Term of Reference (ToR) For Consultancy Services to Develop Municipal Food and Nutrition Security Action Plan along with Status Assessments and Policy Review on Food and Nutrition

Term of Reference (ToR)

For

Consultancy Services to Develop Municipal Food and Nutrition Security Action Plan along with Status Assessments and Policy Review on Food and Nutrition

RURAL RECONSTRUCTION NEPAL (RRN)

RRN is a Nepali non-government, not for profit, human rights and social development organisation. By subscribing to the basic principles of the International Rural Reconstruction Movement, it has officially registered in 1993 as RRN. It substantially contributes to rural people’s empowerment and socio-economic reconstruction process by embracing the rights-based approach to development. RRN also extensively engages in pro-poor policy advocacy, lobbying, and social campaigns at local, national, and international levels to protect and promote human rights and social justice

1. PROJECT BACKGROUND

The Project titled “Empowered Citizens are Promoting Food and Nutrition Governance in Three Municipalities in Kapilvastu District” is funded by BMZ/ Welthungerhilfe (WHH) and is being implemented jointly by Rural Reconstruction Nepal (RRN) and Kapilvastu Integrated Development Services (KIDS) in Kapilvastu, Maharajgunj and Buddhabhumi municipalities of Kapilvastu district, Lumbini province, Nepal. The project envisions supporting marginalized communities in effectively claiming their rights to economic inclusion and access to sufficient food. Empowering women is one of the goals of the project as it often contributes directly to improving the nutritional situation of household members, as they use available resources more rationally and for the benefit of all family members.

2. PROJECT OBJECTIVE

Civil society organizations and members of marginalized groups in the three target communities are working closely with the relevant authorities at the local and provincial levels, using effective strategies to claim their right to

3. PROJECT OUTPUT

Local governments in the 3 target municipalities are empowered to implement effective food security and livelihood strategies.
Civil society organizations in the three target communities are empowered to effectively advocate for the right to food at the local and provincial levels.
Women’s capacities to improve their income and nutritional situation are strengthened and their participation in decision-making processes is improved.

4. BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES OF THE TASK

Various food and nutrition-related interventions are initiated by the project such as a capacity enhancement program for local government, CSOs, and other stakeholders, support to develop municipal-level food and nutrition plans, nutrition education and rehabilitation programs, referral support for SAM children, skill development to women (on-farm and off-farm), agricultural practices aimed at diversifying food production through GAP sessions, LANN+ (Linking agriculture and natural resource management towards nutrition security) sessions, and small irrigation facilities. The project engages adolescents, youth, and women to build their capacities and mobilize them into the community for women and youth empowerment crucial for the social transformations. The project brings together nutrition stakeholders to advocate for need-based nutrition activities with the community and encourages the allocation and proper use of local budgets for nutrition. Local government, civil society, and citizens are also empowered through various trainings and sensitization events particularly related to their rights concerning food and nutrition. Furthermore, the project is focused on establishing linkages between rights holders and service providers through activities such as citizen/group engagement in the participatory planning process and evidence-based advocacy dialogues.

The project will sensitize the local governments on the importance of investing in a food and nutrition sectors and support to develop Municipal Food and Nutrition Security Action Plan. The action plan will guide a municipality to prioritize food and nutrition topics in their programs, resource mobilization, planning, and implementation to meet the targets set by Nepal’s Sixteenth Plan (2024/25-2028/29), MSNP-III (2023-2030) and SDG 2. The development and endorsement of the three action plans are the key components of the project which ensures yearly budget allocations in their plans during the fiscal year planning. The Right to Food and Food Sovereignty Act 2018 will be used as a guiding framework.

5. KEY TASKS AND DELIVERABLES

5.1 Review existing policies on food and nutrition and capacity need assessment of three local governments (30 days)

Review and assess existing policies/plans (right to food security and food sovereignty act 2018, MSNP III and ADS (2015-2035), The Sixteenth Plan (2024/25-2028/29) etc.) , map available services and capacity of local government, and identify resource gaps (both in terms of human resources and budget)
Organize a 1-day workshop in 3 municipalities to orient 90 persons (E.g. Mayors, deputy mayors, ward chairpersons, women members, chief administrative officers, planning officers, health, agriculture, and women section in charge and health post coordinators) on the existing policies, right to food and food sovereignty act, SDGs, accountability towards citizens, human rights framework and GESI.
Carry out data collection and analysis, desk review, FGDs and KIls with the government representatives/staff, communities, etc.
Share the draft need assessment reports with the project team and municipalities and submit the final assessment report to RRN and respective municipalities in both English and Nepali version incorporating comments and feedback from the project team and respective municipalities.
Based on the above generate the assessment report to contribute for drafting food and nutrition security action plan.

5.2 Orientation ward/municipality representatives and officials and communities on nutrition policies/plans, Right to Food, relevant Acts and regulations (12 days)

Based on the result of the capacity need assessment, conduct 3-day workshop programs in each municipalities for the elected representatives, food and nutrition coordination committee members, and government officials on food and nutrition-related themes.
Sensitize the municipal representatives, officials, and communities on the existing policies, right to food and food sovereignty act, MSNP III, SDGs, accountability towards citizens, human rights framework, and GESI to address identified capacity needs.
The training ensures that the policies are formulated, implemented consistently, and effectively across the community and that the efforts of local governments to address food and nutrition issues are coordinated and aligned with broader efforts at the regional and national levels.
The training intends that the municipal representatives and officials will make use of their understanding of the right to food, regulations, and plans and subsequently develop comprehensive and contextualized food and nutrition security action plans and prioritize these at service delivery.

5.3 Food and Nutrition Status Assessment of the three Municipalities (35 days)

Gather evidence-based information about the food and nutrition status of three municipalities (food availability, services, and the resource gaps in terms of financial, human, and technical). The results of the assessment will be used for the development of a realistic food and nutrition security action plan
Carry out desk review, household survey, data collection and analysis, FGDs and KIls with the government representatives/staff, communities, etc.
Share the draft assessment reports with the project team and municipalities and submit the final assessment report to RRN and respective municipalities in both English and Nepali version incorporating comments and feedback from the project team and respective municipalities.
Based on the above generate the assessment report to contribute for drafting food and nutrition security action plan.

5.4 Support three Municipalities in development Municipal Food and Nutrition Security Action Plan (60 days)

After completion of 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3, the three municipalities will be supported to draft the municipal food and nutrition security action plans in 2025.
Organize a 1-day vision building workshop in each of the 3 municipalities to formulate a vision, mission, strategy, and objective of the food and nutrition security action plan and to create a sense of ownership as a prerequisite for the The vision will be incorporated into the action plan inclusive of situation analysis, recommendations, and proposals for an improved food and nutrition situation. The findings of the food and nutrition status assessment will be deliberated to create an understanding by all stakeholders of the specific situation of the ation plan development exercise.
Provide technical support for drafting municipal food and nutrition security action plans for each municipality. The plan should be aligned with MSNP III, Nepal’s 16th Plan, SDG 2, the Right to Food and Food Sovereignty Act, and the GESI framework. The action plan consists of the existing policies and programs, stakeholder analysis, specific intervention for nutrition-sensitive and nutrition-specific activities and responsibilities of the authorities, thematic officers, and resource mobilization plan. Share the draft document reports with the project team and respective municipalities in both English and Nepali versions for comments and feedback. The consultant team will submit the final report documents to RRN after incorporating comments if any.

5.5 . Sharing and Validation of Municipal Food and Nutrition Action Plans (12 days)

Organize three validation workshops (each municipality) to confirm and agree on the findings, analysis and planning and programmes on drafted food and nutrition security action plans
Facilitate together with the project team to endorse the food and nutrition security action plans by the municipal assembly and publish in LGs gazette
Organize 1 provincial level sharing workshop to share the action plans with the provincial planning commission, Ministry of Agriculture of Lumbini province and other relevant stakeholders.

6. SCOPE OF ASSIGNMENT

The scope of this assignment is to analyze the data, derive insights and translate them into policy recommendations, compile information to draft an assessment of food and nutrition status and review municipalities’ policies, and programs (human resources and budget), plan to facilitate workshops on the food and nutrition policies and instruments to draft food and nutrition security action plans and identify best practices to combat malnutrition and the sharing through provincial and national workshops.

7. METHODOLOGY

Considering the information outlined in the ToRs, the consultant team will develop a comprehensive methodology for each task and design and finalize the assessment and security action plans frameworks and tools with the project team and WHH. The consultant team will follow the (i) preparatory phase (desk review of reference documents like project documents, log frame, baseline report, periodic progress reports, and relevant secondary information), (ii) fieldwork (consultation meetings with stakeholders, review of the municipality’s policy, plans, project baseline, and necessary surveys and other documents, household survey for food and nutrition assessment, carry out the focused group discussions, and key informant interviews (KII), facilitation of workshops and orientation of local government representatives and officials on various policy and legislations provision of the right to food, MSNP III, SDG-2, etc. (iii) Analysis and write-up report ( data review, analysis, and consolidation of relevant primary and secondary information/data (qualitative and quantitative), drawing inferences from existing plan and policies of federal structures and policy level intervention and recommendation, use of data analysis online software. Innovative ideas regarding the methodologies of the assessment and plan development could be considered.

8. TOOLS & TECHNIQUES

In course of the assessment, the consultant team will have to use participatory approaches, methods and process as far as possible. The innovative ideas regarding the methodologies of the assessment and plan development could be considered. The consultant team will finalize the tools (data collection, compilation software and data analysis online software such as Kobo, Avko flow, CommCare, SPSS, etc) if need and share to RRN and WHH before action.

9. CONSULTANT/TEAM

The team will be led by a senior professional with 7-10 years’ experience and expertise in food and nutrition policy review and plan formulation, specific involvement in the process of assessment and evaluation of food and nutrition status of local governments, development of periodic plans, food, and nutrition master plans including innovative ideas on right to food and nutrition advocacy will add value. In addition to, this food and nutrition expert who has knowledge on data analysis and documentation expert has consistent involvement in data analysis, research, qualitative studies and report writing, documentation and publication is must.

S.N	Key Position (no)	Required qualification and experience	Assigned task
1	Team Leader ( Food and Nutrition Advocacy Expert) (1)	Master Degree in agriculture, public health, nutrition, and other development studies, or related fields from a recognized university. The professional with 7-10 years’ experience and expertise on food and nutrition policy review and plan formulation with specific involvement in periodic plans and master plans of local government and skill and knowledge on multi-sectors nutrition, assessment, and evaluation of agriculture, food, and nutrition policy, programs and innovative advocacy on right to food and nutrition security strategy.	Lead the assessments and policy review on municipal food and nutrition and development of food and nutrition security action plans including design of methodology finalization in close coordination with RRN/WHH, field planning, supervision on information analysis, compilation of information of different themes, workshops facilitation and report preparation as per expected key tasks assignment. S/he must present assessment and action plans findings and draft reports to the project team
2	Co-Leader (Data analysis/ food and nutrition expert (1)	Master’s Degree in public health, biostatistics, statistics, nutrition and dietetics, agriculture, and other relevant field with minimum 5 years of experience with knowledge of data analysis, data management, facilitation and documentation skills on related assigned tasks.	Responsible for design of methodology finalization in close coordination with RRN/WHH, field mobilization, data generation and analysis, compilation of information of different theme and facilitation of workshops, report preparation and documentation in order to support team leader.

10. TIME FRAME/SCHEDULE

The overall tasks are expected to be accomplished by the end of December 2025. The assignment will be effective in action from the day of signing of the contract. The contract and overall assignment should not exceed more than 6 months (including preparatory work, fieldwork, vision-building workshops, drafting and finalizing the security action plans, sharing and validation at the local and provincial level).

11. CONFIDENTIALITY

All data and information received from the organization, as well as those collected during the rapid market assessment, shall be treated with the utmost confidentiality. All data, findings, reports, and related intellectual property resulting from this study will be the sole property of RRN, KIDS, and WHH. The consultant shall not, during the term of the contract and after the expiration, disclose any proprietary or confidential information relating to the service to other parties without the written consent of RRN, KIDS, and Welthungerhilfe (WHH).

12. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENT

Interested consultant/consulting firms should submit the following documents while sending their expression of interest (EoI),

Letter of expression of interest (EoI),
Technical proposal (sealed in a separate envelope as per TOR),
Financial proposal (sealed in a separate envelope, as per enclosed ToR, particularly for the key tasks/assigned in section 5/ 5.1 – 5.5) and Gantt Chart),
Firms’ Profile detailing the past relevant assignments (Two previous reports of Policy Review and Capacity Needs Assessment of LG-1/or Food and Nutrition Status Assessment-1, and Food and Nutrition Security Action Plan of LG-1)
CVs of team leader/ expert and research analyst highlighting their areas of work and past experience,
Company registration certificate,

For firms: copies of firm registration certificate, VAT registration certificate, Latest tax clearance certificate, a copy of tax exemption certificate .

For Individual: Copy of citizenship and VAT Registration certificate

The financial proposal includes consulting fee, travel and accommodation cost of consultant for activities mentioned in section 5(5.1 to 5.5).

13. SELECTION CRITERIA

Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

SN	Criteria	Marks
1	Evaluation of firms profile/Individual CV	20
2	Experience on a similar project-related thematic area	20
3	Cost-effectiveness / financial proposal	20
4	Implementation Methodology	20
5	Submission of 2 sample reports of policy review and/or capacity needs assessment of local government and Municipal Food and Nutrition Security Action Plan	10
6	Presentation	10
	Total	100

14. COPYRIGHT

Copyright for the documents will remain with RRN including the right to distribute the material or parts of it to WHH Nepal partners in Nepal and abroad.

15. DEADLINE

The interested and qualified consultant(s)/consulting firm must submit sealed bid proposal as per TOR to the RRN central office, Gairidhara, Kathmandu on or before 5.00 pm local time on 2082/02/27 (June 10, 2025). Documents received after this deadline shall not be accepted. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted for the further evaluation process. RRN reserves all the rights to reject any or all applications without providing any reasons.