About Welthungerhilfe in Nepal:
Deutsche Welthungerhilfe e.V. is one of the largest non-governmental organisations in Germany operating in humanitarian assistance and development. Established in 1962 as the German section of the "Freedom from Hunger Campaign," it was one of the world's first initiatives aimed at the eradication of hunger.
WHH has been operational in Nepal since 2012, currently managing projects in sixteen districts across eight thematic areas: Humanitarian Actions, Agriculture, Climate Resilience and Natural Resource Management, Nutrition and Health, WASH, Economic Development, Civil Society Empowerment, ICT4D, and others. WHH works in partnership with civil society in Nepal to empower socially marginalised and economically poor citizens, strengthen their resilience, and ensure their right to adequate food and nutrition through a systems thinking approach.
About the SUSTAIN Project:
- Project title: Food Security & Resilient Livelihoods, Focus on Earthquake Affected Families through Civil Society Strengthening (SUSTAIN).
- Project number: NPL 1109-24.
- Project holder: Welthungerhilfe.
- Partner organisations: Rural Reconstruction Nepal (RRN), Nepal Magar Society Service & Information Center (MIC), and Fair Trade Group (FTG) Nepal.
- Project period: October 2025 – July 2029 (nearly 4 years).
- Location: Two municipalities in Jajarkot and Rukum West districts, Karnali Province.
- Overall objective: Contribution to improved livelihoods in local food systems for resilient communities in Jajarkot and Rukum West Districts.
- Outcome: 1,750 earthquake-affected households in Jajarkot and Rukum West have improved their food and nutrition security, and the civil society and local governments promote climate resilient and nutrition-sensitive agriculture and economic resilience programmes.
- Core problem: Climate-related risks and stresses pose significant barriers to achieving household food security of marginalised households. In an already food insecure situation, both climate risk and vulnerability are increasing, expected to steadily undermine local livelihoods and further increase vulnerability — a vicious circle.
- Target population: Smallholder farmers from vulnerable and marginalised ethnic groups, landless households, CBO members, youth, and local government. At least 70% of participants are women with proportional representation of Dalits, ethnic minorities, and other marginalised groups.
Reach: 2,500 marginalised households directly. 57,922 individuals indirectly through advocacy, campaigns, policy support, and awareness activities.
Earthquake Context — Jajarkot 2023:
On November 3, 2023, a 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck Jajarkot District and surrounding areas in western Nepal, killing over 150 people, injuring hundreds, and destroying or damaging tens of thousands of homes. Jajarkot and Rukum West were among the hardest-hit districts. The earthquake compounded existing vulnerabilities — these are among Nepal's poorest districts in Karnali Province, with high food insecurity, remoteness, and limited infrastructure. The SUSTAIN project directly targets families affected by this earthquake, combining earthquake recovery with longer-term food security and climate resilience goals.
Purpose of the Baseline Study:
The primary purpose is to collect data to establish baseline values for the indicators outlined in the project's impact matrix. This data will provide a reference point for tracking progress and measuring outcomes throughout the project's implementation (2025–2029).
The study will specifically focus on: Initial conditions of local food systems in the project areas. Key indicators related to household food security status. Climate resilient agriculture practices. Nature-based solutions. Local government policies, priorities, and resource mobilisation. Climate adaptation and water source conservation. Capacities of local community-based organisations. Climate resilient and nutrition-sensitive agriculture and advocacy gaps, opportunities, and challenges.
The findings will inform strategic interventions to ensure the project effectively aligns with its objectives.
Users of the Study:
- Primary users: Welthungerhilfe at project level (including partner organisations) — to understand existing situation and establish benchmarks. WHH Country Office — to revisit plans and approaches. Local government authorities — for planning processes.
- Secondary users: Donors, researchers, academic institutions, development agencies, and civil society organisations — for broader learning, advocacy, and policy on regenerative agriculture and sustainable food systems.
Scope of the Study:
- Geographic: Two municipalities in Jajarkot and Rukum West districts.
- Period: April to July 2026.
- Level: Micro, meso, and macro — including analysis of existing policies and regulatory frameworks at national and sub-national government levels.
- Thematic: Climate resilient and nutrition-sensitive agriculture, economic empowerment, food access and sufficiency, crop diversification.
- Target participants: Marginalised smallholder farmers, cooperatives, local government authorities, FCHVs (Female Community Health Volunteers), agri-extension workers, youth, women, and groups engaged in agriculture and nutrition.
Study Design and Methodology:
Mixed-method approach required. Mobile application for data collection is mandatory. Study tools developed by consultant in consultation with WHH team. Tools to be translated into local language. Data collection initiated only after WHH final approval of overall research design (sampling design, sample list, tools, analysis plans). Enumerator training required. Ethical guidelines — do no harm, confidentiality, informed consent. Data disaggregation by gender, age, livelihoods, social status. Quantitative sampling: 95% confidence level, 5% margin of error. Qualitative and quantitative analysis software required. Detailed data analysis plan required. Robust quality control and monitoring during data collection. Debriefing session at WHH Nepal country office after field data collection.
Duration:
45 DAYS from signing of contract (April–July 2026). Consultant must develop a workplan as part of the proposal with feasible timeline.
Deliverables:
- Inception report — methodology, sample size, personnel, detailed workplan, survey tools.
- Final baseline report — with updated logframe in prescribed format, including clean dataset in separate spreadsheet.
- Debriefing meeting — after field visit completion, with first draft report and presentation.
- Baseline study brief — 2-page summary (project, methodology, findings, conclusions, recommendations) using WHH template.
- Photos — of study process (FGDs, interviews, workshops) in JPEG/GIF with informed consent.
- PowerPoint presentation — comprehensive slides summarising preliminary findings and recommendations for key stakeholders.
Qualifications Required:
Advanced degree in Development Studies, Public Health, Agriculture, Social Sciences, Economics, or related fields. Minimum 10 years proven experience in baseline and other studies for complex development projects funded by international donors — specifically in agriculture, nutrition, and systems approach. Experience in participatory methodologies with diverse stakeholders. Solid understanding of regenerative agriculture, food systems, system transformation, ecopreneurs, and civil society. Sound contextual understanding of policies and networks at local, provincial, and federal levels in Nepal. Excellent analytical, report writing, and communication skills. Strong written and oral English proficiency. Mixed gender team preferred for balanced perspectives during fieldwork. Strong interpersonal and facilitation skills for engaging with government officials, local organisations, and community members.
Proposal Requirements:
- Technical Proposal: Reference to perceived feasibility of ToR. Brief description of approach, design, and methodology. Capacity statement of the team. Workplan with timeline.
- Financial Proposal: Proposed budget for complete study. Fees per working day (plus taxes). Number of working days proposed. Other costs (travel, accommodation, per diems). Proof of professional registration and taxation.
- CVs: Maximum 3 pages per key person. Respective roles and tasks. Focus on relevant experience and expertise.
- Supporting Documents: Proof and examples of relevant previous studies. Two writing examples (ideally final reports) of relevant previous studies. Company registration certificate. VAT registration certificate. Tax clearance certificate for FY 2081/82. Supplier declaration form (Annex I of TOR).
Evaluation Criteria:
- Essential Criteria (Pass/Fail — must meet ALL to proceed): Written financial quotation on letterheaded paper. Supplier declaration form. Company registration certificate. VAT registration certificate. Tax clearance certificate for FY 2081/82.
- Technical and Financial Scoring (100 points total):
— Approach, Design, Methodology in response to ToR: 25 points. — Experience and quality of similar assignments: 20 points. — Capability of resource persons (team composition): 20 points. — Financial Proposal: 25 points. — Profile of organisation and Work — Plan: 10 points. — Total: 100 points. Top 3 scorers invited for physical presentation/interview. Cumulative analysis used for final evaluation and award.
Confidentiality:
All information and data acquired is confidential and remains property of WHH. Study deliverables and all materials are property of WHH. Must not be shared with third parties without written approval. Consultant must sign agreement to protect personal data. After study completion, consultant must safely purge all primary and secondary records/data. Confidentiality clause holds beyond the life of the contract.
Eligibility:
ONLY Nepalese individuals or organisations legally registered in Nepal can apply. International organisations and individuals not registered in Nepal are NOT eligible.
KEY DETAILS
- Consultancy: Baseline Study — SUSTAIN Project
- Organization: Welthungerhilfe (WHH) Nepal
- Partners: RRN, MIC, FTG Nepal
- DEADLINE: May 6, 2026 at 17:00 hrs (COB) ⚠️
- Posted: April 22, 2026
- SUBMIT VIA e-TENDER PORTAL ONLY:
https://eu.eu-supply.com/ctm/Supplier/PublicPurchase/454045/0/0?returnUrl=ctm/Supplier/publictenders&b=WELTHUNGERHILFE
— Must register on EU Supply portal to submit
— NO email submissions accepted
- TYPE: CONSULTANCY — Baseline Study
— 45 DAYS duration
— Mixed-method (quantitative + qualitative)
— Mobile data collection required
- PROJECT: SUSTAIN — Food Security & Resilient Livelihoods for Earthquake-Affected Families
Project period: October 2025 – July 2029
LOCATION: JAJARKOT & RUKUM WEST districts, Karnali Province
— 2023 earthquake-affected area (6.4 magnitude, Nov 3, 2023)
— Two municipalities
- TARGET: 1,750 earthquake-affected households
— 2,500 HHs direct + 57,922 indirect
— 70% women participants
— Dalits, ethnic minorities, marginalised groups
— Smallholder farmers, landless, CBOs, youth
- FOR: NEPALESE INDIVIDUALS OR NEPAL-REGISTERED ORGANISATIONS ONLY
— International entities NOT eligible
— Must have Nepal legal registration
- QUALIFICATIONS:
— ADVANCED DEGREE — Development, Public Health, Agriculture, Social Sciences, Economics
— 10+ YEARS experience in baseline/studies for international donor projects
— AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, SYSTEMS APPROACH expertise
— PARTICIPATORY methodologies experience
— REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE, food systems, ecopreneurs understanding
— Nepal POLICY context knowledge (local, provincial, federal)
— ENGLISH proficiency (written + oral)
— MIXED GENDER team preferred
— Strong FACILITATION skills
- STUDY FOCUS AREAS:
— Household FOOD SECURITY status
— CLIMATE RESILIENT agriculture practices
— NATURE-BASED solutions
— Local government POLICIES + resource mobilisation
— CLIMATE ADAPTATION + water conservation
— CBO CAPACITIES
— NUTRITION-SENSITIVE agriculture
— Agro-ecological approaches
— Sustainable enterprise development
- METHODOLOGY REQUIREMENTS:
— MIXED-METHOD (quantitative + qualitative)
— MOBILE APPLICATION for data collection
— Tools in LOCAL LANGUAGE
— 95% CONFIDENCE LEVEL, 5% margin of error
— ENUMERATOR TRAINING mandatory
— ETHICAL guidelines — do no harm, consent, confidentiality
— DATA DISAGGREGATION — gender, age, livelihoods, social status
— WHH APPROVAL required before field data collection begins
— Quality CONTROL mechanisms
— DEBRIEFING at WHH Nepal office after fieldwork
- DELIVERABLES:
INCEPTION REPORT — methodology, sample size, tools, workplan
FINAL BASELINE REPORT — with updated logframe + clean dataset
DEBRIEFING MEETING — presentation of draft findings
2-PAGE BRIEF — summary using WHH template
PHOTOS — of study process (with consent)
POWERPOINT — preliminary findings + recommendations
- PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS:
— TECHNICAL proposal (approach, design, methodology, team, workplan)
— FINANCIAL proposal (daily fees + taxes + travel + accommodation + per diems)
— CVs (max 3 pages per person) with roles/tasks
— 2 WRITING SAMPLES — final reports from previous studies
— Company REGISTRATION certificate
— VAT REGISTRATION certificate
— TAX CLEARANCE for FY 2081/82
— SUPPLIER DECLARATION form (Annex I)
- EVALUATION CRITERIA (100 points):
— Approach/Design/Methodology: 25
— Experience in similar assignments: 20
— Team composition/capability: 20
— Financial Proposal: 25
— Org profile + Work Plan: 10
— TOP 3 invited for PHYSICAL PRESENTATION/INTERVIEW
— CUMULATIVE analysis for final award
ESSENTIAL CRITERIA (Pass/Fail):
— Financial quotation on letterhead
— Supplier declaration form
— Company registration
— VAT registration
— Tax clearance FY 2081/82
— FAIL on any = immediate exclusion
- IMPORTANT NOTES:
— ⚠️ Deadline — May 6 at 17:00
— Submit via e-TENDER PORTAL only — not email
— Must REGISTER on EU Supply portal first
— NEPAL-ONLY — no international bidders
— 10+ YEARS experience required — senior consultants/firms only
— JAJARKOT & RUKUM WEST = remote Karnali — factor travel into budget
— EARTHQUAKE CONTEXT — sensitivity to affected communities essential
— WHH APPROVAL required at multiple stages — plan for iteration time
— 45-DAY timeline is TIGHT for field data + analysis + report
— MOBILE DATA COLLECTION mandatory — must have technical capacity
— DEBRIEFING at WHH Lalitpur office required — budget travel
— CONFIDENTIALITY strict — all data is WHH property
— DATA PURGE required after completion
— TOP 3 shortlisted for IN-PERSON presentation — be prepared
— This is a HIGH-VALUE consultancy for a 4-year project — strong baseline = ongoing relationship
— Similar WHH baseline studies arise periodically — build track record
- POTENTIAL NEPAL APPLICANTS:
— Research and consulting firms with food security/agriculture baseline experience
— Academic institutions with applied research capacity
— MEAL/evaluation consultants with 10+ years experience
— Firms experienced in WHH, GIZ, BMZ, or other German donor projects
— Research organisations with Karnali Province field presence
— Teams with regenerative agriculture and food systems expertise
— Consulting firms with mobile data collection capacity (KoboToolbox, ODK, etc.)
