Republic of the Marshall Islands Urban Resilience Project

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(INDIVIDUAL CONSULTING SERVICES)

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Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI)

RMI Urban Resilience Project (RMIURP)

Grant No.: D996-MH 

Assignment Title: Urban Planning & Design Specialist

Reference No.: MH-DIDA-283912-CS-INDV

The Government of the Republic of Marshall Islands has applied for financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the RMI Urban Resilience Project and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The consulting services (“the Services”) will provide support to the RMI Urban Resilience Project (RMIURP). Under the direction of the RMIURP Project Manager, the Consultant will lead the implementation of all technical activities related to urban design, including: (a) support implementation of RMIURP activities (b) lead and implement technical studies and assessments relating to urban planning and design under Component 1 (risk-informed adaptation planning) (c) support and advise on the implementation of related strategic urban development activities under Component 2 (coastal resilience investments) and Component 3 (resilient public facilities); and (d) contribute to stakeholder engagement sessions.

This consulting assignment is a full-time position to be located in Majuro, RMI and is expected to start by January 2023. The duration will be for 24 months with a possibility of extension based on performance.

The detailed scope of services is indicated in the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment, herewith attached.

The Division of International Development Assistance (DIDA) of the Ministry of Finance now invites eligible individuals (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services.

Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services (attach curriculum vitae with description of experience in similar assignments, similar conditions, etc. including a Cover Letter of no more than four (4) pages addressing individually the mandatory and desirable experience and qualification requirements below). Firms’ staff may express interest through the employing firm for the assignment and, under such situation, only the experience and qualifications of individuals shall be considered in the selection process. The criteria for selecting the Consultant are: 

Mandatory:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture, Urban Design/Planning, Regional Planning, Engineering, Planning, Resource Management, or similar; 
• At least five (5) years of relevant experience in risk-informed urban design or urban planning;
• Developing country work experience;
• Strong understanding of planning in a developing country context.

Desirable:

• Advanced university degree (at least Master’s Degree) in urban planning and landscaping/design, land use planning, architecture, engineering, urban management, or a related discipline;
• Prior experience working in the Pacific islands or on Small Island Developing States (Marshall Islands experience highly regarded);
• Demonstrated experience and skills in developing urban planning and development policies, such as for land use, housing, climate change and urban resilience issue; and
• Experience working within an international organization, multilateral bank, or any other donor-financed projects, related to urban, infrastructure, community development and/or climate change adaptation and resilience.
• Membership and registration with related and recognized Professional Association;
• Strong understanding of disaster risk management and/or climate change adaptation.

The attention of interested Consultants (including firms) is drawn to paragraph 3.14, 3.16 and 3.17 of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers, dated July 2016, revised November 2017 and August 2018 (“the Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours; 0900 to 1700 hours local time.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by e-mail) by November 21, 2022

Jerry Nathan

Program Manager

Central Implementation Unit

jerrynathan09@gmail.com  copy to: filipesefeti@gmail.com and rillorolito@gmail.com

The Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (GoRMI)

Ministry of Works, Infrastructure and Utilities (MWIU) 

RMI Urban Resilience Project (RMIURP) - P177124

PROCUREMENT ACTIVITY: MH-DIDA-283912-CS-INDV

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Position:                                 Urban Planning & Design Specialist (Individual Consultant)

Location:                               Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands

Hiring agency:                       Ministry of Ministry of Works, Infrastructure and Utilities (MWIU), Government of RMI

Duration:                               24 months; may be extended based upon needs and performance of the Consultant  

Expected start date:              January 2023

1. Background

The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) is one of the world’s smallest, most isolated, and vulnerable nations. The nation is a small-island, large-ocean state, comprised of 29 coral atolls and 5 single islands, with a total land area of only 182 km2, spread across over 2 million km2 of ocean. There are 24 inhabited atolls and islands, which are mostly remote and lie merely 2 m above sea level on average. Its population is estimated at approximately 60,000 with over 70 percent living in the rapidly urbanizing areas of Majuro (Majuro atoll) and Ebeye (Kwajalein atoll), which are among the most densely populated urban centers globally. These atolls and islands form two groups: the Ratak Chain and the Ralik Chain.

Uncontrolled urbanization is occurring across the Pacific region and the GoRMI needs targeted strategies and investment planning tools to address these risks. RMI’s primary urban centers offer increased prosperity through economic, health and education opportunities, yet rapid uncontrolled development increases the risk from natural hazards to people, assets, and infrastructure. Rapid urbanization, if not planned strategically and regulated, creates additional risks and growing exposure to natural hazards through the increased concentration of people and assets. The vulnerability of building assets in these urban areas, including approximately 5,800 buildings in Majuro and 1,800 buildings in Kwajalein atoll, is exacerbated by increasing densification of built-up areas and limited building code compliance and regulation. In addition, the lack of formal development controls and spatial plans lead to uncontrolled development, with new developments often exposed to coastal and other natural hazards.

The issues of rapid urbanization and poor-quality housing stock in RMI will be further exacerbated by the long-term effects of climate change and natural disasters.  For example: (i) sea level rise will cause property damage, displace urban residents, and damage transport networks in low-lying Marshallese settlements; (ii) increasing frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones will further disrupt city services and economic activity, as well as cause loss of life and damages to assets; (iii) heavier precipitation events will cause serious flood in urban areas, often already subject to poor urban drainage and unregulated over-development; (iv) increasing frequency of freshwater shortages during the dry season that limit access to safe freshwater resources year-round; and (v) increasing occurrence of extreme heat events that may become intensified by the overuse of impermeable surfaces in urban areas, increasing urban air temperatures

Integrated land planning on a national and local level has been identified as critical to managing the issues related to urbanization and climate change. This will require strong participatory processes with relevant stakeholders (e.g., landowners, public authorities, private sector and local communities) to look at how to better manage current land use as well as building the capacity for sustainable land management in light of climate change adaptation.

The Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (GoRMI), through the Ministry of Works, Infrastructure and Utilities (MWIU), is implementing the RMI Urban Resilience Project (RMIURP), a World Bank-funded project aimed at strengthening the resilience of select urban areas in the Republic of the Marshall Islands to the impacts of natural hazards and climate change. The project includes four components[1] as set out below:

• Component 1 - Risk-informed adaptation planning: This component will strengthen the Government’s institutional and technical capacity on risk-informed adaptation planning through enhanced spatial planning, capacity building support for implementation and compliance of the building code, and development control policies or guidance that consider disaster and climate risks
• Component 2 - Coastal resilience investments: This component will finance targeted coastal resilience measures which will protect select government infrastructure and/or prioritized assets in Majuro.
• Component 3 - Resilient public facilities: This Component will finance investments that are demonstrative of resilient, inclusive, and sustainable standards that may be achieved in future public facilities in RMI.
• Component 4 - Project management and implementation support: This component will support day-to-day coordination, management, and implementation of the project, while building institutional capacity to sustain investments beyond the project’s closure such as through technical training.

1. Implementation Arrangements

The Implementing Agency (IA) for the project is the MWIU. Other key stakeholders include the Ministry of Finance (MoF), the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) and the Office of the Chief Secretary (OCS).

A PIU will be established within MWIU to support the ministry to manage and implement key project-related tasks including project planning, coordination, technical, financial management, procurement and contract management, environmental and social risk management, and monitoring and reporting throughout the project implementation period. The CIU established under the Ministry of Finance will support MWIU. The CIU support will focus on provision of services related to the preparation of project documents and management of fiduciary functions (procurement and financial management) and environmental and social risk management.

The PIU is entrusted with the overall coordination functions for the RMIURP. The PIU will be headed by the Project Manager and will initially include an Engineer, Urban Planning Specialist (this position), Contracts Manager, Implementation Support Specialist, and Project Officer. Further positions will be included as the project progresses based on the actual needs.

1. Purpose of the Assignment

The purpose of the consultancy is to provide technical support to the RMIURP. The Consultant will support the GoRMI including with the PIU Project Manager and other RMIURP personnel in the planning, implementation, management, monitoring and review of RMIURP with a focus on technical aspects of urban planning and management. The Consultant will work closely with all stakeholders, including the MWIU, the other members of the RMIURP Project Team, the Central Implementation Unit, and the World Bank Task Team.

1. Objectives of the Assignment

The main objectives of this assignment are for the Consultant to provide project support to the RMIURP.  Under the Direction of the RMIURP Project Manager, the Consultant will lead the implementation of all technical activities related to urban design, including: (a) support implementation of RMIURP activities (b) lead and implement technical studies and assessments relating to urban planning and design under Component 1 (risk-informed adaptation planning) (c) support and advise on the implementation of related strategic urban development activities under Component 2 (coastal resilience investments) and Component 3 (resilient public facilities); and (d) contribute to stakeholder engagement sessions. The Consultant shall refer to the Project Appraisal Document for RMIURP, including Annex 2 (Detailed Component Description) for further technical detail.

Under the guidance of the Project Manager, specific responsibilities will include (but not limited to):

Technical

1. Lead the implementation of technical activities under Component 1 Risk-informed Adaptation Planning, including:

• Conduct a risk-informed legislative and regulatory review of adaptation and urban planning policy and legislation in RMI and analyze the good practices, challenges, gaps, and opportunities as they pertain to climate and disaster risk. This will include a detailed review of the Planning and Zoning Act 1987 to propose technical recommendations to update the act, incorporating recommendations from the International Code Council (ICC) on the building code aspects as relevant;[2]
• Together with the Project Engineer, provide technical inputs and oversight to preliminary technical studies and risk assessments on current and future coastal hazards and associated risk in priority urban areas outside of Majuro, considering the effects on people, housing and critical infrastructure (e.g., airports and ports), and recommend a prioritization of urban areas for future coastal vulnerability assessments;
• Together with the Project Engineer, conduct a climate and hazard informed urban design study and mapping of public spaces in Majuro to inform prioritization of public facility investments in RMI, building on a preliminary rapid city scan and urban design study (supported by the World Bank);
• Together with the Project Engineer, develop practical guidance and awareness-raising materials for the new building code, including for different target audiences (e.g., government stakeholders, landowners, development partners, communities, private sector);
• Develop climate-informed guidelines for new development, which could include development control policies/guidelines, building standards, and urban design standards (aligning with the revised building code and other legislative/policy frameworks relevant to climate adaptation);
• Develop guidance for recommended reforms to support longer term climate and disaster resilience in urban planning, and following the prioritization of agreed legislative/regulatory reforms from GoRMI, develop technical inputs to agreed priority reforms; and
• Develop a capacity building gap assessment of climate-informed urban planning, zoning, policy-making, and compliance knowledge and awareness, and undertake a stakeholder assessment.

1. Review detailed designs, modelling and drawings, as well as environmental and social management studies to help provide technical advice as needed to integrate urban design inputs, including climate and disaster resilience considerations;
2. Provide technical inputs as needed to support GoRMI with the identification of priority coastal civil works investments (for example: seawalls, dikes or embankments, minor reclamation, berms, revetments, offshore breakwater, nature-based solutions etc.), and ensure these investments meet the project’s agreed design standards to ensure long-term sustainability; and
3. Provide technical inputs as needed to support GoRMI to identify and select public facilities and one multi-functional resilient government building in Majuro that will meet the project’s design standards in support of climate change adaptation and improved urban amenity. The consultant will be required to also provide technical support and implementation supervision during land preparation and construction activities, and support the development of building maintenance plans and strategies.

General

1. Assist the Project Manager in project implementation, monitoring, reporting, of RMIURP activities and the design, implementation, and maintenance of investments;
2. Develop a structured capacity building and training program for government stakeholders based on the above technical activities, and implement a minimum of three initiatives annually;
3. Support and contribute technical advice when required to stakeholder engagement activities with all stakeholders including government, non-government, community, private sector and development partners, as well as other project consultants, including outreach and awareness-raising activities to support implementation of the above technical activities;
4. Participate in field visits and site investigations;
5. Attend meetings (internal and external) relevant to RMIURP; and
6. Other relevant technical duties applicable to the Urban Planning Specialist as delegated by the Project Manager.

1. Reporting Obligations

The Urban Planning Specialist will report to the RMIURP Project Manager. The deliverables of the Consultant will include but not be limited to:

• Progress reports on specific activities that require the Urban Planning Specialist’s inputs as required;
• Provide inputs to Government’s six-monthly reports for the RMIURP Project for submission to the World Bank Task Team;
• Monthly Progress reports, and completion reports on project activities; and
• Provide input to key project documents.

1. Duration of Assignment

The Urban Planning Specialist will initially be recruited for 24 months, with a possible extension subject to performance appraisal.  It is anticipated that the Urban Planning Specialist will commence by January 2023 on a full-time basis.  A time-based contract will be signed in which both parties will agree on a monthly rate.

The position would be subject to a probationary period of three months, with a performance review by the Implementing Agency to determine whether the contract would be renewed.

The position is based in Majuro but may require travel to the outer islands for site visits to project activities.

1. Performance of the Consultant

During the term of engagement, the Consultant shall work during office hours (8.30 am to 4.30 pm Monday to Friday) and shall diligently and effectively perform required duties to highest acceptable standard.  Extra hours may need to work during site visits and any urgent situations.

MWIU reserves the right to evaluate the Consultant’s performance and to maintain a record of the performance evaluation to refer to if the Consultant is considered for re-engagement.

The consultant will be required to keep detailed time sheets showing inputs and deliverables resulting from each input. In evaluating the consultant’s invoices for payment, the PIU will pay particular attention to whether time claimed for each input matches the level and quality of deliverable.

1. Data, services, and facilities to be provided to the consultant

MWIU will provide to the Urban Planning Specialist, the World Bank Mission Reports, Project Procurement Strategy for Development (PPSD) document, World Bank Guidelines and all the existing reports and materials related to the RMIURP.  The Government will provide the office space, including office furniture, access to the IT equipment, stationery, internet, communications, and related utilities for the Consultant.

The Consultant is fully responsible for their cost of local transportation (e.g., to/from the office). If required to travel to outer islands or other countries, this would be funded by the project.

1. Qualification, Experience and Skill Requirements

The Consultant will be expected to possess the following qualifications, experience, and skills:

Mandatory:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture, Urban Design/Planning, Regional Planning, Engineering, Planning, Resource Management, or similar; 
• At least five (5) years of relevant experience in risk-informed urban design or urban planning;
• Developing country work experience;
• Strong understanding of planning in a developing country context.

Desirable:

• Advanced university degree (at least Master’s Degree) in urban planning and landscaping/design, land use planning, architecture, engineering, urban management, or a related discipline;
• Prior experience working in the Pacific islands or on Small Island Developing States (Marshall Islands experience highly regarded);
• Demonstrated experience and skills in developing urban planning and development policies, such as for land use, housing, climate change and urban resilience issue; and
• Experience working within an international organization, multilateral bank, or any other donor-financed projects, related to urban, infrastructure, community development and/or climate change adaptation and resilience.
• Membership and registration with related and recognized Professional Association;
• Strong understanding of disaster risk management and/or climate change adaptation.

[1] World Bank. (2022). Marshall Islands – RMI Urban Resilience Project. Available at: https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-reports/documentdetail/285091651270771293/marshall-islands-rmi-urban-resilience-project

[2] Recommendations may consider institutional arrangements and responsibilities for land-use/urban planning and zoning regulation vs. building control/permitting (including central vs. local government administration); technical, human and financial resources to implement the act; potential phasing of implementation (e.g., Majuro and Kwajalein as priority local governments); additional regulations needed to implement the Act such as for zoning regulations.