Request for Proposal for engagement of an Academic Institution

Lead Implementing Partner: Mahila Housing Trust (MHT)

Operating Location: The project is being implemented in two ULBs of Kolkata Metropolitan Area (KMA), Kolkata Municipal Corporation and Baranagar Municipality

Introduction

Mahila Housing Trust (MHT) is a techno-social organization that has been working across South Asia for over three decades. MHT operates at the intersection of urban development, women's empowerment, and climate resilience formulating disruptive collaborations between people, the state, and the market to enable responsible and inclusive urban development.

MHT's work spans democratic urban governance & planning, skill and livelihood enhancement, sustainable energy, WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene), affordable housing, and climate resilience, with a strong focus on gender-responsive approaches. Over the past 30 years, MHT has positively impacted more than 15 million lives and has received global recognition, including the UN Global Climate Action Award, UN Sasakawa Award for Disaster Risk Reduction, Prince Talal International Prize for Human Development, and the Ashden Award for Cooling in Informal Settlements.

Project background:

The Kolkata Metropolitan Area (KMA), situated in a vulnerable deltaic region, faces severe climate change impacts including sea-level rise, cyclones, heavy rainfall, heat waves, flooding, and seasonal water scarcity. These hazards threaten the region's infrastructuretransport, energy, and water systemsand lead to significant economic and social losses. Informal worker communities, whose settlements often overlap with the most climate-exposed zones, are at the greatest risk of displacement, loss of livelihoods, and deepening poverty.

While the Kolkata Municipal Corporation and state authorities are implementing climate-resilience efforts such as flood control, disaster preparedness, and climate-resilient infrastructure, these actions largely overlook informal workers, their live-work conditions, and the rural-urban migration driven by climate stress. The current infrastructure-focused approach lacks attention to social vulnerabilities and community capacities.

MHT is implementing the project Community-Led Climate Resilience for Informal Workers to strengthen the resilience of urban poor households across 26 slums and four worksites in Kolkata. The project is grounded in MHT's core approach, which focuses on building social capital and empowering marginalized communities with the technical knowledge required to drive local change, enabling last-mile delivery of social security and habitat services by increasing awareness and improving access to government schemes, and leveraging grassroots insights to advocate for policy and regulatory reforms that promote inclusive planning and responsive service delivery.

To enhance climate resilience for the urban poor and informal sector workers, we propose conducting a comprehensive landscape study of existing state and local government policies and programs. This intervention will involve a detailed analysis of current policies, Programs and Schemes frameworks to assess the extent to which climate change considerations are integrated. By identifying gaps and opportunities, we aim to pinpoint strategic entry points for strengthening climate resilience measures within social security programs. This approach will enable us to develop targeted recommendations for policy enhancements that not only address immediate social security needs but also build long-term resilience against climate-related vulnerabilities, ensuring sustainable and inclusive growth for the most marginalized populations.

Objectives

1.To assess the stressors regarding climate change that impact the informal settlements and workers

Scope of Work

1 Identify and evaluate key climate-related stressors affecting the Kolkata region especially women.

Understand and analyze key climate-related stressors (e.g., heatwaves, flooding, water scarcity, air pollution, vector-borne diseases) affecting informal settlements and informal workers.

Assess the exposure, sensitivity, and vulnerability of informal workers and settlements to these stressors by examining living conditions, livelihood patterns, access to basic services, and existing coping mechanisms.

Understand and analyse existing government protective measuresincluding state-level and ULB-level policies, programs, and schemes in the Kolkata regiontargeted at informal settlements and worker communities especially for women, with a focus on assessing their coverage, design, and implementation status.

Understand state government initiatives aimed at enhancing social security, expanding skill development and training opportunities, promoting financial inclusion, and advancing labor reforms to safeguard the rights and strengthen the livelihoods of informal settlements.

Examine national climate missions, policies, Programs and welfare schemes to assess their relevance for informal settlements and workers and evaluate the extent of alignment, adoption, and implementation at the state and municipal levels.

Review Government Resolutions (GRs), circulars, and notifications related to climate-responsive schemes to determine their operational provisions, administrative mechanisms, and applicability on the ground.

Map key institutional actors, including government departments, municipal bodies, NGOs, worker unions, and informal worker collectives, that play a role in or are impacted by climate-related programs and interventions.

Understand Policy, Programs scheme design, delivery mechanisms, and administrative or operational challenges.

Compare policy, programs and schemes provisions with field realities to identify coverage gaps, unmet needs, and systemic constraints faced by informal workers in adapting to climate-related risks.

Triangulate findings using secondary literature, stakeholder consultations, and primary field evidence to ensure analytical depth, accuracy, and validity.

Develop strategies that advance environmentally sustainable, climate-resilient, and socially inclusive growth pathways tailored to the needs of informal-sector communities.

Assess and outline mechanisms through which women in informal settlements and informal livelihoods can effectively access and benefit from existing programmes, policies, and schemes, with a focus on enhancing gender-responsive climate resilience.

Inception Report-detailed Research Methodology and Tools

Draft findings report- Detailed compendium of relevant policies, schemes, mandates, and institutional structures. Assessment of climate resilience presence across existing framework. Analysis of gaps in integrating climate resilience with social and livelihood issues. Mapping of vulnerabilities of informal workers and settlements. Documentation of consultations, thematic insights, challenges, and opportunities.

Draft study report and then final study report with Recommendation. Comprehensive synthesis of findings. Clear, actionable recommendations for integrating inclusive climate resilience into existing and future policies. Draft policy integration roadmap and institutional strengthening suggestions. PDF copy of existing Policies, Programs and Schemes

The agency must demonstrate a minimum of five years of experience in public policy, climate resilience, urban planning, or related sectors. At least one senior team member shall be based in West Bengal, possess strong proficiency in the Bangla language, and have proven work experience within the state.

Demonstrated experience conducting policy studies, climate vulnerability assessments, or urban development research.

Experience working with government agencies, civil society organizations, or multilateral institutions.

Strong analytical, documentation, and stakeholder engagement capabilities.

Interested consultants must submit:

1.Technical Proposal

oUnderstanding of scope, methodology, work plan, and team composition.

2.Financial Proposal

oDetailed budget breakdown and payment terms.

3.Organizational/Consultant Profile

oRelevant past experience, samples of similar study undertaken previously

4.Team CVs

oDetailing qualifications and relevant experience.

The assignment is expected to be completed within three months from the commencement date.

Please send your Technical & Financial Proposal along with your CV to admin@mahilahsg.org with subject line Landscape Study latest by 20-12-2025