Consultant_ For a study on heat-related health risks

IFRC FRC opened a position of consultant for a study on heat-related health risks in project Municipalities. Interested candidates should submit their expression of interest along with the required documents (as mentioned below) no later than 19 November 2025, to the IFRC procurement department.

Terms of Reference (TOR) 

For a study on heat-related health risks in project Municipalities

1. Background

The Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) is implementing the SUPER and REDI project in partnership with Sainamaina Municipality (Rupandehi district), and Biratnagar Metropolitan City (Morang district). Nepal’s Terai region, including Rupandehi and Morang, are increasingly exposed to extreme heat due to climate change, which poses significant threats to public health, particularly among vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, pregnant women, outdoor workers, and individuals with pre-existing health conditions. In response, NRCS and Sainamaina Municipality, Biratnagar Metropolitan City and Jahada Rural Municipality, with support from the Swiss Red Cross (SRC) and Finnish Red Cross (FRC), have integrated Heat and Health Initiatives into the ongoing projects, recognizing that the project Municipalities lie within a high-temperature zone. People living in Municipalities prone to heat are at an increasing risk of heat-related illnesses. These illnesses can have immediate, long-term, and even indirect impacts, including an increased number of vector-borne diseases. This places an additional burden on health systems that are already limited by resources. However, this issue remains under-researched.

Currently, there is limited local data available to inform the effect of heat to immediate health responses or Municipal planning. Health systems lack the tools to monitor heat impacts on health to initiate early and timely interventions. This study aims to address critical knowledge gaps by assessing health risks, community vulnerabilities, and existing coping strategies. The findings will support the development of locally appropriate heat-health adaptation strategies, improve Municipal preparedness, and inform evidence-based policymaking. As heatwaves become more frequent and intense, such research is vital for protecting at-risk communities and strengthening Nepal’s climate-resilient health systems.

Since the REDI project incorporated heat-related actions from the beginning, thus, some assignments, such as the identification of heat hotspots and the development of a heat action plan, have already been completed. Therefore, it will now be carried out only in Sainamaina Municipality, and not in Biratnagar Metropolitan City.

2. Purpose/Objectives of the Assignment

The primary objective of this study is to assess the human health impacts of extreme heat events in Sainamaina Municipality and Biratnagar Metropolitan City. The assignment also to identify heat hotspots that are highly vulnerable to heatwave risk, indicate the heat threshold for Sainamaina Municipality, and gather the technical information required for a heat action plan for Sainamaina Municipality. This will be achieved by analysing climate trends, community vulnerabilities having extreme heat impact, health service capacity to ensure quick treatment for heat-related illnesses, and local disaster governance systems. The study aims to generate evidence to inform as well as guide the development of a community-based, locally led, and actionable adaptation plan. The RCRC climate centre will guide technical aspects in this study. 

Click on the links below for the detailed TOR and Annexes:

1. ToR_Heat and Health Study_SUPER_REDI (002)
2. Annex I - IFRC General Terms and Conditions
3. Annex II - Declaration of Undertaking
4. Annex III - IFRC Supplier Registration Form

Contact Details

Interested individuals/organizations are invited to submit their proposal (technical and financial) in a separate sealed hard copy with all required documents to the procurement department of IFRC, latest by 19 Nov 2025. Email submission will not be entertained.

Note: The selected consultant/firm needs to follow strong research ethics and abide by the data protection policy as well as relevant policies of the IFRC during the period of the assignment. Women scholars, people with disability and marginalized communities are strongly encouraged to apply. The candidates are selected on a competitive basis. Only short-listed candidates will be called for further process. The applicants are notified via email.