Lead poisoning is an underrecognized yet critical public health and environmental challenge in Bangladesh, disproportionately affecting children and undermining the country's human capital development. Exposure primarily arises from informal recycling of lead-acid batteries, adulterated turmeric, and environmental contamination of air, soil, and water. Recent evidence, including blood lead level surveys, indicates alarming exposure levels, surpassing WHO thresholds in over 80% of children tested across several districts. This burden is linked to irreversible neurological damage, malnutrition, stunting, and economic losses from diminished productivity and cognitive potential. 

As such, the Health, Nutrition and Population Global Practice (HNP GP) is seeking a firm to support the development of a policy note that addresses the critical impacts of lead exposure on stunting, cognitive development, and human capital formation through a desk-based exercise. Based on this review, the note is expected to provide actionable evidence-based recommendations to enhance public health, productivity, and environmental sustainability in the country. This effort aims to strengthen Bangladesh’s resilience to environmental health challenges while supporting its development and climate goals.

SELECTION OF CONSULTING FIRMS BY THE WORLD BANK GROUP

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI)

Electronic Submissions through WBGeProcure RFx Now

ASSIGNMENT OVERVIEW

Assignment Title: Policy note development: Implications of lead pollution on child health and nutrition

Assignment Countries:

• Bangladesh

ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTION

Leadpoisoning is an underrecognized yet critical public health and environmentalchallenge in Bangladesh, disproportionately affecting children and underminingthe country's human capital development. Exposure primarily arises frominformal recycling of lead-acid batteries, adulterated turmeric, andenvironmental contamination of air, soil, and water. Recent evidence, includingblood lead level surveys, indicates alarming exposure levels, surpassing WHOthresholds in over 80% of children tested across several districts. This burdenis linked to irreversible neurological damage, malnutrition, stunting, andeconomic losses from diminished productivity and cognitive potential.

As such, theHealth, Nutrition and Population Global Practice (HNP GP) is seeking a firm tosupport the development of a policy note that addresses the critical impacts oflead exposure on stunting, cognitive development, and human capital formationthrough a desk-based exercise. Based on this review, the note is expected to provideactionable evidence-based recommendations to enhance public health,productivity, and environmental sustainability in the country. This effort aimsto strengthen Bangladesh’s resilience to environmental health challenges whilesupporting its development and climate goals.

FUNDING SOURCE

The World Bank Group intends to finance the assignment / services described below under the following:

• BB: Bank Budget

ELIGIBILITY

Eligibility restrictions apply: None

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

The World Bank Group invites eligible firms to indicate their interest in providing the services. Interested firms must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (brochures, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc. for firms; CV and cover letter for individuals). Please note that the total size of all attachments should be less than 5MB. Firms may associate to enhance their qualifications unless otherwise stated in the solicitation documents. Where a group of firms associate to submit an EOI, they must indicate which is the lead firm. If shortlisted, the firm identified in the EOI as the lead firm will be invited to the request for proposal (RFP) phase.

Expressions of Interest should be submitted, in English, electronically through WBGeProcure RFx Now

NOTES

Following this invitation for EOI, a shortlist of qualified firms will be formally invited to submit proposals. Shortlisting and selection will be subject to the availability of funding.

Only those firms which have been shortlisted will be invited to participate in the RFP phase. No notification or debrief will be provided to firms which have not been shortlisted.

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