Terms of Reference: Climate Change Impact & Livelihoods Assessment in Kishoreganj, Bangladesh Context and background information The typography and geographical location of Bangladesh makes the country highly susceptible to potentially hazardous weather phenomena such as heavy monsoon rain, cyclones, floods, storms surges, and heatwaves. As a result, Bangladesh is amongst the highest-ranking countries across the world when it comes to long-term climate risks. The Global Climate Risk Index 2021 ranks Bangladesh 7th in terms of countries most affected by extreme weather events from 2000-2019 and among the most vulnerable to climate changes which contribute to the frequency and already high risks of weather events in country. As an example, it is estimated that approximately 25% of the country is inundated on average every year as a result of unpredictable and increasing rainfall. Additional socio-economic and demographic factors add to the risks and impact of both natural and health related disasters in Bangladesh, such as: a high dependency on agriculture with 47% of the population being employed in the agricultural sector; massive and growing population density where projections indicate that the size of the population will increase to 200 million by 2050; and poverty rates as high as 20,5% of the population living under the national poverty line in 2019 a figure which has likely increased during the COVID-19 pandemic which led to a rise in unemployment. The North-eastern region of Bangladesh is particularly prone to floods and earthquakes. Heavy rainfall as well as runoff from the upstream hills in India frequently inundates the low-lying areas thereby damaging a significant number of houses and cropland. These natural hazards have a severe impact on people’s livelihood, food security, as well as physical and mental wellbeing, e.g. by disrupting water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure which can increase the likelihood of disease outbreaks. Lack of access to basic services and support for preparedness and response exacerbates the risks and impacts of disasters faced by communities. In June 2022, the Danish Red Cross (DRC) and Bangladesh Red Crescent (BDRCS) conducted a scoping visit to Kishoreganj district, which is one of the most vulnerable and often affected area in the Sylhet division. The purpose of the visit was to assess the feasibility for conducting a needs assessment. Out of the district’s total areas (273,100 ha) 133,943 ha are so-called haor areas - wetland ecosystems located in floodplains and subject to seasonal floods. Though flood is a common phenomenon in the hoar areas the frequency and magnitude of seasonal and flash floods are increasing. In addition to this it has become increasingly challenging to predict floods as a result of different development activities along the rivers and the changing climate and weather conditions which also affect trends in rainfalls in turn jeopardising livelihoods by destroying crops and other livelihood activities. Interested Candidates are requested to submit CV along with Financial Proposal to the below email address |
