Individual Consultant Service as Gender and SEA/SH Expert for Sylhet-Charkhai-Sheola Highway Improvement Project — Accelerating Transport and Trade Connectivity in Eastern South Asia – Bangladesh Phase 1 Project

Request for Expressions of Interest (REoI) Individual Consultant Service as Gender and SEA/SH Expert (National) Country : Bangladesh Name of the Project : Sylhet-Charkhai-Sheola Highway Improvement Project under ACCESS PROGRAM Credit No : IDA Credit 7786-BD Assignment Title : Individual Consultant Service as Gender and SEA/SH Expert (National) Reference No : Package No: SP-9 1. The Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh (GoB) has received a credit from the International Development Association (IDA) towards the cost of the Sylhet-Charkhai-Sheola Highway Improvement Project under ACCESS Program. The RHD, an implementing agency of the Project intends to apply a part of the proceeds of this credit to eligible payments under the contract for which this Request for Expressions of Interest is invited. 2. The Objective of this assignment is to seek the services of an experienced Individual Consultant to work as the Gender and SEA/SH expert to, support the PIU to ensure equitable distribution of benefits across gender, recommend measures for mitigating and managing any adverse gender impacts, including potential impacts related to GBV and SEA/SH. The detailed scope of the consultancy service is mentioned in the ToR. Detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) and other information will be available upon request from the address provided below, either through email or in person. The TOR can also be found at ‘Sylhet-Sheola Project’ corner of the RHD website (rhd.portal.gov.bd). 3. The expected date for the commencement of services is January 2027. The assignment will have an input of Twenty-four (24) Man-Months, depending on the need of the Client and satisfactory performance of the Consultant. The Contract period shall be determined as per mutual agreement of both parties. The Contract period may be extended on mutually agreed terms if required as per rules and regulation of WB and GoB. 4. The Consultant will be selected using Individual Consultant Selection (ICS) Method (Open-National) following the World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers (7th Edition, September 2025). The selected Consultant shall sign the contract with Project Director, Sylhet-Charkhai-Sheola Highway Improvement Project, RHD. Interested Applicants are required to provide information demonstrating that they possess the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the services. The selection criteria are – • Educational Qualifications: The consultant should have an appropriate post-graduate degree in Social Science/Social Work/Anthropology/Mass Communication/Gender Studies/Women studies or equivalent qualification in a related field. Formal training/course on gender planning/analysis/management is preferred. • Experience: At least 8 years of general work experience in the area of gender/social development/stakeholder management/grievance management etc., including 4 years of specific working experience on this type of management in development partner funded projects or reputed international organizations. The Gender expert should have specifically worked on preparation or implementation of social safeguards or gender assessments/management for at least 01 large scale Infrastructure development project. Familiarity with and demonstrated experience of applying tools for gender analysis or developing strategies for gender mainstreaming in development projects will be considered as added advantage. Applicants are required to submit their Expressions of Interest (EoIs), comprising a CV (including employment history with duties and responsibilities) and a forwarding letter describing briefly the reasons that the applicant considers him/her-self best suited to perform the assignment. 5. The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to the Section III, para 3.13, 3.15, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers, Seventh Edition, September 2025 ("Procurement Regulations"), setting forth the World Bank's policy on conflict of interest. 6. Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours (09:00 AM to 04:00 PM Bangladesh Standard Time). 7. The authority reserves the right to accept or reject any or all of EOIs. Expressions of Interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by fax, or by e-mail) by 1:00 PM (Bangladesh Standard Time), November 25, 2026.