Consultancy: Training on Water Stewardship and Governance Verified listing

Karachi, Pakistan’s largest metropolitan and economic hub, faces increasing pressure on its freshwater resources due to rising demand, groundwater over extraction, limited infrastructure capacity, and climate-related risks such as urban flooding and heat stress. Beyond the urban context, important freshwater and coastal ecosystems, including Keenjhar Lake and the Indus Delta, are both recognised as Ramsar Sites and Important
Bird Areas (IBAs), are also experiencing growing pressures from upstream water diversion, salinity intrusion, ecological degradation, and changing climatic conditions. These pressures threaten biodiversity and critical habitats while also affecting the livelihoods of communities that depend on these ecosystems.

Addressing these interconnected challenges requires strengthened institutional capacity, improved interdepartmental coordination, and integrated approaches to water governance and resource management. In particular, there is a need to enhance technical understanding, policy alignment, planning capacity, and institutional behaviour change within relevant public sector institutions.

To support these objectives, WWF Pakistan intends to engage a qualified consultant or training firm to design and deliver a capacity-building training programme for government officials on water stewardship and governance.

The purpose of this consultancy is to design and deliver a two-to-three-day capacity building training programme for government officials aimed at strengthening institutional understanding of water stewardship, integrated water resource management, and sustainable water governance. The training programme should support participants in linking policy frameworks, identified gaps, development
of strategical planning, along with practical planning processes within their respective departments.

Furthermore, training will emphasize applied and participatory learning approaches, including scenario-based planning exercises, governance and policy case studies, group discussions, and practical planning tools that enable participants to translate knowledge into actionable departmental initiatives and collaborative interventions.

The training will place particular emphasis on:
• Existing Policy frameworks and regulatory mechanisms related to water governance
• Strategic planning approaches for sustainable water resource management
• Interdepartmental coordination and collaborative governance
• Nature-based and ecosystem-based approaches to water management (including on-ground) interventions/models developed by WWF Pakistan)
• Fostering institutional behavioural change to support sustainable water use and decision making

Download Complete TORs 

• Education: Advanced degree (Master’s or Ph.D.) in water resources management, public policy, climate change, natural resource management, or a related field.
• Experience: At least 5 years of professional experience in water governance, water stewardship, integrated water resource management, climate resilience, or related environmental management fields.
• Training Experience: Demonstrated experience in designing and facilitating international or regional capacity building programmes or professional training for government institutions and multi-stakeholder groups
platforms, particularly within developing country contexts.
• Thematic Expertise: Knowledge of one or more of the following areas is desired:
• Water stewardship and collective action approaches
• Integrated water resource management
• Water governance and policy frameworks
• Climate resilience and climate risk considerations in water planning
• Nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based water management
• Language: Fluency in English and working knowledge of relevant local languages is an added advantage.
• Skills: Strong facilitation and communication skills, experience in participatory training methodologies, and ability to engage diverse institutional stakeholders.
• Contextual Understanding: Familiarity with Pakistan’s water governance landscape, institutional arrangements, and policy frameworks will be considered an advantage.
• Values and Compliance: Demonstrated commitment to WWF’s values, code of conduct, and environmental and social safeguards is essential.