Short-Term Consultant (Urban Planner)
Preparation of Pathway to Change Report
Date of Publication: July 16, 2023
1. Background
Waste Concern, with support from Borda South Asia, is implementing a project in Bangladesh from 2024 to 2026 that focuses on climate-resilient urban development, climate action planning, sustainable waste management and sanitation, and strengthening the capacity of local governments and other stakeholders.
Under the project, Climate Action Plans (CAPs) have been prepared for selected locations, including Kushtia, Savar, Munshiganj and Goalanda, together with demonstration activities intended to translate climate action planning into practical interventions.
At the end of the project period, Waste Concern intends to document the changes generated through the project and assess how project interventions have contributed to improved climate planning, sustainable waste management, institutional capacity, and climate-resilient urban services.
Waste Concern therefore intends to engage an Urban Planner as a Short-Term Consultant to prepare a Pathway to Change Report for 2024–2026. The report will reconstruct the pathway from project interventions and outputs to outcomes and longer-term changes, supported by available evidence and stakeholder consultations.
2. Objective of the Assignment
The primary objective is to prepare an evidence-based Pathway to Change Report for the Project.
The assignment will:
- document the project’s key interventions, outputs and outcomes;
- assess how Climate Action Plans have contributed to changes in planning and implementation;
- assess the contribution of demonstration projects to climate-resilient and sustainable urban services;
- identify institutional, behavioral and capacity changes;
- assess the project’s contribution to sustainable waste management and climate action;
- identify enabling factors, challenges and lessons learned; and
- identify opportunities for sustainability, replication and scaling-up.
3. Scope of Work
The short consultant will perform the following key tasks:
- Review of project documents: Review the project proposal, logical framework, work plans, progress reports, CAPs, demonstration project documents, monitoring information, stakeholder consultation records and other relevant materials.
- Develop the Pathway to Change: Reconstruct the project’s results pathway:
Inputs → Activities → Outputs → Outcomes → Changes in Capacity/Practice → Longer-Term Climate and Urban Development Benefits. The consultant will identify key assumptions, external factors, and linkages between project interventions and observed changes.
- Assess evidence of change: Assess changes in climate change planning and mainstreaming; sustainable waste management; local government capacity and institutional practices; stakeholder collaboration; implementation of demonstration activities; and climate-resilient urban services.
- Stakeholder consultations: Conduct consultations/interviews with BORDA staff, local government representatives, project partners, technical experts and other relevant stakeholders to validate the Pathway to Change and document changes not captured in project reports.
- Contribution analysis: Assess how the project contributed to observed changes, while distinguishing direct project results from broader changes influenced by other factors.
- Lessons and recommendations: Identify key lessons, sustainability issues, replication opportunities, and recommendations for future interventions.
4. Key Deliverables
The final report should include a clear visual Pathway to Change/ToC diagram, evidence matrix, key findings, lessons learned and recommendations. All outputs should be submitted in editable MS Word/PowerPoint formats.
| Deliverable | Indicative Timing |
| Inception Note – methodology, work plan and proposed Pathway to Change framework | Week 1 |
| Draft Pathway to Change & Evidence Analysis | Week 4 |
| Draft Pathway to Change Report, including visual pathway diagram | Week 6 |
| Final Report, incorporating Waste Concern comments | Week 8 |
5. Duration and Level of Effort
The assignment will be undertaken over approximately two (2) months, tentatively between August and October 2026, with an estimated level of effort of 44 person-days. The exact commencement date and level of effort will be agreed with Waste Concern.
6. Required Qualifications and Experience
The short-term consultant should have:
- Bachelor’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning (BURP) or an equivalent degree in urban/environmental planning or a closely related discipline;
- At least 5 years of professional experience in climate change planning, urban/environmental planning, waste management, or related fields;
- Demonstrated experience in Climate Action Plans, climate-resilient urban planning, or climate-related development projects;
- Practical knowledge of solid waste management and sustainable urban services;
- Experience in Theory of Change, Pathway to Change, results assessment, or project evaluation;
- Experience in qualitative assessment;
- Strong analytical and report-writing skills; and
- Good knowledge of the Bangladesh urban/local government context and GoB policies.
Experience with development partner/donor-funded projects will be an advantage.
7. Key Competencies
The consultant should demonstrate strong analytical and conceptual skills; an understanding of climate change adaptation/mitigation and sustainable waste management; the ability to link project activities to measurable changes and outcomes; stakeholder consultation and facilitation skills; excellent English report-writing and communication skills; and proficiency in MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, including the preparation of professional diagrams.
8. Reporting and Supervision
The consultant will report to the designated Project Manager and work closely with the Waste Concern project team. Waste Concern will provide relevant project documents, monitoring information, access to project staff, and introductions to key stakeholders. The consultant will incorporate BORDA’s consolidated comments into the final report.
9. Application Requirements
Interested candidates are requested to submit their CV to Waste Concern by July 23, 2026.Applications should be submitted by email to Waste Concern at office@wasteconcern.org
Please mention the position applied for in the subject line of the email.