Consultancy on: Early Warning and Weather Information System Needs and Gaps Assessment in Karnali River Basin

Mercy Corps Nepal

Building Hope Along the Karnali River Basin (BHAKARI) Program

Scope of Work

Consultancy on: Early Warning and Weather Information System Needs and Gaps Assessment in Karnali River Basin

This Scope of Work (SoW) outlines objectives for hiring a consultant to conduct an Early warning system (EWS) and Weather Information needs and gap assessment in Karnali River basin to support improved access and utilisation of these services under the  BHAKARI program

1.   Introduction 

Mercy Corps Nepal has initiated the BHAKARI program from October 2020 to enhance food and nutrition security, reduce future humanitarian caseload and improve the resilience of communities to recurrent shocks in the Karnali Province in Nepal. This is a Multi-Year Emergency Food Security Activity funded by USAID's Bureau for Humanitarian Affairs, with a goal to enhance food and nutrition security, reduce future humanitarian caseload, and improve the resilience of communities to recurrent shocks in 6 districts (Mugu, Jumla, Kalikot, Surkhet, Achham, and Dailekh, with cluster hubs in Surkhet and Jumla) in the Karnali River Basin area.  The BHAKARI, is built upon many of the successes of the Nepal team’s previous Food for Peace program which ended in January 2020, the PAHAL program, but with some new districts and a much heavier emphasis on emergency response. It includes program components of agriculture and market systems, disaster risk reduction, water for productive use, natural resources management, and a large emphasis on a gender and social inclusion approach, all with a highly integrated multi-sectoral approach.

Under Disaster Risk Reduction outcomes, BHAKARI program has planned interventions to strengthen the early warning and weather information system to ensure inclusive access to the most vulnerable community in Karnali whilst ensuring recipients have the skills to take action to mitigate the risks of natural hazards and climatic shock and stress. To reduce the impacts of hazards, early warning systems play a vital role in preparedness, response, and emergency management. Weather information  also has an important role to prepare and adapt farming techniques and practices tp longer term impacts of climate change.  

2.   Assessment Objectives

The overall objective of this assignment is to provide a detailed contextual understanding of the status of early warning and weather information systems in the Karnali river basin and to understand what the needs of users in Bhakari program including the most vulnerable groups and what the gaps are in terms of dissemination channels and quality and user friendliness of the messages to inform required intervention to improve use of EWS and wetaher informtaion under Bhakari.s The specific objectives of this assignment are: 

• Stakeholder analysis: Identify key actors in the EWS and weather information generation, dissemination and usage channels including national, provincial and local level stakeholders to collaborate in design and implementation of interventions to improve effectiveness of services.
• Identify the gaps and needs for the early warning and weather information system in the Karnali River Basin particularly BHAKARI program working districts i.e. Mugu, Jumla, Kalikot, Dailekh, Surkhet and Achham.
• Document existing tools, systems and practices of early warning and weather information system in Karnali river basin including analysis of current status performance, utilization or impact with coordination of the department of hydrology and metrology (DHM).
• Recommend the plan for strengthening of early warning and weather information strengthening interventions including potential sites for rainfall and water level stations, up-gradation of existing manual stations, and also appropriate and suitable tools and technology. additional identification of alternative and innovative early warning systems for wider shocks and stresses including droughts utilising traditional knowledge and community systems

3.   Deliverables and Payment Schedule

The consultants or consulting firm is expected to deliver the following outputs:

• Inception report including analysis of secondary data and information a list of key stakeholders for early warning and weather information system in Karnali River Basin and detailed methodology for the assignment including scenarios for how to collect needs information and undertake consultations with key stakeholders including local government and vulnerable communities in Karnali under potential COVID travel restrictions 
• Draft Report for the review and feedback to Mercy Corps Nepal team. This draft should present highlights of community information needs and identify institutional and dissemination gaps and barriers to access and use of  early warning and weather information system and recommend proposed interventions to strengthen the early warning and weather information system in the Karnali River Basin and establish alternative/innovative systems for wider shocks and stresses,. 
• Final report of the assessment incorporating comments, feedback and review from Mercy Corps Nepal. Final assessment reports should have clear recommendations on appropriate early warning and weather information technology, methodology and mechanism to establish and or strengthen the system.

4.   Duration of assignment: 

The estimated working days for this assessment is 20-25 working days including field consultation. The expected date for the final report of assessment is by the end of February 2021. 

5.   Qualifications and experience (Individuals/Firm):

• Demonstrated experience of working with government mechanisms. Past experience of leading and conducting the early warning and weather information assessment. 
• Experience of working in descriptive research in the sector of EWS, DRR, Environment and emergency.  
• Experience working with organizations that are working in the field of EWS, weather information development and dissemination.
• Strong analytical and writing skills with the ability to synthesize large amounts of information into concise and descriptive documents a must.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement skills and ability to coordinate with diverse stakeholders such as the federal, provincial, and local governments; public organizations; and community level organizations;
• Understanding of EWS needs, use and issues, key stakeholders related to Early Warning and weather information and familiarity with relevant policies and frameworks, at least 7 years of experience working on DRM and CCA particularly on  EWS establishment preferred;
• Excellent analytical and writing skills in both Nepali and English.

6.   Monitoring and Supervision

The consultant will report to the Senior Disaster Risk Reduction, Mercy Corps Nepal (Building Hope Along the Karnali River Basin (Bhakari) and work closely with other relevant Mercy Corps team members. S/he will also collaborate with the BHAKARI consortium partners and the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) and local community. 

Required Documents for Submitting the Proposal:

Qualified firms/ Individuals can send their application to np-procurement@mercycorps.org  with the Title “EWS Need Gap“ along with the following documents by 14th  January 2021.  ''Mercy Corps Nepal will organize a Virtual Consultation meeting with the interested firms and or individuals on 8th January 2021 from 2.00 to 3.00 PM. Please send your request to join the Consultation meeting on or before 7th January 2021 to  np-procurement@mercycorps.org ''

• Financial proposal
• Technical Proposal
• Company Profile/ CV
• Relevant Past Experience list 
• Firm Registration & Renewal certificate (for Firm)
• Copy of VAT Registration Certificate (for Firm)
• Latest Tax clearance certificate (for Firm)
• Copy of Pan card (for Individual consultant)