Request for Proposals

Request for Proposals

Terms of Reference to conduct

Gender Responsive Budget and Youth Responsive Budget Analysis

Issued: January 13, 2025

Responses Due: Sunday, January 26, 2025

Vendors may email questions and responses to the following contact:

Contact information

National Democratic Institute

Continental Building, Uttar Dhoka, Kathmandu

Email: nepaljobs@ndi.org

1. About NDI

The National Democratic Institute (NDI) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, nongovernmental organization that has supported democratic institutions and practices in every region of the world for more than three decades. NDI receives grants and cooperative agreements to pursue its mission from U.S. Federal agencies, including the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State (DOS), as well as grants and service contracts from private and international donors such as the United Nations Development Fund, the U.K. Department for International Development (DFID) and the World Bank, among others.

Since its founding in 1983, NDI and its local partners have worked to establish and strengthen political and civic organizations, safeguard elections and promote citizen participation, openness and accountability in government. NDI works on five continents with political parties, governments, parliaments and civic groups to establish and strengthen democratic institutions and practices. The Institute uses a multinational approach that reinforces the message that while there is no single democratic model, certain core principles are shared by all democracies. That philosophy has been applied in more than 132 countries since NDI’s founding.  NDI has been a pioneer in the use of technology as an integral component of democratic development. The Institute has helped citizens create and refine tools to advocate, organize and mobilize in ways that encourage governments to be more accountable and create opportunities for citizen-led social and political change. 

NDI is currently implementing a USAID funded five-year program, Democratic Processes Project (DPP). Through DPP, CEPPS/NDI will engage the Nepali civil society organizations (CSO) to strengthen the inclusiveness, responsiveness, and resilience of the country’s electoral and political processes. 

2. Introduction 

NDI has been working together with CSOs in various provinces to strengthen their informal Network and Coalition and support these CSOs and their networks to plan and implement evidence-based advocacy. The CSOs' coalition and their sub-groups have identified Gender Responsive Budgeting and Youth Responsive Budgeting/Policy (YRB) as one of the major agendas for the advocacy on which the CSO groups need an analysis to be used as advocacy talking points. Thus, to support this objective, the GRB and YRB analysis is planned, and the findings of this study will be utilized by the CSO groups in targeted provinces. 

3. Scope of Work 

Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) is an integrated approach to analyze the public sector and other non-governmental sectors budget plan and its implementation to identify and ensure that the budgets address gender disparities and prioritize gender equality. GRB focuses on prioritizing and addressing systemic inequalities by ensuring resources are directed toward initiatives that empower women, reduce gender-based disparities, and foster inclusive development. GRB does not ask for allocating separate budgets for women but rather mainstreaming gender considerations into all aspects of development initiatives and putting it in the fiscal plan.

The Ministry of Finance introduced Gender Responsive Budgeting from FY 2007/08 and from then, Government through its different development programs have been putting it in place however there are gaps in terms of increasing the direct Gender responsive budget.  To increase this, there is a need for collective efforts and civil society advocacy so that all three tiers of government make conscious efforts. This planned GRB analysis aims to prepare an analysis from the respective provinces and LGs to which CSOs can use as evidence for making their advocacy efforts stronger and more legitimate. 

As like GRB analysis, the youth population in Nepal is 42.5% (Census, 2021) indicating a demographic dividend which needs to be cashed-in through enabling policies, socio-political spaces and opportunities for the youths. For this purpose, NDI also aims to explore and analyze the annual budget and policies (specific to youths) in the proposed provinces to generate evidence. This evidence will then be utilized by CSO alliance and sub-groups for their policy engagement with the stakeholders.

3.1 The specific objectives: 

To develop evidence from GRB and Youth Responsive Budget analysis of Gandaki, Bagmati, Lumbini and Madhesh Province including 3 LGs from selected districts.

To enable CSOs to carry out evidence-based advocacy initiatives based on the GRB and YRB results and influencing respective governments to increase direct Gender and Youth Responsive Budget. 

3.2 Key deliverables: 

The key deliverables of this study are:

A GRB and Youth Responsive Budget analysis report of Gandaki, Bagmati, Lumbini and Madhesh Province including three analysis sections of three Local Level governments (One each from Baglung, Myagdi and Nawalpur). 

Findings validation and learning sharing workshop (half day) in Kathmandu and availability of lead consultant in some (2-3 events) strategic events organized by NDI Nepal. 

Power Point Presentation (Key summary and findings) to be shared with NDI team.

3.3 Geographic coverage and timeline:

Gender Responsive Budget (GRB) and Youth responsive Budget analysis of Gandaki, Bagmati, Lumbini and Madhesh Province is to be carried out. While doing this analysis, the budget of the last three consecutive fiscal years to be covered that further provides the comparative analysis and data.

Likewise, this study aims to cover GRB and Youth Responsive Budget analysis of three Local Level Governments (One each from Baglung, Nawalpur and Myagdi) covering the data from the last three consecutive years.

3.4 Time period and work calendar: 

This study is planned to be started at least by the 1 of Feb 2025 and provide complete deliverables end by mid of March (15th March 2025) with a draft report by end of February 2025. Within this period, the total 25 working days are supposed to be planned in the request of proposal submission. 

3.5 Methodology: 

Gender Responsive Budget and Youth responsive Budget Analysis requires to review the recent three fiscal years' annual budget and its implementation using standard guidelines GRB and YRB. Despite it being mainly a desk work, it also requires few KIIs with the provincial level stakeholders, few KIIs with local level governments and other experts. The applicants are requested to propose a suitable methodology in the proposal. 

4. Criteria for Vendor Selection

A minimum of two consultants (One lead and One co-lead) is the best combination to carry out the study however the applicants are open to include more experts. The lead consultant would take lead of provincial level GRB and Youth Responsive Budget Analysis while the co-lead/s will take lead at LGs level. To complement this study, the following are some desirable qualifications, and requirements.

• At least a bachelor's degree of education. (For Lead and co-leads)
• Previous record of carrying out GRB and any policy/budget analysis of Youth (At least two reports, studies carried out previously). 
• Good track record of conducting qualitative (Primarily) research with a proven skill on financial data analysis.
• Previous track record of working in Public Governance strengthening programs with a focus on provincial and local level budget planning and implementation. 

5. Reporting and Quality Assurance 

The consultant/s will work in close coordination with DPP team of NDI Nepal and a designated focal person. The final report should be prepared in English (final proof-read copy) language.  The report is expected to have sufficient facts and figures including a strong analysis section. There should be separate sections for i) The GRB analysis of each province, ii) GRB analysis of each LGs, iii) Youth Responsive Budget/Policy section for each Province in the final report.

6. Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) 

Any deliverables produced from this consulting support are "works made for hire". NDI is the exclusive owner of and retains all right, title, and interest to its Intellectual Property Rights. Intellectual Property Rights means any patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, moral rights, rights of publicity or other intellectual property or proprietary rights of any kind, tangible and intangible, now known or hereafter existing. Service providers hereby confirm to abide by the intellectual property rights and any materials produced will have an exclusive Intellectual Property Rights of NDI and NDI will use such materials in any manner it deems appropriate, including, but not limited to publication and dissemination of such materials in multiple languages. Such items shall not be used by any party, including Contractor, without the express permission of NDI.

7. Budget Plan

The budget proposal should cover following budget lines which are aligned with the proposed deliverables. 

• Budget of lead consultant
• Budget of co-lead/s
• Budget to cover half day findings sharing workshop expenses 
• Travel, logistics, food, and other required costs for the field (in four provinces and three LGs) 

8. Proposal Guidelines and Submission Process 

Interested consultants or firms should submit the following:

• A cover letter and a brief proposal (4-5 pages) outlining relevant experience, methodology, proposed human resources and their short profile and study operation plan. 
• A detailed CV (for individuals) or organizational profile (for firms). 
• A list and 2 samples of GRB analysis (attach as an annex) undertaken (and any documentation on Youth Responsive Budget/Policy analysis carried out. 
• A financial proposal specifying consultancy fees. (1 page) 
• Firm's registration, tax clearance, and other administrative documents.

All final proposals should be submitted via email to nepaljobs@ndi.org by Sunday, January 26, 2025.

Early submissions are welcome and appreciated. NDI will evaluate bids based on the vendor’s experience, costs and ability to satisfy the proposed tool requirements. NDI may request meetings or calls to discuss proposals and reserves the right to reject any and all bids. NDI also reserves the right to consider bids for modification at any time before an award is made. NDI will not be liable for any costs associated with the preparation, transmittal or presentation of any materials submitted in response to this RFP, but reserves the right to request further information before making an award.  Please note that selected vendor(s) would be expected to use NDI’s standard contract template, a copy of which is available upon request.