Consultancy to Revisit the SLVC Signature Program (2025–2035)

Terms of Reference (ToR)

Consultancy to Revisit the SLVC Signature Program (2025–2035)

1. Background & Rationale

Heifer Project International Nepal (HPIN) is committed to transforming rural communities by building inclusive, thriving, resilient, and sustainable food systems with smallholder farmers (SHFs) at the center of change. Since 1998, Heifer has supported more than 418,000 families through agriculture and livestock initiatives that are locally led, locally owned, and co-created with communities themselves. Guided by principles of sustainable food systems and sustainable locally led development, HPIN places women, youth, and marginalized groups at the heart of its work, while collaborating closely with governments, private sector actors, and civil society.

Heifer is rolling out a new program model focused on transforming sustainable food systems, strengthening smallholder farmer agency, advancing Care for the Earth (C4E), fostering inclusive markets, engaging the private sector, and influencing policy through evidence. In alignment with this model, HPIN is revisiting its Signature Programs, including the Strengthening Smallholder Livestock Value Chains (SLVC) program to ensure stronger policy alignment, elevate farmers voices and leadership, and integrate innovations that address market gaps and private sector engagement challenges. 

Over the years, policy and program landscape in Nepal have often been fragmented or insufficiently inclusive of small holder farmers perspectives, which has posed challenge like limited farmers ownership, poor alignment with national priorities and missed opportunities for systemic change. By revisiting SLVC, HPIN aims to position smaller holder farmers, particularly women and youth not only as procedures but as decision makers, policy actors and leaders of resilient, climate smart food system.

As part of this process, HPIN is undertaking a series of internal and external assessments to capture lessons, opportunities, and emerging priorities. The insights from these reviews, together with Nepal’s national strategies, policies and Heifer’s global program framework, will provide the foundation for the redefined SLVC Signature Program. To take this work forward, HPIN seeks to engage a consultant/firm to synthesize the findings and prepare the SLVC Signature Program (2025–2035) as a comprehensive, investable, and policy-aligned program document.

2. Purpose & Objectives

Purpose: To revisit the SLVC Signature Program and produce an implementation-ready, fundable program package for 2025–2035 that strengthens smallholder farmer agency and aligns with Nepal’s policy priorities and Heifer’s program model.

Specific Objectives:

1. Conduct a thorough review of the existing SLVC project document and engage with Heifer colleagues to understand the progress achieved to date. Synthesize evidence from internal/external studies to identify successes, policy and donor alignment gaps and opportunities across the SLVC ecosystem (farmers, cooperatives, MSMEs, private sectors, and markets).
2. Co-develop a Theory of Change (ToC) and Results Framework with SMART indicators, 10-year outcomes, and milestones.
3. Identify opportunities and strategies for strengthening the inclusive market, co-investment and strategic partnership with private sector actors.
4. Produce a redefined SLVC Signature Program in alignment with Heifer’s Program Model incorporating sustainability strategies, investment readiness, and donor positioning.

3. Scope of Work & Key Tasks

The organization will deliver redefined SLVC Signature Program document. Key tasks include:

A. Evidence Review & Gap Analysis

• Desk review Heifer’s program results and lessons.
• Desk review, analyze relevant studies on food systems, agriculture, and policy, to identify gaps in farmer support, cooperative performance, services, and market linkages, access to finance and propose ways to strengthen farmer ownership and sustainability
• Map national priorities (16th plan, ADS, Food Systems Transformation Strategic Plan, National Pathway for Food System Transformation, Integrated National Financing Framework, Climate Change Policy, SDGs, and others relevant) and identify gaps, areas of misalign with farmers need and way forward.

 B. Program Design Framework

• Co-create a Theory of Change with SMART indicators aligned to Heifer’s MELS system. 
• Co-create Result Framework with outcome, outputs and indicators.
• Define learning agenda and adaptive management mechanisms.
• Provide a value chain prioritization methodology considering poverty impact, gender/youth inclusion, market demand, climate resilience and farmers ownership.

C. Capacity & Sustainability

• Propose skills, systems, and capacity need for farmers, cooperatives, and partners.
• Recommend strategies for long-term sustainability and responsible exit planning.

D. Co-Design & Validation

• Organize and facilitate decision orientated workshops with farmers, cooperatives, private sector, government, and community representatives.
• Facilitate prioritization of value chains, geographies and financing strategies 
• Conduct/facilitate a prioritization of value chain, geographic prioritization and financing strategies with clear criteria and mapping
• Validate and refine the program framework through stakeholder input ensuring farmers voices is central. 

E. Strategic Planning & Documentation

• Define program goals, coverage, and priorities.
• Prepare 3-5 years policy engagement roadmap, showing how smallholder farmers can influence policy and governance platforms in partnership with valued aligned partners.
• Regenerative agricultural practices at community levels to contribute sustainable food system transformation. 
• Develop a market and private sector engagement plan, identifying opportunities, incentives an investable model
• Develop a risk and mitigation framework.
• Draft and finalize the program package aligned with Heifer’s global model and Nepal’s national plans.

4. Deliverables & Timeline (November 2025 – January 2026)

5. Team Qualifications

• Advanced degree (Master’s or higher) in agriculture, livestock sciences, agricultural economics, rural development, food systems, or a related discipline. 
• Consulting firm/consultant: At least 10 years’ experience designing and implementing multi-stakeholder agriculture/livestock/food systems community development programs in South Asia.
• Proven track record of leading large scale program design processes, co creation with communities, stakeholders, private sector and policy engagement with government.
• Core Expertise: Food systems and value chain financing, Agri finance and blended finance, climate resilience, digital data system, gender and social inclusion (GESI), policy and partnership, geospatial/market analysis and participatory field facilitation,

6. Coordination & Governance

• Consultant will report to HPIN’s Program Director- Signature Program (SLVC).
• HPIN will provide access to data, studies, and stakeholders.
• Weekly check-ins and deliverable review meetings will ensure alignment.

7. Ethical Standards & Compliance

Mandatory adherence to: Do-No-Harm, PSEAH, child protection, data protection, animal welfare, and environmental safeguards.

8. Application Process

Interested organizations are invited to submit applications to Procurement-NP@heifer.org with the title: “Proposal for Revisiting Heifer International Nepal’s SLVC Signature Program” by no later than 10 October 2025, 5:00 PM along with following documents.

1. Letter of Interest
2. Technical proposal (understanding of ToR, methodology, work plan, and team composition).
3. Financial proposal with breakdown
4. Signed CVs of key personnel (maximum 3 pages each).
5. Relevant work samples (two recent documents/reports) or references.
6. Organization registration certificate
7. VAT Certificate
8. Tax Clearance Certificate (FY 080-81)

Note: VAT registered vendors are encouraged to apply.

HPIN reserves the right to accept or reject any proposal and to annul the selection process and reject all Proposals at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to affected individuals.