Country Assessment Expert for IWRM and Water Security in Cambodia
Introduction
The Asian Water Development Outlook (AWDO) was initiated in 2007 by the Asian
Development Bank (ADB) and the Asia-Pacific Water Forum (APWF), to highlight the
status of water security in the Asia-Pacific region. Four editions of the outlook report have been published in 2007, 2013, 2016, and 2020 respectively.
AWDO is a global benchmark for quantifying water security and significantly attributed to the extensive and long-term involvement of numerous academic, government, and
industry organisations from various countries. This sustained collaboration has been a
key factor in the development and evolution of AWDO.
In January 2025, the Global Water Partnership Organisation (GWPO) signed an agreement with the ADB to collaborate in preparation of AWDO 2025. One of the deliverables is the Country Assessments on the country water security scores, as evaluated by the AWDO Key Dimensions (KD) of water security, and their relationship with IWRM, as evaluated through SDG indicator 6.5.1. These assessments are to be conducted in Nepal, Bangladesh, Tajikistan, Pakistan, and Cambodia. The project runs from January to June 2025. Global Water Partnership Southeast Asia (GWP-SEA) is engaged in the Country Assessment for IWRM and Water Security by employing a local expert in Cambodia to conduct in-depth analyses.
Objective
The purpose of the Country Assessment Expert in Cambodia (hereafter Expert) is to:
- Conduct a comprehensive review of Cambodia’s water security status in alignment with the AWDO Water Security Key Dimensions.
- Correlate these findings with the country’s progress on IWRM, referencing SDG Indicator 6.5.1, to understand if improvements in IWRM implementation might explain improvements in water security.
- Produce a clear, concise, and evidence-based assessment report (5–10 pages) for Cambodia, detailing findings, key challenges, opportunities, and recommendations.
The Expert in Cambodia will integrate knowledge of local contexts and data sources to
ensure the assessments are accurate and actionable.
Scope of Work and Tasks
The methodology of the country assessment will rely on numeric data provided by the ADB KD teams and include a narrative analysis of the pressures and state of water security. "Pressure" refers to human activities, natural events, and underlying social, economic, and cultural factors creating stresses on water security, such as population growth, economic development, policy settings, infrastructure, and institutions. The "state" refers to the current condition of water security as influenced by these pressures and the resulting impacts on people and the environment.
Under the guidance of GWP SEA Deputy Regional Coordinator and in coordination with relevant the GWPO Senior Water Resources Management Specialist and GWP Regional/Country Water Partnerships, the Country Assessment Expert will:
Review and data collection
- Review the AWDO methodology, indicators, scoring criteria and draft country scores (these numeric scores will be provided by GWPO).
- Conduct desktop research to gather, as secondary data sources, recent, country-specific data related to the five indicators and sub-indicators of the water security dimensions (namely household water security, economic water security, urban water security, environmental water security, and resilience to water-related disasters), for the purpose of validating the draft country scores.
- Review the relevant information based on the desktop study on national frameworks, policies, and institutional arrangements for IWRM implementation, referring to the SDG 6.5.1 results (including the latest official SDG 6.5.1 survey and country stakeholder consultation reports, when possible).
- Prepare a brief proposed methodology and workplan for the purpose of the data analysis and synthesis, outlining the process and timeline to undertake the country assessment.
Data analysis and synthesis
- Analyse the country’s draft water security scores (global and key dimension scores) in the context of AWDO to confirm whether the draft scores are appropriate.
- Assess the interaction between the existing water security status and the level of IWRM implementation, referencing SDG 6.5.1 results, over the time series available.
- Identify gaps, constraints, and opportunities for improving water security and IWRM implementation based on the existing status assessment.
Stakeholder consultations
- Engage with the relevant ADB office(s) (where feasible) to ensure their alignment between this approach and the ongoing Country Partnership Strategy.
Country assessment report
- Prepare a 5–10 page report (excluding annexes) in English, following the template that will be provided, summarising the methodological approach, key findings (gaps, constraints and opportunities), trends, recommendations, and lessons learned, and including an executive summary.
Collaboration and reporting
- Under the supervision of the SEA Deputy Regional Coordinator, liaise with the GWPO and ADB teams, as well as GWP Regional Coordinator/Country Water Partnerships, to align the country assessment with AWDO 2025 and GWP objectives.
- Attend virtual coordination meetings and provide updates on progress, challenges, and preliminary findings as needed.
- Submit final deliverables (including datasets, reference documents, and stakeholder consultation summaries) by agreed deadlines.
Expected Outputs
- Work plan (2 pages): Proposed methodology and workplan for the purpose of the data analysis and synthesis, outlining the process and timeline to undertake the country assessment. This should be ready within two weeks of signature of the contract. This should be available no later than 5 days after signature of the contract.
- Interim report (3-5 pages): Brief on progress preliminary findings, highlighting bottlenecks and opportunities. This should be available at the latest by March 31st, 2025.
- Final country Assessment Report (5-10 pages): following the template provided, summarizing the methodological approach, key findings, trends, recommendations, and lessons learned, and including an executive summary. This should be available at the latest by April 30th, 2025.
Supervision
The Country Assessment Expert will work under the direct supervision of GWP SEA Deputy Regional Coordinator and in coordination with the GWPO Senior Water Resources Management Specialist, Water Solutions for the SDGs. The expert will also coordinate closely with:
- The designated focal point from the relevant GWP Regional Coordinator/Country Water Partnership.
- The ADB technical team, as required, to ensure consistency with AWDO 2025 methodologies and objectives.
Progress will be monitored through regular virtual meetings, periodic progress reports, and review of draft deliverables.
Transfer of Fund
The ceiling rate for this consultancy service is 2,000 Euro (tax and other cost are
inclusive).
- Fee structure: the expert’s total consultancy fee will be a lump-sum based on a daily rate, commensurate with experience and local market rates. It is expected that five full working days will be required for the purpose of delivering the products mentioned in these terms of reference. It is to be noted that these five working days may be needed over a period of up to two months from signature of the contract.
- No travel or related costs are expected as part of this consultancy.
- Payment schedule: payment will be made after successful delivery of the stated deliverables.
- Exact details regarding remuneration, travel, and other expenses will be negotiated and agreed upon in the contract to be signed with the corresponding GWP Regional Water Partnership.
Qualification
Prospective candidates must demonstrate:
- Academic background.
- Advanced university degree (Master’s level or higher) in water resources management, environmental science, public policy, development studies, or a related field. - Relevant experience.
- At least 10 years of professional experience in water resources management, integrated water resources management (IWRM), or related sectors.
- Demonstrable experience in quantitative and qualitative data analysis and report writing.
- Familiarity with AWDO or similar water security frameworks is highly desirable. - Technical skills.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex data on water security.
- Knowledge of SDG 6.5.1 monitoring, water governance, and policy contexts in the country of assignment.
- Excellent writing and presentation skills in English; knowledge of local language(s) is an asset. - Personal competencies
- Ability to work independently, as well as collaboratively in a multicultural and virtual environment.
- Strong organizational skills to manage multiple tasks within tight deadlines.
- Effective communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
Application Procedures
Interested candidates are invited to submit the following documents via email to
[secretariat@gwpsea.org] before March 5th 23.59 Jakarta time:
- Cover letter – please state the country of interest, relevant experience and motivation for applying.
- Curriculum Vitae – please make sure to highlight academic qualifications, professional experiences, key projects, and publications related specifically to this assignment.
- Proposed methodology and workplan – briefly (max. 2 pages) outline how the consultant intends to undertake the country assessment, including data collection, stakeholder engagement, and a tentative timeline.
- Financial proposal – indicate daily rates or a lump-sum amount.
Shortlisted candidates may be invited for a virtual interview to discuss their proposals, experience, and approach.
Contact details for further information: secretariat@gwpsea.org
Access the ToR here and this may be revised based on evolving project needs and mutual agreement between the GWP Regional Water Partnership and the Country Assessment Expert.