Invitation for Proposal

1. Invitation for Proposals

WRI India invites technical and financial proposals from qualified institutions to provide services for socio-economic research, community engagement and livelihood assessment to support its ongoing work across selected creeks of Mumbai. The objective of the assignment is to generate community-centred evidence and participatory insights to strengthen planning, implementation, and long-term sustainability of urban mangrove management and restoration efforts, while enhancing local livelihoods and climate resilience.

2. Background

About the Organization

WRI India, an independent charity legally registered as the India Resources Trust, provides objective information and practical proposals to foster environmentally sound and socially equitable development. Through research, analysis, and recommendations, WRI India puts ideas into action to build transformative solutions to protect the earth, promote livelihoods, and enhance human well-being.

About the Urban Mangrove Management project and objectives

WRI India, through the Mangrove Coalition, is working to strengthen the protection and management of urban mangroves by adopting an interdisciplinary, integrated, and inclusive approach that builds evidence on PeopleNatureClimate relationships, supports community-centred stewardship, informs policy and governance calibration, and advances mangrove-based Nature-based Solutions that deliver ecological resilience alongside social and livelihood co-benefits.

3. Scope of Work

The selected consultant / institution will be responsible for undertaking the following components in close coordination with WRI India and the Mangrove Coalition:

A. Inception, Scoping, and Research Design

• Develop a detailed inception plan outlining objectives, methodological approach, sampling strategy, tools, timelines, and coordination mechanisms.
• Support WRI India and Mangrove Coalition partners in refining the socio-economic and community research scope for selected mangrove-adjacent creek systems in Mumbai.
• Provide technical inputs to visioning, consultation, and planning workshops related to urban mangroves and Nature-based Solutions.

B. Socio-Economic Assessment and Analytical Frameworks

• Design and operationalise a socio-economic assessment framework to examine PeopleClimateMangrove relationships at the creek and community scale.
• Develop indicators and analytical tools, including a livelihood-focused index or typology, to assess vulnerability(climate, economic and social), dependence, stewardship potential, and resilience outcomes.
• Adapt frameworks for application across multiple sites within Mumbai, ensuring contextual relevance and comparability.

C. Data Collection, Field Research, and Analysis

• Design and implement primary data collection using mixed methods, including household surveys, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and participatory tools, as appropriate.
• Consolidate and analyse primary and secondary data to generate site-specific and cross-site insights aligned with project objectives.
• Ensure ethical research practices, inclusive representation, and sensitivity to local social, cultural, and ecological contexts.

D. Knowledge Review and Case Documentation

• Conduct targeted reviews of literature, policies, and existing studies related to urban mangroves, coastal livelihoods, and Nature-based Solutions.
• Document selected case studies from Mumbais creek systems that illustrate communitymangrove interactions, governance challenges, and emerging good practices.
• Synthesize findings to inform planning, engagement strategies, and policy discussions.

E. Community Engagement and Participatory Processes

• Support structured community engagement processes to understand local practices, perceptions, conflicts, and opportunities related to mangrove ecosystems.
• Facilitate the formation or strengthening of local advisory, stewardship, or action groups, as relevant, to enable dialogue and co-learning.
• Conduct stakeholder mapping to identify key actors, institutions, and influence pathways at local and city scales.

F. Livelihoods and Stewardship Pathways

• Document existing skills, livelihood strategies, and aspirations of mangrove-adjacent communities.
• Identify and assess potential livelihood enhancement and diversification pathways linked to mangrove ecosystems and local natural capital.
• Explore opportunities to strengthen community stewardship models that align ecological outcomes with social and economic benefits.

G. Knowledge Products, Communication, and Capacity Support

• Contribute to the development of knowledge products such as reports, briefs, presentations, training material, or exhibition content, based on project findings.
• Provide strategic inputs to support participatory and locally grounded communication and outreach strategies across Mumbai.
• Share interim findings through periodic updates, workshops, or review meetings with WRI India and Mangrove Coalition partners.

H. Strategic Engagement and Coordination

• Participate in steering committee meetings, review forums, and strategic discussions related to the Mangrove Coalition.
• Provide timely inputs, insights, and recommendations to inform adaptive project planning and decision-making.
• Coordinate closely with WRI India to ensure alignment with broader coalition objectives, timelines, and deliverables.

5. Guidelines for Proposal Submission

Interested institutions are invited to submit separate technical and financial proposals addressed to India Resources Trust

A. Technical Proposal

The Technical Proposal should include the following components:

1. Relevant Experience
2. A summary of past assignments or similar projects undertaken by the consultant or institution that demonstrate relevant experience in socio-economic assessments, community-based research, Nature-based Solutions, coastal ecosystems, or multi-stakeholder initiatives, including key outcomes and learnings in Mumbai.

B. Financial Proposal

1. A detailed cost breakdown covering all componentsprofessional fees, travel, logistics, materials, and applicable taxes.
2. Clear statement of any assumptions or exclusions.

1. Evaluation Criteria for Proposals

Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

1. Relevant Technical Expertise
2. Demonstrated experience in socio-economic research, community engagement, livelihood analysis, and/or Nature-based Solutions, particularly in coastal, urban, or mangrove-related contexts in Mumbai.
3. Quality and Coherence of the Proposed Approach
4. Soundness, feasibility, and clarity of the proposed methodology, workplan, and analytical frameworks, including alignment with the objectives and scope of the assignment.
5. Team Qualifications and Experience
6. Appropriateness of the proposed team composition, including qualifications and relevant experience of key experts in social research, participatory processes, coastal or urban ecosystems, and policy or governance analysis.
7. Inclusivity and Contextual Relevance
8. Integration of inclusive and participatory approaches, including attention to gender, vulnerable groups, and local community practices, and the relevance of proposed tools and methods to Mumbais mangrove contexts.
9. Cost-Effectiveness and Value for Money
10. Reasonableness, transparency, and justification of the proposed budget in relation to the scope of work, deliverables, and level of effort proposed.

1. Proposal Timelines:

Activity

Due Date

Publication of RFP by WRI India

23rd January 2026

Deadline for proposal submission

3rd February 2026

Notification of results to all applicants

4th February 2026

All proposals must be sent in e-mail shruti.maliwar@wri.org with the subject line: Proposal Socio economic and community engagement in Mumbai