Environmental Impact Assessment and Hydrological Survey for Moru Ese Irrigation Scheme, Turkana County

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

Adeso is an expanding and vibrant African based international development and humanitarian organization. At Adeso, we work with African communities who are yet to realize their full potential; working inside these communities to create environments in which Africans can thrive. Our belief that economic, social and environmental security is the bedrock of a healthy community drives the nature and intent of our programming. We work to prevent and overcome situations that adversely affect community well-being by: reinvigorating the economy, developing skills for life and work, providing humanitarian aid, and influencing policy.

For the past 20 years we have strengthened rural livelihoods through environmental awareness, training, technology transfer and innovative humanitarian projects in pursuit of a peaceful, self-reliant, and greener future. At present, Adeso has programs in Somalia, Kenya and South Sudan. Adeso is an exciting and dynamic organization experiencing managed rapid growth. It offers sound employment conditions with opportunities for personal growth and development.

PROJECT BACKGROUND

Resilience and Economic Growth in Arid Lands-Improving Resilience (REGAL-IR) is a 5-year program sponsored by USAID/Kenya and Feed the Future (Ftf) to reduce hunger and poverty, increase social stability and build strong foundations for economic growth amongst pastoralists and transitioning pastoralists in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs). The program is designed to empower communities to take charge of their development and to strengthen their capacity to select, design, implement and monitor activities toward increasing their social, economic, and environmental resilience to natural and human-induced shocks.

REGAL-IRis led by Adeso and is implemented by a consortium of partners. An intensive community engagement process – Participatory Learning, Planning and Action (PLPA) – guides program decisions and implementation in six thematic areas including diversifying livelihoods, improving value chain inclusiveness, natural resource management, conflict management and mitigation, disaster risk reduction, and improving nutrition.

This consultancy falls under strategic objective 1 – Livelihoods diversification and strengthening whose goal isto improve the capacity of individuals and community-based enterprises to become more competitive in business and non-pastoral activities, thereby diversifying traditional subsistence livelihoods and increasing collective resilience to environmental and other shocks. To achieve this objective REGAL-IR will develop appropriate irrigation infrastructure that will support market led crop production in identified sites across the 5 counties where REGAL-IR is implemented. Moru-ese irrigation scheme is located in Turkana County, Turkana central sub-county. The location has a high potential of increased crop production if available irrigation infrastructure is well designed.

RATIONALE FOR EIA AND HYDROLOGICAL SURVERS

The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) oversees all aspects of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in Kenya. The Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act No.8 of 1999, stipulates that an EIA study shall be conducted in accordance with the general EIA guidelines and administrative procedures issued by the Authority.

The Water Resource Management Authority (WRMA) established through a gazette notice No. 8140 of 14th November 2003 pursuant to the Water Act (2002) is the regulatory body of water use in Kenya. Some of the key functions of WRMA that influence current project activities include regulation of water resources in order to protect them from adverse impacts and developing principles, guidelines and procedures for allocation of water. WRMA allocates permits to stakeholders involved in extraction of water from rivers and other water bodies.

ADESO under REGAL IR project is supporting small farmers in Garissa County to increase their crop production through investment into construction of low cost irrigation system that includes; installation of pump sets, distribution boxes and canals. The organization has just completed topographical surveys and irrigation designs for four farms that are to be supported by the project in different locations.

In order to comply with the above national regulations, ADESO is seeking the services of qualified individuals to carry out Hydrological surveys and environmental assessments for the proposed farms. The proponent will confine this EIA study to the guidelines of part III of the Environmental (Impact Assessment and Audit) Regulations, 2003.

OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The objective of the assessment will be twofold:

1. The EIA study is to:

· Identify both negative and positive impacts of the irrigation infrastructure on people, their property and the environment and develop Environmental management plan together with farm owners.

· Verify compliance with the environmental regulations and industry standards.

· Assist the organization to follow up and seek license approval of the proposed project from NEMA.

1. Conduct a Hydrological survey and produce a report that farmers will use to apply and acquire water use permits from WRMA before irrigations are established.

ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION

Following initial information of the project on the basic elements that are in place, e.g. location, survey reports, irrigation designs and local settings, the proponent will undertake survey, process data and produce EIA and Hydrological reports for Moru ese irrigation scheme.

During the EIA study, the proponent will conduct a site survey that shall include the following activities:

• Taking accurate measurements of all relevant levels across sites.


• Reviewing all existing surroundings and previous farm infrastructure.


• Making detailed photographic record of all relevant features.


• Discussion with client on site potential and options for development (if required).


• Public participation and consultation

During Hydrological assessments, the proponent will be provided with farm survey and irrigation system designs report for each farm and he will be expected to:

• Carry out farm hydrological survey with aim of establishing water extraction units.


• Where appropriate identify existing farms within the same location.


• Advise on design modifications if necessary.


• Based on the area hydrology findings, consider what measures could be taken to reduce the water source.


• Provide appropriate recommendations for frequency of monitoring and measures that can be taken to reduce the stress on the river banks.


• The proponent will produce three copies of hydrological reports for issuance to WRMA, Adeso and Farmers. of report, with

DELIVERABLES AND REPORT OUTLINE

The proponent will prepare Hydrological survey and EIA Study report and an Environmental Management Plan outline for the scheme.

The EIA report should specifically cover:

• Detailed description of project location its geographical and ecologic characteristics.


• Description of the baseline environmental information and any other relevant information.


• Identification and concise description of the relevant Legislative and regulatory framework


• Description of technology, materials, procedures and processes used, in the implementation of the project.


• Description of the potentially affected environment including the likely products, by-products and waste generated by use of the project and how they will be treated or disposed.


• Describe if any, alternative technologies and processes available and reasons for preferring the chosen technology and processes.


• Development of a management plan proposing the measures for eliminating, minimizing or mitigating adverse negative impacts on the environment including the cost, timeframe and responsibility to implement the measures


• Development of monitoring plan

QUALIFICATION PROFILE

ADESO seeks to invite qualified individuals who meet the following requirements to submit their detailed proposal on how to undertake the assignment.

• Bachelor’s degree in water engineering, environmental engineering or in the related field


• The proponents must be registered by the relevant authorities i.e. WRMA and NEMA(Proof required)


• The Proponent must have more than 5 years of undertaking similar works preferably in the same county. (List of sites required)


• Possess necessary resources to undertake works such as equipment’s.


• Submit a technical proposal on how they are going to undertake the assignment.


• Submit a detailed financial proposal.

How to apply:

The selection committee will review all applications as they arrive. All applicants must meet the minimum requirements described above, and those unable to meet these requirements will not be considered.

Each application package should include the following:

· An application letter addressing the selection criteria including how the firm’s/group’s previous experience matches the consultancy objectives as well as the interest for the position. It should also indicate the candidate’s availability;

· A comprehensive technical and financial proposal for the consultancy assignment with methodology. All expenses should be included in the assignment cost; Adeso will not cater for any other expenses;

· An updated CV including relevant work experience and qualifications;

· A sample of recently written report for a similar assignment;

· Contact details of 3 references.

Applications not including all of the above information will not be reviewed. All applications should be sent to Adeso at consultancy@adesoafrica.org with the subject line, “Environmental Impact Assessment and Hydrological Survey for Moru Ese Irrigation Scheme” by 20^th August 2015.