Call for Expression of Interest

Call for Expression of Interest

for 

The Development of Manual for the Establishment of Climate-Smart and Nutrition-Sensitive Technology Resource Center 

1. Background:

The Nepal Agriculture Cooperative Central Federation Limited (NACCFL), established in 2008, is the national apex organization of Small Farmers Agriculture Cooperatives (SFACLs) and other agricultural cooperatives in Nepal. With a network of more than 1,150 member cooperatives serving over 1.2 million farmers across the country, NACCFL is committed to strengthening cooperative-led agricultural development through institutional capacity building, policy advocacy, market development, climate-resilient agriculture, and improved livelihood opportunities for smallholder farmers.

NACCFL is implementing the Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme (GAFSP)- funded project, "Improved Food and Nutrition Security through Diversified Income Generation and Empowerment," with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forests and Environment (MOAFE). The project is being implemented through five Producer Organizations (POs): Mainapokhar, Padnaha, Kalika, Deudakala, and Purnima Small Farmers Agriculture Cooperative Ltd. in Bardiya District.

The project seeks to improve food and nutrition security of vulnerable farming households by promoting diversified agricultural production, climate-smart agriculture (CSA), nutrition-sensitive agriculture (NSA), sustainable natural resource management, Farmer Field Schools (FFS), improved livestock production, entrepreneurship, value chain development, and strengthened producer organizations. These interventions aim to build resilient farming systems, enhance household incomes, and improve the long-term sustainability of local food systems.

For reducing the adverse impacts of climate change on agricultural productivity, food security, environmental degradation, and livelihoods of the rural poor, there is a need of establishing practical learning platforms to promote the adoption of climate-smart and nutrition-sensitive agricultural technologies. To address these effects, the GAFSP project plans to establish a Climate-smart and Nutrition-sensitive Technology Resource Center and Demonstration Site within a selected Producer Organization. The center will serve as a permanent hub for demonstrating innovative technologies, strengthening farmers' technical knowledge, promoting farmer-to-farmer learning, and supporting extension services. For this, NACCFL invites qualified consulting firms or individual consultant/s through this Expression of Interest (EOI) to provide consultancy service for the development of the manual.

2. Purpose of the Assignment

The general purpose of this assessment is to hire a consultancy service to develop a manual for establishing a climate-smart and nutrition-sensitive technology resource center in the project area. The manual will provide practical guidance on site selection, infrastructure requirement, technology packages, demonstration tools, operation and management procedure, capacity building measures, and implementation monitoring framework for sustainable impacts. 

The specific objectives of this assignment are as follow: 

• Establish a climate-smart and nutrition-sensitive technology resource center.
• Develop a practical operational manual for the operation and management of climate-smart and nutrition-sensitive technology resource centers and demonstration sites. 
• Develop a monitoring, evaluation, learning and reporting system framework of the resource center.
• Develop a scalability and sustainability framework of the resource center.

3. Scope of Work

The Consultant shall develop a practical and user-friendly Operational Manual for the Resource Center covering the following, but not limited to:

3.1 Introduction

• Background
• Justification
• Purpose of the resource center
• Target users
• Expected outcomes
• Guiding principles

3.2 Resource Center Design

Guidance on the establishment and operation of:

• Demonstration Area featuring GESI and person with disabilities (PWD) friendly, climate-smart and nutrition-sensitive agriculture technologies, nutrition gardens, compost/vermicompost and other alternative fertilizers, water-efficient technologies, integrated pest management (IPM) practices, and climate-resilient crop varieties.
• Knowledge Corner providing technical leaflets, posters, seasonal crop calendars, pest and disease identification charts, and climate advisory information.
• Seed and Input Corner with a community seed bank, quality seed display, organic inputs, and demonstration tools.
• Farmer Learning Space for conducting meetings, Farmer Field School (FFS) activities, and farmer discussion and learning sessions.
• Innovation Corner showcasing farmer innovations, low-cost technologies, success stories, and climate-smart practices.
• Information Board displaying weather updates, market prices, training schedules, government agricultural programs and support services, and cooperative notices.
• Digital Learning Corner equipped with computer and digital learning resources, technical videos, QR code-based learning materials, and digital publications.

3.3 Resource Center Services

Procedures for delivering:

• Practical demonstrations
• Farmer training and farmer-to-farmer learning
• Advisory and technology dissemination services
• Seed promotion
• Knowledge sharing
• Documentation of good practices

3.4 Management System

Framework covering:

• Data collection, processing, recording, and reporting
• Roles and responsibilities of the Resource Center Coordinator, cooperative, and Management Committee
• Annual planning and monthly review meetings
• Financial and asset management

3.5 Operational Tools

Standard formats for:

• Visitor, training, equipment, and seed registers
• Good practice documentation
• Maintenance checklist
• Annual work plan

3.6 Sustainability Plan

Recommendations on:

• Integration into the cooperative's annual work plan
• Annual maintenance budget
• Income generation through training and agricultural input sales
• Partnerships with local governments, schools, and agriculture offices
• Seasonal updating of demonstrations
• Farmer volunteer engagement

4. Methodology

The consultant shall adopt a participatory, evidence based, and desk review approach in preparing the Operational Manual. The methodology shall ensure that the manual is technically sound, practical, user friendly, and aligned with the objectives of the GAFSP Project. The consultant shall undertake the assignment through the following approaches:

4.1 Inception Meeting

Conduct an inception meeting with the GAFSP Project team of NACCFL to:

• Review relevant literatures including policies, guidelines, manuals, reports and other publications.
• Review of international best practices on agricultural resource centers, demonstration sites, climate-smart agriculture, and nutrition sensitive agriculture. 
• Identify methodology including approach, methods, process and work plan of the assessment to ensure that the envisioned objectives will be achieved.

4.2 Field Level Consultation

• Field level consultation with stakeholders, e.g. Integrated Agriculture and Livestock Development Office (IALDO), municipalities, provincial government, farmers, NARC-Banke, Producer Organization/cooperatives, local CBOs/NGOs.
• Conduct Key Informant Interview (KII) with relevant informants from local government, cooperatives, NACCFL, FAO, NARC, private sectors, and relevant stakeholders for technical inputs ensuring that the manual reflects project priorities, operational requirements, and technical standards.

5. Deliverables

The consultant shall submit the following deliverables:

6. Duration of the Assignment

The consultancy shall be completed within 30 calendar days from the date of signing the contract. The consultant shall complete all activities and submit the final deliverables within the agreed timeframe.

7. Reporting and Coordination

The consultant shall work under the overall supervision of the Team leader, GAFSP Project, Nepal Agriculture Cooperative Central Federation Ltd. (NACCFL). Technical guidance shall be provided by the designated NACCFL technical team in close coordination with the FAO technical focal person. All deliverables shall be submitted electronically in editable Microsoft Word format unless otherwise instructed.

8. Consultant Qualification and Experience

The consultant should possess the following qualifications:

Academic Qualification

• Master's degree (PhD preferred) in Agriculture, Agriculture Economics, Agricultural Extension, Agroecology, Climate Change, Food and Nutrition, Natural Resource Management, Rural Development, or a related discipline.
• Professional Experience
• Minimum seven (10) years of relevant professional experience in agriculture, climate-smart agriculture, nutrition-sensitive agriculture, agricultural extension, agroecology, or rural development. 
• Demonstrated experience in developing technical manuals, operational guidelines, standard operating procedures, training manuals, or extension materials. 
• Good understanding of agricultural cooperatives, Producer Organizations, and community based agricultural extension systems. 
• Experience working Government agencies, or international development organizations will be considered an advantage.

Competencies

The consultant shall demonstrate:

• Excellent technical writing skills both in English and Nepali. 
• Strong analytical and organizational skills. 
• Ability to synthesize technical information into practical operational guidance. 
• Excellent communication and coordination skills. 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.

9. Payment Schedule

Payments shall be made based on satisfactory completion and acceptance of the agreed deliverables.

10. Key requirements

Interested parties must submit the following:

10.1 In case of Individual

• Curriculum Vitae including academic qualification, relevance experience, expertise, publications, reference- at least 2 (CV should not more than 5 pages).
• PAN registration.

10.2 In case of Firm

• Organization profile.
• CV of experts along with relevant experience and references (at least two)
• Updated legal documents (registration, PAN/VAT, tax clearance, etc.).

11. Application Procedure 

Interested Nepalese individuals and firms are invited to submit proposals for training services in specified thematic areas.

• Submit via email: contact@naccfl.org
• Deadline: 26 Shrawan 2083 (11 August 2026), 5:00 PM (Nepal Time)

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. NACCFL reserves the right to reject any or all applications, and no telephone inquiries will be entertained.