Develop guideline/tool for program and budget review of LGUs and review from the perspective of disability rights and inclusion

Terms of Reference (TOR)

For

“Capacity development support to organizations of persons with disabilities to promote disability rights and inclusion in the governance and development process of Nepal”

Develop guideline/tool for program and budget review of LGUs and review from the perspective of disability rights and inclusion

1. Project Overview:

This project is a consortium project where KOSHISH is the lead organization and FWDN is the consortium partner. The overall objective of this project is to support women with disabilities from marginalized and underrepresented groups, and their OPDs, to strengthen their voice and agency to advocate for inclusion and meaningful participation, gender and disability responsive planning, programming and budgeting in line with SDGs at all levels, at the local level in Madhesh, Karnali and Sudurpaschim Province.

Persons with disabilities are one of the most marginalized groups in Nepal despite positive provisions in the Constitution of Nepal and the Act Relating to Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2017 to ensure disability inclusion. Ratification of UNCRPD by Nepal has instigated hopes among persons with disabilities that they would be provided with the opportunities to enjoy rights on an equal basis with others. But there exist numerous challenges in realizing these rights including insufficient inclusive education, lack of awareness among key stakeholders, pervasive social stigma, inaccessible services and infrastructure, competing priorities within the government, tokenistic representation, and inadequate funding.

Women with disabilities face additional layers of discrimination due to gender, further complicating their situation. Persons with disabilities belonging to underrepresented disability groups are even marginalized within the disability momentum. Their participation in decision-making processes remains minimal, restricted by various barriers including environmental, attitudinal, communicational, and institutional challenges. Article 12 of the CRPD outlines that persons with disabilities have the same legal capacity as other persons. Article 18 of the Constitution of Nepal highlights right to equality for all citizens as a fundamental right, stating that all citizens are equal. However, in Nepal, persons with underrepresented disability groups have not been able to enjoy rights on an equal basis with others due to lack of supported decision-making mechanisms.

Therefore, there is a need to sensitize local government authorities that they are obligated to protect the rights of women with disability, including women belonging to underrepresented and marginalized disability groups and demand for rights to be protected by them as well as including them in these processes which include gender and disability responsive planning, programming and budgeting.  There is also the need for technical support to establish and strengthen local organizations of persons with disabilities, self-help groups and connect them to larger networks to strengthen the advocacy for inclusion and meaningful participation. This need can be reflected by this project and meet these gaps.

2. Objectives:

Specifically, this assignment will obtain following objectives:-

• to strengthen capacities of Elected Representatives and government officials (duty bearers) on rights of person with disabilities at the local level
• to strengthen the capacity of the women organizations focusing on disabilities to organize and advocate for inclusion and meaningful participation, disability responsive planning, and budgeting in line with SDGs
• to advocate for gender and disability responsive planning, programming, and budgeting with the government in line with SDGs.

3. Purpose:

The purpose of this project is to support women with disabilities from marginalized and underrepresented groups, and their OPDs, to strengthen their voice and agency to advocate for inclusion and meaningful participation, gender and disability responsive planning, programming and budgeting in line with SDGs at the local level of selected provinces.

4. Outputs of the project:

Elected representatives and government officials at the local level have improved knowledge and skills on rights of persons with disabilities, equipping them to effectively implement inclusive policies and practices

Women-led OPDs and OPDs of marginalized and underrepresented groups have strengthened capacity to advocate for disability inclusion and meaningful participation.

Strengthened advocacy with the government authorities to take measures in planning and implementing inclusive gender-responsive, and disability-responsive planning, programming and budgeting.

5. Scope of Work

• A consultant will be recruited to develop a comprehensive guideline/tool for the program and budget review of Local Government Units (LGUs) from the perspective of disability rights and inclusion. This tool will be designed to assess the alignment of LGUs' programs and budgets with disability inclusion principles and gender-responsive budgeting frameworks.
• The development of this guideline/tool will be carried out in consultation with local coordination committees (LCCs), elected representatives, and Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) at one selected municipality of Madesh, Karnali, Sudurpaschim province.
• The consultations will aim to gather key insights and inputs to ensure that the guideline/tool is contextually relevant, practical, and aligned with national frameworks such as:
  • The Gender Audit Guidelines developed by the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration (MOFAGA).
  • The Gender-Responsive Budgeting Framework, which will form the basis for integrating gender and disability inclusivity in municipal planning and budgeting processes.
• This guideline will be utilized by the OPDs to review and enhance their disability-inclusive practices and policies

6. Deliverables:

• Develop tool/guidelines in Nepali language version that enables the review and analysis of programs and budgets at the LGU level, with a focus on disability inclusion and gender responsiveness.
• Gather feedback and refine the tool accordingly to improve its effectiveness and usability
• After the finalization of the tools/guidelines, the Consultant shall provide an orientation to Project team to implement this tools to assess the fiscal plans and programs of project municipalities across Karnali, Madhesh, and Sudurpaschim provinces.

7. Eligibility and desired profile of consultant

• A PAN/VAT registered consultancy firm/Company/Individuals
• The lead member of consultant/Individual must have the master's degree in, Social science, public administration policy, Gender studies, Disability studies project management or related field)
• Relevant working experience on developing tools/guidelines based on Local Government Units (LGUs) from the perspective of disability rights and inclusion.
• Expertise in disability-inclusive development, gender-responsive budgeting, and the legal and policy frameworks related to disability in Nepal.
• Excellent understanding on legal framework related to CRPD, disability rights and human rights.

8. Required documents for proposal submission:

• Cover Letter
• Technical and financial proposal
• Profile of consultant including resume of team leader and members
• Framework Content for developing guideline / tool
• Methodological design including work plan and quality assurance mechanism.
• Copy of Company/firm registration certificate & latest renewal and tax clearance certificate
• Copy of VAT registration certificate

9. Expected duration of consultancy service:

The successful consultant will be provided 21 working days of consultancy service agreement. The number of days is effective from the date this MOU gets signed.

10. Budget and release of payment

KOSHISH will evaluate the proposals as per the procurement guidelines of the organization. The technically and financially responsive proposal will be accepted for the consultancy service. The payment will be made in following three following installments:

11. Application procedure

All the eligible Individuals/consultants, companies/firms are requested to submit the proposal along with the required documents via email procurement@koshish.org.np to KOSHISH's central office located in Balkhu, Lalitpur. The deadline for submission of proposal is June 26th, 2025 before 5:00 PM. May obtain additional information upon enquiry on +977 9768445170 or sushen.joshi@koshish.org.np