Expression of Interest (EOI) for Project Design Consultancy: Integrated Agriculture Product Storage and Market Center

Expression of Interest (EOI) for Project Design Consultancy: Integrated Agriculture Product Storage and Market Center

dZi Foundation is a US-based non-profit organization working with rural communities in Nepal to achieve prosperity by eliminating barriers to basic needs, fostering opportunities for sustainable livelihoods, and building their capacity to catalyze transformational change. dZi adopts a five-year strategic objective (2024- 2029) guided by past learning, adaptation to the emerging policy and development contexts, and an improved focus on partnership, local ownership, and sustainability beyond external investment to realize the journey to shared prosperity.

1. Call for Consultancy:

dZi Foundation/ Nepal seeks the services of a qualified consultancy firm to design a high-impact, sustainable Integrated Agriculture Product Storage and Marketing Center in Salpasilicho Rural Municipality, Bhojpur district, Koshi Province, Nepal. The project aims to significantly enhance the socio-economic status of local farmers through innovative agricultural practices and market linkages.

2. Project Objectives and Expected Results:

The project design should achieve the following measurable outcomes within one year of implementation:

• Increase the income of at least 100 target farmers by a minimum of 25% annually
• Establish a fully operational, climate-resilient agricultural product storage and marketing facility with a capacity of at least 10 tons per year
• Improve local economic mobility by increasing agricultural productivity by 30% for participating farmers
• Implement sustainable agricultural practices that increase crop yield
• Ensure 40% participation of women and marginalized groups in project activities

3. Scope of Work:

The consultancy firm will design a comprehensive project plan that includes:

• Sustainable and climate-resilient infrastructure design
• Innovative agricultural productivity enhancement strategies
• Market development and value chain integration plan
• Gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) integration strategy
• Financial sustainability and exit plan
• Monitoring and evaluation framework with clear, measurable indicators

4. Deliverables:

a) Inception report outlining methodology and work plan

b) Draft version of the detailed project design document including:

1. Implementation strategies
2. Technical designs for the storage and marketing facility
3. Market development and linkage strategy

c) Final version of all components incorporating feedback from dZi Foundation.

5. Duration of the Consultancy:

2 months, between October 27, 2024, to December 31, 2024.

6. Required Team Composition:

The consultancy team should include the following key members:

• Team Leader with expertise in agricultural project design and management
• Agricultural Value Chain Specialist
• Market Development and Financial Modeling Expert

7. Relevant Experience:

The firm should demonstrate:

• At least 5 similar agricultural value chain projects in Nepal
• Experience working with international development organizations and local government bodies
• Expertise in participatory project design methodologies
• Experience in market development and financial modeling for rural enterprises
• Strong background in gender and social inclusion in development projects
• Familiarity with the socio-economic context of Bhojpur district
• Excellent analytical, interpersonal, communication, and report-writing skills

8. Evaluation Criteria and Scores:

• Technical Approach and Innovation (30 points)
  • Understanding of project objectives and context
  • Innovative strategies for achieving project outcomes
  • Clarity and feasibility of the proposed methodology
• Relevant Experience and Past Performance (25 points)
  • Quality and relevance of past projects
  • Demonstrated impact of previous interventions
  • Client satisfaction and references
• Team Composition and Expertise (25 points)
  • Qualifications and experience of proposed team members
  • Complementary skills and expertise of the team
  • Local knowledge and language capabilities
• Financial Proposal (20 points)
  • Cost-effectiveness and value for money
  • Clarity and justification of the proposed budget

9. Submission Requirements:

Interested firms should submit:

• A cover letter
• A technical proposal (max 10 pages) outlining the approach to achieve the stated objectives
• A financial proposal
• CVs of key team members (max 2 pages/each)
• Evidence of at least 3 similar assignments with quantifiable results
• Company profile with relevant certificates, and latest tax clearance.

Please submit your EOI electronically to procurement.np@dzi.org by October 21, 2024, with "EOI for Integrated Agri Center Project Design" in the subject line. Ensure the attachment is not larger than 10 MB. dZi will entertain any query in relation to the EOI by October 9, 2024.

dZi Foundation is committed to selecting a consultancy firm that can demonstrate innovative approaches to achieve tangible, sustainable results for the target community. We reserve the right to accept or reject any or all proposals without assigning any reason. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for further discussion.