Co-conceptualization and facilitation of youth engagement approach in agroecology

Co-conceptualization and facilitation of youth engagement approach in agroecology

1. Background

About Fastenaktion

Fastenaktion (FA) is a Swiss development organization that has been active in Nepal for more than two decades. Currently, Fastenaktion collaborates with 11 NGO partners. It’s work in Nepal focuses on strengthening the right to food of the most marginalized segments of society through the promotion of agroecology, solidarity-based approaches, and people-led advocacy. The programme’s geographical focus is primarily on the Karnali region. Grassroots Consulting (GC) is a Nepal-based consultancy firm mandated by Fastenaktion to coordinate the Nepal Country Programme, functioning as the Programme Coordination Unit (PCU).

Country Program Nepal

Fastenaktion - Country Programme Nepal operates in direct partnership with 11 Partner organizations mainly working in remote parts of Karnali using community empowerment and agroecology as an approach to contribute to a more sustainable and equitable food system, and the realization of the right to food for all.

The Country Program (CP) is guided by a Theory of Change that assumes lasting improvements in food and nutrition security for the most marginalized and vulnerable communities will occur when women and men adopt agroecological practices, marginalized groups are empowered and well organized, and community groups, together with CSOs and NGOs, effectively advocate local governments for agroecology, social inclusion, and gender equality.

2. Objectives

Within the framework of the Country Programme Nepal, Fastenaktion aims to strengthen engagement in agroecology by meaningfully involving school children and young people in rural communities and thereby aiming at raising a higher interest in sustainable farming and agroecology among students and the GenZ . This consultancy seeks to co-conceptualize and facilitate a school-based approach for youth engagement in agroecology.

The objective of this consultancy is to develop a practical, contextually relevant and scalable model for engaging school-aged children in agroecology through experiential, participatory and community-linked learning processes. The consultant will facilitate the development of a conceptual framework, operational process, structured learning sessions together in consultation with the relevant partners (at least 1 in each Province: Bagmati, Lumbini and Karnali) and community members. Further, the consultant will facilitate capacity building of project volunteers and local resource persons to enable them to lead and sustain the approach and support the implementation of the framework. The process could conclude in development of an approach that can be adopted and scaled across programme areas in Nepal and beyond.

The specific objectives are as below:

• Explore practices and examples related to engaging youth in agroecology relevant to the Partner’s context and target group.
• To conceptualize a child and youth-centred Agroecology engagement model aligned with the context of partner organizations.
• Facilitate the development of conceptual framework and process that will provide guidance for partner NGOs and schools on approach, process and tools of engaging youth in agroecology in schools.
• Elaborate guide for facilitators to implement the approach, process and tools, including relevant sessions.
• Validate the approach with experts, stakeholders and relevant partner organizations.
• Develop capacity of facilitators through capacity building events for facilitators and partners.
• Support partner organization on the elaboration of action plan on engagement of youth/student.
• Support selected partners (2-3) on the implementation of the developed approaches.
• To refine and finalize the guide for facilitation document based on lessons learned from the pilot phase, ensuring contextual relevance, scalability, and sustainability.

3. Methods and process

The consultancy will adopt a participatory, iterative and context-grounded approach to ensure that the school-based approach is contextually relevant, pedagogically sound, and operationally feasible within the Country Programme areas of Karnali and Makwanpur. The process will combine: 1) contextual inquiry, exploration of best practices, co-creation of approach with partners, 2) support pilot testing, and structured reflection.

PHASE I

1. Context Analysis

The assignment will begin with a contextual assessment of selected project areas under the Country Programme. This will include consultations with the Programme Coordination Unit (PCU), partner NGOs,

school representatives, teachers, parents, youth, community facilitators, and where relevant, local government representatives. Field visits to selected project sites will be required to understand school environments and institutional readiness and youth engagement challenges and opportunities.

2. Research and Review of Best Practices

The consultant will conduct a focused review of relevant models and experiences related to peer education, school agriculture clubs and eco-clubs, experiential and participatory learning approaches, youth leadership approaches and operational procedures for school-based approach or similar interventions in comparable contexts across the world. The research and exploration will examine both operational procedures (how) and content structures (what is taught and how). Lessons learned and adaptable components will inform the design of the youth engagement in agroecology approach and model.

3. Approach Development:

Based on the context analysis and research findings, the consultant will develop a draft approach that includes clear objectives and guiding principles, roles and responsibilities (teachers, students, community resource persons, partners), and operational procedures. The model will ensure strong inclusion, participatory learning methods, and linkages between schools, families and communities.

4. Validation and Finalization of the approach

The draft model will be validated and finalized through an online workshop with respective stakeholders including relevant partner organizations. Based on this feedback, the consultant will refine and finalize the operational manual to be piloted.

5. Preparation and Finalization of the Facilitator’s Guide

Building on the validated model, the consultant will prepare a practical Facilitator’s Guide. The guide will provide step-by-step instructions for forming and managing engagement model, delivering the structured sessions, facilitating participatory and child-friendly learning processes and ensuring inclusion and gender-sensitive facilitation. The guide should also present tools for monitoring basic indicators such as participation, attitude change and home-level adoption of practices. The draft guide will be reviewed with the PCU prior to training delivery.

6. Training of Partners

The consultant will then conduct a structured training for partner staff/facilitators and selected teachers/resource persons or relevant stakeholders. The training will prepare partners to independently implement the pilot phase.

PHASE II (decide after completion of above process)

7. Pilot Implementation

Relevant partners will pilot the school-based Agroecology approach in 2-3 schools. The consultant will provide technical backstopping support during the pilot phase, including observation, coaching, troubleshooting, and feedback.

8. Review and Reflection Workshop

Following the pilot implementation, a structured feedback and review workshop (preferably physical) will be organized with partners, stakeholders and the PCU to reflect on implementation experiences, identify strengths, challenges and contextual adaptations, assess pedagogical effectiveness and operational feasibility and document lessons learned for scale-up.

9. Revision and Finalization of the Facilitator’s Guide

Based on feedback and lessons generated during the pilot and review workshop, the consultant will revise and finalize the Facilitator’s Guide and approach. The final version will incorporate practical improvements, clarified instructions and context-specific adaptations to ensure readiness for wider replication within the Country Programme or beyond

4. Deliverables

The Consultant is expected to deliver the following key outputs:

• Inception report: outlining the conceptual approach, methodology, work plan, timeline, and structure of the proposed school-based AE engagement model
• Draft school-based AE engagement model
• A comprehensive draft package including:
• Conceptual framework and operational procedure for school-based AE engagement model; Facilitators Guide
• Pilot Implementation (if second phase support agreed)
• A concise report summarizing the pilot implementation, key lessons learned, challenges encountered, and recommendations for refinement and scaling.
• A revised and finalized version of the operational model and Facilitator's Guide incorporating feedback from partners and lessons from the pilot phase, ready for wider implementation within the Country Programme

5. Qualifications of consultant

The Consultant should hold experience and education related to curriculum development, youth and children engagement, pedagogy, agroecology, education, development Studies, or a related field.

The Consultant must have a minimum of 5–7 years of relevant professional experience in above mentioned field including community-based programming, with demonstrated experience in process facilitation. Proven experience working with schools, youth programmes, children’s clubs, or participatory and experiential learning approaches is essential.

The Consultant should have a strong understanding of rural context, agroecology as a holistic and transformative approach encompassing environmental sustainability, social justice, economic viability and governance dimensions.

Prior experience working in Karnali Province or similar remote rural settings with the marginalized communities will be considered an added advantage.

6. Budget

The consultant will quote the days needed and rates for the assignment. Food, accommodation and travel costs are covered by Fastenaktion based on actual cost. Their estimation should be included in the budget.

7. Hiring process

Submission of tenders

The following documents are required to be submitted:

• A cover letter, including understanding of ToR, how the consultant meets the required qualifications
• A narrative proposal clearly explaining the process, methods and team composition.
• A tentative budget including a detailed breakdown of the expected working days and daily fees. Refer to template.
• CVs of the consultant/s and/or profile of the organization (maximum 4 pages)

Please find the link for the detailed TOR

Submit completed applications with the e-mail title “Application Agroecology in Schools” to fastenaktion.nepal@gmail.com by 28 June 2026. Only shortlisted candidates will be informed.

Reference documents:

Country Programme Strategy 2025-2028 (provided upon request)