Background
In order to improve climate change governance and meet the challenges that will face Lebanon as a result of climate change, the above-mentioned project attempts to mainstream climate change concepts into national and sectoral development plans and to coordinate on-going climate change initiatives that are scattered. To project at hand presents a comprehensive coordination mechanism involving strategic planning, and close and effective communication with national, regional and international partners, as well as the recommendation of financial mechanisms needed at the national level.
With the continuous pressure exerted on the national water resources, excarbated by climate change, there is a need to reduce pressure on groundwater and increase harvesting rainwater, among other measures. The project has promoted in three pilots sites the technology of rainwater harvesting from greenhouse tops (RWHG).
Lebanese farmers are aware of the substantial negative effects of agriculture on water resources but have no means to develop methods to alleviate some of these effects. Many irrigation systems that initially used only surface water now also use ground water. The pumped ground water commonly is used directly as irrigation water, but in some cases the water is distributed through the system of canals. As would be expected, irrigation systems based on surface water are always located near streams. In general, these streams are perennial and (or) have significant flow for at least part of the year. In contrast, irrigation systems based on ground water can be located nearly anywhere that has an adequate ground-water resource.
Areas where irrigated agriculture relies on pumping ground-water through wells, especially intensive protected agriculture which exploit the land almost all year around, has shown significant decline of the water-table. Irrigation is the major consumer of water in this area and, therefore, it must be carried out with high efficiency to minimize percolation losses and environmental pollution, and increase water productivity. Considerable scope remains for improving irrigation management practices at the farm level in the coastal greenhouse area.
The adjacent Mediterranean coastal areas of Lebanon are one of the largest national concentrations of greenhouses with approximately 14,000 Dunums mainly dedicated to intensive vegetable production. Most of these are low-cost structures covered with plastic film, without climatic control systems and with soil-grown crops.
The project would like to further promote rainwater harvesting from greenhouse tops (RWHG) at a national scale through the development of a national rainwater harvesting from greenhouse tops guide.
Duties and Responsibilities
The consultant is mandated to take over the following tasks:
Task 1: Guide preparation for rainwater harvesting from greenhouse tops
Prepare rainwater harvesting from greenhouse tops guideline for agricultural uses. The guideline should be completely adapted to the Lebanese market and local conditions. Collect and document all necessary data through various means: including desk review, semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and correspondences with national and international relevant industries and stakeholders. The project will assist in availing all relevant data and documents that might assist in the completion of the required tasks, including site visit to the three pilot sites (Kfarmahsoun, Choueifat, and Damour).
The guideline should provide guidance for designing, constructing, and managing rainwater harvesting from greenhouse tops systems including information on sizing considerations for catchment and storage systems based on anticipated water consumption and rainfall levels. The guideline should take into account relevant greenhouse technology types (low technology, medium technology and high technology). The guideline should include all necessary maps, illustrations, drawings, pictures, and any necessary graphical aid to illustrate the various components of a RWHG system.
The guideline should address in detail at least the following components of a RWHG system:
- Rainwater catchment and conveyance (e.g., gutter and downspouts);
- Appropriate greenhouse rooftop sizing and rainwater storage and tank sizing;
- Distribution system (e.g., direct/indirect and gravity pumping systems/options; e.g., pressurized system, tank inlet and outlet configurations);
- Pre-screening and first flush diverter including baffle tank;
- Rainwater quality and treatment;
- Water make-up system and backflow prevention;
- Pump and pressurized distribution system;
- Overflow, filter path or secondary runoff reduction practice;
- Storage options (e.g., above/underground storage);
- Sample calculation for a common standard high tunnel greenhouse and other required calculations used for the determination of system specifications in a simplified and step-wise form;
- Maintenance schedule.
Each of the above suggested components should have the following minimum sections elaborated:
- Introduction and definitions;
- Applicable codes, standards, and guidelines;
- Issues for consideration;
- Design and installation guidelines;
- Management guidelines.
Task 2: Preparation of rainwater harvesting from greenhouse top design tool
Prepare rainwater harvesting design tool which should be a Microsoft Excel-based tool or equivalent that assists with the design of rainwater harvesting from greenhouse tops systems based on available local rainfall data for various cities in Lebanon. When given details about a rainwater harvesting project, such as location, roof area, etc., the RWHG design tool should be able to determine the optimum size of rainwater storage tank, size of pump and pressure system, and provide a cost estimate for the rainwater harvesting system. The tank sizing feature of the design tool should include a variety of options, including selecting the size of tank to:
- Maximize water savings while keeping tank size to a minimum;
- Meet typical storm event sizes.
Competencies
Corporate Competencies:
- Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
- Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
- Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
- Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.
Functional Competencies:
- Excellent knowledge of the Lebanese agriculture sector with demonstrated understanding of rainwater harvesting from greenhouse top systems design and installation/supervision of installation;
- Strong analytical and report-writing skills;
- Excellent communication skills.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Advanced university degree (Master of Engineering) in agricultural engineering or water related science specialty.
Experience:
- Relevant experience of not less than 7 years including experience in rainwater harvesting from greenhouse top systems design and installation or supervision of installation;
- Experience in preparing guidebooks in an asset.
Language Requirements:
- Advanced level of communication skills including proficiency in the Arabic and English Languages.
Kindly refer to the Individual Consultant Procurement Notice and all related Annexes by visiting the below link:
Please make sure to submit all the requested documents/information; otherwise, your application will be considered incomplete.