SENIOR HYDRAULIC/IRRIGATION SPECIALIST
Location : Maputo, MOZAMBIQUE
Application Deadline : 13-May-14
Additional Category Crisis Prevention and Recovery
Type of Contract : Individual Contract
Post Level : National Consultant
Languages Required : English Portuguese
Starting Date : (date when the selected candidate is expected to start) 02-Jun-2014
Duration of Initial Contract : 3 Weeks
Expected Duration of Assignment : 3 Weeks
Background
The project aims to apply local community capacity and potential, using targeted technologies to pilot a solar powered irrigation system toward increasing agricultural productivity in the Millennium Village, Chibuto, Gaza Province, Mozambique. Chibuto is located next to the Limpopo River, 200 kilometers north of the capital Maputo. Most farmers are subsistence, with limited productivity due to erratic rainfall resulting in low agriculture production. It is expected that once the project is completed, the community will have all year-round water supply drawn from the river by solar powered pumps to irrigate an initial 53 hectares of land.
The project was completed in 2012 with the solar panels and pumps installed and tested. However, the system was found to operate below its maximum efficiency due to technical problems noted by technicians from the Directorate of Agriculture and also by an independent engineer. They also noted the difficulties of the beneficiaries in maintaining the system with the wells of 11m depth and the adduction pipe in the river buried at 10m deep. In the process to identify the best solutions to increase efficiency of the system, Chibuto was severely affected by the floods in January 2013, inducing severe erosion to the banks of the Limpopo River, and consequently endangering the pump station of the irrigation system to the point of eminent collapse.
On the basis of:
- The weather forecast 2013/14, published in September 2013 by SARCOF-16 (Southern African Regional Forum for Climate) at regional and national level by INAM, indicating normal to above normal rainfall in almost all the region from October 2013 to March 2014;
- The warning launched by National directorate of waters putting the Limpopo basin in red alert as of January 2014; and
- The difficulties in taking and completing the effective temporary measures against the corrosion before January 2014, it was jointly agreed by all stakeholders of the project thatthe equipment of solar pump station be removed and reinstalled when conditions are normalized at the same location or another location to be identified as appropriate and with less or no impact from erosion.
Duties and Responsibilities
Topographical Surveys and Preparation of Maps
To understand the general profile of the river bank system, catchment areas and flood prone area. Review of existing documentation.Prepare topographical maps on GIS platform at the appropriate scales and contours for the project area as follows:- Intake area (river reservoir and capacity data/curves versus elevation; e.g. horizontal scale 1:500 with 1m contour levels);
- Selected solar station site (river cross sections, etc.; e.g. horizontal scale 1:500 and 1m contour levels).
As far as possible, satellite remote sensing (SRS) shall be linked to the GIS models. The remote sensing based information shall be integrated appropriately in the on-site topographic surveys and investigations.
The Consultant shall submit all maps prepared and procured by him/her in hard and soft copies (3 copies of each).
All the scope of work, including calculations, shall be presented in the report on topography and maps.
Field River Survey and InvestigationConduct field survey following Coordinates and height value of survey point at both sides of the river banks. Datum height and coordinates for the survey shall be identified from the nearest existing survey control point, as follows:- River Plane (Table) Survey (Batimetri);
- Area for plane (table) survey is shown in the Appendix 1. Survey area includes section from survey point No.0 to No.8 in the Limpopo River (Section length in total: Approx. 1,600m), and area for water conveyance and irrigation facilities located in the left bank of the river.
Setting:
- Base points for detail survey shall be set by taking into account the topographic view in the survey area. Detailed survey shall be carried out by plane (table) survey. Scale for the detailed survey shall be adopted at 1:2,500 with 1.0m contour line.
River cross sections at typical sites
Every 200m intervals along the stretches of an average width: 200m river area.
Location of cross section points (survey points) is shown in Appendix 1. Distance for each cross section point will be set based on the river center line showing broken line on the survey plan map. Before starting the river cross section survey and longitudinal profile survey, the Consultant will be instructed on location of cross section points in the field.
An approximate interval of 200m shall be set up at the right and left bank of the river, prior to the cros section survey, in accordance with following:
- Handy/portable GPS and an automatic level shall be used;
- Position of cross section points shall be measured and obtained by handy/portable GPS;
- Height of cross section points for the river shall be obtained by direct double-run sprit leveling and formed closed loop from the survey point.
Cross section survey shall be carried out at every 200m cross section point in the direction perpendicular to the river center line in accordance with following:
- Surveying tape and automatic level shall be used;
- Range of cross section in either side of the river shall be covered with the outside of 50 meter from each top of bank.
Height and coordinates of cross section line shall be measured at:
- An interval of 2m (riparian area) and 5m (water area);
- Change of slope points;
- Other structure points and Water level.
River longitudinal profile survey (Length: Approx. 1,600 m)
Longitudinal profile survey shall be carried out along the river center line in accordance with following:
- Surveying tape and automatic level shall be used.
Height and coordinates of additional profile section line shall be measured at:
- An interval of 100meters survey points;
- Change of slope points;
- Other structure points and Water level.
Identification of the riverbed material:
By segment features of the river
Conduct field investigation and interviews to get the following information:
- The information/records on past floods. (Frequency, area, depth, duration of flooding);
- Conditions of the existing river facilities (colonial and wells);
- History of flood control activities in the basin.
Hydrological Data:
Collect the following hydrologic data of the river basin (Mozambique side):
Daily rainfall data of all gauging stations within and around the catchment area throughout the recording period from ARA-Sul and other related agencies.
Hydrographs of past typical floods on all synoptic rainfall gauging stations from ARA-Sul and other related agencies.
Data on the maximum water levels during peak floods at all water level gauging station from ARA –Sul and by interview for rainfall and runoff analysis. Discharge measurement records for all water level gauging stations. Height-Discharge (H-Q) relationship rating curve for all water level gauging stations (with location, cross-section and flow velocity during flooding time).
Water quality testing:
- Water quality is defined by analyzing it in terms of its: Chemical Content: Hardness (calcium + magnesium), Metals (iron, etc.), nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), chloride, sodium, organic compounds, etc.;
- Physical Content: Turbidity, colour, odour, etc.
Biological Content: Fecal coliform, total coliform, viruses, etc.:
- Water samples should be taken in the following manner: Pump water from the well for about three minutes. While the water is still flowing, immerse a nitrate test strip in the stream for one second and withdraw the strip and allow the colour to develop for 60 seconds. Compare the colour against the enclosed colour strip and record the result. Do the same with a pH strip;
- Collect a sample in a clean clear glass vial or bottle; and make visual observations concerning the turbidity. make statements about any odours observed in the water;
- With the sample in the clear glass, measure the TDS with a TDS pocket meter (if available). Record the number in ppm using the appropriate multiplier;
- Bacteria tests must be carefully performed to obtain meaningful results. The pipe from the pump should be briefly scorched with a match to ensure that any detected bacteria are from the water itself and not the pump surfaces;
- Then the water should flow for 2-3 minutes before a sample is obtained.
- Fill the sterile plastic sample bag, take care that the inner surface of the bag is not touched by anything (including hands).
Competencies
Functional competencies:
- Ability to effectively coordinate large, multidisciplinary team of experts and consultants;
- A good working knowledge of international best practices in solar panels energy design and irrigation systems management is desirable;
- Analytical skills and the ability to work in a team;
- Familiarity with UNDP and UN system is an advantage;
- Familiarity with national norms and regulations is mandatory;
- Ability to perform under a heavy workload and tight deadlines;
- Ability to meet deadlines and prioritize multiple tasks.
Corporate competencies:
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
- Highest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Master's or PhD degree in Hydraulic, Irrigation, Environment, Agriculture, or Water and/or Natural Resources Management, Engineering or related field.
Experience:
- At least 7 years professional experience in project design in agriculture, irrigation development and/or use of sustainable sources of energy;
- Minimum of 5 years relevant work experience in irrigation systems management, agriculture policy development and solar panel energy uses;
- Previous experience with nationally implemented projects and strategies is a plus;
- Demonstrated experience with required and proven qualifications and experience in similar assignments, preferably in the irrigation agriculture sector.
Language:
- Excellent writing, editing, and oral communication skills both English and Portuguese is required;
Application procedure:
The terms of reference can be found at the following site: http://procurement-notices.undp.org
Click on 'Apply Now'
- Complete the personal information including short motivational note (max 1000 characters not words);
- Cut and paste your CV (in the next box);
- Click on Submit application.
On next page click on browse and upload the following document as one file:
- P11;
- Technical Proposal;
- Financial Proposal.
Open to Mozambique Nationals Only.
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