Disaster Law Research Consultant – Nepal

IFRC opened a position for "Disaster Law Research Consultant". Interested candidates should submit their expression of interest along with the required documents (as mentioned below) no later than 12 October 2025, to Ms. Aliza Baidya, e-mail: aliza.baidya@ifrc.org

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Disaster Law Research Consultant – Nepal

Purpose and Background 

A significant achievement was reached in 2017, when Nepal adopted its National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act (NDRRM), replacing the 1982 “Natural Calamity (Relief) Act”.  Further to the new act, a National Disaster Response Framework was adopted in 2019, and a number of regulations, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and other guidance documents have followed. In the years since the passage of the NDRMA Act, certain gaps and ambiguities of meaning have emerged in practice.  Among these are the procedures for the regulation and facilitation of international relief, gaps in clarity as to the roles of different governmental offices and coordination processes, and the concept of “anticipatory action.” Currently, with support from the Danish Red Cross, the Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) is assisting the NDRRMA to develop a national framework for anticipatory action, which is likely to recommend the inclusion of some new language in the NDRRM Act. 

A related significant development is the launch of the “Early Warnings for All (EW4All)” in Nepal in 2023. EW4ALL is a global initiative aimed at ensuring universal access to and coverage by early warnings for all individuals by 2027, emphasizing the particularly urgent need to cover the most vulnerable. EW4All initiative consists of four pillars led at the global level by UNDRR (Pillar 1), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO, Pillar 2), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU, Pillar 3), and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) pillar 4), corresponding to the key elements of an EWS. In this endeavor, Nepal is one of the 30 priority countries for implementation of the EW4All initiatives.

The Government of Nepal (GoN) has already assigned pillar leads from different government ministries and departments to ensure coordination and collaboration for implementation of the Multi-hazard Early Warning System in Nepal. GoN has initiated developing EW4All national roadmap for implementation. As agreed with the GoN, a legal review has been integrated into the preparatory processes for EW4ALL.

The IFRC plans to commission a consultant to undertake a study reviewing the existing legal frameworks for disaster risk management using the IFRC’s new comprehensive Guidelines on Disaster Risk Governance, which were recognized by Nepal and the other State Parties to the Geneva Conventions at the 34th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in 2024, as well as providing a specific insight focusing on integrating early warning and early/anticipatory action.

Disaster Law Research Consultant

The IFRC works with National Societies and governments to strengthen disaster governance, through the development and implementation of disaster instruments (disaster related laws, regulations, decrees, ordinances, policies, strategies, plans and standard operating procedures).The IFRC and the NRCS in partnership with the NDRRMA plan to commission research to review the relevant legal frameworks and national and local systems, using the IFRC’s new comprehensive Guidelines on Disaster Risk Governance. This effort will aim to complement the strategic objectives of the EW4All Roadmap and further strengthen the disaster governance mechanisms in Nepal.

This consultancy also aligns with IFRC Strategy 2030, particularly Transformation 5: Influencing humanitarian action, which includes the recognition that we must continue to invest in the promotion of disaster law, leveraging the unique auxiliary status of National Societies with governments, which also promotes investment in the development of research to inform thought leadership on humanitarian and social issues that can influence opinion, policy and practice.

The IFRC Country Delegation Nepal is seeking the services of an individual consultant/firm/service provider to review the disaster instruments in general as well as specific view on multi-hazard early warning system in Nepal. The final output of this assignment will work as a policy guidance document to enrich the disaster instruments and strengthen the multi-hazard early warning systems in Nepal.

Scope of Assignment

In coordination with the IFRC, NRCS, NDRRMA, Ministry of Home Affairs and other relevant stakeholders, the consultant/consulting firm or service provider will be expected to conduct a mapping and study of the disaster instruments relevant to MHEWS and DRM in Nepal based on IFRC’s new comprehensive Guidelines on Disaster Risk Governance. The consultant/consulting firm or service provider will be expected to develop two final products:  

1. a report identifying the gaps in disaster instruments (disaster laws, regulations, decrees, ordinances, policies, strategies, plans and standard operating procedures) across the full spectrum of the IFRC Guidelines on Disaster Risk Governance, and 
2. a subsidiary report specifically highlighting the findings from the first report relevant to MHEWS. 

Application Procedures

The applicants are requested to submit technical and financial proposals separately. The proposal consists of consultant/consulting firm/service provider’s relevant experience and qualifications, detailed methodology and policy analysis process, detailed workplan with clear timelines and proposed budget with breakdown of all associated costs.

Only short-listed candidates will be notified and contacted for an interview.

Required Documents/Certificates with the Proposal (Include as Annex):

The documents/certificates that should be submitted/attached with your proposal are -

• Separate technical and financial Proposal.
• Copy of VAT/PAN registration certificate.
• Copy of Business registration certificate.
• Copy of TAX clearance certificate
• Financial Audit Report for the last 3 years
• Brief description of your company and references of clients
• Annex – I – IFRC GTC
• Annex – II – Terms of Reference (TOR)
• Annex – III – Declaration of Undertaking (DOU)
• Annex– IV – IFRC Supplier Registration Form

Interested individuals/ consulting firms/ service providers with required qualifications can submit their application in English no later than 12 October 2025, 5:00 PM Nepal Time.  For your email submission, please address it to Aliza.Bidya@ifrc.org

Kindly send a separate email for the Technical and Financial proposal and include your individual/ consulting firm or service provider’s full name in the subject line followed by "Disaster Law Study 2025". Only short-listed candidates will be notified and contacted for an interview. Applications received after the deadline or incomplete applications in any respect will not be considered.

Notes

• The consultant/consulting firm or service provider will be contracted by the IFRC, and the standard contractual terms will apply.