Assignment Name: Baseline Survey of Biodiversity Ecosystems Restoration for Community Resilience (BERCR) Sub-Project under the Ecosystems Restoration and Resilient Development in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (ERRD-CHT) Project

Country: Bangladesh

Client Name: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

The “Biodiversity Ecosystems Restoration for Community Resilience (BERCR)” sub-project is part of the broader Ecosystems Restoration and Resilient Development in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (ERRD-CHT) initiative, implemented by UNDP Bangladesh with support from Global Affairs Canada (GAC). The Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), characterized by its rich biodiversity and ethnic diversity, faces critical threats from climate change, biodiversity loss, deforestation, illegal wildlife trade, habitat destruction, and socio-economic marginalization, particularly impacting indigenous women and youth.
BERCR aims to improve biodiversity health and community resilience, particularly focusing on empowering indigenous women, girls, and marginalized groups. Key project interventions include restoring degraded ecosystems, conserving wildlife habitats, promoting sustainable natural resource management, and developing alternative livelihood opportunities. 450 Community Biodiversity Conservation Groups (CBCGs) across the three Hill Districts—Rangamati, Bandarban, and Khagrachari—will lead local biodiversity restoration efforts, supported through capacity-building, awareness campaigns, and financial assistance to implement Local Biodiversity Conservation Plans.
The project prioritizes gender equality by enhancing women’s leadership roles in decision-making processes and ecosystem management, fostering entrepreneurship, and promoting resilient alternative livelihoods. It will actively involve youth, particularly young women, in sustainable biodiversity management and micro-enterprise activities. Additionally, BERCR seeks to strengthen local government and civil society collaboration to enhance biodiversity conservation and community resilience.
DM WATCH LIMITED is tasked with conducting a detailed baseline study to establish clear benchmarks for biodiversity restoration, community resilience, gender equality, and institutional capacity, employing mixed-method approaches. This baseline will guide strategic implementation, robust monitoring, and evaluation throughout the project’s lifecycle.

DM WATCH LIMITED will undertake this baseline study through a structured, phased methodology involving both quantitative and qualitative research methods. The following key activities will be executed:

Inception Phase:

• Organize preliminary meetings with UNDP, GAC, and other stakeholders to align baseline objectives and expectations.
• Analyze project documents such as the MEL Plan, PMF, and RRF to inform research methodologies and sampling strategies.
• Develop comprehensive methodologies, data collection instruments, and sampling frameworks, ensuring cultural sensitivity and contextual relevance.

Enumerators Training and Field Testing:

• Conduct specialized training sessions for enumerators and qualitative researchers focusing on survey objectives, ethical standards, data collection techniques, and digital tools.
• Perform field testing of data collection instruments to ensure reliability and validity.

Data Collection:

• Carry out extensive quantitative surveys (household, institutional, perception, and knowledge-attitude-practice [KAP] surveys).
• Execute qualitative data collection through Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), and In-depth Interviews (IDIs).
• Use digital platforms like KoboToolbox for efficient, real-time data collection and monitoring.

Data Analysis:

• Conduct rigorous data validation and analysis utilizing advanced statistical software (SPSS, Stata).
• Integrate and analyze quantitative and qualitative data to produce comprehensive baseline insights, disaggregated by gender, ethnicity, and socio-economic status.

Reporting and Dissemination:

• Draft a comprehensive baseline report detailing key findings, analytical insights, and actionable recommendations.
• Facilitate validation workshops with project stakeholders to review preliminary findings, gather feedback, and refine the report accordingly.
• Submit the finalized baseline report aligned with project goals and UNDP standards.

Key deliverables will include:

• Detailed inception report outlining the work plan, methodology, sampling framework, and data collection instruments.
• Cleaned datasets in MS Excel and SPSS formats.
• Comprehensive final baseline study report with strategic recommendations and data visualizations.
• Presentation materials for stakeholder dissemination workshops.

This baseline will provide essential benchmarks necessary for effective project implementation, enhanced biodiversity conservation, gender empowerment, and community resilience in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.