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Road Connectivity Consultant

Remote | Phnom Penh

  • Organization: AIIB - Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
  • Location: Remote | Phnom Penh
  • Grade: Consultancy - Consultant - Contractors Agreement
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Infrastructure and Urban-Rural development
  • Closing Date: Closed

Application close date

04/23/2024

1. Project Background

Cambodia is being recognized as one of the fastest growing economies in Southeast Asia. The enhancement of the cross-border connectivity between Cambodia and its neighbors is crucial to achieve its development targets. In November 2001, Cambodia signed the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Cross-Border Transport Agreement (CBTA) to boost regional connectivity and trade activities along GMS corridors. One proposed initiative to execute CBTA was to construct Cross Border Facilities (CBFs) between Cambodia and its neighbors. The prospect for bilateral trade and tourism between Cambodia and Viet Nam is enormous. This is evidenced by the fact that over the past three years, bilateral trade between both countries averaged over USD15 billion, and tourists between two countries were more than 1.2 million per year (prior to 2020, the year of the COVID-19 outbreak). Since 2003, three of the nine agreed CBFs between both countries have been constructed and are now operational[1]. Cambodia now intends to construct the remaining six CBFs and enhance their integration with the national road (NR) network. This is expected to increase trade and passenger crossings and spur economic development in Cambodia. The Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia (GOKC) recently requested financing support from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) for the Cambodia: Cross-border Connectivity Enhancement Project (3CEP). The objective of this project is to improve cross-border connectivity along selected road corridors between Cambodia and Viet Nam. The proposed project is expected to support road connectivity improvement and CBFs construction at four locations (out of the remaining six). In particular, it may finance: (i) the improvement of four NR sections (160 km) to facilitate cross-border connectivity, including: (a) NR 78 (at Ratanakiri), (b) NR 74 (at Kratié), (c) NR 72 (at Tbong Khmum), and (d) NR 2 (at Takéo); (ii) the construction of four CBFs[2] at the end of each above-mentioned cross-border road (Oyadao, Trapang Sre, Trapang Plong, and Phnom Den); and (iii) the construction of 60 km of a new NR that will enhance the connectivity of the capital Phnom Penh with Viet Nam via the provinces of Prey Veng and Kandal. To support 3CEP’s preparation, the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) received USD3 M from the Project Preparation Special Fund (PPSF) of AIIB in December 2023. PPSF’s resources will be used to, among others, prepare the feasibility study (FS) and detailed engineering designs (DEDs) for the project. The Executing Agency (EA) for 3CEP is the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT). Under MPWT, the Project Management Unit (PMU) is responsible for the day-to-day management and implementation of the PPSF’s grant, which includes the procurement of consultancy services, administering the contracts, monitoring the progress of the services, reviewing the deliverables, and undertaking the needful actions to obtain approvals from AIIB and MPWT/GOKC. [1] The three constructed CBFs are: (i) Bavet CBF at Svay Reang Province at the end of NR1 (2004); (ii) Prek Chak CBF at Komport Province at the end of NR33 (2014); and (iii) Pray Var CBF at Svay Reang Province at the end of NR128 (2018). All these CBFs were financed with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). [2] The CBF may include immigration and administration buildings, parking areas, and cargo terminal.

2. Objectives of the Assignment

The objective of this assignment is to support MPWT with project preparatory tasks, including: (i) finalizing project scoping; (ii) preparing TORs and contributing to draft bidding documents to hire consultants (individuals and firms) to prepare the FS[3], DEDs[4] and other technical documents. The consultant will also assist the Bank’s project team to (iii) review the outputs prepared by the firms and/or other individual consultants and provide recommendations for their enhancement and compliance with AIIB’s requirements. [3] The FS will include, among others, (i) finalizing the selection of the NR sections to be improved/constructed, and CBF areas to be developed under the project and conducting related technical assessments; (ii) undertaking consultations with the key stakeholders and residents in the project area; (iii) finalizing the conceptual design of roads and CBFs in the proposed provinces; (iv) conducting environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA), including preliminary gender equality and social inclusion assessment, and climate risk assessment; (v) preparing cost estimates and undertaking economic analysis; (vi) developing preliminary project delivery strategy and procurement plan; and (vii) developing preliminary financial management arrangements. [4] The DEDs will include, among others, (i) conducting surveys; (ii) preparing construction drawings addressing associated climate and road safety risk; (iii) preparing costing and bill of quantities; (iv) finalizing the project delivery strategy, procurement plan and all the required bidding documents; (v) outlining financial management arrangements; (vi) developing the associated Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMP) as well as a Resettlement Plans (RP), following the AIIB’s Environmental, and Social Policy (ESP); (vii) preparing the traffic management plan and gender action plan; (viii) preparing the operation and maintenance plan; and (ix) preparing other documents required for GOKC’s and AIIB’s approvals.

3. Scope of Services

Among others, the assignment consists of the following activities: 1) Finalizing the project scoping. The aim is to conduct the initial scoping of the project before onboarding the FS consultant to identify and validate whether the proposed locations and roads are reasonably aligned with the project objective. To achieve this, the consultant will: * Collect and review relevant data and literature to justify the alignment of the proposed project with the priorities of GOKC and the region. * Undertake site visits to the proposed CBF sites and roads; review the field conditions from a technical perspective, including, among others, forecasted demand, technical viability, environmental and social (E&S) aspects, climate change, and road safety. * Conduct an initial assessment of the different elements proposed to be funded by 3CEP to define their main features and rationale to be included under the project. * Recommend adjustments, as/if needed, to the proposed scope. * Identify potential challenges or constraints that may impact the project. * Research and outline the regulatory framework for project’s implementation. * Map the relevant stakeholders of this project, including, among others, government entities, local communities, transport agencies and conduct meetings with them. * Prepare a detailed project scoping. * Conduct meetings with MPWT and AIIB to present the interim and final proposed project scoping. * Develop an indicative financing plan, taking into account the proposed scope. * Prepare a potential timeline for the implementation of the project. * Identify potential risks and develop a risk mitigation strategy. 2) Preparing TOR(s) and contributing to draft the bidding documents to hire firm(s) and/or individual consultants to prepare the FS, DEDs and other technical documents. Based on the findings of the above task, the consultant will (i) prepare (in close cooperation with MPWT and AIIB) TOR(s) outlining the detailed activities, requirement of the experts and corresponding man-month, estimated budget, outputs/deliverables and implementation timeline for conducting the FS, DEDs and other technical documents aligned to the agreed project scope and AIIB requirements, and (ii) contribute to draft the bidding documents to conduct the needed procurements. 3) Reviewing and enhancing technical outputs/deliverables. The consultant will review the FS, DEDs, and other technical documents prepared by firms and/or other individual consultants to assist MPWT in delivering safe, climate-smart, and gender-inclusive infrastructure. The aim is to identify design deficiencies and/or nonconformities as per relevant design specifications/standards and AIIB’s requirements; and propose adequate corrective measures. 4) Providing preparation support during early project implementation. To achieve this, the consultant will: * Review the bidding documents and assist MPWT in kicking off the procurement of the proposed activities under 3CEP. * Provide support for AIIB’s due diligence and loan preparation based on the requirement of the project team leader (PTL). * Provide assistance for drafting the project implementation manual. * Contribute to institutional and capacity development and training for MPWT and other stakeholders. 5) Other activities related to the assignment. This task may include (on the work) general advice/guidance/training on cross-border connectivity, road safety, climate resilience, and gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) issues to MPWT, and any other activity related to the assignment.

4. Consultancy Output / Deliverables

The outputs of this activity will include, among others, (i) a report and other supplementary documents (e.g., PowerPoint presentations) capturing the finalized project scope, (ii) the TOR(s) to hire consultants (firms/individuals) to prepare the FS, DEDs, and other technical documents, (iii) recommendations, oral and written advice to MPWT and AIIB, (iv) training to MPWT; and (v) any additional report/note to achieve the proposed objective.

5. Implementation Arrangement

The consultant will be mapped to the Infrastructure Investment Department Region 1 (INF1) of AIIB and will report to the PTL for 3CEP. This assignment is for 100 days from the contract’s signing day until November 30, 2025. If the performance of the consultant is satisfactory, follow-up activities may be envisaged. The consultant will carry out this assignment in Cambodia/remotely with field visits to Cambodia, as/if needed.

6. Support to the Consultant by the Bank

N/A

7. Knowledge Transfer and Training

N/A

Qualification Requirement

• A bachelor degree or higher in civil/road/transport engineering or other area relevant to the assignment. • Minimum seven years of professional experience in road/transport projects/assignments. Relevant experience in (i) the preparation of TORs/technical documents, particularly related to FS/DEDs and bidding documents to hire firms/individual consultants; (ii) the review and enhancement of FS, DEDs, and other technical documents; (iii) conducting capacity building and institutional development. Experience of working in cross-border road/transport connectivity projects/construction of CBF is preferred. • Experience with projects funded by multilateral development banks, bilateral agencies or international organizations, with good knowledge of operational procedures and compliances, is a plus. • Knowledge on road safety, climate change, and GESI aspects is a plus. • Proven ability to function effectively and to resolve conflicts constructively. • High degree of dynamism and self-motivation, as well as the ability to work with minimal supervision. Has the capacity to diagnose, analyze, and develop reliable solutions on his/her own. • Strong client and communication skills, with proven experience in providing quality advice to national and sub-national agencies, and in transferring knowledge. • Good (written and oral) communication skills in English and ability to work within multicultural teams. • Knowledge of the Cambodian and/or Vietnamese and/or Asian context(s) and Khmer language is a plus. Preferably located in Cambodia or Asia.

This vacancy is now closed.
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