DESCRIPTION More than 60% of the projected increase in urban population from 2010 to 2050 will take place in Asia, and half of that growth will occur in medium-sized and secondary cities. These cities will make significant decisions on planning, land use, and major investment projects in the coming decades to support economic growth and to generate livelihoods for growing population. In order for participating governments and cities to respond to these challenges, they will need better: qualitative and quantitative data; understanding of coping mechanisms; reliable prediction systems; and operation and maintenance practices of infrastructure and services. Together, these improvements will enable participating governments and cities to identify Urban Climate Change Resilience (UCCR) strategies, build related institutional capacity, and leverage multi-stakeholder engagement in order to enhance the resilience of cities, and to minimize the local impacts of climate change. Physical and spatial challenges, important policy and institutional challenges are presented by agencies working across sectors, administrative boundaries, and multisector decision making. These challenges are more daunting because of weaknesses in government (national, provincial and local), lack of institutional space required for integrated decision making, environmental degradation, service utilities' understanding and awareness of climate-induced impacts, and interface with urban environment planning. Improving governance and institutional capability are therefore critical to addressing these challenges. PROJECT RATIONALE AND LINKAGE TO COUNTRY/REGIONAL STRATEGY Subproject 1 (SP1) will support a range of activities to help lay the groundwork for UCCR planning processes, and build capacity in preparing and responding to climate change-induced shocks and stresses in medium-sized and secondary cities. It will support the preparation of climate risk, vulnerability and urban system assessments that can inform the development of regional and urban master plans, city development strategies and action plans, infrastructure plans and identify opportunities to strengthen the performance of infrastructure investments. SP1 will make resources available to ADB's Operational Departments (ODs) to provide planning, implementation, policy and advisory, and capacity-building support. This support will be provided (i) either before or during project preparatory technical assistance (PPTA), (ii) at the initial stage of project implementation, at the time of advance actions prior to loan and/or grant effectiveness or post effectiveness, (iii) other relevant stages of the project cycle where the objectives of SP1 can be achieved. SP1 will cover countries identified under the Urban Climate Change Resilience Trust Fund (UCCRTF), and as amended periodically. The Urban Sector Group (SG) will identify cities in the target DMCs that meet the following criteria for support: (i) vulnerability of urban poor and urban systems (ensuring that different sectors are covered, including water, sanitation, drainage, transport, health, energy and education), (ii) government buy in, (iii) local capacity and ownership, and (iv) synergies through partnerships. SP1 aims to work in at least 10 cities and will prioritize and compliment activities on climate change and urban resilience in cities with ongoing projects and ADB engagement. During project preparation, any opportunities for pilot projects, or feasibility studies that emerge from UCCR planning activities will be considered for further support under the UCCRTF. CONSULTING SERVICES All consultants under SP1 will be engaged by ADB in accordance with its Guidelines on the Use of Consultants (2013, as amended from time to time). SP1 will require the services of (i) an international and a national consultant for leading, coordinating and communicating the SP1 activities, and (ii) firms and/or individuals for specific activities under SP1. Overall, the input of 140 person-months of international consultants and 128 person-months of national consultants will be required. Different methods of consultant selection will apply, depending on the size and nature of the contracts. The consultants will be engaged using procurement modalities as quality- and -cost-based selection with a technical_financial ratio of 90:10, quality-based selection, consultant qualification selection, fixed budget selection, or single-source selection as appropriate. Supplementary Appendix C contains the outline terms of reference for consultants to be engaged under SP1.

ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF ADB The Accountability Mechanism is an independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who believe they are likely to be, or have been, adversely affected by an Asian Development Bank-financed project. If you submit a complaint to the Accountability Mechanism, they may investigate to assess whether the Asian Development Bank is following its own policies and procedures for preventing harm to people or the environment. You can learn more about the Accountability Mechanism and how to file a complaint at: http://www.adb.org/site/accountability-mechanism/main