Request for Proposal

Request for Proposal for Conducting Local Market Analysis

1. Background

Founded in 2005, Norlha, a not-for-profit, non-political, non-religious NGO based in Lausanne, Switzerland, currently promotes programmes focussed on enhancing food security and developing additional sources of income, while advancing the capacities and the socio-economic well-being of the most vulnerable Himalayan communities. 

Its mission is to improve the living conditions of the most vulnerable communities in the Himalayas – those who have been excluded by geography, culture, and mainstream economy – and help eradicate poverty, by developing solutions and guiding remote mountain Himalayan communities through ways of improving their capacities and allowing them the right to a sustainable livelihood.

Market Analyst will be a consultant for Norlha to conduct a study for Empowerment of Women and girls in rural communities affected by out-migration project at Gatlang VDC, Rasuwa district. This project aims to improve livelihood of women and girls affected by out-migration and to reduce their socio-economic dependency. Market analysis has been planned to assess existing or potential income generating activities for women and possible linkages to existing markets in the local context (eg. through needs assessment, market analysis and value chain analysis); to assess and explore market for products such as local hen, bean, potato, vegetable, and woollen products and to explore essential knowledge for future income generating endeavours to be successful and to help business/product diversification.

2. Objectives:

• To assess women beneficiaries’ willingness, ability to invest and do the enterprise that suits for their family. 
• To assess market, supply and demand for local hen, bean, potato, vegetable and woollen products, 
• To analyse value chain related to local hen, bean, potato, vegetable and woollen products and; other agricultural products. 
• To assess high value potential and feasible product selection among vegetable and gather pricing data. 
• To report the field based findings in a usable format

3. Methodology and Approach:

• Review relevant secondary data. 
• Prepare questionnaire/checklist and provide orientation to the respective project staff in the field.
• Follow the value chain analysis procedure and obtain information through observation, interviews, meetings, and discussions with all actors, stakeholders, local service providers, input suppliers, traders, processors, transporters, mediators and local entities at the community and district headquarters levels. The consultant should cross check and triangulate for validating the data and information obtained. The project staffs also helps for organising meetings with the community, and other stakeholders and collection of data and information.
• Discussion in 10 women’s groups with at least 50 beneficiaries to explore their interest and ability to invest and manage enterprise.
• Meetings and consultation with at least 20 relevant stakeholders: input suppliers and output marketing actors.
• The consultant shall analyse and interpret data/information, and prepare a report addressing the objective of this assignment. 
• Brief presentation of the reports to the Norlha team and finalise the reports based on the comments and suggestions received from Norlha. 

4. Scope of work:

• The Market Analyst shall be conducted following the above mentioned methodology.
• The field-work shall consider views of project beneficiaries, stakeholders at VDC and district headquarters.
• The Value chain analysis shall be focused on the four commodities namely; local hen, bean, potato, vegetable and woollen products. 
• The exploration of market for the above mentioned products at district as well as outside district. 
• Help women women’s beneficiaries to get alliances for sale their products

5. Qualifications & Experience 

• Master’s degree in Business Studies or relevant subject, with at least 5 years of experience in market analysis, value chain analysis and reporting.

6. Deliverables

• Beneficiaries’ Need Assessment report
• Market Analysis report
• Value Chain analysis report

7. Time Frame

• Starting date: 16 March, 2017
• Reporting date: 31 May, 2017

Service Provider meeting above qualification and experience are requested to submit financial proposal along with technical proposal by March 5, 2017 to nepal@norlha.org 

Note: The selection of the service provider will be based on the competitive marking of both technical and financial proposal and Norlha has sole right to accept or reject any proposal.