TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR) SAJIDA FOUNDATION I. BACKGROUND Bangladesh is among the world's most climate-vulnerable countries, ranking 7th on the Global Climate Risk Index (2021). Sirajganj district, located along the Jamuna River, is highly flood-prone and experiences recurrent disasters that displace households, disrupt livelihoods, and weaken social, health, and economic resilience. These shocks are compounded by critical service gaps in mental health, eye care, inclusive livelihoods, and disability-inclusive disaster preparedness. Mental health challenges remain largely unaddressed despite their scale and impact. Nationally, 18.7% of adults experience mental health issues, with a treatment gap of 92%. In Sirajganj, adolescents show alarmingly high. levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. Women and adolescent girls are particularly affected, yet they face greater stigma and significantly lower access to professional care. Community-based mental health services are virtually absent, forcing referrals to distant facilities and leaving many individuals unsupported. Stigma, lack of awareness, and weak community engagement further deepen isolation and undermine household productivity and resilience. Eye health represents another overlooked pillar of resilience. Most visually impaired people live in rural areas, yet eye care services and professionals are concentrated in cities. Preventable conditions such as cataracts and uncorrected refractive errors remain major causes of blindness and low vision, directly limiting income-generating capacity. In Sirajganj and Tarash, eye care services are irregular and poorly integrated, with limited follow-up and accessibility for persons with disabilities. Livelihood insecurity, particularly among NEET youth and persons with disabilities, further erodes resilience. Existing programs are fragmented, small-scale, and often exclude people with severe or psychosocial disabilities. Limited skills training, poor market alignment, and gaps in financial literacy trap households in cycles of dependency. Disaster risk reduction efforts remain largely infrastructure-focused and insufficiently inclusive. Persons with disabilities are rarely represented in local disaster management committees, preparedness planning, or simulation drills, despite facing disproportionate risks during emergencies. In response, An Integrated, Inclusive Resilience Model Project will be implemented in Sirajganj Sadar and Tarash Upazilas, targeting approximately 9,786 individuals directly and over 52,000 indirectly. At least 50% of direct participants will be persons with disabilities, with a strong focus on women and other at-risk groups. The project integrates mental health, eye care, and livelihood support to strengthen human, economic, and social capital. Community-based targeting. OPD engagement, self-help groups, disaggregated data collection, and robust feedback and safeguarding mechanisms ensure non-discrimination, accountability, and meaningful participation. Through this holistic approach, the project aims to move communities from vulnerability toward inclusive, sustainable resilience. To download full ToR, Click this Link. Deadline: 02 March 2026 at 2:30 PM |
