Empowered citizens are promoting food and nutrition governance in three municipalities in Kapilvastu District project (WE Project)
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP)
for
Technical feasibility study for potential climate-resilient alternatives for small-scale irrigation, Detailed Engineering Design with a cost estimate, establishment of various irrigation schemes including supervision and monitoring during construction (Individual consultant-civil engineer) Short-term
- BACKGROUND:
The Project titled “Empowered Citizens are Promoting Food and Nutrition Governance in Three Municipalities in Kapilvastu District” (WE Project) is funded by BMZ/ Welthungerhilfe 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 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. The project aims for civil society organizations and members of marginalized groups in the three target communities to work closely with the relevant authorities at the local and provincial levels, using effective strategies to claim their right to food. The four-year-long project (Oct 2023 to Dec 2027) comprises the following five output areas;
- Output 1: Local governments in the 3 target municipalities are empowered to implement effective food security and livelihood strategies.
- Output 2: Civil society organizations in the three target communities are empowered to effectively advocate for the right to food at the local and provincial levels.
- Output 3: Women’s capacities to improve their income and nutritional situation are strengthened and their participation in decision-making processes is improved.
Among the three output areas of the project, this assessment program is an intervention under Output 3, which aims to identify the potential innovative climate-resilient alternative methods for small-scale irrigation to the smallholder farmers in the project sites with design estimation and implementation.
- JOB SUMMARY:
The consultant-civil engineer should conduct an assessment for potential climate-resilient irrigation alternatives that are sustainable, cost-effective, and suitable for the project site. The assessment aims to thoroughly analyze irrigation solutions that enhance agricultural resilience to climate change impacts while conserving water resources and supporting farmers’ livelihoods. It is also expected to perform as a consultant-civil engineer to design and plan irrigation schemes based on the assessment and implementation as well.
- RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Consultant-Civil Engineer will be responsible for carrying out the following tasks:
- SWOT analysis of the project areas to understand the current status, challenges, and opportunities for irrigation systems in the project working areas substantiated with the field visits.
- Conduct site assessments and surveys to gather essential data for project planning and design.
- Assessment of the technical feasibility, costs, scalability, and environmental impacts of proposed climate-resilient irrigation alternatives, taking into account the social, economic, and environmental aspects (such as groundwater recharge, and water conservation potential) of each option. Recommend long-term (5+ years), mid-term (3-5 years), and short-term (1-2 years) solutions on small, medium, and large scales for small-holder farmers, including local government and private sectors.
- Detailed design of different irrigation schemes with cost estimates based on the assessment and established irrigation schemes in the project areas and supervision.
- Form relevant Water Users’ Group (WUG) with group mobilization by-laws for constructing, operating, and maintaining the scheme.
- Build the Water Users’ Group’s capacity for operating and maintaining the scheme during the project period.
- METHODOLOGY:
The assessment (feasibility study) should be carried out in participatory and exploratory research design applying the mixed method tool and techniques. However, qualitative and quantitative primary data and information should support the assessment findings and recommendations. The consultant should collect primary data and information with the related stakeholder and process, not limited to the following:
- Desk review
- Consultation meetings with the representatives of municipalities and wards and community at project implementation areas,
- Conduct Focused Group Discussion (FGD) with potential smallholder farmers and KII with key stakeholders.
- Technical assessment for gathering information, exploration, and validating the proposition (e.g. geospatial data for site-specific analysis, data on water sources, availability, and seasonal variability)
- OUTPUTS/ DELIVERABLES:
- Inception Report for assessment. This should include a detailed work plan, methodology, a practical timeline, and a draft report outlining an assessment. Partner organizations (WHH, RRN, and KIDS) will review and provide the inputs in the inception report.
- The consultant should organize a debriefing meeting based on the draft report among partner organizations (WHH, RRN, and KIDS). It will review and provide inputs in the draft report.
- The consultant will finalize and submit the final assessment report.
- Final assessment report, including an executive summary, in English, no later than 7 days after receiving comments/feedback on the draft report.
- The report must highlight major findings, recommendations, strategies, and concrete information about the possible solution proposed.
- Stakeholder sharing meeting on the findings of the report.
- Plan irrigation schemes with design and cost estimate.
- Establishment of small and micro irrigation schemes based on the findings of the assessment.
- Submit the periodic progress reports of the approved program and budget as per the assigned task.
- QUALIFICATION AND COMPETENCIES:
The consultant is required to have the following expertise and qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Civil engineering with at least 5-7 years of work experience in Watershed Management Structures, Bio-Engineering, and Nature-Based Solutions or a related degree in climate-resilient irrigation promotion. Experience in a feasibility study, designing, implementing, and evaluating irrigation systems, with a focus on efficiency and sustainability;
- Proven experiences in planning, implementation and monitoring of conducting similar studies and work;
- Familiarity with environmental regulations and sustainable construction practices;
- Professional licensure or registration as a Civil Engineer is preferred;
- Must have a good command of writing and speaking in English;
- Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills;
- Excellent communication, and interpersonal abilities to collaborate with diverse project teams and reporting skills;
- Familiarity with the Kapilvastu district and experience working with the Madheshi community will be an added advantage.
- Ability to work under pressure, prioritize tasks, and meet tight deadlines.
- DUTY STATION: The work location will be at the RRN field office in Taulihawa, Kapilvastu, with frequent visits to project-implementing sites.
- PERIOD OF INVOLVMENT: Six (6) months including assessing potential climate-resilient alternatives for small-scale irrigation (feasibility study) within 20 days. The assignment will be effective in action from the day of signing of the contract.
- 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).
- REQUIREMENT
Interested consultants must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) with the following documents.
- a) Letter of expression of interest (EoI)
- b) Technical and Financial proposal
- c) CV highlighting their areas of work and experience
Annexes:
Annex 1: ToR
Annex 2. Technical proposal template (includes):
- Cover page: Title, submitted to, and submitted by and date
- Table of contents
- Introduction: Background, Objectives, Scope of the overall task, overall output (Max. 3 pages)
- Methodology: The detail of the methodology consists of Area, KII, FGDs, stakeholder consultation meeting, etc. (Max. 2 pages)
- Action plan with a clear time frame (Weekly breakdown)
- Overall output with separate tasks (Max. 1 page)
Annex3.
Word/excel file of financial proposal
Annex4
CV of the consultant
The completed sealed proposal, CV, and cover letter should be emailed to [email protected] by 5:00 PM on January 15, 2025. Separate files of technical and financial proposals should also be submitted.
RRN reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals received without providing any reason whatsoever