://www.gob.mx/cms/uploads/attachment/file/152776/LINEAMIENTOS_CAPTACI_N_PLUVIAL.pdf
[2] Technical specifications at: https://www.gob.mx/cms/uploads/attachment/file/152777/LINEAMIENTOS_TRATAMIENTO_AGUAS_NIVEL_VIVIENDA.pdf
[3] Technical specifications at: https://www.gob.mx/cms/uploads/attachment/file/152777/LINEAMIENTOS_TRATAMIENTO_AGUAS_NIVEL_VIVIENDA.pdf
OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT
Estimate the co-benefits (social, economic, and environmental) of selected rainwater capture and wastewater management systems in rural areas considering the differentiated conditions at the seven climate regions of Mexico. Such elements will contribute to the development of a detailed funding proposal to finance decentralized water and waste management infrastructure for rural communities vulnerable to water scarcity in Mexico.
DELIVERABLES AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE
Activities
The consultancy must carry out at least the following activities:
- Analyze all relevant information related to the activities of the intervention project proposed by CONAGUA with the potential to contribute to the shift to low-emission sustainable development pathways.
- Review and evaluate the water harvesting and sanitation technologies indicated by CONAGUA.
- Estimate the environmental, social, and economic negative impacts under a Business as Usual (BAU) scenario, considering as BAU scenario the construction and operation (electricity and fuel consumption, and process emissions) of conventional water provision and wastewater treatment facilities capable of satisfying the average population of the selected localities (see Annex 1 attached as document) in each of the 7 climate regions of Mexico.
- Estimate the co-benefits as a result of the implementation of the project (scenario intervened with the project) in terms of environmental co-benefits (degree to which the implementation of the project promotes positive environmental externalities such as the improvement in the air or soil quality, increased support for natural ecosystems and biodiversity, etc.); social co-benefits (degree to which the implementation of the project promotes positive social externalities such as the improvement of people's health and/or safety, etc.); and, economic co-benefits (degree to which the implementation of the project promotes positive economic externalities such as the creation of more formal jobs, poverty alleviation, savings in family income, etc.).
Deliverables
The consultant will develop with the technical accompaniment of GGGI, the following deliverables:
- Deliverable 1. Work plan
One (1) detailed work plan that includes at least the following aspects:
- Methodology, approach, phases, deadlines, and responsibilities.
- Detailed timeline.
- Deliverable 2. Development of BAU scenario
One (1) document containing the methodology, assumptions, data sources, calculations used to estimate the negative impacts of conventional water provision and wastewater treatment facilities capable of satisfying the average population of the selected localities (see Annex 1 attached as document) in each of the 7 climate regions of Mexico. The BAU scenario should assume that the facilities are already in operation and account only for direct negative impacts of such facilities for one year. The document should also present the results validated by CONAGUA, IDB and GGGI.
- Deliverable 3. Estimation of co-benefits of water harvesting and sanitation technologies
One (1) document containing a detailed methodology, assumptions, data sources, calculations used to estimate the co-benefits of water harvesting and sanitation systems (considering 4 systems functioning in 7 different climate conditions). The document should also present the results validated by CONAGUA, IDB and GGGI.
- Deliverable 4. Final report on co-benefits of the project
One (1) document containing the estimations of potential environmental, economic and social co-benefits related with the implementation of the project and a final report of the results of the previous deliverables including an executive summary. The document should also present the results validated by CONAGUA, IDB and GGGI.
Deliverables, times, and payments
|
Payments |
Deliverables |
Delivery Time |
Quantity (% over total rate) |
|
Payment No. 1 |
|
1 week after signing the contract |
30% |
|
3 weeks after signing the contract |
||
|
Payment No. 2 |
|
6 weeks after signing the contract |
30% |
|
Payment No. 3 |
|
8 weeks after signing the contract |
40% |
Total fee: up to USD 15,000 up to candidate's credentials
All deliverables will undergo a maximum of two reviews (per deliverable) by IDB, CONAGUA and GGGI and to which the consultant will provide with revised version of the deliverable addressing all comments, suggestions, or request from the reviewers committee.
All deliverables (documents with their annexes and infographics, schematics, tables, diagrams, cartography, and the other graphic aspects developed to facilitate the understanding of the technical contents) will be delivered in a digital medium, in open files that allow their editing.
Suggested methodology and competition requirements
- The consultant can use primary and secondary sources of information to prepare the required results.
- Meetings with GGGI team and relevant entities if needed through interviews, workshops, discussions groups with stakeholders and relevant authorities will be necessary to validate and prioritize the actions that will be developed.
- Technical integrated work is considered decisive for the achievement of the objectives.
- It is the consultant's responsibility to attend all required technical events and meetings.
- All relevant technical papers, reports, and other documents prepared from the start to the end of the assignment shall be attached to the Final Report.
- The final report must be approved by the GGGI considering the contributions and opinion of CONAGUA and the IDB. The Consultant shall consider the comments and necessary revisions proposed. Within 14 days from the receipt of the comments or modification proposal from the GGGI, the Consultant shall prepare and submit the final versions of the report.
Reports and Coordination
The development of the consultancy will be monitored and coordinated primarily through periodic review and planning meetings -the precise schedule will be determined once the consultancy starts (jointly between GGGI, the consultant, CONAGUA, and IDB). The consultant’s work progress will be monitored through these review meetings addressing topics such as the strategic direction of activities, coordination of actors and the definition of inter-agency conciliation tables, as well as reporting on progress about the objective of consulting and deliverables.
All reports or results must be written in English, whilst the final report must be delivered in English and Spanish, in accordance with GGGI's formatting requirements, and must be sent in electronic copy along with the detail of the products associated with the deliverables, including attendance lists of the concertation spaces, memory aids generated and complete sets of raw data and research materials.
Supervision
The consultant will be supervised and guided by GGGI LAC´s MRV & NDC Enhancement Officer.
EXPERTISE REQUIRED
The consultant must meet the following requirements:
- (REQUIRED) Must be able to reside and work in Mexico.
- (REQUIRED) Professional with a postgraduate degree in natural sciences, engineering, applied economics (e.g. climate change, environmental), or social sciences.
- (REQUIRED) Experience in climate change (mitigation and adaptation) issues, as well as any inter-institutional experience with the public and private sectors working in rural development.
- (REQUIRED) Professional experience of at least seven (7) years of which four (4) years are experience in the design and implementation of monitoring and evaluation systems focused on social, environmental, and economic objectives, design, and implementation of social, environmental, and economic indicators; and positive externalities and co-benefits accounting.
- (REQUIRED) Excellent writing and proposals drafting skills in English and Spanish.
- Knowledge on sanitation technologies and water management systems applied in the rural settings of Mexico.
- Experiences of prior work with the Government of Mexican - GoM, international organizations and other top-level authorities.
- Excellent skills in data analysis and critical thinking.
- Strong skills in assertive communication.
- Ability to produce deliverables with minimal supervision.
- Only applications in English will be evaluated.
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
The date to close is Korean Standard Time (KST). Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered Application. Cover Letter and CV must be sent in English. A consortium, or a firm may not be engaged for the individual consultant assignment.
Child protection – GGGI is committed to child protection, irrespective of whether any specific area of work involves direct contact with children. GGGI’s Child Protection Policy is written in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.