ToR - for Conducting a Baseline Survey for Building Water Security and Climate Resilience in Sagar Block

ToR - for Conducting a Baseline Survey for Building Water Security and Climate Resilience in Sagar Block, Sundarbans, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal

Water for People India Trust (WFPIT)

Apply by: 07 Aug 2026

Water For people India Trust

Terms of Reference (TOR) for Conducting a Baseline Survey for Building Water Security and Climate Resilience in Sagar Block, Sundarbans, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal

A. About Water For People

Water For People India Trust (hereafter referred to as Water For People India) is a public charitable trust registered in 2008 under the Indian Trust Act, 1882. The Trust is recognized as a charitable non-profit institution under Section 12AA of the Income Tax Act, 1962. The organizational goal is to design and implement initiatives relating to improving the quality of life of those most in need by providing funding and training for water, sanitation and health and hygiene programs.

Water For People India’s key approach for access to Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation is ‘Everyone Forever’ approach that aligns to SDG 6 and the overarching partnership goal – SDG 17. The Everyone Forever model is a district centered approach that includes completing water systems, sanitation facilities in schools and clinics, and supporting the private sector to ensure that Everyone – even the hardest to reach household, school, and health clinic – gains access to improved water, sanitation, and hygiene.

Water For People India programs has implemented in 28 districts in the states of West Bengal, Bihar, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, and Assam. In all, nearly 1.5 million people have been reached through our intervention focusing on community drinking water and sanitation: Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in public institutions and market-led approaches to sanitation. By 2023, Water for People India programs aim to directly benefit 2.7 million people.

B. Brief

As an element of the program Water For People India Trust (WFPIT) seeks to engage individual or organization as a consultant (hereafter call the ‘consultant’) to prepare cum Water Security and Climate Resilience Assessment as per the ToR.

C. Background

Sagar Island in South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, is one of the most climate-vulnerable regions of the Indian Sundarbans. The island faces recurring challenges from cyclones, tidal flooding, coastal erosion, saline water intrusion, and freshwater scarcity, which significantly affect drinking water security, agriculture, livelihoods, public health, and local ecosystems. Despite receiving high annual rainfall, limited groundwater recharge, saline aquifers, deteriorating ponds, and inadequate water infrastructure continue to constrain access to safe and reliable water. Women, children, and marginalized communities are disproportionately affected by these challenges.

To address these issues, Water For People India Trust, with support from Tata Trusts, is implementing the "Building Water Security and Climate Resilience in Sundarbans" project in 22 villages of 4 Gram Panchayats out of 9 Gram Panchayats of Sagar Block. The project aims to improve water security through groundwater recharge, rainwater harvesting, pond