The Government of Bangladesh (GOB) has requested the International Development Association (IDA) - World Bank for a Credit of US$ 109 million to finance the cost of Emergency 2007 Cyclone Recovery and Restoration Project (ECRRP). The objective of the assistance is to support the Government of Bangladesh efforts to facilitate restoration and recovery from the damage to livelihoods and infrastructure caused by 2007 Cyclone Sidr and build long-term preparedness through strengthened disaster risk reduction and management.

Cyclone Sidr hit Bangladesh on the evening of November 15, 2007. The cyclone, originating from a depression over the Bay of Bengal on November 2007, hit offshore islands and made landfall across the southern coast of Bangladesh. According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, Cyclone Sidr had a radius of 500 km with the eye of the storm 74 km wide and wind speeds reaching 220-240 km per hour. The storm caused extensive damage, in the southwestern districts of Bangladesh.

This project is a unique and the first of its kind in Bangladesh where the Planning Ministry is monitoring and evaluating the Projects’ various components outcome implemented by different Ministries and Departments of the Government.  The ECRRP has been designed on the basis of findings and recommendations of the Joint Damage, Loss, and Need Assessment carried out by a team of GOB and international experts from various international, multi-lateral and bi-lateral development partners. The cyclone caused extensive damage to lives and property. Overall 30 districts in the country and about 9 million people (more than 2 million families) were affected by the cyclone.

The overall objective of this assignment as a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) consultancy firm for four primary purposes; (i) carry out independent M&E of project progress, inputs, outputs, processes, outcomes and impacts in relation to the various project components carried out by all the project implementing agencies including the Project Coordination and Monitoring Unit (PCMU); (ii) carry out independent monitoring of project specific operational risks and mitigation measures; (iii) provide independent and regular feed back to the Project Steering Committee on its evaluations of the above as well as on any other specific issue as directed by the PSC. and (iv) provide assistance to the Project Coordination and Monitoring Unit in monitoring and evaluating: (a) project physical and financial progress and performance, project inputs, outputs, outcomes and impacts; and (b) environmental and social development and safeguard management aspects with respect to all project components of the ECRRP. SMEC and BCE is expected to assist the Project for about 4 (four) years and will be directly accountable to the Project Steering Committee, but the PCMU will be responsible for its contract management and supervision on behalf of the PSC.

SMEC International and is providing five international consultants including the Team Leader with a combined input of 40mm and the national firms have an input of 228mm from five national consultants. Value of the contract is over US$ 2 million.  For more information please contact SA Jafar, Regional Director – South Asia.