Terms of Reference (TOR) for Study on Water Conflict Resolution Model Watershed Project

Rural Women Development and Unity Centre (RUWDUC)

Terms of Reference (TOR) 

Study on Water Conflict Resolution Model

Watershed Project

About RUWDUC   

Rural Women’s Development and Unity Centre (RUWDUC) believes in promoting the well-being of humanity and ensuring equality amongst all for an equal and just society. RUWDUC, established in April 1995, advocates for equality, empowerment, and the elimination of discrimination, principles that directly impact water governance. With a focus on marginalized communities, RUWDUC strives to ensure equal access to water resources and inclusive decision-making processes. By giving voice to the voiceless, particularly women, children, and the LGBTQI community, the organization contributes to more equitable and community-driven water management. RUWDUC's commitment to addressing discriminatory norms aligns with the goal of establishing just water distribution. Through community engagement and empowerment, RUWDUC aims to foster positive change in water governance, emphasizing the importance of understanding and meeting the implicit needs of the communities it serves.

Background

Aligning with its vision and mission, RUWDUC is implementing the Pilot on watershed management and development Plan: Generating a replicable watershed management model from August 2023 to March 2024 aiming for the Rangoon watershed with the technical support of Oxfam in Nepal and in the guidance of Water Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS), Government of Nepal. This project aims to contribute to sustainable watershed management and governance, address water insecurity/local water conflicts, through evidence-based interventions. With a focus on the Rangoon Watershed, the initiative seeks to enhance governance structures, develop a comprehensive watershed management plan, and create a conflict resolution model.

The Rangoon Watershed which encompasses Aalital Rural Municipality, Joryal Rural Municipality, and Parshuram Rural Municipality, faces various water conflicts. These include disputes over water allocation among users, conflicts between upstream and downstream areas, disputes arising from land use changes affecting water availability, and conflicts related to infrastructure development impacting the water ecosystem.

Within the Rangoon Watershed, Aalital Lake situated in Ward No. 3, stands out for its natural beauty and biodiversity, offering significant tourism potential. The lake is 400 meters in length, 200 meters in width, and reaches a depth of 22 meters. Apart from its scenic allure, Aalital holds religious importance, believed to be the location of Vyas, contributing to its significance in various texts. The lake has become a tourism destination, but it holds conflicting interests among diverse stakeholders related.

The Lake is primarily a groundwater lake fed by over 12 water resources. The “Raxuan” ward no.3 and, Daddlne, and Dola communities ward no.8 of Aalital RM, along with Durga Secondary School in Dola, rely on these water resources for drinking and agricultural irrigation (Source:  Chairperson of Aalital Forest User Committee; Mr. Harilal Thapa Magar) .Disputes related to water  particularly arise during the dry season due to conflicts over water usage, impacting the lake's water collection. 

Over time, there has been a significant decrease in the water level of Aalital Lake. During the dry season, when local water resources are depleted, the communities of Raxuan and Dadalne heavily rely on the limited water remaining in Aalital Lake for irrigation, impacting their agricultural productivity and livelihoods which of course affects the water level which is the major concern of Aalital RM and Aalital Toursim Board. 

Aalital Rural Municipality developed and implemented “Aalital Master Plan” to develop the lake as the tourism attraction centre of the RM, potentially overlooking environmental concerns. Similarly, Forest User Committee, as the forest surrounding the lake is a community forest area, are focused on maintaining environmental cleanliness and saving the forest in order to save up the water resources for communities around. However, the field observations reflected there is lack of proper waste management surrounding the lake which needed improvement. Another stakeholder responsible is the Aalital Toruism Board which is mainly responsible under the “Five Years Periodic Plan of Aalital RM (2076 to 2081)” strategy 4: Promoting Tourism in Aalital Rural Municipality.  The Board promotes the lake for its natural beauty and religious significance. A yearly event, the Poush Masanta mela, used to take place, and various structures, including a view tower, were funded by the provincial government budget. Mr. Harilal, Chairman of Forest User Committee advocated for a budget allocation of Rs. 20 to 25 lakhs for the “Canal Irrigation" program in the provincial level, although it remains uncertain whether the budget will be disbursed.

Therefore, a thorough study would be required to identify the specific dynamics, stakeholders involved, and the root causes of these conflicts, paving the way for the development of a conflict resolution model tailored to the Rangoon Watershed's unique challenges. So, under Activity A.4 of the watershed project, a study will be carried out with a consultancy with an aim to understand the complexities of water conflicts in the watershed and propose an effective resolution model for sustainable water resource management that can be generalized and adopted at National level as well.

Objective of Consultancy Service

The main objective of this consultancy service is to develop water conflict resolution model for watershed level that can be practiced both at Watershed level and at National Level.

Scope of work

1. Policy and Situation Analysis

• Analyze the policies of various relevant groups/committees and the master plan of the Rural Municipality pertaining to watershed management
• Conduct field visits to Rangoon Watershed for data collection and stakeholder interviews, analyzing existing conflicts and local practices. Identify key stakeholders and engage in consultations through workshops, interviews, and focus group discussions. Maintain evidence from these visits, meetings, FGDs, KIIs, community interactions etc.
• Analyse the root causes and dynamics of water conflicts in Rangoon Watershed.
• Analyse historical and current water usage patterns, considering cultural and environmental aspects of Rangoon watershed. 
• Assess the ecological impact of water conflicts on the watershed and propose mitigation measures.
• Review legal frameworks and institutional structures related to water resource management.

2. Review of existing and propose a new draft of Water Conflict Resolution Model: 

• Conduct an extensive literature review on global and regional water conflict resolution models, analyzing variations and commonalities across diverse models at both global and national levels.
• Review existing conflict resolution mechanisms and identify gaps. 
• Develop a Draft of comprehensive Water Conflict Resolution Model, including mechanisms for stakeholder involvement, dispute resolution, and sustainable water use practices for stakeholder review and feedback.
• Develop a Final Comprehensive Water Conflict Resolution Model tailored to the Rangoon Watershed context incorporating feedbacks from stakeholders at watershed level that can be practiced and adopted at National level too. 

3. Workshop at Watershed level

Engage stakeholders for input, feedback, and validation of the proposed model in Watershed level. This incorporates organizing a Workshop at watershed level after developing a draft of water conflict resolution model from the study conducted.  

4. Validation Workshop at Central 

A national-level workshop will be conducted to present the drafted water conflict resolution model, highlighting its practicality and usefulness. Additionally, the workshop will facilitate discussions on the potential adoption of the model at the national level. 

Expected deliverables by the Consultant.

The expected outcome of this assignment is development of water conflict resolution model in watershed level which can later be adopted at the National level as well.

Expected Outcome/Outputs

• Water Conflict Resolution Model is developed which will be advocated for adoption in National level as well. 

Required skills and Experience

• A relevant advanced degree in fields such as Water Resources Management, Environmental Science, Conflict Resolution, or a related discipline.
• Five years of experience working in the field of water resources management, conflict resolution or a related area
• Demonstrated expertise in water resource management and conflict resolution studies.
• In-depth knowledge of water governance, watershed management, and related policies
• Familiarity with conflict resolution models and strategies.
• Strong analytical and research skills to understand and address complex water-related issues
• Knowledge of relevant laws, regulations, and policies related to water management and conflict resolution.
• Proven experience in developing successful conflict resolution models. 
• Familiarity with the local context, culture, and environmental considerations of Rangoon Watershed. 
• Strong analytical, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.

Document Submission and Evaluation

Interested individual consultants or consulting firms are invited to participate in the submission of proposals. Technical and Financial proposal (individual or registered firms) in the following format:

Technical proposal 

• Introduction
• Objective
• Methodology
• CV of consultants
• Workplan and Timeline 
• Annexes

Financial proposal 

• Human resources cost
  • Field work 
  • Desk work
• Field expense
  • Travel 
  • Accommodation
  • Food 
• Workshop costs
  • Watershed level workshop
  • National level consultation meetings
• IEC materials, documentation, and printing

Following documents of company or individual should be sent along with the proposals:  

• Registration, VAT/PAN, tax clearance
• Profile indicating related experiences   
• Sample of report on similar research/study carried out in immediate past 

Address for proposal submission: ruwducvacancy@gmail.com

Deadline for proposal submission: 18th of January, 2024 within office hours

Evaluation of proposals will prioritize technical expertise and demonstrated experience. Following the evaluation, the selected consultant or firm will engage in a formal agreement with the organization by 22nd January, 2024. The consultancy is expected to be completed within March 5th ,2024 from the date of commencement.