Germania - Servizi di cooperazione economica estera - 81318175-Preparazione e supporto al processo di gara per un accumulo idroelettrico con pompaggio (PHES) in Giordania

Water Sector Governance Project: Jordan is among the most water-scarce countries globally, with per capita availability significantly below the international water poverty threshold. The strain on its already limited water resources continues to intensify, driven by the impacts of climate change and the growing demand associated with rapid population growth and urbanization. Decades of groundwater overexploitation have further exacerbated the situation, raising serious concerns about the long-term sustainability of the country"s water resources. The long-term planning of water-sector institutions does not fully address the challenges related to enduring resource availability. Moreover, changing water demands further complicate the optimal allocation of resources. At the same time, water utilities responsible for water distribution and wastewater treatment are struggling to sustain their service delivery levels and ensure the continuity of operations. Consequently, the development of sustainable and innovative water management strategies is essential to safeguard the well-being of both current and future generations. The "Water Sector Governance" project focuses on promoting the implementation of good governance principles, with the aim of strengthening advanced water governance and enhancing public trust in the Jordanian water sector. The project supports Jordan"s water sector institutions in applying the principles of good governance. By identifying the optimal use of available resources, it addresses immediate challenges while paving the way for sustainable, long-term solutions. Emphasizing collaboration across agencies, the initiative aims to foster a governance environment that promotes informed decision-making and responsible resource allocation. Through these efforts, the project contributes to enhancing the overall resilience and development of Jordan"s water sector. The project includes five major fields of action: 1. Implementation of Jordan"s National Water Strategy: supporting the institutionalisation and digitalisation of the National Water Master Plan (NWMP), as well as improving the exchange of information between the public and water sector institutions. This component also strengthens human resources management by optimising HR processes and promoting gender-inclusive leadership development. Additionally, it focuses on improving the security of IT and data systems of water sector institutions, advancing the digitalisation of the sector, and expanding the national Geographic Information System (GIS). 2. Strengthening Regulation: Supporting the foundation for the establishment of an autonomous regulatory body for the water sector and enhancing its monitoring role for water utilities. 3. Strengthening Bulk Water Management: establishing a new operational structure and a digital tool for bulk water planning, allocation and management for a better response to climate change. 4. Enhancing the WFEE Nexus governance: strengthening and advancing the Water-Energy-Food-Environment Nexus governance to enhance planning and policy coherence. This component focuses on promoting integrated and effective resource management, enhancing cross-sectoral collaboration and implementing innovative solutions to sustain Jordan"s resources and address environmental challenges. 5. Strengthening Sector"s capacities to mobilise Climate Finance: supporting the water sector in mobilising financial resources from international multilateral climate funds, developing facilitation mechanisms and building the capacity of local institutions to access, manage and utilise climate finance effectively. This component also aims to strengthen the capacities of the private sector in project preparation, finance leveraging and implementation to foster climate-responsive investments. Tender Preparation and Support to the Tendering Process for a Pumped Hydroelectric Energy Storage (PHES) in Jordan: In line with Jordan"s strategic objectives to enhance energy sustainability, self-reliance, and grid reliability, the country has prioritized the integration of energy storage solutions, specifically Pumped Hydro Energy Storage (PHES), as outlined in the national Generation Master Plan and Generation Expansion Plan. A 2018 pre-feasibility study funded by the EU evaluated three potential sites, Al-Mujib, Wadi Al-Arab, and King Talal Dams, identifying Al-Mujib Dam as the most cost-effective and technically viable option for PHES. Consequently, the Jordanian government, through the Ministries of Energy and Water, initiated a comprehensive feasibility study between 2020 and 2022 under the Water-Energy Nexus governance framework, with technical and financial support from GIZ and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). This study, which assessed a wide range of project development aspects, confirmed the economic and technical feasibility of the Mujib PHES as a large-scale energy storage solution that would support grid stability. As a result, Jordan has decided to move forward with project development through a public-private partnership model and initiate the tendering process of the project. The services to be provided aim to prepare the Final Updated Feasibility Study for the Mujib Pumped Hydroelectric Energy Storage project, ensuring alignment with international best practices and compliance with applicable local legal and regulatory requirements. In addition, the contractor will support the Government of Jordan throughout the tendering process for the Mujib PHES project. This includes the development of tender documents for the Mujib PHES project that are tailored to the local context and fully compliant with all relevant local legal and regulatory frameworks governing, but not limited to, the environmental aspects, the water sector, the energy sector, and Public Private Partnership Projects. The contractor will provide technical, financial, legal, and strategic assistance to ensure a smooth and transparent tendering process. The objectives of this assignment are outlined as follows: Conduct a comprehensive updated Feasibility Study Report in accordance with international best practices and relevant local legislations and regulations ; prepare all necessary tender documents including the Invitation for Expression of Interest, the Request for Qualification, Request for Proposal, Term Sheet of the PPP agreement and other agreement which are required for the implementation of the Project; and providing support to the Key Stakeholders in any matter related to the tendering process. The scope of work within this assignment is structured into three Work Packages (WP): WP 1 - Comprehensive Updated Feasibility Study Report for the Mujib PHES project; WP 2 - Tender Preparation and Tender Management (TPTM) for the Mujib PHES project; and WP 3 - Support to the Government of Jordan in the Tendering Process for the Mujib PHES project.