Terms of Reference for the Harmonization of the Catchment Management Plans developed by the Embedding Integrated Water Resources Management in Rwanda Project (EWMR) to meet the legal framework and national standards.

1. Background

Rwanda is a country located within the Great Lakes region of the central-eastern part of Africa with an area of 26,338 square kilometers. The Congo Nile Ridge divides the country's waters into two parts: those flowing to the west into the Congo Basin and those flowing to the east into the Nile Basin. Therefore, Rwanda principally has only two hydrographic basins. The Nile basin covers 67% of the country's territory and drains 90% of National waters, whereas the Congo Basin covers 33% Of Rwanda's territory and drains 10% of National waters (MINITERE, 2005). Within the framework of implementing the National policy for water resources management, a national water resources master plan was developed in 2015, and this came up with a catchments' subdivision. The National Policy advances a catchment-based water resources management approach. Rwanda is subdivided into nine level 1 catchments (Figure 1).

While each of these catchments has its unique characteristics, the undulating terrain of Rwanda and the propensity for land degradation, flooding and erosion, caused by rainfall make careful management and planning of water resources and landscapes a high priority action.


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The Rwanda Water Resources Board (RWB) has a major mandate with three priority actions: control and reduce soil erosion, flood management and control, and increase annual water availability per capita from 700m³ to 1000m³ by 2024. Fulfilling these mandates requires proactive planning at the corporate level and collaborative planning that includes local communities and key stakeholders.

Catchment management planning is essential for integrated water resources management (IWRM) and related land and natural resources management.

The main focus of catchment planning can be summarized in four key elements:

• Catchment restoration: identifying practical measures that need to be undertaken to restore the catchment;
• Water allocation: ensuring that demand and permissible use are balanced and met;
• Water governance: institutional setup, policy and legislative measures to implement the proposed measures;
• Knowledge management: data, practical and intellectual capacity acquisition, management and preservation for effective management.

In 2018, detailed management plans for two level 1 catchments (Upper Nyabarongo and Muvumba) and two level 2 catchments (Nyabugogo and Sebeya) were developed through Water for Growth Programme under Former RWFA, current Rwanda Water Resources Board, to be implemented by Sebeya Landscape Restoration Project supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Rwanda. Catchment management plans for Nyabarongo Lower and Akagera Upper were developed in collaboration with Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA).

Additionally, the catchment plan development for Mukungwa, Akagera Lower, Akanyaru and Kivu catchments has been initiated through the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Rwanda.

Figure I: Rwanda level-one catchments

After the first batch of Catchment Management Plans (CMPs) produced in collaboration with Water for Growth for Rwanda (W4GR), technical assistance to the Integrated Water Resources Management Programme (NMUV, NNYU, CKIV1, NNYU2), and the second batch of CMPs developed in collaboration with REMA and the University of Rwanda (NAKU, NNYU2). The consortium led by IUCN under Embedding Integrated Water Resources Management in Rwanda Project (EWMR) had initiated a series of CMPs with different collaborators including RWB staff themselves and the internal team from the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). This exercise, also partly a capacity building exercise, has produced one almost completed CKIV CMP (only remaining the part from CKIV1) and 3 others CMP that have not yet gone through a comprehensive Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), nor completed the Programme of Measures (NMUK, NAKL, NAKN).
A preliminary review had identified that beside the SEA, a monitoring system, and implementation arrangement and Transboundary issue needed to be included in the current draft while also revisiting to meet the standard of previous CMPs especially the model ones: CMP NNYU, NMUV.

It is against the above review of existing draft CMPs that IUCN in collaboration with RWB has initiated the call for a consultancy service for harmonization of the CMPs to meet legal framework and national standards.

2. Objectives

The overall objectives of the consultancy is to harmonize the existing draft Catchment Management Plans developed by the Embedding Integrated Water Resources Management in Rwanda Project (EWMR) to meet the legal framework and national standard Catchment Management Plan requirements. This will be achieved through the following specific objectives:

1. Conduct and integrate a Strategic Environmental assessment to the catchment management plan of NMUK, NAKL, and NAKN;
2. Assess transboundary consideration that need to be added for NAKL, and NAKN;
3. Review the Proposed Programme of Measures to meet the standard of model CMP and CMP development guidelines for NMUK, NAKL, and NAKN;
4. Design, using previous stakeholders’ consultation and recommendations, the implementation arrangements especially tackling the frameworks that can be used from catchment level 1 to micro-catchment used by communities and implementation;
5. Design using previous stakeholders’ consultation a monitoring system for the implementation.
6. Scope of the assignment

The assignment will be executed in line with the following tasks:

Task1. Review and fill the gaps in the current assessment of the catchment management draft plan of NMUK, NAKL, and NAKN

This activity will consist of a review of any gaps in the drafting to date of the catchment plans, i.e. the catchment management drafting of NMUK, NAKL, and NAKN, and identify the work needed for completing the assignment. The consultant will specifically see the current status vis-a-vis of guidelines of the following elements:

• The Assessment transboundary consideration that needs to be added for NAKL, and NAKN;
• Strategic Environmental Assessments for the catchment management plan of NMUK, NAKL, and NAKN;
• Review of the Proposed Programme of Measures to meet the standard of model CMP and CMP development guidelines for NMUK, NAKL, and NAKN;
• Review the gaps in the current assessment the catchment management draft plans of NMUK, NAKL, and NAKN and Plan for completing the assignment;
• Monitoring and evaluation system for the CMPs of NMUK, NAKL, and NAKN.

Task 2. Assess transboundary considerations that need to be added for NAKL, and NAKN

The management of transboundary water bodies is challenging given frequent divergences in policy, implementation and conservation priorities of riparian countries. The consultant will review the assumptions used for the allocation of transboundary water bodies, the impact of a differential catchment management on the quantity and quality of shared water bodies, and the differences in the management of other wetlands.

Task 3. Conduct and integrate a Strategic Environmental Assessment in the CMPs of NMUK, NAKL, and NAKN

In Rwanda, the development of catchment plans is integrated with the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) process. The internationally most accepted OECD-DAC (2006) SEA definition reads as follows: ‘Analytical and participatory approaches to strategic decision-making that aim to integrate environmental considerations into policies, plans and programmes and evaluate the inter linkages with economic and social considerations.’ Rwanda Environmental Management Agency (REMA) defines SEA as a ‘systematic, ongoing process for evaluating at the earliest stage, the environmental quality and consequences of alternative visions and development intentions incorporated in policy, planning or programme initiatives, to ensure full integration of relevant biophysical, economic, social and political considerations’ (General Guidelines and Procedures for Strategic Environmental Assessment, REMA, 2011).

The consultant will extract in the previously conducted stages the environmental risks and opportunities for environmental restoration for the key interventions of logical frameworks and programme of measures:

1. Screening phase
2. Scoping phase
3. Transect walk
4. Biophysical analysis
5. Socio-economic analysis
6. Consultation meeting on DPSIR
7. Final validation workshop

The consultant will also look at Environmental and Social Framework (ESMF) of projects of the same nature conducted by IUCN, RWB, REMA, FONERWA and other partners consulted. Based on ESMF the consultant will suggest elements of the CMP that may pose serious issues and can reconsider the additional safeguard activities and related monitoring.  
The SEA report per each catchment will follow previous CMPs validated.

Task 4. Review the Proposed Programme of Measures to meet the standard of model CMP and CMP development guidelines for NMUK, NAKL, and NAKN

This activity will consist of upgrading existing draft project ideas and summarized concept notes for the 3 programme of measures for each CMP and increasing their geo-infographics, results frameworks, estimated investment and draft description to reach the standard of CMPs already published by RWB.

Task 5. Design the implementation arrangement for the CMPs of NMUK, NAKL, and      NAKN

The consultant will review and update elements in the exiting drafts referring to plan development section and consult general guidelines of implementation arrangement such the IWRM programme review to propose a standalone section detailing how the CMPs will be implemented using the governance structure of catchment level 1 (catchment committees), Year 61 Official Gazette n° Special of 11/02/2022, up to micro-catchment and village land use and action plan. The implementation arrangement section will follow the structure of previous CMPs validated.

Task 6. Design a Monitoring and Evaluation framework for the CMPs of NMUK, NAKL, and NAKN

The consultant will prepare for each three CMP, a Monitoring and Evaluation system containing provisions on how information will be collected, analyzed, and interpreted to guide an effective CMP implementation. The section will also suggest the periodicity of Evaluation activity based on best practices in Nile or Congo basin, and existing CMP and propose the methodology that can be considered for each of the timeframe.

4. Profile of the consultant

The Consultant shall be a holder of at least a Master’s degree in environmental sciences or water resources management or in water resources planning, with minimum 10 years of general experience in watershed assessment and having conducted at least three assignments related to strategic environmental assessment, environmental impact assessment, with at least two assignments related to water resources assessment or watershed management, or to data scarce areas. Having experience working in endorheic catchments in mountainous regions will be an added value.

5. Expected Deliverables

Note that the above should be delivered within 3 calendar months max, but this not necessary implies full time work on a daily basis, i.e. the number of working days should be less 90 days. Cost-efficiency is encouraged.

6. Reporting Requirements

See section 5 “expected deliverables” for the reporting requirements.

7. Project Management

The Consultant will be contracted by, and report to IUCN Rwanda. In addition, the consultant will report to Rwanda Water Resources Board, the lead agency for Water Resources Management.

8. Location and duration

Though some tasks under this study may be carried out remotely, most of the consultation will be carried out in Rwanda. In this context, the consultant will have to work within the country to undertake field visits/work, meeting with partners and workshop facilitation. The consultancy will cover a maximum period of 3 calendar months.

9. Payment Schedule

The payment modalities will be negotiated between IUCN and successful consultant during the preparation of consultant contract.

10. Proposals

Prospective Consultants should submit the following:

1. Technical Proposal:that indicate understanding of the assignment, evidence of having undertaken similar assignments, qualifications, clear methodologies for each component outlined in the ToR and detailed work plan.
2. Financial Proposal: The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount (tax included), in Rwandan Franc (RWF) Or US dollarincluding consultancy fees and all associated costs i.e. travel cost, meal, accommodation, tax, etc. Please note that the cost of preparing a proposal and of negotiating a contract, including any related travel, is not reimbursable as a direct cost of the assignment.
3. Other: Updated CV(s) showcasing relevant experience and training for the consultant(s); and proof of previous relevant assignments related to strategic environmental assessment, environmental impact assessment, water resources assessment or watershed management.
4. Proposals evaluation

The submitted Proposals will be evaluated against the following criteria:

12. Proposal submission
13. Technical and Financial offers should be sent to rwanda@iucn.org, copying Ikirezi@iucn.organd Albert.Schenk@iucn.org

• Submissions should indicate “Names & address of Consultant” “Harmonization of Catchment Management Plans for NMUK, NAKL and NAKN” in the subject line.
• Deadline for submissions is 10^th February 2023 17:00 CAT. Submission received after the due date, or submissions that do not conform to the requirements specified in these Terms of Reference will be automatically disqualified.