CARE Nepal/Right to Food Project

Terms of Reference (ToR) for Conducting Baseline Study

1.0 Background

CARE Nepal startedthe inception phase of a 6 year civil society support Project on the Right to Adequate Food (RtF project) on1July 2013. The implementationin three districts, Siraha, Udayapur and Okhaldhunga will start from January 2014 in partnership with Right to Food Network, Community Self Reliance Centre and National Farmers Groups Federation with financial support from DANIDA through CARE Denmark. The impact groups for the project are small holder and landless farmers with a focus on women and other marginalized groups among them.

The impact goal of the project is that ‘representative civil society organizations (CSOs) have contributed to the realization of the ‘right to food’ to the benefit of impact groups’. The immediate objectives (domains of change) of the project are as follows:

  • CSOs representing the impact group have mobilized and empowered poor, vulnerable and marginalized women farmers to claim their rights and increase their resilience to climate change
  • CSOs representing impact group have increased their own representativeness, inclusiveness and governance and are capable of influencing policy formulation and implementation
  • The duty-bearers demonstrate capacity and commitment to progressively realize the right to food and build resilience of food insecure citizens to climate change

The domains reflect the recognition that the long-term sustainable realization of the right to food is contingent on timely adaptation to climate change and increased resilience. The major interventions of the project are strengthening the capacity of civil society to mobilize and organize their constituencies to effectively claim their rights and monitor policy implementation, engage with the government and build local government capacity by demonstrating effective, equitable and sustainable ways to address food insecurity.

Based on project framework, the project team came up with objectively verifiable indicators against impact goal and immediate objectives (can be obtained from project team). The baseline will collect the necessary information to enable tracking and monitoring of these indicators. CARE Nepal/RtF Project is looking for a national consultant to carry out baseline of the project in the three districts.

2.0 Objectives of study

The main objective of this study is to collect pre-project information of impact groups in areas and indicators identified the log-frame. The information thus obtained will be used as a reference to assess effectof project interventions. Specifically, the objectives of the study are

  • To collect, compile and analyze specified pre-project information of impact groups; including production and productivity of small holder farmers as well as the situation of landlessness in the districts.
  • To collect, compile and analyze present extension services of DADO and DLSO (with a focus on gap analysis); and trends of service seekers.
  • To collect, compile and analyze the utilization of mandatory provision of VDC budget (15%) for agriculture development

3.0 Area of study

The field work of the study will be carried out with selected respondents and groups in selected VDCs of Udayapur, Siraha and Okhaldhunga districts.

4.0 Methodology

The project intends to solicit ideas, procedures and process from the consultant. However, the proposed methodology should include both conventional and participatory methods (including household survey).

5.0 Responsibilities of parties

5.1 Consultant

  • Develop study methodology in consultation with project team
  • Collect baseline information from other NGOs and government agencies in the district (to avoid duplication of efforts)
  • Develop questionnaire in consultation with project team
  • Conduct field survey for collection of information from randomly selected respondents and service providers as per questionnaire and checklist
  • Compile and analyze information/data
  • Complete final baseline report after incorporating the feedbacks of the project team
  • Adhere to quality standards for reporting (i.e., clear, consistent, complete)

5.2 CARE Nepal

  • Provide all relevant project documents to the consultant
  • Participate in discussion with consultants and field work to the extent possible
  • Review and provide necessary feedback on the methodology, study design, questionnaire and information collection format to the consultant
  • Make final payment after completion of work, submission of report and upon satisfaction of reporting officer
  • Provide travel, DSA and accommodation for field work (if required and agreed) as per CARE Nepal policy.

6.0 Expected deliverables and timeframe

Inception report (consisting of framework of study design, sample design, questionnaire and checklist) / 1st week after signing of the contract
Draft baseline report / One month
Final baseline report / Two weeks (after the draft report, giving the team one week to comment and the consultant one week to finalize)

The consultant should submit one copy of above-mentioned deliverable in English in soft and hard copies. One presentation from the consultant is expected at the time of submission of final report.

7.0 Duration of the consultancy (lead consultant)

The duration of the consultancy is 30 working days spread over one and half month starting from January to February 2014 that includes field visits and report preparation. The deadline for the final report is 21 February 2014.

8.0 Reporting

The consultant will report to the Project Manager of RtF project, who will be available at CARE Nepal Kathmandu office or at ver, the consultant will keep Change Analyst and Program Coordinator in communication loop.

9.0 Required qualification for lead consultant

  • Master degree in relevant subject (NRM and agriculture preferred)
  • Past experience of carrying out such survey and research
  • Strong understanding on research methodology and experience on using different social research tools and techniques
  • Good analytical and report writing skills in English

10.0 Budget and terms of payment

The total amount for this consultancy isNPR 580,000.00 (five hundred eighty thousand only). Out of it, NPR 480,000 (@ NPR 16,000 for 30 days) will be consultancy fee and an estimated amount of NPR 100,000 will be travel, accommodation and DSA for consultant. Travel and accommodation for field work will be provided by the project as per CARE Nepal policy.

CARE Nepal would like to request interested individuals or firms to apply to the following address on or before 20 December 2013. The individual consultant (s) should submit CV, a brief narrative proposal (3-4 pages) and financial proposal (1 page) whereas firms should include a brief profile, CV of proposed consultant (s), brief narrative proposal (3-4 pages) and financial proposal (1 page). The Envelop or address line of email should be marked with “Application for baseline study of RtF Project. Attention: Procurement Officer/CARE Nepal”. Only short-listed candidates will be notified.

Address

CARE Nepal, Samata Bhawan, Lalitpur Nepal or

GPO Box Number: 1661, Kathmandu, Nepal or

Email: