Hydrological Assessment of Two Rivers Consultantcy Opportunity in West Pokot, Kenya

Action Against Hunger USA 

TERMS OF REFERENCE: HYDROLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF IYON RIVER AND SUKUK RIVER IN WEST POKOT COUNTY - RETENDER

Programme: WASH

Project: Building Resilience Against Drought among communities in West Pokot and Isiolo (BREAD) Counties, Kenya

Area: West Pokot County, Kipkomo Sub-County

  1. Background

Kenya's Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) are facing a critical drought situation, with five consecutive failed rain seasons leading to a significant reduction in water levels in both seasonal and permanent water sources. This has resulted in high food insecurity and vulnerabilities, exacerbated by factors such as inflation-driven high food and farm input prices, deteriorating pasture due to an influx of livestock from neighboring counties, and outbreaks of livestock diseases in pastoral livelihood zones. The Long Rains Assessment (LRA) report in 2022 indicated alarmingly high percentages of food insecurity in West Pokot and Isiolo counties, inhabited by pastoral communities heavily reliant on livestock. As the drought worsens, pastoralists are migrating in search of pasture, leading to potential resource-based conflicts. Livestock health conditions are poor, causing high mortality rates, and milk production remains low. Agricultural areas have also been impacted by continuous crop failures due to the lack of rainfall and inadequate soil moisture, aggravated by crop diseases and pests. The LRA projected a significant number of people likely to face food insecurity in both counties by December 2022. Household nutrition practices have been severely affected, with a growing acute malnutrition problem among children below two years old and women in the affected regions.

Geographical information

Location Distance from Kapenguria GPS Coordinates

Iyon River (Kokwoplam) 25 Km 1.366818N, 35.211457E

Sukuk River (Snukur) 91 Km 1.304345N, 35.570719E

Introduction:

The purpose of this document is to outline the Terms of Reference (TOR) for conducting a hydrological assessment of Iyon River in Kipkomo Sub-County (Retender). ACF intends to construct four collection chambers along river Iyon and one intake at Sukuk River for the purpose of abstracting water to support mother-to-mother support groups with water for domestic use. The hydrological assessment aims to quantify the flow or volume of water in Iyon River and Sukuk River and assess its capacity to sustain the projects being undertaken.

The assessment report should satisfy the following conditions:

  1. Purpose:
  2. Clearly define the purpose of the hydrological assessment, including the specific objectives that need to be achieved.
  3. Scope: Describe the boundaries and extent of the study area, including any specific hydrological elements that should be considered.
  4. Methodology
  5. Data Collection: Specify the required data sources, including hydrological data, climate data, topographic data, and any other relevant information. Provide guidance on the preferred data collection methods (e.g., field measurements, remote sensing, existing databases, etc.).
  6. Analysis Techniques: Outline the analytical methods and techniques that will be utilized for the hydrological assessment, such as rainfall-runoff modeling, flood frequency analysis, streamflow analysis, water balance calculations, etc.
  7. Quality Assurance: Emphasize the importance of quality control and quality assurance measures to ensure accurate and reliable results.
  8. Assessment Components
  9. Rainfall Analysis: Describe the requirements for analyzing historical rainfall data, including the selection of appropriate statistical methods for rainfall characterization, temporal and spatial distribution analysis, and identification of extreme rainfall events.
  10. Runoff Analysis: Specify the procedures for estimating surface runoff, baseflow, and streamflow characteristics, considering both natural and modified hydrological conditions. Include guidance on hydrograph analysis, flow duration curves, and low-flow analysis.
  11. Water Resources Evaluation: Outline the parameters to be evaluated, such as water availability, water yield, groundwater recharge, and water quality. Identify any specific assessment methods or models that should be employed.
  12. Climate Change Considerations: Highlight the need to assess the potential impacts of climate change on the hydrological regime, including future projections of rainfall patterns, temperature, and extreme events. Recommend suitable climate change scenarios or models for integration into the assessment.
  13. Reporting
  14. Deliverables: Develop a comprehensive hydrological assessment report and data sets.
  15. Contact Information

Provide contact details of the person or department responsible for managing the hydrological assessment consultancy process, including name, position, organization, address, email, and telephone number.

Expertise and Qualifications

The assessment must conducted by a hydrologist with a valid license and registered by the Hydrologists Registration Board.

Timeline

The consultancy is expected to start working on the assessment on 25th September 2023 for a duration of at least 3 working days.

Budget

Hydrological assessment phase Specific Activity Unit cost Totals cost

Field work Consultations Lump sum

Monitoring studies

Write ups Data analysis Lump sum

Impact assessment

Submission Submission of report to WRA (Two hard copies and an electronic copy) Lump sum

Hydrological assessment presentation

SUB - TOTAL

VAT @ 16%

TOTAL AMOUNT

Hydrological Assessment Report deliverables

The report will contain an introduction explaining the need for, and context of the project. The report should, at a minimum, cover the following basic aspects:

  1. Executive Summary
  2. Waterbody delineation & classification
  3. Description of study area
  4. Results
  5. Impact assessment
  6. Assessment of hydrological impacts (risk assessment)
  7. List of References and appendices including:

i) Reference documents

ii) Photographs/ maps/ site plans

iii) TOR

iv) Notes from Public Consultation

v) Glossary of Technical Terms used

N/B Two hard copies and an electronic copy of the study report will submitted to the Water Resources Authority for Licensing.

Required documentation.

The consultants are required to provide the following (Mandatory) documents.

  • Must submit a copy of updated Valid Tax Compliance Certificate issued by the Kenya Revenue Authority (Will be verified on the KRA TCC Checker)
  • Must submit copy of KRA pin/VAT Certificate.
  • Must submit a copy of registration certificate and up to date practising license as a Hydrologist.
  • Must submit the company profile indicating capacity to undertake the proposed hydrological assessment.
  • Proof of recent similar Hydrological assessments undertaken within the past three years with corresponding issued and approved WRA certificates.
  • The filled in and stamped financial proposal as per the shared bill of quantities above.
  • Up to date CVs of the technical personnel to undertake the proposed assessment
  • Proposed activity timelines to perform the assignment.
  • Availability to perform the assignment at the earliest possible time.

How to apply

Submission Instructions

Qualified candidates/firms to submit their valid documents as stated above submitted as one PDF document stamped with the recent company’s logo/letter head and current postal address on each submitted page to be received on or before Tuesday, 19th September 2023 at 5pm to the following email address: tenders@ke-actionagainsthunger.org

Please quote Hydrological Assessment of two rivers in West Pokot County - Retender as the email subject line