Terms of Reference (ToR)
Position Name: Waterbird Specialist (Consultant)
Field Research, Waterbird Monitoring, and Community Engagement Support for the Blue-belt OECM Project
Reports to: Program Manager (Terrestrial)
Location: Dhaka, Bangladesh, with extended field deployment in Noakhali, Bhola and Patuakhali districts
Duration: 240 days over a one-year period (December 2026 to November 2027), with fieldwork concentrated in the winter season (October-April) - to be confirmed with the Program Manager (Terrestrial)
Liaison: Maintain regular working relationships with the Research Coordinator, Field Coordinator and Officers of the Terrestrial and Marine Conservation Program, Project Manager - Sustho Sagor Project, Coordinator - Educational Outreach Program, Marine Spatial Analyst, NGOAB Liaison & HR Officer, and Terrestrial and Marine Advisors, to ensure effective coordination and implementation of assigned activities.
Background
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a US non-profit, tax-exempt, private organization established in 1895 that saves wildlife and wild places by understanding critical issues, crafting science-based solutions, and taking conservation actions that benefit nature and humanity. WCS has been active in Bangladesh since 2004, working with the Government of Bangladesh and local communities to conserve freshwater dolphins, marine protected areas, and threatened wildlife through research, capacity building, and policy support.
WCS Bangladesh is implementing the terrestrial and waterbird components of its Blue-belt OECM (Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures) project in the central coastal zone, covering Noakhali, Bhola and Patuakhali districts. The project focuses on wintering waterbird surveys and monitoring, bird ringing and satellite tagging, mapping key roosting and foraging sites, documenting threats to threatened waterbirds and their habitats, and engaging communities to support OECM demarcation, zoning, and co-management.
To support effective field implementation of these activities, WCS Bangladesh intends to engage a suitably qualified Terrestrial and Waterbird Field Consultant.
Objectives:
This consultancy aims to lead day-to-day field implementation of the terrestrial and waterbird components of the Blue-belt OECM project, including wintering waterbird surveys and monitoring, bird ringing and tagging support, mapping of key sites, and documentation of threats to threatened waterbirds and their habitats. The consultant will support field data collection, data management, spatial and statistical analysis, and the preparation of technical reports and scientific publications, while also providing field, administrative and logistical support for community monitoring, consultations, Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) processes, training and outreach events across Noakhali, Bhola and Patuakhali districts.
Scope of Work:
The consultant will undertake, but not be limited to, the following tasks:
Waterbird Research and Monitoring
- Plan and implement boat-based wintering waterbird surveys in January and coastal monitoring visits from October to April;
- Undertake monthly visits (October-April) to two key sites for Indian Skimmer (Rynchops albicollis) and other threatened waterbirds, recording ecological data, populations and threats;
- Support three five-day ringing camps (December-March) for capture, satellite tagging, colour-flagging and ringing of at least 200 shorebirds, maintaining accurate records in line with ringing ethics and permit conditions;
- Compile and interpret satellite tag data and flag resightings from Central Asian Flyway and East Asian-Australasian Flyway partner countries to reconstruct migration routes and map key sites;
- Document threats to waterbirds and their habitats, including hunting, bycatch in pole gillnets, grazing and dogs at roosts, disturbance, and mangrove clearance or plantation on mudflats;
- Recruit, train and supervise two community Citizen Scientists to monitor priority Indian Skimmer sites weekly (December-March) and quality-check their data;
- Report notable sightings to national and international databases, and maintain bird identification references, optics and field equipment.
Wider Field Research Support
- Contribute to the background review of literature and databases on threatened species and habitat use in the project area;
- Collect data on fisheries and human activities to identify hotspots of illegal gear, and support monitoring of shark and ray landings;
- Assist in recording marine turtles, dolphins and otters, and support turtle nesting surveys at Kuakata and Char Kukri Mukri;
- Support socio-economic assessments, participatory resource and tenure mapping, and identification of priority OECM sites and zones.
Data Management, Spatial Analysis and Scientific Writing
- Maintain and quality-assure project databases, ensuring accurate entry, verification and backup of paper and mobile data (e.g., KoBo Toolbox);
- Use GIS (QGIS or ArcGIS) for survey, roost, species distribution and threat maps, the priority ecological site map with human-use overlays, and OECM boundary and zone mapping;
- Use R for data cleaning, summary statistics, trend analysis and publication-quality figures;
- Draft technical reports and background documents for the OECM proposal and Co-Management Plan, and contribute substantively to at least one peer-reviewed publication on waterbird migration and key sites.
Community and Stakeholder Engagement
- Maintain field-level contact with fisher associations, citizen scientists, community focal points, cattle herd owners, and local government officials;
- Support FPIC workshops, stakeholder consultations and community meetings in Noakhali, Bhola and Patuakhali on OECM demarcation, zoning and co-management, and document feedback and consent;
- Support outreach exhibitions, World Shorebird Day and Wetlands Day events, awareness materials and OECM maps, and provide translation.
Reporting and Coordination
- Prepare work plans and activity trackers, compile field data summaries, and contribute inputs to donor reports and internal updates in Bangla and English;
- Comply with WCS policies and safeguards, and support other project teams as assigned.
Deliverables:
The consultant is responsible for the following deliverables. All deliverables are subject to review and approval by the Program Manager (Terrestrial) before being considered accepted.
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No.
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Deliverable
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Timeline / Deadline
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Frequency
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1
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Inception work plan and field/ringing camp calendar for waterbird surveys, monitoring visits, and community engagement activities
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Within 15 days of contract start; updated twice yearly (April & October)
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Once, then twice yearly
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2
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Waterbird survey and site monitoring reports: monthly site-visit records, ringing/tagging camp reports, and Citizen Scientist data summaries for Noakhali, Bhola and Patuakhali sites
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Within 10 days of each visit or camp (October-April)
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Monthly / per camp, winter season
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3
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Feeding and migration ecology detailed report of Indian Skimmers ensuring sound research methods and quality data collection
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Within 10 days of each visit or camp (November-April)
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Monthly / per camp, winter season and a final report
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4
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Project database, GIS layers and maps: roost, distribution, and threat maps; OECM boundary and zoning maps; verified and backed-up field datasets
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Updated on a rolling basis; consolidated quarterly
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Ongoing, quarterly consolidation
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5
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Technical reports and background documents: literature/database review, draft inputs to the OECM proposal and Co-Management Plan, and substantive contribution to at least one peer-reviewed manuscript
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Per project milestone, as agreed in the work plan
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Per milestone
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6
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Community and stakeholder engagement records: FPIC workshop and consultation reports, feedback and consent documentation for Noakhali, Bhola and Patuakhali
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Within 15 days of each workshop or consultation
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Per event
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7
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Quarterly progress report: consolidated summary of field activities, monitoring results, challenges and recommendations, accompanied by an updated work plan
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Within 15 working days of each quarter end
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Quarterly
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8
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Final comprehensive report: full documentation of waterbird monitoring, field research, and community engagement outcomes, lessons learnt, and recommendations for continuity, with a complete archive of data and materials produced
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30 days before contract end
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Once
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9
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A final draft of a research paper on the feeding and migration ecology of the Indian Skimmer and the spatial distribution of other shorebirds.
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30 days before contract end
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Once
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Required Qualifications and Experience
The consultant should possess:
- Master's degree in zoology, wildlife or conservation biology, environmental science, or a related discipline.
- Minimum of one year of experience in terrestrial or coastal field research and fieldwork, with proven capacity for engaging in respectful partnerships or collaborations with representatives from local communities, government and non-government organizations or institutions.
- Demonstrated field identification skills for South Asian waterbirds and shorebirds, and practical experience of waterbird counts or transect-based survey methods; experience of bird ringing, color-flagging or satellite tagging is a strong advantage, and willingness to train towards a recognized ringing qualification is required.
- Working knowledge of GIS software (e.g., QGIS or ArcGIS) for mapping, spatial data management, and basic spatial analysis.
- Working knowledge of R for data cleaning, statistical summary, and the production of graphs and figures.
- Demonstrated scientific writing ability in English; prior contribution to a peer-reviewed publication, thesis, or technical report is an advantage.
- Computer literacy, including experience with spreadsheet software (e.g., Excel) and mobile data collection tools (e.g., KoBo Toolbox).
- Demonstrated ability to communicate with a variety of partners and stakeholders, and to mediate and resolve complex issues that involve multiple actors and/or interest areas.
- Willingness and physical ability to travel to and stay in remote coastal and island field sites, including by boat, to work on intertidal mudflats, and to work extended hours in variable field conditions during the winter survey season.
- Professional proficiency in English and Bangla (written and spoken).
Desirable Core Skills:
- Waterbird and shorebird field identification and survey methods
- Bird ringing, colour-flagging or satellite tagging experience
- GIS mapping and spatial analysis (QGIS or ArcGIS)
- Data cleaning and statistical analysis in R
- Scientific and technical report writing
- Community and stakeholder engagement, including FPIC processes
Supervision and Performance Management
The consultant will report to the Program Manager (Terrestrial), and maintain a regular working relationship with the Research Coordinator, Field Coordinator, and other Officers of the Terrestrial and Marine Conservation Program. The consultant will be based in the field for extended periods, particularly during the winter survey season (October-April), with periodic reporting to the Dhaka office.
Performance will be reviewed against agreed deliverables and targets set out in the approved work plan. The project management team reserves the right to request revisions to deliverables prior to acceptance. Continued engagement will be subject to satisfactory performance reviews.
Ethical Obligations and Safeguarding
The consultant will be required to comply with WCS's Code of Conduct, Anti-Harassment Policy, and Safeguarding Policy throughout the period of engagement. Given that this role involves direct engagement with coastal and fishing communities, including women, youth, and other potentially vulnerable groups, the consultant must demonstrate sensitivity to community rights, data privacy, and Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) principles in all field, monitoring and documentation activities.
The consultant must sign a confidentiality agreement covering all project materials, institutional data, donor information, and community-level information collected during this assignment. All materials and outputs produced, including data, maps, reports and publications, are the property of WCS Bangladesh.
Application and Submission Requirements
Interested and qualified individuals are invited to submit the following:
- A cover letter (maximum two pages) outlining relevant experience and suitability for this consultancy
- An up-to-date curriculum vitae (maximum four pages)
- A brief technical proposal (maximum two pages) describing the consultant's approach to this assignment, including proposed methodology for waterbird survey, monitoring and field data management
- A financial proposal indicating the proposed daily consultancy rate (in BDT), inclusive of all applicable taxes
- Two to three relevant work samples (e.g., field survey datasets, GIS maps, technical reports, or publications previously developed)
- Contact details for two professional referees
Application and Submission Requirements
Interested and qualified individuals are invited to complete the online application form, filling in all required fields, and attach an updated CV and a cover letter or Expression of Interest (EOI) for this position.
Link to apply online : https://forms.gle/bMijJpcXbw9RLCxg8
Application deadline: 15 November 2026