Expression of Interest are invited for Nature-Based Solutions for Managing Dredged Materials and Coastal Erosion in the Mekong Delta The Mekong Delta is an important agricultural region for Vietnam, contributing to nearly 70% of exported aquaculture products and approximately 90% of exported rice. The delta is also home to 22% of Vietnams population, most of which live in rural areas and are highly dependent upon rice, fruit, or shrimp farming for their livelihoods. The Mekong Delta, as all deltas in the world, was created and is maintained by the natural sediment delivery and effective distribution from the upstream river system to the deltaic plains. Without a sustainable influx of sediment to deltaic systems, the surface level and coast line of the delta, cant keep up with the relative sea level rise, increasing flood risks and erosion. In the Mekong system, research shows that the sediment delivery to the delta has been reducing due to upstream interventions, such as dams, reservoirs and diversions, as well as human modifications within the delta itself. Recent science has shown a reduction in sediment delivery to the delta by up to 60-85% compared to pre-dam construction levels, putting the fundamental sustainability of the delta at risk. Subsidence induced by groundwater extraction and riverbed sand mining has resulted in increased saline intrusion, extended inundation, coastal and riverbank erosion, and the degradation of natural assets. The issue of sediment management has therefore been viewed as critical for the very existence of the delta. In addition to the overall reduction of sediment delivery to and distribution within the delta, vast human-made modifications in the delta (i.e., canals, dikes, saltwater dams, and other hydraulic interventions) have been put in place over the last few decades to boost socio-economic growth, particularly agricultural production. The main purpose of these infrastructure systems is to distribute and regulate water across the delta. However, in some areas, these interventions have caused a reduction in sediment transport that further exacerbates erosion challenges, as well as excessive sediment deposition that reduces a systems capacity to discharge water, leading to increased flood risks and hampering inland waterway transportation in the delta. Dredging, which centres around the targeted extraction of sediment to alleviate the sedimentation problem (including disposal of dredged materials) and enable water transport, become a regionwide, intensive and recurrent activity. However, dredging of canals in the Mekong Delta has encountered many difficulties, such as outdated technologies and dredging equipment, sub-optimal design of dredging activities and problems regarding the deposition of dredged material, as land compensation costs have increased significantly. Often, the dredged spoil is dumped right next to the canal, which then flows back into the canal again during the rainy season. Poor management of the dredged materials causes negative impacts on the environment and on human health. These two, opposing, sediment-related challenges of too much or too little sediment, are highly heterogenous and require spatially explicit management approaches. The growing trend of sediment deficit and poor sediment management coupled with climate change and sea-level rise result in widespread erosion along riverbanks and coastal areas. Coastal and river erosion occurs at many locations in the Mekong Delta and is widely recognized as a serious hazard. More than 50% of the Mekong Deltas coastline is exposed to erosion. Many local solutions are already implemented with varying results. However, an all-compassing strategy for sediment and erosion management for the entire delta does not yet exist. For more than two decades, research has been executed that provide valuable new knowledge and data to support such a strategy. Nevertheless, several gaps in knowledge, data, models and monitoring programs exist, as were identified in a gap assessment executed by the World Bank. The World Bank assessment was based on a comprehensive review of 49 river and coastal erosion studies that were executed in the past 20 years in the Mekong Delta by governmental agencies and research institutes, as well as development partners (DPs). Many studies focused on specific locations or provinces in the region only. Most of them used some kind of modelling, in combination with data acquisition surveys, remote sensing images, etc. However, the data records used are often limited in time and space. Process understanding of the key physical processes in general is good, except for non-traditional solutions (such as nature-based solutions, sand nourishments etc.) mostly because there is hardly any experience on these in Viet Nam. Erosion forecasting, early warning systems and impact assessment of solutions are rather poorly developed. Most of the implemented solutions (such as breakwaters along the coast) are not monitored, so that their effectiveness is not measured. Canal dynamics is poorly understood, mainly because data on sedimentation is almost absent. The World Bank is supporting the Government of Viet Nam (GoV)s Mekong Delta climate resilience and sustainable development agenda through various instruments (investment projects, policy development, analytical works, technical assistances, etc.). One of the key part of the support is the technical assistance program funded by the Australia- World Bank Partnership, Phase 2 (ABP2): the Mekong Delta: Advancing Climate Resilient Development: Inclusive, Innovative, Integrated ASA program. This ABP2 ASA aims to share knowledge and inform policies and programs for regional planning and coordination, as well as climate resilient investments and livelihoods in the Mekong Delta. As part of this support, the ABP2 ASA currently finances studies and analytics to inform the design of investment project(s) proposed by the GoV authorities (e.g., Ministry of Agriculture and Environment - MAE, and selected ministries and provinces in the Mekong Delta). From the gap assessment mentioned above, some high priority research topics have been identified. One of these topics includes identifying key elements of a systematic sediment management action planning for the Mekong Delta. An activity is currently underway to (i) undertake a state-of the-art assessment of the current status of erosion and sedimentation challenges in the Mekong Delta, including the benefits and negative consequences of past and existing sediment management practices; and (ii) propose a roadmap for the creation of an integrated and systematic framework for sediment management and sand mining in the Mekong Delta. This activity seeks to inform the GoV-led management strategy (financed by a World Bank proposed MERIT project described below) and specific measures for improved sediment management in an integrated manner, and at regional and subregional levels. Another critical gap identified in the assessment is a lack of effective and innovative solutions that are more sustainable and environmentally friendly for managing sediment and erosion in the Mekong Delta, beside the conventional, hard-infrastructure solutions that are implemented on an ad-hoc, localized manner to address emergency erosion hotspots. The aim of this Innovative nature-based solutions for managing dredged materials and coastal erosion in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta consultancy, therefore, is to explore the opportunities for beneficial use of dredged materials, and examine the feasibility of applying innovative nature-based solutions to better manage the dredged materials and to effectively protect the coastline from erosion in a long-term, strategic and sustainable manner. In this assignment the dredged materials from regular maintenance operations, have two sources: (i) the canals present in the delta, connecting the farm land to the main river branches, and (ii) the riverine waterways. The study will draw on state-of-the-art knowledge and international best practices and provide insights and generate practical solutions that are applicable to the specific local contexts (see also the objectives below). The outputs of this consultancy, together with other complementary analytical works, are expected to inform the design and subsequent implementation of the relevant investment proposals under the proposed WB-financed Mekong Delta Climate Resilience and Integrated Transformation project (MERIT or WB11 project). The MERIT project, led by the MAE and ten Mekong Delta provinces (An Giang, Bac Lieu, Ben Tre, Ca Mau, Dong Thap, Hau Giang, Kien Giang, Soc Trang, Tien Giang and Tra Vinh) has an indicative total financing of $800 million. The project will provide critical resources and guidance to operationalize the vision and strategies set out in the Mekong Delta Regional Master Plan (RMP). This will help to address regional issues in the changing context of climate change and upstream development impacts. Component 1 of the MERIT project includes the development of an erosion management and delta dredging program and an integrated coastal management program, both of which will be institutionalize and operationalized by the GoV. The MERIT project will also finance investment to enhance the resilience of key assets as well as support new, upgraded, and repurposed infrastructure systems to manage climate risks. This is aligned with the new development model that prioritizes climate-adaptive and higher-value livelihoods as well as living with nature principles. Within the scope of MERIT projects, there are proposed investments in rehabilitation of regional and subregional canal systems which include large-scale dredging activities. While this consultancy assignment will inform MERIT investment activities, it is expected that the study will generate applied knowledge and propose practical solutions that inf Tender Link : https://wbgeprocure-rfxnow.worldbank.org/rfxnow/public/advertisement/5545/view.html
