Terms of Reference (TOR): Consultancy Services for the Design of the Project

Terms of Reference (TOR)

Consultancy Services for the Design of the Project on Thriving and Resilient Smallholder Farmers through Sustainable Food System Transformation

Background:

Heifer International is a global development organization working to combat hunger and poverty sustainably by supporting and investing alongside local farmers and their communities across Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Heifer applies a food systems approach to help farmers earn more income and generate economic opportunities for rural women, youth, and marginalized communities.

Heifer Project International has been operating in Nepal since 1997, directly serving over 400,000 households through partnerships with over 100 local non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Heifer currently implements programs focused on sustainable living income gaps for smallholder farmers, emphasizing cooperatives, sustainable food systems, inclusive finance, and market systems.

In Nepal, the agricultural sector faces numerous challenges, including high post-harvest losses, limited access to climate-smart food production and processing technologies, weak market systems, and an inadequate policy environment for supporting smallholder farmers and their resilience. These challenges require specialized expertise to create solutions that are sustainable and aligned with both local and global development goals.

Objective:

The purpose of this consultancy is to design a comprehensive project that addresses the challenges and gaps in Nepal’s food systems. The consultant or team of consultants will help design the project concept, including a Theory of Change (TOC), results framework, and strategic intervention areas. Key focus areas include:

• Safe and sustainable food production processes
• Reducing post-harvest losses
• Climate-smart food processing
• Strengthening producer organizations 
• Private sector and market system engagement
• Policy and regulatory environment for sustainable food systems

Scope of Work:

1. Situation Analysis and Inclusivity:

• Conduct a desk study and review relevant documents to assess the socio-economic context, Heifer’s cross-cutting priorities, government policies, and donor strategies.
• Analyze gaps in key areas such as food production processes, climate-smart food processing, post-harvest loss reduction, and market systems.
• Proposed Areas of Analysis:
  • Safe and sustainable food production
  • Reducing post-harvest losses
  • Climate-smart food processing
  • Market system engagement
  • Policy and regulatory environment

2. Development of Theory of Change (TOC) and Results Framework:

• Develop a Theory of Change (TOC) that aligns with Heifer’s mission and the challenges identified in the situation analysis.
• Create a results framework that defines key outcomes, outputs, and indicators, with a focus on achieving safe food production, reducing post-harvest loss, and improving market systems.
• Ensure alignment with relevant national policies, such as the Agriculture Development Strategy (ADS), SDGs, and climate adaptation goals.

3. Program Design and Documentation:

• Develop a detailed project concept document that includes:
  • Situation analysis
  • Program description
  • Theory of Change (TOC)
  • Results framework
  • Cross-cutting components (e.g., gender, youth, and environment)
  • Business case and value proposition for private sector engagement
  • Program management and resource management plan

4. Document Review:

• Review relevant documents, including government policies, development frameworks from key partners (e.g., USAID, FCDO, EU), and Heifer’s new program model.
• Integrate findings from the review into the program strategy.

5. Consultative Workshops and Stakeholder Engagement:

• Organize and facilitate consultative meetings and workshops with key stakeholders, including Heifer staff, local governments, private sector partners, and community representatives.
• The consultant will identify stakeholders, facilitate discussions, and ensure their inputs are integrated into the project design.
• The workshops will focus on co-creating solutions for food systems transformation, including safe food production, post-harvest loss reduction, and policy recommendations.

Deliverables:

1. Situation Analysis Report, summarizing the gaps and opportunities in the food system, including safe food production, post-harvest loss, climate-smart processing, and policy gaps.

2. Draft and Final Concept and Program Document, including:

• Situation analysis
• Program description
• Theory of Change (TOC)
• Results framework
• Cross-cutting components (e.g., gender, youth)
• Business case for private sector engagement
• Program management and resource management plans

3. Meeting/Workshop Agenda, Materials, Notes, and Minutes from consultative workshops and stakeholder engagement sessions.

Timeline:

The consultancy will be completed within 30 working days, starting from February 28 – April 15, 2025. The timeline includes:

• Phase 1: Document review and stakeholder engagement (10 days)
• Phase 2: Drafting the TOC and results framework (15 days)
• Phase 3: Finalizing the concept and program document (5 days)

Qualifications:

The selected consultant or team should possess the following qualifications:

• Extensive experience in designing projects focused on safe food production, post-harvest loss reduction, climate-smart food processing, and market system development.
• Expertise in policy and regulatory environments, particularly those related to food systems and agriculture.
• Experience working with international development organizations and understanding the donor landscape (e.g., USAID, FCDO, EU).
• Strong facilitation and stakeholder engagement skills, with experience conducting workshops and consultations with diverse stakeholders.
• Familiarity with Nepal’s development context, including policies, systems, and planning frameworks.

Reporting:

The consultant will report to the Director of Programs at Heifer Project International Nepal and maintain regular communication to provide updates and seek feedback.

Application Process:

Interested consultant should submit their application including below mentioned documents by 5:00 pm, 18th February 2025 to Procurement-NP@heifer.org with the subject line mentioning “Consultancy service for the design of the project”.

• A comprehensive work plan.
• Qualifications and CVs of team members
• A financial proposal
• PAN/VAT Certificate

Note: VAT registered individual consultants are encouraged to apply. 

Heifer Project International Nepal reserves the right to accept or reject any proposal and is not obligated to select the lowest-priced option.