Amazon Cooperation Treaty
Organization
Global Environment
Facility
United Nations
Environment Programme
INTEGRATED AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF TRANSBOUNDARY
WATER RESOURCES IN THE AMAZON RIVER BASIN CONSIDERING
CLIMATE VARIABILITY AND CHANGE
ACTO/GEF/UNEP
GEFAM
COMPONENT-II Understanding the Natural Resource Base of the Amazon
River Basin
SUBPROJECT-II.1 Targeted Research
TERMS OF REFERENCE
Geologist/Sedimentologist/Geochemist for the coordination and
execution of
ACTIVITY Nº II.1.3 CHARACTERIZATION OF THE SEDIMENT LOAD OF THE
MADEIRA AND AMAZONAS-SOLIMÕES RIVERS
Code:
Position: Geologist/Sedimentologist/Geochemist for the coordination and execution of
ACTIVITY Nº II.1.3 CHARACTERIZATION OF THE SEDIMENT LOAD OF THE MADEIRA
AND AMAZONAS-SOLIMÕES RIVERS of the project “Integrated and Sustainable
Management of Transboundary Water Resources in the Amazon River Basin
Considering Climate Variability and Climate Change”
Financing Agency: Global Environment Facility (GEF)
Implementing Agency: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Executing Agency: Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO)
Project Duration: 18 months
Application closing:
Bolivia, Brasil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Perú, Surinam y Venezuela
Brasilia 2012
I - INTRODUCTION: PROJECT BACKGROUND
In recognition of the hydrographical unity of the Amazon Basin and in order to address
the need for coordinated action, the Basin countries signed the Amazon Cooperation
Treaty (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela)
creating the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO). In 2003, following an
initiative introduced by the Brazilian National Water Agency, and based on the results
of a meeting of national focal points of the Inter-American Water Resources Network,
ACTO, on behalf of the Amazon Basin countries, and in collaboration with the
Organization of American States, sought the support of the GEF to help develop a
project proposal aimed at strengthening the institutional framework to effectively
initiate integrated water resources management within the world’s largest
hydrographic basin, in the context of climate variability and change.
The project “Integrated and Sustainable Management of Transboundary Water
Resources in the Amazon River Basin Considering Climate Variability and Change”
(ACTO/GEF/UNEP) seeks to strengthen the institutional framework to effectively
initiate integrated water resources management within the world’s largest
hydrographic basin, through planning and executing coordinated activities for the
protection and sustainable management of the land and water resources of the
Amazon River Basin, in the context of climate variability and change. The project will
employ an innovative participatory mechanism as the basis for understanding current
and expected IWRM challenges and issues. Such an understanding is the foundation
upon which a sustainable and responsive Strategic Action Program (SAP), comprising
program of capacity building, institutional strengthening, application of feasible
economic instruments, and meaningful social and economic advancement, can be
developed.
The Amazon River transports about 1,200 x 106 tons of sediment from the South
American to the Atlantic Ocean. The discharge and sediment supply into the Amazon
River naturally show considerable fluctuation in their delivery rates because of
geological and gradient variation in the Basin. Superimposed upon this natural
background are human activities which modify the forest cover, expose friable soils to
erosion, and encourage altered runoff patterns that exacerbate the natural levels of
soil loss in the drainage area. In this context, many attempts have been made to
understand the dynamics of the complex biogeochemical processes taking place in the
Amazon Basin. The present activity focuses on the determination of the origins of the
increasing load of transported sediments due to recent intensive land use in the State
of Rondonia. Madeira and Solimões Rivers were chosen because of their
environmental and socioeconomic importance. The Madeira River Sub-basin has a
catchment area of 1,485,128 km2—or one-quarter of the Amazon Basin, but transports
around 400 x 106 tons/year of sediments—or about one-third of the sediment load—to
the Amazon River.
Confronting the Amazon Basin region are numerous challenges to the sustainable
utilization of land and water resources as the region experiences exponential socio-
economic growth and internal migratory flows and immigration. The complexity of the
issues, coupled with a rapid rate of change in an environment requires the
implementation of a process that will help minimize risks associated with
deforestation, climate variability and change, and conflicts regarding the use of water
and natural resources, while creating a strong foundation upon which to build a
Strategic Action Program (SAP) that will address transboundary water resources
management concerns shared by Basin countries.
The Project has been structured in 5 Components.
Component I - Understanding the Amazonian Society focuses on the needs, goals and
interests of Basin stakeholders and on the institutions tasked with IWRM and the
governance of the Amazon region. This component identifies gaps in knowledge that
need to be bridged in order that Amazonian society is brought closer to the sustainable
utilization of the natural resources. The focus of this component is water resources
that support human activities. The shared vision developed through Component I will
inform numerous elements of Component III, which focus on response strategies.
Component II focuses on data gathering and analysis and through scientific
assessments and data synthesis defines the ability of the natural system to support
human activities.
Together, Component I and Component II create the basis for strategic interventions
(Component III) that will link the human activities and the natural resource base. The
outputs of these components will be used in the formulation of the Strategic Action
Program (SAP).
Component III develops a portfolio of strategies for specific actions, together with
financial mechanisms to support and sustain these actions, a related education
strategy, communications strategy, multi-stakeholder participation plan (MSPP) and
financial strategy.
Components IV and V support the management and the M&E system necessary for
successful project implementation.
Each of the Components is further sub-divided in Subprojects and Activities.
II – OBJECTIVES, RESPONSABILITIES AND QUALIFICATION OF THE CONSULTANCY
The consultant will coordinate and execute ACTIVITY: II.1.3 CHARACTERIZATION OF
THE SEDIMENT LOAD OF THE MADEIRA AND AMAZONAS-SOLIMÕES RIVERS which is
part of SUBPROJECT-II.1 Targeted Research and COMPONENT-II Understanding the
Natural Resource Base of the Amazon River Basin
GENERAL OBJECTIVE
Assess the sediment geochemical composition and identify the main sources of
anthropogenic-derived suspended and deposited sediments within the principle
tributaries of the Amazon River in order to define mitigation actions to reduce the
human-driven portion of the erosion process and moderate the increasing mass of
sediment inputs into the Madeira-Solimões River System.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
 Design a sediment sampling program in the Madeira and Solimões River Basins;
 Carry out the sampling campaign, including collecting water samples, samples of
suspended sediments, and samples of the riverbed sediments at the river floor;
 Preserve samples in accordance with standard methods of sediment and water
analysis;
 Perform laboratory analysis of collected samples.
 Prepare a report on the sedimentation characterization of the Madeira and
Solimões River systems and remedial measures

SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES
1. Design of a sampling program to support the collection and analysis of sediment
and water samples within the principle tributaries of the Amazon River.
 Plan the activities for the sampling campaign;
 Select sampling sites;
2. Execution of the sampling campaign in the field
 Collect samples, during the dry and rainy seasons, including water samples,
samples of suspended sediments, and samples of the riverbed sediments at
the river floor;
 Document the sampling campaign;
 Preserve samples in accordance with standard methods of sediment and
water analysis and deliver for laboratory analysis;
3. Execution of laboratory analysis of collected samples
 Perform laboratory analysis of collected samples, including (i)
sedimentological analysis, (ii) geochemical analysis of the sediments, and
(iii) water analysis—utilizing standard analytical methodologies.
4. Assessment/characterization of the sediment in the Madeira and Solimões River
systems
 Prepare a report on the sedimentation characterization of the Madeira and
Solimões River systems + sedimentation rates
 Identify the main sources of anthropogenic-derived suspended and
deposited sediments within the principle tributaries of the Amazon River
 Define mitigation actions to reduce the human-driven portion of the
erosion process and moderate the increasing mass of sediment inputs into
the Madeira-Solimões River System.
OUTPUTS, REPORTING AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE
All payments to be disbursed according to agreed consultancy fees and after the
corresponding output/product has been revised and approved by the Regional
Technical Coordinator and the Coordination for Environment and the Executive
Direction of the PS/ACTO.
The Consultant will be responsible for the delivery of the following outputs:
Output 1: Presentation of a strategic plan for project implementation, including
detailed methodology of work and the detailed index of the final report (output 5)
(1st payment - 10%).
Output 2: Detailed Travel plan for the execution of the sampling campaign (2. Payment
(advance) - according to the budget of the travel plan)
Output 3: Documented Report on the execution of the sampling campaign (3rd
payment – 25%).
Output 4: Documented planning and methodology for the laboratory analysis (4 th
payment – 15%)
Output 5: Final Report: Documented analytical results and complete assessment
(characterization – human induced sedimentation rate – remedial action) from the
completed water and sediment sampling program conducted in the Madeira and
Solimões Rivers
(4th payment – 50%)
METHODOLOGY
The sampling program will be carried out during the rainy season (October to April)
and during the dry season (May to September). Sampling sites (with a total of 150
samples/year including triplicates) will be selected according to the available
information about regional geology and the processes that influence the existing
sediment distribution.
The sampling sites will be distributed as follows:
Ten points on the Madeira River, with five points before and five points after its
confluence with the Solimões River;
 Ten points on the Solimões River, with five points before and five points
after its confluence with the Negro River; and,
 Five points along the confluence of the Negro River with the Solimões
River.
The samples will include: Water, Suspended sediment, Sediments at the river floor.
Laboratory Sample Analysis. The collected samples will be subjected to: (i) field
sample analysis, (ii) geochemical analysis, and (iii) water analysis—utilizing standard
analytical methodologies. Detailed analytical requirements are available in the full size
project of Activity Nº II.1.3 Characterization of the Sediment Load of the Madeira and
Amazonas-Solimões Rivers
All activities will be executed in permanent coordination with the Activity Coordinator
and the Project Regional Technical Coordinator and the Executing Agency-ACTO as well
as the National Project Units (NPUs), which will serve as inter-institutional mechanisms
to coordinate country-based interventions, education and management activities, in
each one of the countries.
TRAVEL
The Consultancy will involve travel to the ACTO member countries. The coordination
travel directly related to the Consultant’s activities will be sponsored/ or reimbursed
by the GEFAM Project Coordination Unit (PCU) upon prior approval of travel plan and
travel report.
III – QUALIFICATIONS
Eligibility Criteria and Technical Competencies
Education
Advanced university degree (PhD level) in Geology, Sedimentology or Geochemistry
Experience
 Demonstrated experience in sediment flow studies.
 Knowledge and professional experience in hydrological monitoring in the
Amazon Basin and water flow measurement with Doppler technology.
 A minimum of 8 years professional experience in the Amazon Basin.
 Participation in national and international research projects related to the
issues of the project.
 Excellent communication skills in Portuguese and working knowledge of English
or Spanish.
 Work experience with multi-disciplinary and/or cross-sector teams;
 Work experience in one or more of the participating countries and/or the
Amazon region is an asset;
 Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch and English are the working languages of the
participating countries; Proficiency in Portuguese, and working knowledge of
English or Spanish is required (oral and written);
Core Competencies
 Results Orientation: Ability to meet project goals and produce high-quality results.
 Planning and Execution: Capacity to translate strategic goals and priorities into
realistic project deliverables.
 Leadership: Competent leadership abilities necessary for dynamic, diverse and
complex projects.
 Building Coalitions: Ability to build relevant coalitions to achieve project goals.
 Strategic Thinking: Ability to formulate objectives, set priorities and implement
plans consistent with project interests.
IV – ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
 Applicant should be available to begin work no later than May 2012
 Applicant must be willing and able to travel as needed
 Consultancy duration: 18 month
 Total Consultancy fees: U$ 16.000
 Proper work documentation required
V – SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION
 Candidates should submit an application package, including a CV in English (no
more than 2 pages), Motivation Letter in Spanish or Portuguese (2 pages) and a
minimum of two professional references by email to: selecao@otca.org.br
 The subject of the e-mail message should refer to:
GEF-AMAZON Selection/ Activity ……..
 Application closing day: July 7th, 2012,
 18:00 Brasilia local time
Contact:
SP/OTCA - GEFAM
SHIS - QI 05, Conjunto 16, Casa 21
Lago Sul - Brasília DF - Brazil
Telephone (55-61) 3248 4119 / 4132
Fax (55-61) 3248 4238
www.otca.org.br