Promoting Action on Plastic Pollution from Source to Sea in Asia and the Pacific Subproject 1: Enhancing Knowledge and Creating Enabling Environments for Reducing Marine Plastic Pollution (53068-002) TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR CONSULTANTS A. Background 1. The knowledge and support technical assistance (TA) cluster will support ADB’s developing member countries’ (DMCs) deliver on their commitments to reduce marine plastic pollution from 'source to sea’. The TA will support action planning to reduce marine plastic pollution, policy and regulatory reform to enable circular economy, pilot demonstration projects, and the preparation of investments in integrated solid waste management (ISWM) systems. The TA will also promote and facilitate regional cooperation, knowledge sharing, and the mobilization of further resources to support action on oceans health and circular economy. 2. Two subprojects have been defined under the TA cluster: (1) Enhancing Knowledge and Creating Enabling Environments for Reducing Marine Plastic Pollution expected to be approved in November 2019 and (2) Prioritizing and Implementing Actions to Reduce Marine Plastic Pollution expected to be approved in the first quarter of 2020. B. Subproject 1 Outcome, Outputs, Methods, and Activities 3. TA Subproject 1 supports TA cluster outputs 1, 2, and 3. It comprises outputs and activities focused on filling critical information gaps for the region (particularly on infrastructure and technology needs), creating enabling environments for addressing marine plastic pollution through policy reforms and institutional strengthening, and identifying and responding to immediate plastic pollution reduction opportunities. It also includes a focus on awareness of solutions and facilitating regional cooperation and south-south knowledge sharing, and on mobilizing finance for reducing marine plastic pollution and improving ocean health. 4. Subproject 1 focuses on Southeast Asia, with participating countries including Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam. However, support for preparing investments (Output 2) and participating in regional activities (Output 3) will be open to other DMCs, while regional research will cover the whole region and provide differentiated recommendations where possible. Subproject 1 has the following key outputs: 5. Output 1: Action plans and policies to address marine plastic pollution supported. Output 1 support will target DMCs to create enabling institutional and policy environments to reduce marine plastic pollution, where they are committed to drive forward recommendations and reforms. Support will be provided to (i) undertake national reviews of institutional arrangements and capacity, and policy and regulation (including economic and financial instruments) for improving ISWM, promoting circular economy for plastic, and reducing marine plastic pollution; and (ii) undertake detailed design/drafting and roll-out of priority policy reforms and institutional strengthening activities. Possible policy instruments could include bans, taxes, levies, subsidies, product take-backs, deposit-refund schemes, material product stands, minimum recycled content requirements, and extended producer responsibility schemes. Policy development will follow good practice i.e. be evidence based; follow robust analysis of options and their impacts; engage stakeholders and include a public consultation process; take into account implementation challenges, feasibility and long-term sustainability. Activities will be conducted in close collaboration with governments, with capacity building provided as needed to enable full engagement and informed decision-making. Support will be provided in collaboration with partners, in line with regional and national action plans, and tailored to the specific needs and context of each DMC. 6. Output 2: Plastic pollution reduction investments supported. Output 2 provides on- demand specialist support to operations departments to help identify, prepare, and boost implementation of government and private sector actions to reduce marine plastic pollution. This may include policy-based lending for new or reformed standards or regulations on plastics; urban planning and infrastructure investments that facilitate efficient material flows, and waste minimization and management; zero waste cities and ecovillages; sustainable and smart value chain development that considers effective waste management; and private sector investments that result in reduced plastic waste. The scope of specialists’ inputs and services will cover ISWM and circular economy, with inputs for upstream work through project implementation. This could include (i) undertaking sector assessments as part of the ADB country partnership strategy and country operations business plan processes, (ii) supporting project teams in investment dialogues with DMCs and key partners, (iii) providing technical inputs to guide concept designs and help prepare concept papers, (iv) providing specialist advice and inputs to improve project design or implementation, and (v) providing technical inputs and helping project teams mobilize finance. 7. Output 3: Knowledge, regional cooperation, and financing for marine plastic pollution solutions improved. Output 3 focuses on supporting regional activities such as knowledge generation, awareness raising, regional cooperation and mobilization of financing, and support for priorities identified in the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter (2008, revised 2019) and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Framework of Action on Marine Debris. The TA will deliver a research report for ADB DMCs on (i) the infrastructure/technology investment needs to provide safe ISWM and enable the transition to a circular economy for plastics; (ii) current financing, financing mechanisms, and investment gaps; and (iii) recommendations for how to scale-up investment, including by the private sector, and the enabling conditions needed. The research will also provide in-depth analysis and recommendations for several target DMCs. The analysis will highlight opportunities for waste recovery/recycling including alternative collection systems, markets for recycled materials, and the job creation opportunities. ADB will facilitate knowledge-sharing on key themes (e.g., investment needs, financing, policy instruments) and organize the inaugural Healthy Oceans Technology and Innovation Forum to facilitate sharing of solutions and partnerships among DMCs, business, academia, technology providers, innovators, and thought leaders. Further, the TA will support cooperation among developing countries on marine plastic, for example between ASEAN and the People’s Republic of China or between Indonesia and the Pacific Island Countries. Awareness-raising and mainstreaming activities on ocean health and circular economy will also be carried out through subregional cooperation programs, such as the Greater Mekong Subregion Economic Cooperation Program, Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia– Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area, Indonesia–Malaysia–Thailand Growth Triangle, and Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecoregion Program. Awareness-raising activities will target leaders and ministers (especially ministers of national planning, finance, economic development, and infrastructure), while knowledge sharing will target mid- to senior-level officials. These activities will help mainstream ocean health and promote integrated action. Finally, the TA will help develop ADB’s Oceans Financing Initiative which will support DMCs to develop innovative finance vehicles and mobilize funding and resources for projects that will improve ocean health and build sustainable marine economies. Output 3 activities will be undertaken in close collaboration with partners. 8. A Partnerships Strategy will be prepared for the TA to facilitate the development of partnerships, including with the private sector, and to support TA coordination and avoidance of 2 duplication or overlapping efforts. Partnerships are already being developed with the World Wide Fund for Nature, Stockholm International Waters Institute, United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), European Investment Bank, World Bank, Government of Japan and Government of Korea. A Knowledge Management, Communications and Events Plan will also be prepared for the TA. C. Consulting Services Requirements 9. ADB will engage consulting firms, international and national individual consultants in accordance with ADB Procurement Policy (2017, as amended from time to time) and the associated project administration instructions/technical assistance staff instructions. In addition to firm consultancy services, the TA will require individual international consultants for specialized areas including on marine plastics pollution, circular economy, ISWM, technologies and financing. There are several development partners working on marine plastics issues in the region. The 1 TORs are indicative and will be finalized during TA implementation. 1 Where appropriate, pre-market engagement activities may be undertaken to better understanding of the potential research services providers on the topic and to further refine the terms of reference. 3 Table 1: Summary of Consulting Services Requirements Positions Person Months Required International (subtotal) 1. Plastics circular economy policy reform and institutional strengthening support (Firm) 1.1 Policy and Regulatory Specialist / Team Leader 5 1.2 Integrated SWM / Circular Economy