Terms of Reference (ToR)

GEF Trust Fund- Project Preparation:

Establishing National Land Use and Land Degradation Profile toward
mainstreaming SLM practices in sector policies
Background
Degradation of land is referred to loss of its potentiality for production owing to losses of soil
quality, and soil fertility, as a consequence it cannot be used effectively. The Bangladesh
Agricultural Research Council (BARC) report revealed that declining soil fertility, soil erosion,
and salinization affect 5.6-8.7 Mha, 5.3Mha and 3.05Mha of land respectively which indicated
that soil related problems might be a major constraint on agricultural growth. In Bangladesh,
various kinds of soil erosion such as sheet, rill and gully erosion, land slide, riverbank erosion
and coastal erosion are common, among them river erosion create greater problem along the
Jamuna River particularly in Kurigram, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Bogra, Sirajganj, Tangail, Pabna
and Manikganj districts, and along the Padma river especially the districts of Rajbari,
Faridpur,Manikganj, Dhaka, Munshiganj and Shariatpur. Chandpur on lower Meghna is also
seriously erosion prone. Factually, each year the country loses about 10,000 ha of land due to
river erosion.
Natural processes that lead to land degradation in Bangladesh can be considered as part of the
ongoing land formation process. The upliftment and deposition processes that led particularly to
formation of land in the region of Sylhet, Chittagong, Barind and Madhupur continued during the
period of the Miocene, Pliocene and Pleistocene ages. Throughout the Pleistocene time up to the
present, the rivers have been depositing heavy sediments to build up the countrys flat alluvial
plain, although the processes of erosion and deposition have not been similar all along.
In coastal region of Bangladesh, land degradation due to salinity is a result of recurring cyclones
and storm surges which inundate the land, at the same time year round practicing of shrimp
cultivation also accelerate the salinity of the soil.
The north-west region of the country especially the Barind Tract has been showed signs of
desertification due to recent climatic change. Land degradation in this area is mainly due to over
exploitation of biomass from agricultural lands and lack of scientific cultivation of crops. With
the loss of organic matter, soils could become more susceptible to drought. Simultaneously,
inadequate and irregular rainfall, and insufficient water flow in the adjacent rivers have also
aggravated the desertification process.
Furthermore, high cropping intensity, improper use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, less or no
use of organic matter, unplanned urbanization, unplanned industrial growth and uncontrolled
discharges of their untreated effluent in the nearby rivers have deteriorated the quality of land
and soil.
In Bangladesh, there are inadequate statistics on how much area is annually brought under
shifting cultivation in Chittagong Hill Tracts, loss of forest lands in Madhupur, Barind and
Piedmont plains, how much land are degradated through improper use of fertilizers and
pesticides, how much cultivable land has been turned unproductive due to urbanization and

industrialization. Such lacking of information and comprehensive studies on the issue of land
degradation is one of the major constraints in establishment of national land use and land
degradation profile. Hence, further research and studies are needed to precisely delimit the areas
affected by, or vulnerable to land degradation.
The Government of Bangladesh has developed recently key national development policies which
place environment protection in general and fighting land degradation in particular as key pillars.
These policies documents include, Bangladesh vision 2021 in its goal. Prior to these strategic
documents, the country is implementing some projects including Barind Rainwater Conservation
and Irrigation Project (Phase-II), Community Based Adaptation in the Ecologically Critical
Areas through Biodiversity Conservation and Social Protection Project, and Enhancing Food
Security through Improved Crop-Water Management Practices in the Southern Coastal Areas of
Bangladesh etc which are important baseline for this project.
Furthermore, recently approved National Sustainable Development Strategy (May 2013) has
recognized the acceleration of land zoning process including formulation of necessary laws and
acts as the top strategic priority in the area of land degradation. The strategy also recognized
need to motivate farmers to use recommended/balanced does of chemical fertilizers, extensive
production and use of organic fertilizer, and proper utilization of soil guide and soil testing
facilities to enhance soil fertility. The present project is therefore a contribution toward these
national targets.
The objective of the project is to establish knowledge base and enabling policy and institutional
environment for SLM considering development agenda in the country. The project will achieve
this objective through the following components and outputs.
Component 1: Land use and land degradation profile
Through this component, the project will support the national stakeholders to have
adequate information and data for making proper decision.
Outcome: Increased understanding of land use and land degradation status in Bangladesh
1.1.Establish national land use and land degradation Profile
1.2.National Roadmap to address SLM developed and validate at national level.
Component 2: Sustainable land management (SLM) mainstreaming
The project will support policy review to address the challenges related to land use which
identified in component 1, the stakeholders will be capacitated to consider SLM in
production sectors
Outcome: National Institute and Stakeholders will be capable to favor SLM practices
2.1. National policy including land use policy 2001 and institutional framework to
mainstream SLM in production sectors (in line with output 1.2 implementation) will be
revised.
2.2. SLM practices will be developed and disseminated to relevant stakeholders and
networks at national level.

2.3. Training and awareness raising programmes for SLM adoption and dissemination
will be developed and implemented at national and local levels.
Component 3: Sustainable land management (SLM) monitoring
The long term sustainability of project outcome will be through the monitoring and
evaluation of the policies and SLM mainstreaming.
Outcome: Adequate SLM monitoring and evaluation
3.1. DLDD monitoring indicators will be developed and a monitoring and evaluation
system of SLM impacts will be established
3.2. Project monitoring and evaluation.

Scope of Work
1. Develop a project proposal is to achieve the objective(s) through the components and
outputs mentioned above involving various stakeholders such as Soil Resources
Development Institute (SRDI), Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Barind
Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) etc. which aims to facilitate and
accelerating the adoption of profitable conservation agriculture practices. Hold meetings,
workshops with stakeholders in order to gather relevant information.
2. The project proposal should include detail Implementation Schedule (activity with time
frame)
3. Finalize the proposal following UNEP and GEF guidelines, and considering comments
from stakeholders, UNEP and GEF.
4. Develop logical framework, including indicators of the project.
5. Develop project budget in accordance with the UNEP guideline.
6. Prepare a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework to be used by the Implementing agency
for successful implementation of the project
Qualification and Experience
At least a Masters degree in Soil Science or a related field of Agriculture such as
Agronomy, Horticulture, Environmental Science, etc. Candidate with a PhD degree in
relevant field will get preference.
A minimum of 10 years of professional experience in project development.
Proven experience in formulating and developing projects in areas related to sustainable
land management and biodiversity.
Familiarity with UNEP and GOB administrative procedures.
Familiarity with GEF requirements for project document preparation.
Good communication skills and possessing the ability to achieve consensus between
different stakeholders.
Past experience in developing GEF projects will be an advantage.
Computer skills
Total Duration: 3(three) months.

Reporting: The consultant will work under the overall supervision of the Deputy Director
(Water & Bio.), Department of Environment, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of
Bangladesh.

Deliverables and Payment

The payment schedule will be as follows:
10%
20%
50%

Upon submission of an approach, methodology and work plan within 10 (ten) days after
signing of the Contract;
Upon submission of a draft project proposal at the end of two months after signing the
Contract;
Upon submission of the final draft before ten days of the end of the contract period and
acceptance by the authority and UNEP as well;

The hard and soft copies (in CD) of all the above documents will be submitted to the Project
Director.

Application procedure:
The interested individuals are requested to submit their resume in a sealed envelope with a one-page
cover letter expressing why the incumbent is suitable for the assignment. The application with attested
copies of academic attainments would be submitted to the Department of Environment (Room No. 210,
Department of Environment, E-16 Agargaon, Dhaka-1207) on or before 17:00pm 10/12/2014. The
Resume should include the information as follows: (a) Name and Designation (b) Date of Birth (c)
Present and Permanent Address with e-mail and telephones (d) Information on all Academic Degrees
including the proof of Specializations (e) List of the research paper or publication (if any) with relevance
to the assignment (f) List of the most relevant experiences/assignments/research undertakings/studies
(if any) accomplished (g) Length of Experiences (if any) in the relevant professional service (h)
Availability for the assignment.

-Signed(Dr. Md. Sohrab Ali)

Project Director
Tel: 8181777