CONSULTANCY OPPORTUNITY for Baseline Study

Welthungerhilfe

Details / requirements:

CONSULTANCY OPPORTUNITY 

for

Baseline Study 

of 

Advocacy and strengthening resilience through LANN+ - Linking agriculture and natural resource management towards nutrition security

Terms of Reference

Country:
Nepal
Project title:
Advocacy and strengthening resilience through LANN+ - Linking agriculture and natural resource management towards nutrition security
Project No.:
NPL 1068- 19
Implementing Partner 
  • Local Initiatives for Biodiversity, Research and Development (LI-BIRD).
  • Aasaman Nepal 
Co-financer (line):
BMZ/Welthungerhilfe
Project period:
1.11.2020 – 31.12.2023

INTRODUCTION ANDCONTEXT

Deutsche Welthungerhilfe e.V. is one of the largest Non-Governmental Organizations in Germany operating in the field of Humanitarian Assistance and Development. It was established in 1962, as the German section of the “Freedom from Hunger Campaign”, one of the world’s first initiatives aimed at the eradication of hunger. Welthungerhilfe’s work is still dedicated to the following vision: all people have the right to a self-determined life in dignity and justice, free from hunger and poverty.

Welthungerhilfe (WHH) has been operational in Nepal since 2012, and currently managing different projects in nine districts under four thematic areas (sectors): food and nutrition security, WASH and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR); and right to food and empowerment. WHH works hand in hand with civil society in Nepal to empower socially marginalized and economically poor citizens to reinforce their resilience and to ensure their right to adequate food and nutrition.  

The project entitled “Advocacy and strengthening resilience through LANN+ - Linking agriculture and natural resource management towards nutrition security” aims to reduce malnutrition in six municipalities throughthe multisectoral approach called LANN+ (Linking Agriculture, Natural Resource Management towards Nutrition Security) and to support empowered CBOs and citizens in using proven evidence about the effectiveness and efficacy of LANN+ approach for effective advocacy work. The project will be implemented in Dhading district (Gangajamuna, Rubi valley and Khaniyanbas Rural Municipalities) and Salyan district (Siddhakumakh, Darma and Kumakh Rural Municipalities)through the implementing partners Aasaman Nepal and LI-BIRD. The project will cover 15,000 households (7,850 households in Salyan district and 7,150 households in Dhading district) focusing on socially vulnerable and economically marginalized and poor household groups. The project will work with several intermediary organizations and actors, including female health workers (FCHVs), elected local government at community and association level, leading farmers, local resource persons (LRPs), local stakeholders, agricultural advisors, government health workers, farmers' groups, traders of agricultural goods and services such as seeds, feed, pesticides/equipment/processing.

BASELINE STUDY OBJECTIVES

The baseline study will focus on baseline data collection for a set of indicators outlined in the project log-frame and organizational documents. The baseline study report will be used to fine-tune the project activities and to monitor the project progress against the set of indicators over the course of the project implementation. The objectives of the LANN+ project are:

Overall Objective (Impact): Sustainable food and nutrition security in a climate-changing context for 6 target communities in the Districts of Dahding and Salyan in Nepal.

Project Objective (Outcome): The evidence proven LANN+ approach to reduce malnutrition in six municipalities is used by empowered CBOs and citizens for effective advocacy work at local, provincial, and federal level.     

Target Indicators: 

  • 80% of the 24 strengthened CBOs and their networks have advocated for the participatory and integrated LANN+ approach in annual government planning at all levels (local, province, federal.
  • The 5400 target households no longer have a nutritional gap and nutrition is assured for 12 months per year
  • Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women (MDD-W): 50% of the targeted5400women in need of nutrition meet the minimum dietary requirements in at least 5 food groups (Increase of 35 %)

Results 1: Policy makers and civil society actors are capacitated to adopt and integrate the relevant national sector policies and plans to improve food and nutrition security

Indicators:

  • By the end of the project, at least two good practices and evidence on learning’s of multi sectoral and participatory approaches are incorporated by the municipal government in their annual planning and by federal government in their national programmes.
  • 75% of the targeted 24 community-based organisations have promoted and advocated the inclusion of multi sectoral and participatory practices and insights at local or national level (visible through websites, exchange platforms and advocacy activities)
  • At least 1 strengthened national civil society network has demonstrated evidence-based advocacy and taken         the lead to organise 6 policy dialogues on the LANN+ approach by the end of the project
  • A web portal for the exchange of knowledge between LANN+ practitioners (Community of Practice) has been set up, maintained, regularly updated, used for regular exchange and taken over by the government until the end of the project.  

Results 2: Targeted households adopt nutrition-sensitive, climate-smart integrated farming practices, improve their natural resource management, nutrition and hygiene practices (WASH).

Indicators: 

  • At least 50 % of the targeted 5.400 farming households' practice two or more natural resource protection measures and include two drought resilient crop varieties in their farming practices.  
  • 80 % of 5.400 targeted households have changed their behaviour in terms of hygiene and nutrition assessed by predefined criteria (E.g. breastfeeding, weaning, child feeding, hand washing with soap, storage of food and water, use and maintenance of toilets) 
  • 60 % of the 5.400 targeted farming households have increased their incomes by 40% by reducing the input cost for agricultural production (fertiliser, seeds pesticides).
  • A total number of 36 irrigation systems are built and/or rehabilitated and in use by 1.000 farming families for their irrigation of additional 100 ha land, committees in each community have taken over operation and maintenance and the local government has provided funds for maintenance.
  • A total of 2.000 households has a kitchen garden with year around production of crops/vegetables for providing families with nutritious food

Results 3: Child (<5) acute malnutrition at target area is reduced.

Indicator: 

  • Global acute malnutrition (GAM) among children (6-59 months) in 6 target communities is reduced to at least 9 %.

Result 4: Strengthened CBOs/citizens actively participating in the participatory planning processes at local level and accessing improved public service delivery (e.g., agriculture, health & social protection)

Indicators: 

  • At least 50% of 36 public service providers (wards) in 6 municipalities have improved their services for citizens on social protection - verified by Community Score Card(= participatory tool to assess citizens satisfaction level with social protection.
  • At least 75% of 24 CBOs/networks have increased their organizational capacity in the working area to medium level measured by scores and categorised into low, medium and high. POCAP tool a capacity assessment tool – institutional level parameters such as gender, resource mobilisation management, planning and networking
  • Annually 36 community plans following inclusive participatory (involving vulnerable and marginalized groups) planning process are submitted to 36 wards for integration into municipal annual plans (Total 108) 
  • At least 75% of 24 CBOs are skilled to use the 7-step planning process with citizens to create their micro plans, involve members in decision-making processes
  • A total of 6 information desks at municipal level are functional for the provision of information and services, consisting of a database and a website, which is maintained and regularly updated by the employed staff and organized quarterly coordination meetings in cooperation with the local municipal administration
  • At least 50% of 24 CBOs have implemented a micro project with a focus on nutrition / rights-based approach / mobilisation of marginalised groups.

SCOPE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The scope of the assignment is to carry out the baseline study and develop the baseline report. The study methodology and other preparatory works will be defined jointly by the selected consultant/consulting firm and project team. The result of the baseline study will be used for steering project activities and plans. The target audience of the baseline study is WHH, Aasaman Nepal and LI-BIRD. The baseline study will cover 3 palikas in Dhading district (Ganga jamuna, Rubi valley and Khaniyanbas) and 3 palikas in Salyan district (Siddhakumakh, Darma and Kumakh).The project targets 15,000 households directly in total through different components; among them, the total target households for Sustainable Integrated Farming System (SIFS) component are 5,400 and for Linking Agriculture and Natural Resources towards Nutrition Security (LANN+) component are 5,400. Based on this, the consultant should apply sample size calculation considering 95% confidence level and 5% margin of error as per Welthungerhilfe’s sampling framework. 

BASELINEDESIGN ANDMETHODOLOGY

Together with its implementing partners, Welthungerhilfe shall steer and oversee the overall implementation of the study. The assignment will provide quantitative and qualitative data through the following methods:

  • Desk study of relevant project document and develop study methodology and tools:
    • Identify sampling strategy including sample size.
  • Collection of data from different sources including field work in the project areas:
    • Collect relevant quantitative data for the log-frame indicator. 
    • Collect primary data from field using different tools and techniques as agreed during the planning process.
  • Data analysis and draft report preparation.
    • Carry out data analysis in line with the project log-frame.
    • Share the findings with participation of project staff and management.
    • Prepare draft report as per the agreed reporting structure.
    • Share the draft report for comments.
  • Address the comments/suggestions from the project team and produce final report.

Please note that the consultant/consulting firm should adhere to WHH SOPs for development project in context of COVID-19 and government protocols regarding COVID-19 prevention. 

DELIVERABLES 

The consultant/consulting firm shall submit one inception report at the beginning of the assignment and one baseline report as the final delivery of the assignment to Welthungerhilfe. The project team will review the draft reports and the consultant/consulting firm shall incorporate the inputs in the final reports. The assignment will only be close once the baseline report is formally accepted by Welthungerhilfe.

TIME FRAME / SCHEDULE

The study has to be completed and the first draft report has to be submitted within 30 days of signing of the contract. The final report needs to be submitted within fifteen days of inputs received in the draft report

EXPERTISE OF THE CONSULTANT

The consultant(s)/consulting firm are required to have the following expertise and qualifications:

  • Team leader must have at least Master’s degree in development studies or equivalent degree.
  • The team leader must have knowledge of baseline study methods and techniques, including a thorough understanding of data collection, methodologies and design, and strong qualitative and quantitative research skills, with +5 years of working experience in development project monitoring, baseline/endline study, evaluations.
  • Team leader must have prior work experience with or working for international development organizations and familiarity with development and humanitarian programmes/issues. 
  • The team leader or at least one member of the team of experts must have skills and experience in agriculture, sustainable food security and nutrition security issues.  
  • The composition of the team of experts should be balanced to enable complete coverage of the different aspects of consultancy as set out in these terms of reference. 
  • The consultant(s)/consulting firm must have good command in both writing and speaking in English languages. 

DEADLINE FOR PROPOSAL

The interested and qualified consultant(s)/consulting firm must submit their technical and financial proposal, including legal documents (registration & tax clearance in case of consulting firm and VAT registration card for individual) and CVs of key personals with by 17:00 hours 20 September 2021 to email address recruitment.nepal@welthungerhilfe.de with subject line LANN+: Baseline Study. Applicants are also invited to submit example/s of baseline report/s already completed in the past.  Application received with incomplete documents and later than above date will be disqualified.

Please note that the selected consultant(s)/consulting firm should adhere with WHH SOPs for development project in context of COVID-19 and government protocols regarding COVID-19 prevention. The field plan may differ considering the current COVID-19 scenario.

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted for further evaluation process. Welthungerhilfe Nepal reserves all the rights to reject any or all application without providing any reasons.

Overview

Category Development and Project
Openings 1
Position Type Contract
Experience Please check details below.
Education Please check details below.
Posted Date 10 Sep, 2021
Apply Before 20 Sep, 2021
City Lalitpur