With technical support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Ireland Trust Fund for Building Climate Change and Disaster Resilience in Small Island Developing States (ITF), a comprehensive study is being conducted to assess strategies for ensuring sustainable, safe, and affordable drinking water access for all populations in Samoa, while considering the impacts of current climate change scenarios. This initiative builds upon prior ADB and donor assistance in Samoa's water and sanitation sector, aiming to enhance service coverage and performance through strategic planning and appropriate technologies. The project will yield a 10-year national water supply masterplan, outlining policies, standards, and guidelines for sustainable water supply systems across Samoa, along with a costed and prioritized investment plan to facilitate informed decision-making for achieving sustainable access to safe drinking water.

​

Phase 1 – Inception Report

1. In consultation with key stakeholders the consultants will prepare an inception report. The report should include (i) a detailed workplan, (ii) desk review of existing information, (iii) a baseline assessment, (iv) a situation analysis, and (v) a needs assessment.

2. The study should maximize the use of readily available information. Some primary data collection is expected to reinforce existing information and to enhance the studies. Issues for study should also be guided by relevant ADB or European Economic Community (EEC) publications including: “Guidelines for Water Resources Development Co-operation (1998);” “Project Cycle Management Manual (2001);” “Manual for Financial and Economic Analysis (1997);” and “Manual on Environmental Procedures and Methodology (1993).” Lessons learned from past project and program evaluations in Samoa, and elsewhere, should also be considered.

3. Consolidation of information and a situation analysis will provide a common understanding of the current water supply status, its short-comings, and serve to support the development of options. Items for review and assessment:

   1. the extent of waterborne diseases and the impacts of inadequate water supply in Samoa;

   2. the adequacy of policies, legislation, institutional arrangements, and programs for service delivery;

   3. an assessment of current roles and responsibilities and review the institutional capacity of these organizations (including SWA, community-based service providers, and the private sector) to undertake these roles;

   4. the operational performance of SWA including service levels, coverage, and regional variations;

   5. the financial performance of the SWA including costs to deliver services (disaggregated according to supply/demand zones), operation, maintenance and management costs, tariff revenues, and capital replacement profiles;

   6. water resource assessments and water quality assessments and determine water resource issues and constraints;

   7. Review of existing SWA coverage area (i.e., population served and combined length of functioning pipeline) and methodology used to determine coverage area.

   8. Assessment of the operational performance of existing SWA assets and preparation of conditional assessment plan to upgrade all assets in need of repair/upgrade.

   9. the use and appropriateness of technology in the different service delivery systems; and

   10. an overview of SWA performance.

4. The inception report will reaffirm the relevance of a water supply and sanitation (WSS) program and ensure a program is designed to meet the real needs and problems of target beneficiaries. The consultants will confirm the following:

   1. the coherence of a WSS program within the overall framework of national development, development policies, etc.

   2. the nature, number and type of beneficiaries and other stakeholders that the proposed program will potentially affect;

   3. all organizations and agencies affected by or involved in the proposed program;

   4. all major problems experienced by the supposed beneficiaries (including rural communities) of the program and by any other parties likely to be involved, the causal interrelationships of these problems, and the intersectoral links;

   5. other interventions or priorities by any national organization or donor which may be affected by the proposed program;

   6. information from previous studies and evaluations relevant to the proposed program.

5. The inception report should emphasize the need for SWA to progress towards digital transformation. This report should identify areas that would benefit from investment in modern technology as well as establishing a strategic plan outlining SWA goals for digital and technological development and creating steps to ensure that these goals are met.

6. Following endorsement of the inception report by SWA, the consultants will begin Phase 2. Endorsement by SWA comprises approval by the Board of Directors acting on the advice of the Managing Director.

 

Phase 2 – Preparation the draft final water supply masterplan and investment plan

1. In consultation with key stakeholders the consultants will prepare draft final water supply masterplan and investment plan. Based on findings from the Inception Phase, the draft masterplan and draft investment plan should include an evaluation of the (i) feasibility, (ii) assumptions, and (iii) sustainability of the proposed solutions.

2. The consultants will determine the feasibility of alternative solutions to deliver WSS services across different supply/demand zones. Technical options should take account of the hydrological and hydro-geological regimes in different supply/demand zones and result in preliminary designs for each zone. The consultant shall verify water resources and water quality information and carry out additional analyses (e.g., hydro chemical analysis) where necessary at potential water sources. Technical solutions should also involve investment in advanced technologies and applying them to further improve the authority’s performance and service delivery to Samoa and its customers (e.g., SCADA, smart water meter systems, intake level monitoring devices, etc.). An analysis of existing and projected water demands up to a design horizon of 20 years, including an analysis of elasticity of demand with price will be undertaken.

3. The Study will include establishing a contingency plan for the design and implementation of a new Trunk Main water supply purposed for supplying various demand zones in Savaii and Upolu. Key stakeholders shall be consulted and involved in the planning process.

4. The identification and analysis of options should not consider technical concerns alone but should also consider institutional and other means to improve efficiency and sustainability of service delivery. Solutions should be consistent with the economic and financial, institutional and management, environmental and socio-cultural frameworks. The analyses should ensure involvement of key stakeholders with recommendations formulated in discussion and consultation with these stakeholders.

5. The Study will detail any assumptions/pre-conditions that would be necessary before the WSS options could be designed and implemented. This may include further essential studies and analyses and the consultant should include definition, phasing, and costing of such activities where necessary.

6. The sustainability of proposed WSS options will be determined by an assessment of key sustainability factors. The Consultants are required to use their professional experience to review and bring to the attention of the Government and ADB all relevant factors ensuring sustainability including (but not limited to):

   1. policy framework and support measures:

      1. extent to which existing policy need modification or addition; adequacy of legal and regulatory frameworks; appropriateness of tariff structures;

      2. appropriate technology and technical matters:

      3. efficiency and appropriateness of technology for the local context; cost effectiveness of operation and maintenance; standardization of technology; compatibility with locally available skills and materials

   2. environmental protection:

      1. cost effective approaches to improve environmental impacts, mitigation, and monitoring; catchment management and protection; security and protection of water sources; ecological enhancement

   3. socio-cultural and gender aspects:

      1. community attitudes towards water and consistency with cultural norms and practices; gender equity; willingness-to-pay and affordability; effective approaches to integrate water supply,

   4. Private Public Partnership (PPP):

      1. Explore opportunities for SWA to collaborate with the private sector in Samoa; identify works and duties under SWA that can be appropriately outsourced to the private sector

      2. Identify potential PPP pilot programs for non-revenue water (NRW), headworks operations, wastewater treatment plant operations and design, etc.

   5. asset management aspects:

      1. Conditional assessment plan focused towards upgrading SWA assets and improving functionality of water supply systems.

      2. Create and implement pilot program for conditional assessment for SWA major assets (e.g., water treatment plants, wastewater treatment plants, boreholes, etc.).

      3. Conditional assessment to be led by consultant. Consultant shall be responsible for providing relevant training to SWA staff; consultant shall also prepare a workplan for SWA staff to implement, including regular assignments for SWA to complete.

      4. Consultant responsible for reviewing assignments, workplan progress and performance of SWA staff regarding the conditional assessment.

      5. Review of SWA’s current practices for projecting coverage area; standardize local practices/methodology with international benchmarking practices; review of calculations used to determine SWA coverage population % relative to Samoa’s total population.

   6. institutional and management aspects:

      1. institutional capacity of the SWA to operate and maintain services; incentives for efficient and effective service delivery; alternative institutional models for delivery of services (e.g., scheme transfers, performance related management contracts, etc.); rationalization of roles, responsibilities and involvement of beneficiaries; local public-private partnerships and outsourcing; institutional strengthening and capacity building.

   7. digital transformation aspects:

      1. identification of areas needing technological development and assistance

      2. identification of technology and digital systems appropriate for meeting development needs.

      3. assessment of cost-effectiveness of technology for operation and maintenance; factor in compatibility of technology investment with existing skillset of SWA employees.

      4. establishment of a capacity building plan catered towards teaching the use of new digital systems and technology; applying the use of technology in daily work practices; outline training resources, training process and selection criteria for potential trainers and instructors.

      5. Establishment of a development strategic plan outlining the implementation process of advanced technology in daily work practices.

   8. economic and financial aspects:

      1. impact on the financial viability and sustainability of SWA; alternative tariff structures and cost recovery options considering affordability and willingness to pay; cost benefit and sensitivity analysis of options; economic and financial analysis of the proposed investment program.

7. Following endorsement of the draft masterplan and investment plan by SWA, the consultants will begin Phase 3.

 

Phase 3 – Preparation the final water supply masterplan and investment plan

1. Following the review of the draft final water supply masterplan and investment plan by key stakeholders, incorporate comments and suggestions into the final water supply masterplan and investment plan.

2. The consultants will also prepare a (i) PowerPoint presentation and a (ii) short video for high-level decision-makers to present the masterplan outputs. A high-level launch to present the final masterplan will also be required.

3. Prior to the completion of the final masterplan, an independent consultant shall be sought to conduct a formal peer review on the work prepared before the masterplan is implemented.

 

Phase 4 – Final Report & Public Awareness materials

1. In consultation with key stakeholders, including ADB, the consultants will prepare a (i) final report and (ii) two knowledge products.

2. The final report should include the following:

   1. Recommendations, cost estimates, and terms of reference for essential studies, surveys and assessments necessary prior to the final design of technical options including the contingency plan for the Trunk Main water supply system in both Savaii and Upolu.

   2. Review and recommendations for standardizing SWA’s local practices in assessing coverage area in relation to international benchmarking practices

   3. Terms of reference for a final engineering design in a first phase area;

   4. Assess the feasibility of a PPP and create pilot program for SWA works deemed suitable to be trialed out by private sector; draft terms of reference for PPP to be provided by consultant.

   5. Recommendations and an indicative investment program for support program, and an economic and financial justification for the program

   6. A definition of TA support and associated terms of reference required to assist SWA and others in the implementation of the WSS program.

   7. Conditional assessment plan and pilot program for SWA assets. All required training and capacity building for the conditional assessment shall be covered in (ix).

   8. Recommendations, cost estimates, feasibility study and strategic plan for advanced technology and digital systems required for the upgrading of SWAs water supply systems and upskilling of SWA personnel.

   9. Assessment of capacity building needs required by SWA employees and recommendations for a formal capacity building program.

3. The two knowledge products will present the key features of the masterplan and investment plan for an external audience. The knowledge products will include (i) a 10-page report and (ii) a brief blog post for publication on the ADB website.