INTRODUCTION
Introduction to the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA)
The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) is an international organization that works as a solutions broker to catalyze action and support for adaptation solutions, from the international to the local, in partnership with the public and private sector, to ensure we learn from each other and work together for a climate resilient future. Adapting to impacts of climate change provides a “win-win” for livelihoods, food security, water supply, health, security, and economic growth. The work of the GCA elevates the visibility and political importance of climate adaptation and facilitates solutions, such as smarter investments, new technologies and better planning to become more resilient to climate related threats. GCA is a rapidly growing organization with offices in Abidjan, Beijing, Dhaka, Groningen, and Rotterdam.

The GCA’s ambitious 2020-2025 business plan and strategy have three pillars:

• Programs: Food Security; Using Nature for more resilient infrastructure; Water for Urban Growth and Resilience; Climate Finance; Youth Leadership.
• Knowledge: Building adaptation knowledge globally through cutting edge products such as the State and Trends in Adaptation Report and the Adaptation Knowledge Portal.
• Advocacy and Awareness: Formulating policy messages to move the global, regional, and local adaptation agendas forward.

The Services: To achieve its ambitious 2020-2025 business plan and strategy, GCA intends to procure Senior Consultant – Water and Urban Lead Specialist. Your Proposal, as specified in Annex 3: Scope of Work/Terms of Reference is hereby invited.

Objective of the Assignment  
The overall objective of the assignment is to provide high-level (Lead Specialist) technical support to the business line of climate-resilient water services. 
 
The specific objectives of the assignment are:  

• To provide technical advice on the design of GCA water and urban technical assistance programs.  
• To carry out technical review of Terms of Reference for complex programs.  
  To provide strategic and technical quality review of outputs from technical assistance programs. 
• Hands on capacity development of teams for the full business cycle (origination, internal approval, procurement, program management and partner engagement).  
   

Scope of work, tasks and key deliverables  
The Water and Urban team business cycle typically involves the origination of technical assistance with IFIs, submissions for internal approvals, procurement, project and process management, and quality control with IFIs and government (national or city) partners. Lead Specialist technical advice is required across all these business processes for the climate-resilient water services business line.  
 
The Water and Urban Lead Specialist will support the Water and Urban Lead and team with a high-level technical review of Terms of Reference, strategic and technical quality review of program outputs, and team hands-on capacity building. An indicative  Level of Effort is provided below that will be finalized at contract signature.  

Proposal Submission
Proposals and all supporting documents must be uploaded to the link: GCA-PR-25-717 – Submit Proposal in PDF format, no later than 16 April 2025, 16:00:00 hours (04:00:00 p.m. o’clock), Central European Time (CET).
 
Proposals received after the closing date and time will be rejected. GCA will confirm receipt of Proposals within 24 hours from the closing date and time. Bidders that do not receive this confirmation must contact GCA within 48 hours from the closing date and time. After 48 hours from the closing date and time, GCA shall not respond to any queries related to whether a bidder’s Proposal was received.
 
The point of contact for all questions or requests for additional information is procurement@gca.org. The email subject heading should be clearly marked with the following information: “Clarification Request – GCA-PR-25-717 – Lead Water Specialist Consultant”. All contact with personnel employed by the Global Center on Adaptation with respect to this RFP is prohibited, except for messages to the above email address. Improper contact may constitute grounds for rejection of your proposal. All inquiries regarding this RFP must be submitted in writing. Each inquiry must include the inquirer’s name, firm and telephone number. The Global Center on Adaptation will share the answers to all questions of a reasonable nature with all the parties that have expressed their interest. The closing date for clarifications concerning this RFP is 6 April 2025, 16:00:00 hours (04:00:00 p.m. o’clock), Central European Time (CET).
 
The Proposal must be drafted in English.

Please download the full RFP on this page for more information.