Consultant

TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR) FOR CONSULTANT

ASSESSMENT OF PHYSICAL AND FINANCIAL LOSS DUE TO COVID-19 AND DEVELOP PLAN OF AN ACTION FOR RELIEF, RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE

1.  Background of the assignment

The COVID-19 pandemic presents itself as a unique crisis where a humanitarian crisis is evolving simultaneously with a global and local economic downturn. It threatens to affect entire economies, livelihoods, and food security in masses. The lockdown implemented to curve the virus spread from late March limited the physical mobility, contributing to the weakened livelihood and food supply system. An increasing number of households suffer from loss of income and inadequate food consumption.  

Value Chain Development of Fruit and Vegetables project (VCDP, 2018-2022)¹, led and owned by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, strives to respond to the current crisis and give adequate support to farmers and cooperatives in consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD) and local governments. It conducted rapid situation assessment and proposed immediate support to recover the value chain system of fruit and vegetables, including transportation and marketing assistance, procurement of Personal Protection Equipment for farmers and extension officers, and agri-entrepreneurship support for migrant returnees. In addition, the project intends to conduct a study to assess the actual loss of fruit and vegetables due to COVID-19 and develop a plan of actions for relief and recovery which will be implemented in 2020-2021.

2.  Objective of the assignment 

The main objective of this assignment is to assess the loss of fruit and vegetables during the COVID-19 spread and lockdown and development a plan of actions for relief, recovery, and resilience. 

The loss and impact will be assessed in two ways: i) direct and immediate physical and financial losses of smallholder farmers and stakeholders and ii) mid to long term impact. The plan of actions will propose mid-term and long-term measures, respectively. VCDP has considered the mid-term actions to be implemented till December 2020 and long-term actions for the next 18 months (till December 2021). 

This will assist in defining the actual loss and projected impact in 2020/2021. It will also identify the groups of project beneficiaries whose incomes and livelihoods have been most affected by the crisis, as well as value chains severely disrupted by the lockdown. 

The exercise will allow for a better understanding of where the project support must be redirected during the rest period of 2020 and thereafter. The assessment will need to be closely coordinated with relevant government partners (i.e. Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development; Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation; Nepal Agricultural Research Council, Provincial Government, and Local Government) as well as cooperatives, farmers, and private sector in the agriculture sector. The assessment will need to be rapid in nature to allow for the design and delivery of response measures to reduce negative impacts at farmers' levels. 

¹Value Chain Development of Fruit and Vegetables project (VCDP, 2018-2022), led and owned by MoALD, is a joint initiative supported by United Nations Development Programme and Korea International Cooperation Agency to strengthen the horticultural commodity value chains in Nepal. Aiming at supporting 10,000 smallholder farmers and 26 cooperatives, it assists them for increased production, minimised postharvest loss, and enhanced marketing. The project has partnered with rural/municipalities aside BP highway extending to Panchkhal, Prithvi highway extending to Syangja and Hetauda-Dumkibas section of the East-West highway. 

3.  Scope of the assignment 

The consultant will work closely with the National Project Manager (NPM) and specialists ensuring the NPM in the communication loop for soliciting information, verification of the information. The consultant is expected to accomplish below stated tasks.  

Task 1: Outline the detailed methodology and work plan in consultation with VCDP

• Based on the desk review, develop a work plan with a detailed methodology and finalize with inputs from VCDP 
• A work plan shall reflect the understanding of the assignment, methodology, tentative plan and schedule to carry out the task, plan for primary and secondary data collection and expected conclusions
• Develop a rapid assessment methodology 
• Based on the secondary data and in close coordination with VCDP, identify the localities to be selected for assessment 

Task 2: Conduct field assessment 

• Undertake field assessment to meet stakeholders (farmers, cooperatives, Palika leaders, agriculture technicians, service providers, private sector) at federal, provincial and local levels to assess the impact on production, marketing, and support systems, identify gaps and possible measures to minimize the gaps
• Visit the farmer’s field, production sites, cooperatives, and market centers to assess the impact and immediate and mid-term recovery activities

Task 3: Development of a plan of actions 

• Map current recovery options being developed by federal, provincial and local governments and other development partners and provide a quick analysis 
• Based on assessment findings and quick survey data, develop a high-quality plan of actions that VCDP needs to implement for relief, recovery, and resilience. The actions will need to be proposed within the VCDP’s scope of work as per the Project Document. 

Task 4: Completion of the assessment 

• Submit the assignment completion report to VCDP
• Present the report and recommendations to VCDP

4.  Support from VCDP

The consultant will be provided all the relevant documents for comprehending the role and contribution of VCDP. Moreover, VCDP will provide the necessary feedback and inputs required during the course of the assignment. 

5.  Duration of the work

The assessment shall commence from the 3rd week of July 2020 and the consultant/firm will perform the required duties within a period of up to 35-person days spread up to the 2nd week of September 2020.

6.  Deliverables and milestone 

The consultant/firm will submit the final deliverable of the assignment. It will be 1 hard copy (printed version) and 1 soft copy (CD) of the assessment report. The language of the document shall be in English.

7.  Required professional competences and qualification of the consulting firm

The consultant will work in close coordination and overall guidance of the National Project Manager of VCDP.

9.  Budget and payment schedule 

The estimated budget for this assignment is not exceeding NPR 600,000 that covers consultants fee, DSA, transportation expenses, food and accommodation, communication, and other recurrent expenses during the assessment. The project will organize a sharing meeting at its own expense. 

All applicable taxes will be deducted at the source. It will be the consultant’s responsibility to ensure her/his full insurance coverage during the assignment period. 

Upon submission of the inception report and approved work plan report, 30% of the consultancy fee will be paid, and the remaining 70% will be paid after completion of the assignment and acceptance of the final report by the project. 

10.  Selection Process 

For this assignment, a short notice will be published on 7th July. The application deadline will be 15th July 2020. Interested and eligible candidates will apply via email info@vcdp.org.np with their CV highlighting the relevant experience (including the list of similar assignments with respective clients and year of assignment) and proposed consultancy fee for the assignment. The suitable candidate will be selected based on the competencies and set criteria.