REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRM SELECTION) BURUNDI
RUVYIRONZA MULTI-PURPOSES WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (PRODERER)

Sector: Water and Sanitation; Energy; Agriculture and Forestry.
Financing Agreement Reference: 5600155005702
Project ID No.: P-BI-E00-003
The Government of the Republic of Burundi has received a grant from the African Development Bank (AfDB) through the Special Funds of the African Water Facility (AWF) toward the cost of the Ruvyironza Water Resources Development and Multi-Use Dam Project (PRODERER). The Nile Basin Initiative/Nile Equatorial Lakes Subsidiary Action Program – Coordination Unit (NELSAP-CU), acting as the Executing Agency, intends to apply part of the grant proceeds to payments under the contract for the Preparation of an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) for the Ruvyironza Multi-purposes Water Resources Development Project.
The consultancy services include Preparation of an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) for the Ruvyironza Multi-purposes Water Resources Development Project located in Burundi, within the Kagera Sub-basin. The proposed project aims at developing irrigated agriculture estimated at 14,674ha. They will also explore the potential to promote other uses such as water supply, small hydropower generation, flood control, and watershed management of critically degraded contributing catchments.
The tasks to be carried out as part of these assignments will include but not be limited to undertaking baseline assessments, scoping, prediction of the magnitude and significance of environmental and social impacts, assessment of options, development of measures for mitigation of impacts and how they should be incorporated into project design, facilitation of public consultations as well as preparation of Environmental and Social Management Plans. Further tasks will include but not limited to identification of affected populations and assessment of their socio-economic conditions, determination of the nature and extent of resettlement required, development of a resettlement strategy, including compensation measures, livelihood restoration, and community engagement, and preparation of a detailed RAP in compliance with relevant legal frameworks and guidelines.
The studies will be undertaken within the frameworks of the Government of Burundi as well as African Development Bank (AfDB) Integrated Safeguards Systems (ISS) and will take 9 months effective June 2026. The assessments will run concurrently with the feasibility studies for the Irrigation Development and Watershed Management Projects within the same locations, but will independently evaluate the environmental and social aspects, although it is strongly advised that the two processes inform each other in an appropriate way.
The NELSAP now invites eligible consulting Consultants to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested consultants must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (brochures, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc.). Consultants may constitute joint ventures to enhance their chances of qualification.
The detailed Terms of Reference can be found on the following www.nilebasin.org.
Eligibility criteria, establishment of the short-list and the selection procedure shall be in accordance with the African Development Bank’s “Procurement Policy for Bank Group Funded Operations” dated October 2015, which is available on the Bank’s website at http://www.afdb.org.
Interested consultants may obtain further information at the address below during office hours from Monday to Friday except on public holidays, between 09:00 to 17:00 hours.
Expressions of Interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by email) by 20th February 2026 at 11:00 hours, and shall clearly indicate: “EoI for the Preparation of an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) for the Ruvyironza Multi-purposes Water Resources Development Project (PRODERER).”

Procurement Specialist,
Nile Equatorial Lakes Subsidiary Action Program - Coordination Unit,
Kigali City Tower, 5th Floor; Plot 6418 Avenue du Commerce,
P.O. Box. 6759,
Kigali, Rwanda.
Telephone: +250 788 307334
Email: nelsapprocurement@nilebasin.org copy to nelsapcu@nilebasin.org.