The Watershed Management Implementation Non-Government Organization (WSM-NGO) for Khagrachari District is a 48-month assignment under the Climate-Resilient Livelihood Improvement and Watershed Management in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CRLIWM-CHT) Sector Project. The contract was signed on 22 June 2026. The assignment is being implemented by Trinamul Unnayan Sangstha (TUS) as Lead NGO in Joint Venture with Kabidang.
The TUS Joint Venture supports the Project Management Office (PMO) and District Project Management Office (DPMO) in implementing community-prioritized watershed management sub-projects across three watersheds in Khagrachari District. The implementation approach emphasizes community ownership, gender equality, social inclusion, environmental sustainability, climate resilience, and environmental and social safeguard compliance.
Key Areas of Work
- Community mobilization and inclusive participation through Para Development Committees (PDCs), Village Common Forest (VCF) Committees and other community groups.
- Institutional and technical capacity building for community organizations and stakeholders.
- Participatory planning, site selection, technical support, conservation measures, and environmental and social safeguards.
- Promotion of sustainable and climate-resilient livelihoods.
- Coordination with PMO, DPMO, PISC, local government institutions, traditional leaders and other stakeholders.
- Systematic monitoring, reporting, documentation of lessons learned and knowledge sharing.
- Strengthening operation and maintenance systems for the long-term sustainability of interventions.
Implementation Approach
The project combines participatory community processes with technical tools such as KoboToolbox, GPS-based site identification and verification, door-to-door field visits, participatory assessments and local knowledge. During August 2026, implementation focused particularly on the Dighinala WSM component, including community orientation, household and intervention-site identification, and coordination with PDCs, WSM Committees, local leaders, PMO and DPMO.
Project Reference
RFP: Package No. CRLIWM/SD-39
ADB Package: CHT/NGO/WSM/KHAG/SD-07
Contract Date: 22 June 2026
Project Duration: 48-month assignment (June 2026 – June 2030)
Project at a Glance
- Executing Agency: Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council (CHTRC), with implementation through PMO and DPMO under the CRLIWM-CHT Sector Project (ADB Loan No. 4333).
- Contract: Signed on 22 June 2026; the inception report describes a 48-month assignment covering June 2026 to June 2030.
- Lead NGO and JV Partner: Trinamul Unnayan Sangstha (TUS), Lead NGO, in Joint Venture with Kabidang.
- Target Coverage: 60 villages across 3 watersheds in Khagrachari Hill District.
- Initial Staffing: 15 full-time Key and Non-Key staff (6 Key Experts and 9 Non-Key Experts) onboarded on 22 June 2026.
- Initial Offices: Project/sub-watershed field offices identified for Khagrachari, Dighinala and Panchari.
Core Objectives
- Mobilize communities and strengthen inclusive Para Development Committees (PDCs) and Village Common Forest (VCF) Committees.
- Build organizational, managerial and technical capacity for participatory planning, project management, accounting, record keeping, technical supervision and post-construction O&M.
- Provide technical support for watershed interventions, feasibility assessment, VCF profiling and mapping, soil conservation, and environmental and social safeguard compliance.
- Improve climate-resilient livelihood opportunities for smallholder farmers and vulnerable households.
- Maintain close coordination with PMO, DPMO, PISC, local government institutions, traditional leaders, technical experts and other stakeholders.
- Maintain systematic monitoring, reporting, documentation, learning and dissemination of good practices and success stories.
- Strengthen long-term sustainability through O&M systems, community ownership and institutional linkages.
Technical and Social Approach
The project follows a participatory, inclusive and community-driven watershed-management approach combining ecosystem restoration, soil and water conservation, agroforestry, sustainable agriculture, climate-resilient livelihoods and community infrastructure. Participatory Rural Appraisal tools, community validation and technical feasibility assessment are used to support demand-driven planning.
Safeguard compliance is integrated throughout implementation. The inception framework calls for Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) for Indigenous communities, environmental and social screening of interventions, use of EMP/SMP measures where required, and at least 40% women's representation in PDCs and VCF Committees.
Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning
The MEL approach includes participatory monitoring, baseline surveys, mid-term evaluation, quantitative and qualitative data collection, environmental/social/IP safeguard monitoring, joint monitoring with PMO/DPMO/PISC, financial tracking, and documentation of lessons learned and innovations. Required reporting includes inception, monthly, quarterly, six-monthly, annual and project completion reports.
Governance and Quality Assurance
The inception arrangement proposes a five-member Project Implementation Committee (PIC) led by the Executive Director of TUS, with the Executive Director of Kabidang, the WSM Project Coordinator/Team Leader, a PDC/VCF representative and a DPMO representative. The structure is intended to provide oversight for implementation quality, monitoring, coordination and accountability.