Project Background:

The Sundarbans, the world’s largest continuous mangrove forest, spans a transboundary ecosystem shared between Bangladesh and India, with 60% of its 10,000 square kilometres located in southwest Bangladesh and 40% in India. This unique forest provides crucial ecological services to surrounding communities, including protection against cyclones, storm surges and vital sources of livelihoods and food. It also serves as a global public good, functioning as a significant carbon sink and a biodiversity hotspot.

However, the Sundarbans area is increasingly threatened by climate change impacts such as sea level rise, salinity intrusion, and deltaic subsidence, compounded by human activities. These pressures are eroding the forest’s natural capital, weakening the resilience of its ecosystems and the local communities, many of whom are among the poorest in Bangladesh.

This assignment aims to provide comprehensive analysis and advisory services on investment opportunities from both technical and socio-economic perspectives. The goal is to support the Bangladesh Forest Department (BFD), Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), Department of Fisheries (DOF), and Social Development Foundation (SDF) in identifying, prioritizing, and developing investment options that enhance natural capital-based coastal resilience and improve livelihoods in the Sundarbans and nearby critical ecological areas. These insights will guide the preparation of Development Project Proposals (DPP) to secure the future of this vital region.

Project Objective:

The project includes the following activities:

• Baseline Assessment: Analyzing climate change impacts, ecosystem services of mangroves, protected area management, livelihoods, fisheries, spatial planning, canal degradation, and value chain infrastructure.

• Review of Solutions: Identifying nature-based and hybrid solutions for coastal resilience and ecological restoration.

• Consultations and Analysis: Conducting consultations and technical analysis to prioritize investment options.

• Technical and Socio-Economic Analysis: Providing detailed cost-benefit analysis of the shortlisted options.

• Advisory Services: Offering guidance in designing Development Project Proposals (DPP).