Job Title: Scoping Study on Landscape Restoration through Locally Led Approaches

in Coastal Bangladesh

Sector Name: Climate Action

PART 1: INTRODUCTION

Context: Bangladesh’s coastal areas, particularly the Sundarbans and surrounding regions, are extremely
vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including rising sea levels, storm surges, and salinity intrusion.
These environmental challenges have caused significant degradation of ecosystems and livelihoods. The
targeted Polder no 19, 20, and 21 in the Paikgacha Upazila are especially susceptible to flooding and salinity,
impacting agriculture, fisheries, and local infrastructure caused by coastal flooding induced by cyclone and
embankment failure. Locally led landscape restoration (LLLR) has emerged as a promising approach that
combines ecological restoration with community empowerment. To inform future programming and
investment to address these challenges, there is an urgent need for landscape restoration that integrates
locally-led approaches, focusing on enhancing community resilience, restoring vital ecosystems such as
mangroves, and strengthening disaster risk management capacities. This assignment seeks to engage an
experienced consultant to carry out a comprehensive scoping study that will serve as the foundation for future
restoration initiatives.

PART 2: OBJECTIVE

Objective of Assignment: The objective of this assignment is to conduct a scoping study to assess the
feasibility, challenges, and potential of implementing landscape restoration in the targeted areas of Polder no
19, 20, and 21 in Paikgacha Upazila, focusing on locally led, sustainable solutions for ecological restoration and
community resilience.

Overall Tasks:

1. Idenitfy keylandscape degradation issues in the selected coastal areas.

2. Conduct a comprehensive environmental, socio-economic, and technical assessment of the target areas to
understand the existing challenges and opportunities for restoration.

3. Assess the existing landscape restoration efforts and initiatives.

4. Engage local communities, government agencies, and relevant stakeholders to evaluate the capacity, roles
and perspective of local communities, local government institutions, government institutions and
stakeholders in designing community led landscape restoration interventions and approaches.

5. Identify enabling and limiting policies, governance and socio-economic factors and dimensions and provide
recommendations on influencing policy aspects and governance considerations

6. Recommends strategies, sustainable livelihood interventions and community-led approaches for promoting
and scaling up locally led restoration approaches.

PART 3: SCOPE of WORKS

The selected firm/institute will be responsible for delivering the following components:

3.1 Component A: Environmental & Technical Assessment

• Conduct land-use and land-cover analysis using satellite imagery and ground-truthing.
• Assess soil and water quality (salinity, pH, fertility, drainage conditions).
• Analyse hydrological patterns and water flow structures (sluice gates, canals, embankments) and local
water governance in polder areas.
• Identify critical ecological areas with restoration potential (e.g., mangroves, wetlands, riverbanks).
• Map natural and human-induced risks (erosion, floods, saline intrusion).

3.2 Component B: Socioeconomic & Livelihoods Assessment

• Document existing livelihood practices and strategies (farming, aquaculture, fishing, non-timber forest
products (NTFPs).
• Identify needs of most vulnerable groups (women-headed households, youth, landless) and their
exposure to climate risks.
• Analyze seasonal livelihood calendars and coping mechanisms.
• Recommend alternative, more sustainable or complementary income sources aligned with ecosystem
restoration (e.g., saline-tolerant agriculture, crab farming, homestead gardening, eco-tourism).

3.3 Component C: Community Readiness and Local Leadership

• Assess community perceptions of environmental change and restoration.
• Identify community-based organizations (CBOs), philanthropy toward landscape restoration, youth
groups, and women's groups that could champion locally led restoration.
• Evaluate traditional knowledge and practices that could be incorporated into restoration planning.

3.4 Component D: Institutional & Policy Analysis

• Map all relevant institutions (Union Parishads, BWDB, DoE, DAE, NGOs) and their mandates.
• Review past and ongoing restoration and infrastructure projects in the area.
• Analyse coordination mechanisms among agencies and identify gaps.
• Identify and reflect relevant policy frameworks (Delta Plan 2100, NAP, BCCSAP, Forest Policy) to align
with future action on landscape restoration.
3.5 Component E: Strategy Formulation

• Identify potential nature-based restoration approaches suitable to the landscape (e.g., mangrove
replanting, green embankments, water retention ponds, agroforestry).
• Propose scalable models for locally led restoration aligned with available government schemes or
donor priorities.

Develop a phased implementation roadmap with short-, medium-, and long-term actions.

PART 4: METHODOLOGY

• Mixed-methods approach combining desk review, geospatial analysis, field surveys, stakeholder
consultations, and participatory rural appraisal (PRA) tools.
• Minimum of 4 field missions to each polder.
• Data disaggregated by gender, age, and socio-economic status.
• GIS mapping and visual presentation of findings in reports.

PART 5: DELIVERABLES AND TIMELINE

No. Deliverable Description Deadline

1 Expression of Interest Submit a short brief of your EoI 31 May’2025
(EoI) submission (Maximum 2-3 pages)
2 Request for Proposal Selective firm/institute/individual to 03 June 2025
submit detailed technical & financial
proposal
3 Review of Proposal Friendship will be review 15 June’2025
4 Selected Firm/Individual/Individual 22 June’2025
Notification Award will receive Notification Award from
Friendship
5 Awarded Firm/Individual/Institute 1 July’2025
Field works will start
must have start field works
6 Detailed methodology, tools, team FSP Partners
Inception Report
composition, and field schedule
Summary of initial findings, field
7 Interim Field Report 10 August’2025
observations, maps
Full draft report covering all 20
8 Draft Scoping Study
components September’2025
Revised and validated final report
9 Final Report with annexes, maps, 30 September’2025
recommendations
Presentation of draft findings to
10 Stakeholder Workshop stakeholders and incorporation of October’2025
feedback
Methodology:

The consultant is expected to use a participatory, inclusive and gender-sensitive approach, including

• Desk based research and literature reviews.

• Key informant interviews.
• Focus Group discussion with local communities.
• Field observations.
• Stakeholders’ consultation workshop.
• Stakeholder validation workshop.

PART 6: TEAM COMPOSITION REQUIREMENT

The firm/institute must deploy a qualified team with expertise in the following areas:

● Team Lead/Project Manager (1): At least 10 years of experience in environmental studies, climate
adaptation, or development planning.
● Environmental Scientist (1): Soil, water, and land management expertise.
● Hydrologist/Water Engineer (1): Understanding of polder systems, drainage, and salinity management.
● Socio-Economic Expert (1): Livelihoods, gender, and vulnerability analysis.
● Institutional Analyst (1): Governance, policy, and stakeholder coordination.
● GIS & Remote Sensing Specialist (1): Mapping and spatial analysis.
● Field Enumerators/Facilitators (as needed): For community consultations.

PART 7: INSTITUTE OR FIRM CAPACITY

The interested institutions and firms should have the following expertise:

● Hydrologist – Expertise in water management, embankments, tidal/storm surge impacts, and

hydrological analysis.
● Environmental Scientist – Expertise in soil and water salinity, biodiversity, and climate change
impacts.
● Ecologist – Expertise in mangrove ecosystems, biodiversity loss, and ecosystem restoration.
● Livelihood Specialist – Expertise in major livelihood practices, alternative income options, and climate
adaptation.
● Civil Engineer – Expertise in roads, infrastructure, transportation, and electrification relevant to
coastal resilience.
● Sociologist – Expertise in migration patterns, gender and youth engagement in livelihoods, and social
structures.
● Public Health Specialist – Expertise in waterborne diseases, nutrition, and healthcare access in
vulnerable communities.
● WASH Specialist – Expertise in drinking water sources, sanitation, and hygiene risks, particularly in
flood-prone areas.

PART 8: ELIGIBILITY AND REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Criteria:

● Legally registered consultancy firm or research institute with valid trade license and TIN/VAT.
● Minimum 7 years of experience in environmental research, coastal development, or DRR. Minimum 7
years of experience in environmental research, coastal development, or DRR.
 ● Proven track record in conducting similar assessments or strategy development.
● Prior experience working in Bangladesh’s coastal region or polder systems.
● Evidence of previously produced high-quality reports (at least 2).

Preferred:

● Experience working with government agencies, international development organisations, or climate

donors.
● Fluency in Bangla and English in report writing and facilitation.
● Availability to begin by June 1, 2025.

PART 9: BUDGET AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE

● The contract will be issued on a lump sum basis, inclusive of all applicable taxes and costs .
● Payment milestones:
* 20% on approval of Inception Report
* 30% on submission of Interim Field Report
* 30% on submission of Draft Scoping Study
* 20% on approval of Final Report

PART 10: WORKING AREAS

The consulting firm/Institute based on anywhere in Bangladesh with frequent travel to the targeted areas in
Paikgacha Upazila, including Polder no 19, 20, and 21, for field assessments and consultations.
PART 11: LINE MANAGEMENT

The consultant will report directly to the Sr. Director-Strategic Planning & Head of Climate Action of the
Landscape Restoration Initiative, with additional coordination with the Assistant General Manager and
relevant Friendship official during the study.

PART 12: LIST OF DELIVERABLES

1. Inception Report: Methodology, work plan, and schedule.

2. Preliminary Field Assessment Report: Overview of data collected, key findings, and initial
recommendations.
3. Draft Scoping Study Report: Detailed assessment of the landscape restoration potential,
including technical, socio-economic, and governance aspects.
4. Final Scoping Study Report: Comprehensive report with specific recommendations for
landscape restoration and livelihood interventions, including an implementation framework.
5. Stakeholder Consultation Report: Summary of consultations, including feedback and
recommendations from local communities and stakeholders.
6. Final Presentation: Presentation of the scoping study findings and recommendations to
stakeholders.

PART 13: PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

Interested firms/institutes are requested to submit:
● Technical Proposal (max 15 pages): Understanding of ToR, methodology, workplan, team structure,
past experience.
● Financial Proposal: Detailed budget breakdown.
● Supporting Documents: Registration certificates, updated Cv for team members, two sample reports of
past assignments.

Read Before Apply

Please note that application via any other method will not be considered.
“FRIENDSHIP is committed to safeguarding children, young people, and adults, and employees, Donors,
visiting Doctors, visiting journalists, visitors, beneficiaries including communities where we work and
volunteers/interns. We believe every stakeholder and every member of the communities we work with,
has the right to be protected from all forms of harm, abuse, neglect, harassment, and exploitation -
regardless of age, race, religion, and gender, status as an individual with a disability or ethnic origin.
Therefore, our recruitment policy and procedure fully include background checks and disclosure of
criminal records in order to ensure safeguarding. FRIENDSHIP is an equal opportunity employer and will
do everything possible to ensure that those who are suitable to work within our values and beliefs are
recruited to work for us. Any personal persuasion will result in a disqualification of candidature”.
Photograph must be enclosed with the resume.