SLED Opportunity · DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA · WORLD RESOURCES INSTITUTE
AI Summary
WRI seeks a consultant team for a 3-month contract to conduct baseline assessments of micro-watersheds and communities in Ethiopia's Tana Subbasin. The study will inform water governance, watershed protection, and climate-resilient WASH interventions. Proposals due April 6, 2026.
SUMMARY OF PROCUREMENT WRI intends to award a three-month Fixed Price type contract for a consultant or consultant team to undertake the baseline assessments and surveys of the micro-watersheds, their communities, and key institutional stakeholders and aspects that govern water and other natural resources in the Tana Subbasin and Amhara Region. The findings will set unbiased baseline values for monitoring and also inform watershed interventions, capacity building plans, financing strategies, and a results framework aligned with improved water governance, watershed protection, and climate-resilient WASH and livelihoods'. A specific timeline for the deliverables will be discussed and finalized with the selected consultant(s). The proposal deadline is April 6, 2026, by 5pm. About the World Resources Institute Founded in 1982, The World Resources Institute (WRI) is a global environmental think tank that goes beyond research to put ideas into action. We work with governments, companies, and civil society to build solutions to urgent environmental challenges. WRI’s transformative ideas protect the earth and promote development because sustainability is essential to meeting human needs and fulfilling human aspirations in the future. The World Resources Institute (WRI) is a global research and development organization working at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity, and human wellbeing. Using research-based approaches, we work globally and in focus countries to meet people’s essential needs, protect and restore nature, and stabilize the climate while building resilience. In Ethiopia, the Water program aims to advance sustainable water resources management and to mainstream water and climate risk information into national and sub-national planning processes. WRI is implementing a project titled “Protecting Water Supplies and Catchments in Ethiopia’s Tana Subbasin (ProTana).” Building on a previous project phase, the geographic focus is the Tana Subbasin and the woredas (districts) of North Mecha, Farta, and Dera in the Amhara National Regional State. This new 5-year initiative runs from September 2025 to August 2030 and includes working closely with consortium partners WaterAid, ORDA Ethiopia, Millennium Water Alliance (MWA), and Abbay Basin Administration Office (ABAO). Ethiopia’s Tana Subbasin, found within the Amhara Region, is a critical water source for over 3 million people supporting diverse ecosystems, economic activities, and agricultural communities. However, water availability and quality are declining due to environmental degradation, climatic shifts, and governance challenges. Poor water resources management (WRM) and watershed degradation are exacerbating water scarcity and jeopardizing livelihoods, creating increasing challenges for water service provision and WASH access. ProTana will confront systemic issues that threaten water availability, access, and ultimately service delivery. WRI and partners will advance institutional strengthening and on-the-ground watershed restoration, cross-cut by hydrological monitoring and learning. Activities will improve governance processes and technical capacities to advance integrated WRM (IWRM). In parallel, the project will restore local catchments through nature-based interventions, in so doing, protect the source waters on which WASH systems draw. This approach looks at the full water system from source to tap, promoting water security alongside socio-economic and environmental co-benefits. The project vision rests on both institutional strengthening aspects and on-the-ground resource management interventions to support local actors better protect and manage water resources. Key components include strengthening governance mechanisms for data-driven decision-making; integrated and cross-sectoral planning; capacity building on water source and system sustainability; interventions in watershed protection; and hydrological monitoring to build evidence of change. We will improve knowledge and technical capacities in government agencies to promote IWRM practices at multiple decision-making scales. Simultaneously, the project aims to safeguard source waters through community-led water and landscape management interventions. A strong focus on learning, advocacy, and adaptive management will also promote positive water security solutions, advancing improvements from local to regional and national scales. By looking at water service delivery more systematically, the ultimate goal is to enhance well-being, livelihoods, and the resilience of water systems and communities. The project centers on three interrelated workstreams and objectives: Data-Driven Decision-Making and Integrated Governance: Strengthen data-driven decision-making and governance processes to better manage and protect water resources Community-based Watershed Management: Implement community-led sustainable watershed management to safeguard source waters and improve water security and resilience Knowledge and Advocacy to Advance Sectoral Change: Advance knowledge, learning, and evidence for sectoral improvements at the intersection of WRM and WASH Workstream 1: Data-Driven Decision-Making and Integrated Governance Water security depends on developing and managing water and other natural resources in ways that meet social and economic needs while maintaining ecological and hydrological health. To achieve this, strengthening local institutions and capacities for more informed decision-making, advancing governance reforms and a better enabling environment, and fostering collaborative planning are essential—especially in the face of increasing climatic and eco-hydrological uncertainty. Institutional tools such as information management systems, regulatory frameworks, and financing are needed to better protect, conserve, administer, and distribute water resources while ensuring water system functionality. Through workstream 1, WRI will support specific areas of water governance, including data/analyses, planning, coordination, capacity development, and financing, to improve decision-making and technical skills at woreda, region, and basin scales. Improving hydrological, WRM, and WASH data management can enhance decision-making and the viability of water investments. Workstream 2: Community-based Watershed Management Widespread land degradation and changing weather patterns are impacting water availability, quality, and reliability in the Tana Subbasin. Workstream 2 involves implementing community-led sustainable watershed management interventions on about 2,000 hectares (ha) in the three project woredas to help protect water supplies, safeguard the sources that feed water systems, and sustain service provision, all while improving community lives, wellbeing, and resilience. The 400 ha Minzir 01 micro-watershed (piloted during the previous project phase) has exhibited positive change following three years of restoration activities. Vegetation cover from planted trees and grasses has expanded, groundwater has risen, a seasonal wetland has expanded, and surface streams are flowing through the dry season. A larger and longer intervention timeframe will allow further progress and monitoring of impact. WaterAid and ORDA Ethiopia are WRI’s implementing partners leading on-the-ground activities for Component #2, contributing to the establishment of watershed management/restoration initiatives aimed at improving water supply and livelihoods. To date, as of mid-March 2026, the project team, in collaboration with relevant government and local stakeholders, is in the process of identifying three new micro-watersheds and are finalizing the selection process. In Dera Woreda, the micro-watershed has already been identified as the Gelda 2 Micro-watershed located in Emashenkore Kebele. In Farta, Worken Kebele has been selected as the site. Meanwhile, the identification process for a new micro-watershed covering approximately 600 hectares in North Mecha Woreda is still ongoing but will be located within the Koga Watershed. WaterAid will focus on the North Mecha micro-watersheds (Minzir 01 and the new one), while ORDA Ethiopia will focus on the Farta and Dera micro-watersheds. The community-led model seeks to improve water governance and local livelihoods and foster participation, equity, and local ownership from planning to implementation to monitoring. The activities are designed to connect with components #1 and #3 to ensure they effectively and sinuously feed into each other in pursuance of the overall project goal. WRI, WaterAid, and ORDA Ethiopia will also deliver capacity building activities for local government sector offices, as well as for local communities and more targeted groups such as water user associations and marginalized groups like women and youth. Workstream 3: Knowledge and Advocacy to Advance Sectoral Change The third workstream centers on cross-cutting issues of monitoring, building evidence, and learning, using these to periodically communicate findings for advocacy purposes and evidence-based outreach. WRI will monitor project progress and capture important experiences, including stories and anecdotes from the watershed communities. We aim to document impact by examining change on land rehabilitation, the livelihoods of participating households, and broader community impact. We will also disseminate learnings amongst practitioners and decision-makers, underscoring the importance of source water protection and in pursuit of sectoral improvements at the intersection of WRM-WASH-resilience. As part of the project’s inception, baseline assessments and surveys must be conducted, especially in the target micro-watersheds. This will involve studying the biophysical, socio-economic, and institutional context and engaging with government and community-based organizations and leaders to understand existing circumstances, values, and perceptions. The baseline study must assess these “current” conditions relative to the project objectives and according to the project’s identified indicators for project monitoring, reflecting ambitions for impact and improvements for people, institutions, and the environment. Objectives of the Baseline Assessments Main Objective: The main objective is to establish a comprehensive and evidence-based analysis of current conditions, looking at the micro-watersheds’ biophysical state (hydrological, ecological) and socio-economic circumstances, and aspects of water governance, institutional capacity, data systems, and local financing across woreda, regional, and basin levels. The assessment will generate quantitative and qualitative baseline data and benchmarks against which project progress and performance will be measured over time, relative to output, outcome, and impact-level indicators across project components. The baseline findings will also inform refinement of project design, baseline value and target setting, performance indicators, and a results-oriented, evidence-based, and adaptive monitoring and evaluation framework. Specific Objectives: Assess, establish, and document key baseline contextual information and data for biophysical and socio-economic parameters in the target micro-watersheds that allow the project to measure and track changes in select water availability, quality, and reliability metrics; ecological conditions; and more. Develop a detailed and scientifically sound methodology for baseline data collection and analysis, including through the use of GIS. Provide data and insights that will serve as benchmarks for monitoring and evaluating project progress throughout implementation, including biophysical and socio-economic realities in the micro-watersheds and select aspects of water/watershed governance, institutional knowledge and capacities, and finance. Make recommendations on mechanisms for monitoring water and other ecological and socio-economic outcomes in the target project areas. Prepare a comprehensive baseline report with the findings, including narrative descriptions and visualizations in bar charts, graphs, tables, photos, and other forms. Scope of the Assignment WRI aims to hire an expert (or team) with experience in the Amhara Region and Tana Subbasin on hydrology, watershed management, water supply, environmental conservation, and livelihood issues. The consultant(s) will undertake the baselines assessments and surveys to assess the project’s existing conditions and benchmarks against which project results will be compared for performance, contribution, and impact. The consultant(s) must have the analytical expertise to conduct landscape scale and micro-watershed-level analyses, with experience in setting baselines and biophysical and household level surveying. The selected expert(s) will work closely with the WRI project team and in collaboration with WaterAid, ORDA Ethiopia, ABAO, and relevant woreda government offices. The main purpose of this assignment is therefore to assess, determine, and document baseline conditions and data for key biophysical, socio-economic, and institutional parameters to be monitored throughout project implementation by the project team. The assessment must thus be based on the project indicators, change metrics, and evaluating parameters, and cover priority project areas and watershed sites. The consultant(s) is expected to develop a detailed and scientifically sound methodology and workplan; landscape/watershed/ community profiling; socio-economic and governance analysis; and prepare a comprehensive baseline report. All of these should reflect underlying environmental sustainability considerations. The information generated will serve as the foundation for tracking project progress, measuring environmental and socio-economic changes over time, and evaluating change across outputs, outcomes, and values against their baselines. The baseline assignment should accomplish the following: Establish current biophysical watershed conditions and baseline values for all indicators relative to the watershed management workstream. This includes assessing vegetation/land use, land cover, and water resources in all micro-watersheds, looking at aspects such as soil erosion, hydrological conditions, runoff, sedimentation, presence/size of gullies, riparian conditions, groundwater levels in existing wells, etc. Assess socio-economic status of local watershed communities and households in terms of income, livelihood opportunities, poverty levels, and other—through a gender and social equity lens. The analysis must consider different socio-economic and demographic metrics (including number of households, male/female-headed households, youth, disabled, etc.). Establish measured and reliable baseline values on select aspects of water and natural resources governance, data, and status of financing for watershed management and WASH at basin, region, district, and community scale. This includes developing the right questions to link with indicator tracking and key reference points for improvements in governance, water supply service sustainability, and climate resilience. Clarify select WASH access dynamics, including on the reliability of water supply schemes, together with implementing partners. Make suggestions on refining project indicators for monitoring restoration impacts, water resource improvements, and socio-economic outcomes. Guidance on methodology: By considering the nature of the assignment, the overall objectives of the project, and the timeframe, the consultant(s) will need to identify and employ a suitable mixed methods approach involving quantitative and qualitative methodologies that can generate the most accurate baseline data. The consultant(s) should adopt both primary and secondary data analysis and, as far as possible, disaggregate data by sex and age. The consultant(s) will need to clearly explain the design and process for data collection tools/plans/materials and data analysis instruments/technologies. Baseline data will need to be obtained through field visits and surveys, interviews with the project participants and beneficiary communities, consultations with sector offices, and direct measurements in the field relevant to the characteristics of the micro-watersheds. Meteorological, hydrological, sediment, and other relevant data will need to be collected per the project indicators. The data collection approach should involve: Desk reviews, secondary data collection, and office-level analysis: review existing institutional documents and data (hydrogeological, socio-economics, hydrometeorological, forest cover, soil, etc.; topographical and land cover maps; satellite images; surface water records; groundwater table and quality data, streamflow, etc.) Fieldwork and sampling in micro-watersheds: detailed field measurement/surveys, transect walks, observation/verification, and reconnaissance surveys of the project area (e.g., GPS coordinates, water level measurements, current watershed conditions, land uses, livelihood practices and options, inspection of geological, geomorphological, and structural characteristics of the micro-watershed area, verification of existing data and findings). Undertake Key Informant Interviews (KII), Focus Group Discussions (FGD), and relevant stakeholder consultations with representatives of the project target groups and key institutional stakeholders, and collect available data from WRI, WaterAid, ORDA Ethiopia, and ABAO. The consultant must ensure adherence to ethical research standards, including informed consent, data protection, and gender-sensitive and inclusive approaches, and maintain neutrality, independence, and objectivity throughout the assignment. Key considerations on data-driven decision-making and governance systems: Assess the availability, quality, accessibility, and capacity/use of hydrological, WRM, and WASH data for planning and investment decisions. Assess institutional capacity for data collection, storage, analysis, and management systems (e.g., GIS, mWater, other digital tools), with insights on capabilities for evidence-based planning. Assess the level of funding (in USD) practiced by local government actors/offices for integrated WRM and WASH interventions, with a focus on water source protection, to determine changing levels of commitment to integrated approaches by stakeholders and authorities in the area. Key considerations for establishing the baseline conditions of target micro-watersheds: Assess existing biophysical conditions in target micro-watersheds (land degradation, vegetation cover, soil erosion, water availability, and soil infiltration conditions). Analyze current land use and land cover in the three micro watersheds. Assess existing watershed governance arrangements, including community structures, bylaws, participation mechanisms, and inclusiveness (women, youth, and marginalized groups). Establish baseline information on watershed management practices, water security conditions, and livelihood sources in the intervention areas. Collect in-situ/field level data, as possible, on soil moisture, infiltration, precipitation, evapotranspiration and runoff, allowing for calculations on recharge and soil water content. Connect with WRI team to discuss if and how this will be possible. Identify current gaps in soil and water conservation and community-led natural resource management, including understanding and awareness of the benefits of watershed protection and sustainable land management among communities and woreda officials. Assess existing water supply scheme conditions, including water safety planning practices, climate resilience measures, and operational efficiencies, together with WaterAid and ORDA Ethiopia. Establish baseline data on the reliability of water supply, including community water point functionality (downtime/uptime), service availability (hours or days per week, month, or year), and water yield. This includes baseline data on the time burden for water collection among women and girls, measured in hours per week or month. Consider social inclusion aspects in the analysis, including circumstances of women, youth, and marginalized groups. Key considerations on sampling: The consultant is expected to use appropriate interviewee and household sampling techniques considering design effect, 95% confidence interval, relative to the total number of households in the watersheds’ resident communities, and set acceptable and representative sample sizes for both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. The consultant should propose the best sampling methods and ensure the representativeness of the sampled and surveyed households and respondents. If the security situation does not allow sufficient field visits to the project watersheds, the consultant shall propose a suitable methodology for assessing these aspects with different approaches. Responsibilities The consultant(s) will ultimately be responsible for preparing and delivering a comprehensive baseline assessment report. Key responsibilities include: Activity 1 . Review project documents and indicator list to understand context and objectives. All project documents including the overall workplan and existing technical documents will be shared upon hiring. Activity 2 . Collect relevant information on existing assessments/studies, such as LULC change and SWAT, relevant local strategies or policies, and necessary data/inputs from government offices, basin authorities, or other agencies/organizations. Activity 3 . Participate in introductory calls with the project team to discuss approach, project progress, and methodology. Activity 4 . Prepare a detailed inception report outlining methodology, sampling strategy, data collection tools and approach, indicator matrix, and a watershed diagnostic tool (biophysical, socio-economic) drawing from the monitoring objectives, review of existing knowledge/literature, field visits, and additional sources of information. The inception report should propose alternative arrangement mechanisms for the assessment and community interviews should the security situation necessitate, with discussion and agreement by WRI. Activity 5 . Design quantitative and qualitative data collection instruments (household surveys, institutional assessment tool, key informant and focus group discussion guides, biophysical assessment checklists, etc.). Ensure tools integrate governance, watershed, climate resilience, gender, and financing dimensions. Activity 6 . Develop questionnaires and an indicator matrix for review and approval by the WRI project team, with attention to aligning the tool and methodological approach to the corresponding project indicators and monitoring plan. Activity 7 . Liaise and coordinate with implementing partners, relevant government offices at basin, regional, zonal, and woreda levels, and community leaders and structures in target micro-watersheds, and facilitate consultative meetings to validate scope, methodology, and preliminary findings. Activity 8 . Establish verified baseline values for all agreed project indicators, identify data gaps, and recommend feasible monitoring mechanisms for ongoing tracking. Activity 9 . Prepare baseline report with all findings, including summary briefs reflecting micro-watershed profiles to serve as annexes to the main report. Report should include documented photos of high quality from the landscape as supplemental reporting. Activity 10 . Present preliminary findings to stakeholders for validation, incorporate feedback, and finalize the report. Before submission of the final report, the consultant(s) will present the findings of the baseline evaluation to WRI, WaterAid, ORDA Ethiopia, and other relevant partners, and additionally at a validation session organized by the project consortium. WRI will be responsible for arranging the validation session and time. Deliverables & Timeframe A specific timeline for the deliverables will be discussed and finalized with the selected consultant(s). The main deliverables and tentative timing are shown below. Main deliverables: Inception report (maximum 20 pages of main report) outlining: Detailed understanding of the assignment and a refined scope. Comprehensive methodology, sampling framework, data collection tools, indicator matrix, and analytical plan. Workplan with activities, timelines and responsibilities, if relevant. Proposed quantitative and qualitative tools, including survey questionnaires, institutional assessment tools, KII and FGD guides, watershed biophysical assessment checklists, GIS/spatial tools, digital data collection forms ready for deployment, etc. (with questionnaires designed to provide data for project indicators) Baseline report (in draft and then final form, incorporating consortium and stakeholder feedback), including an executive summary, description of methodology and limitations, findings structured according to biophysical, socio-economic, and institutional chapters, recommendations, etc. and annexes (with tools, data tables, maps, micro-watershed profiles, lists of stakeholders consulted, photos if relevant). Validation workshop with slide deck summarizing findings, values, and feedback. | Deliverable No. | Deliverable | Timeline / Deadline | | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | Inception report containing updated work plan, methodology, data collection strategy, questionnaires, indicator matrix, and applicable software and tools (maximum 20 pages, plus annex) | 5 days after contract signing | | 2 | Submission of the draft baseline assessment findings/report | 50 days following confirmation by WRI to start the fieldwork | | 3 | Validation workshop and presentation materials | 10 days following the draft baseline report review by WRI | | 4 | Final report and documentation (max 50 pages, plus annex) | 15 days following the baseline validation event | TIMING Proposals are due April 6, 2026 by 5pm. Kick off dates and deliverable timelines to be discussed with the selected consultant(s). The work is expected to last about 90 calendar days. The contract will be based on a fixed fee for services rendered on a part-time basis. BUDGET The expected value of the awarded contract is between US $23,000 and US $25,000. The budget must include travel, accommodation expenses, and costs associated with interview processes. Value: The total amount for the scope of work should not exceed US $25,000. Payments will be based on services provided against deliverables according to a set timeframe and subject to the production of an invoice. The service provider will be required to comply with WRI procedures for external assignments. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS The consultant(s) should have demonstrated understanding and expertise in integrated water resources management (IWRM), WASH systems, watershed management, and water governance, as well as experience conducting complex baseline studies or evaluations for multi-dimensional development projects. Proven technical competence in hydrology, hydrogeology, GIS and spatial analysis, climate resilience, and environmental protection/restoration is required. The consultant should have solid methodological expertise in mixed-methods research design, quantitative and qualitative data collection, indicator development, and results-based monitoring and evaluation. Experience working with basin authorities and decentralized government and community structures is also required. To fulfill the requirements of this scope of work, the lead consultant or team shall meet the following qualifications: At least a master’s degree in a relevant field such as Hydrology, Soil and Water Engineering, Environmental Conservation & Management, or a related field. Applicants with a PhD or pursuing a PhD will be given priority. Strong preference for a team composition that integrates local expertise into the execution, with skills covering: Hydrology, soil and water conservation, natural resources management, environmental management and restoration, climate change and resilience. Social sciences, economics, or a related field. Monitoring and evaluation with knowledge in statistical tools and quantitative and qualitative data analysis of socio-economic and biophysical data. Gender and social equity. Excellent technical skills and understanding of surface and groundwater, catchment planning, water legislation and regulations, and water resources modeling. Extensive field experience in measuring/assessing hydrology, land use, erosion, sediment, and related. At least 5 years in conducting biophysical and socio-economic baseline and endline studies, including watershed/landscape restoration assessments, climate impact assessments, and/or natural resource management evaluations. Extensive experience in socio-economic surveying, analysis, and reporting. Proficient knowledge of remote sensing, GIS, statistical tools, and qualitative analysis tools relevant to data preparation and analysis (SPSS, Atlas.ti, etc.). Commitment to quality scientific research and able to secure relevant information and data. Proficient knowledge and experience with similar assignments, with a preference for direct experience in the Tana Subbasin and the three woredas in Amhara Region. Strong interpersonal skills and capacity to engage with a range of stakeholders from government, sub-national organizations, development partners, and farming communities. Excellent communication skills in English and Amharic, both oral and writing. Availability to perform the scope of work within the desired timeframe. Ability and willingness to travel to the micro-watershed locations in North Mecha, Dera, and Farta woredas. Preference for experts based in the region. In addition to qualifications, applications will be assessed based on the following key criteria: · Conceptual understanding of the project/assignment: demonstrated understanding of the project itself and of the assignment objectives, scope, and expected deliverables. · Methodological approach: soundness, clarity, and feasibility of the proposed methodology, including sampling strategy, tools, and data analysis methods. · Workplan: realistic and well-structured plan with clear milestones and timelines. · Quality assurance and risk management: Mechanisms for quality control, data validation, ethical considerations, and risk mitigation. · Consultant(s) competencies and experience. EVALUATION AND SELECTION The following elements will be the primary considerations in evaluating all applications submitted in response to this RFP: Completion of all required elements; The extent to which the your application fulfills WRI’s stated requirements as set out in this RFP; Experience with similar projects; Overall cost of your proposal; Debarment and sanctions – WRI will not consider proposals from bidders that are presently debarred by the U.S. government or named on any restricted parties lists; The bidder offering the best overall value will be selected. For this procurement, non-price is of relatively more importance. Application Procedure A technical and financial proposal delineating the methodological approach and showing the total cost and fees (e.g., professional fees, fieldwork, travel costs, materials; etc.) is required for application and solicitation. The technical proposal and financials should not exceed 10 pages. The consultant(s) shall also show detailed costs of the proposed services and set a timeline for key deliverables per this Terms of Reference (ToR). The financial proposal must cover all potential costs associated with this work. Costs incurred outside the terms agreed in the financial proposal and final contract will not be reimbursed. Within the technical proposal, the consultant(s) may elaborate on the envisaged logistical team setup and deployment of skills for execution of the assignment. The consultant is free to propose skills as are deemed necessary to execute the assignment within their stated methodology. There should be one lead consultant. WRI will review proposals for the work before the final selection and preparation of a contract with a scope of work and payment terms. COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS WRI receives funding from a variety of sources, including governments and other non-governmental organizations. In addition to WRI’s standard contract terms, certain funder conditions may apply. COMPLAINTS Bidders with complaints or concerns related to the conduct of this procurement may contact don.spencer@wri.org or submit a report to WRI's Whistleblower Hotline .
SLED stands for State, Local, and Education. These are solicitations issued by state governments, counties, cities, school districts, utilities, and higher education institutions — as opposed to federal agencies.
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