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| RFP for Support implementation of CHT Watershed Co-Management Activity (CHTWCA) of CHTDF-UNDP for Bohmong Circle Areas |
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| Procurement Process : | RFP - Request for proposal |
| Office : | CHTDF, UNDP, Rangamati - BANGLADESH |
| Deadline : | 08-Jan-15 | | Posted on : | 23-Nov-14 |
| Development Area : | OTHER  |
| Reference Number : | 19546 |
Documents :
RFP solicitation document
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| Overview : CHT and CHTDF
The Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) is a unique place in Bangladesh with its diverse cultural presence, topography, bio-diversity and socio-political settings. The area has remained virtually isolated from rest of the country, and the inhabitants hardly had access to the benefits of regular development till the signing of the CHT Peace Accord of 1997 which paved the way for regular development initiatives. Since the signing of CHT Peace Accord, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been providing support to minimize the development gaps in CHT, and presently the UNDP, through Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Facility (CHTDF), is implementing the joint project “Promotion of Development and Confidence Building in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT)” in partnership with the Government of Bangladesh and different development partners.
Watershed Management in CHT
Traditionally CHT communities are managing forest commons, often known as Village Common Forest (VCF) or Mouza Forests. CHT Regulation 1900 allows traditional institutions (Circle Chiefs, Mouza Headman and Karbaries) to maintain at least one ‘mouza reserve/forest’ (or VCF) in each Mouza to be managed with participation of the local communities. These community managed forest commons supports community livelihoods by supplying house construction materials, medicinal plants, fire wood, bamboo, timber, and fruits, as well as they provide habitats for endangered plants and wildlife. More importantly, these forests play the critical role in ensuring water flows in the small streams to supply water for drinking, household uses and irrigation in most parts of CHT. Many of these forest commons have been degrading, as their numbers and forest coverage are shrinking day-by-day. Deforestation and forest degradation coupled with unsustainable land uses in the watersheds has already resulted in excessive soil erosion and scarcity of water affecting livelihoods adversely.
CHTDF in Micro Watershed and Community Forest Management
In light of the current situation, CHTDF has initiated support for natural resource and watershed management and piloted several community based management models for forest commons and small streams, incorporating among others community-level environmental awareness and livelihood improvement of natural resource dependent communities. CHTDF will scale this up under its new CHT Watershed Co-Management Activity (CHTWCA) supported by USAID focusing on creating and sustaining a participatory forest and watershed management model around the VCFs and small streams in CHT to sustain communities’ livelihoods as well as to conserve the local biodiversity and ecosystem.
Currently, CHTDF has planned to expand the community based watershed management incorporating forests, streams and sustainable farming in number of micro-watersheds within 3 hill districts and CHTDF has planned to engage local partner NGO for supporting in implementing different activities in the selected site(s) set out in this TOR.
B.OBJECTIVES
Local partner NGO will be engaged to support livelihood and marketing interventions for the selected communities. Hence, following overall guidance of the CHTDF, UNDP and in coordination with Chakma Circle, local government institutions and GoB line departments, the local partner NGO is required to deliver below-mentioned deliverable targets (outlined in section D).
C.SCOPE OF WORK
The local partner NGO will be responsible for facilitating the activities in the VCF and surrounding communities of the selected area/Upazila (mentioned in section D). The organization needs to work with all relevant stakeholders (e.g. communities, Chakma Circle, Rangamati Hill District Council, Upazila and Union Parishads, Headmen and Karbaris, relevant government line departments, Local Economic Development Forum and Rural Sales and Service Centers established by CHTDF-UNDP) in the selected area/Upazila and support CHTDF in achieving the following objectives:
(i) Support to develop the capacity and skills of poor and vulnerable communities in sustainable income opportunities;
(ii) Facilitating producers/groups/associations in different economic development and marketing activities for creating income generating and employment options;
(iii) Promoting rural women empowerment and gender at local level; |
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