The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Mongolia Program is seeking a Specialist to assess spring water quality and lead protection measures for spring headwaters in the Gobi region. The goal is to ensure sustainable water access for local communities and wildlife. The consultant will protect or strengthen protection for at least 20 springs in Dornogobi and Omnogobi Provinces. They will engage WCS partner herder groups and local governments in co-management strategies aligned with Mongolia’s National Law on Water. All activities will be carried out in close collaboration with the WCS Community team, ensuring alignment with the broader work of the program.
Key Responsibilities:
- Spring Water Quality Assessment:
- Conduct baseline and follow-up water quality assessments for at least 20 springs.
- Analyse key parameters (e.g., turbidity, pH levels, contaminants) before and after protection measures.
- Provide recommendations for water resource management based on findings, with a focus on sustainable use by both local communities and wildlife.
- Design and protect headwaters of 20 Springs:
- Develop a protection plan for the headwaters of 20 springs to prevent overgrazing, pollution, and human interference, while ensuring water security for people, livestock, and wildlife.
- Coordinate the protection measures with local communities and government partners, ensuring alignment with Mongolia’s National Law on Water and best conservation practices.
- Ensure that wildlife-friendly measures are considered to minimize impact on wildlife during the protection process.
- Training and Capacity Building:
- Conduct at least six training sessions for WCS partner herder groups on water monitoring techniques and spring protection.
- Develop a Community-Based Monitoring Plan:
- Develop a simple, community-friendly monitoring system for tracking water quality, wildlife and livestock usage, and the ongoing maintenance of protection measures.
- Ensure that the monitoring plan is practical, aligned with local knowledge and capacity, and can be continued by local communities with support from WCS Mongolia.
- Reporting and Documentation:
- Document all spring protection and water quality assessment activities through video, photos, and written reports.
- Submit three reports (mid-year progress report, end-of-year report, and a final comprehensive report) with findings, outcomes, and recommendations for long-term water security and climate adaptation strategies.
Expected Outputs
Project Timeline:
- By June 1, 2025: Complete baseline spring water assessment, one community training, protection of four springs, develop monitoring plan, and submit mid-term report.
- By December 1, 2025: Protect and set up monitoring for 15 springs, complete three trainings, and submit end-of-year report.
- By June 1, 2026: Complete full protection and monitoring of 20 springs, conduct six trainings, and submit final project report.
Qualifications and Experience:
- Background or experience in hydrology, water ecology, water engineering, and spring protection.
- Experience in designing and implementing spring water protection, ideally with wildlife-friendly considerations.
- Experience creating simple, community-friendly monitoring frameworks for local stakeholders.
- Proficiency in English and Mongolian (spoken and written).
Application Process:
Interested individuals or legal entities should submit the following documents to btsolmon@wcs.org with the subject line “Water Specialist Consultancy” by April 18th Friday 2025, before 5 PM UB time:
- A detailed CV or organizational profile highlighting relevant experience.
- A cover letter explaining suitability for the consultancy, including:
- Relevant expertise and experience.
- A brief project plan and timeline.
- An approximate budget breakdown and daily rate.
- Examples of previous relevant work.
Evaluation Criteria:
Applications will be evaluated based on:
- Relevant experience and expertise.
- Quality of previous work examples.
- Feasibility and completeness of the project plan and timeline.
- Appropriateness of the budget proposal.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview.
Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Mongolia Program
201 San Business Center, Amar Street-29, Small ring road, Sukhbaatar district, Ulaanbaatar 14200, Mongolia. Tel: +976-11-323719