Invitation Proposal

Position: 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 People–Nature–Climate 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 ope rationalise a socio-economic assessment framework to examine People–Climate–Mangrove 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 Mumbai’s creek systems that illustrate community–mangrove 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…