3 February 2021
Terms of Reference (TOR)
BackgroundBangladesh is one of the countries seriously affected by COVID-19 pandemic - both economically and socially. It is also one of the MVCs due to adverse impacts of climate crisis. The rural livelihoods, along with the urban, especially the non-formal sector who contributes around 85% of total economy, have been affected highly due to inconsistent lock down and lack of proper health and safety net services.
Bangladesh is also one of the countries facing massive debt-burden in recent years. The total loan of the country crossed USD 105 billion which is around 34.9% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). To meet the COVID-19 economic crisis, the Government of Bangladesh (GOB) estimated a total requirement of USD 25,835 million including USD 8,810 million as additional financing.
In response of GOB's call, ADB has granted a budget-support loan of USD 250 million from Ordinary Capital Resources (OCR), USD 250 from Asian Development Fund (ADF) and USD 1.00 million grant from Technical Assistance Special Fund (TASF) [1] along with USD 250 million from Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) under COVID-19 Active Response and Expenditure Support (CARES) Program [2].
The major activities under the USD 751 million project are [3]:
- Special honorarium for 2,000 frontline doctors, nurses and other medical workers;
- Monthly allowance of BDT 500.00 for 750,000 newly enrolled senior citizens (40% women);
- Monthly allowance of BDT 500.00 for 250,000 newly enrolled widow and husband-deserted women;
- One time allowance of BDT 2,000 for 2,000,000 poor families (20% female-headed);
- Monthly 20 kgs of food support for 1 million poor and vulnerable families;
- Wage subsidies of BDT 30 billion to the workers in export-oriented industries (50% women);
- Subsidized interest-loan of BDT 170 billion for affected industries, sectors and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises;
- Training on better management of Social Safety Net Services for 150 staffs from Ministry of Social Welfare (MOSW), Ministry of Women and Children Affairs (MOWCA), and Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MODMR);
- Digital financial services, banking channels and other tools are developed for improved poverty targeting and better financial services;
- Development of a guidance note for inclusive and gender-responsive social protection and welfare services;
- Upgradation of the Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) system to provide timely and accurate sex-disaggregated M&E reports.
Several reports on discrimination, corruption and misuse related with CARES Program have already been published in the national newspapers. There are significant human rights violations also for criticizing ineffectiveness of Recovery Program. The progress level is also shown in ADB and AIIB Monitoring Report [4].
Considering the situation, Bangladesh Working Group on External Debt (BWGED) has taken an initiative to develop a Case Study on the CARES Program for revitalizing transparency, accountability and public interest through campaign and advocacy targeting ADB and AIIB and their guiding policies.
Broader Objective
Revitalizing Transparency, Accountability and Public Interest in the COVID-19 Recovery Loans provided by International Financial Institutes (IFIs) considering impacts of climate change in Bangladesh.
Specific Objectives
- Unwrapping the misuse, corruption and ineffectiveness of the ADB-AIIB financed COVID-19 Active Response and Expenditure Support (CARES) Program
- Creating a regional and international space to question eligibility and effectiveness of CARES Program
- Create an opportunity of evidence based advocacy on CARES Program.
Deliverables
- Case Study on ADB-AIIB financed COVID-19 Active Response and Expenditure Support (CARES) Program focusing on access to health and social safety net services, vested interest of private corporations, misuse, corruption and ineffectiveness.
- Participation and presentation in national and international meetings and dialogues on CARES Program: (i) National Discussion (ii) South Asian Regional Dialogue (iii) International Meeting
Study Timeline
13 Days in 2 Months (20 February - 19 April 2021)
- 10 Days (within 20 Feb - 19 Apr 2021): Preparation of the Case Study on COVID-19 Active Response and Expenditure Support (CARES) Program: (i) Submission of the first draft: 30 Mar 2021 (ii) Submission of final report: 14 Apr 2021
- 3 Days: Participation and presentation in national and international meetings and dialogues on CARES Program: (i) 1 Day (within 20-25 Mar 2021): Participation in the National Discussion on COVID-19 Recovery Loans, Debt Burden and Access to Essential Services (ii) 1 Day (within 1-10 Apr 2021): Participation in the South Asian Regional Dialogue on COVID-19 Recovery Loans, Debt Servicing and Role of International Financial Institutions (iii) 1 Day (within 20-30 Apr 2021): Participation in the International Meeting on COVID-19 Recovery Loans, Corruption and Basic Human Rights
Budget
The Bangladesh Working Group on External Debt (BWGED) will contribute a consolidated amount of BDT 40,000.00 (Bangladesh Taka Forty thousand only) for the job.
Expression of Interest (EOI)
BWGED Members/allies are requested to submit their Expression of Interest which includes:
- Background of the Concept
- Process and Methodology of the Study (Secondary Data Collection, Data Analysis, Key Informant Interview, Focus Group Discussion etc.)
- Action Plan
- Necessary Inputs
- Curriculum Vitae of the Lead Researcher
Interested members & allies of BWGED are requested to send their Expression of Interest (EOI) with a maximum two-page Concept Note and a Curriculum Vitae (CV) of the Lead Researcher to tuhin@cleanbd.org by 15 February 2020, Monday 5:00 PM (Bangladesh Time).
Reference
- CARES Program of ADB: https://www.adb.org/projects/54180-001/main#project-pds
- CARES Program of AIIB: https://www.aiib.org/en/projects/details/2020/approved/Bangladesh-COVID-19-Active-Response-and-Expenditure-Support-Program.html
- Activities under CARES Program: https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/project-documents/54180/54180-001-rrp-en.pdf
- Monitoring Report of AIIB on CARES Program (August 2020): https://www.aiib.org/en/projects/details/2020/approved/_download/project-implementation-monitoring-report/AIIB_1Bangladesh_Bangladesh-COVID-19-Active-Response-and-Expenditure-Support-Program_1_August-2020_Public-Version.pdf
