Expression of Interest for Institutional Capacity Building of the Partner NGOs (ICBPN)

dZi Foundation/ Nepal

Expression of Interest for Institutional Capacity Building of the Partner NGOs (ICBPN)

1) dZi Foundation:

dZi Foundation is a US-based non-profit organization working with rural communities in Nepal to achieve prosperity by eliminating barriers to basic needs, fostering opportunities for sustainable livelihoods, and building their capacity to catalyze transformational change. dZi adopts a new five-year strategic objective (2024- 2029) guided by past learning, adaptation to the emerging policy and development contexts, and an improved focus on partnership, local ownership, and sustainability beyond external investment to realize the journey to shared prosperity.

2) Rationale:

Localization is the core of dZi’s existence: not just in terms of what we do but how we do. The same spirit drives our approach in setting strategic priorities and forging partnerships with local actors including government, civil society, and local community groups to achieve a common objective of shared prosperity. To make the localization efforts locally rooted, guided by an integrated framework approach, and objective-driven, dZi thereby incessantly ensures local actors are governed by institutional systems and procedures while making decisions and setting directions. The interlink between organizational preparedness and programmatic deliverables ensures consistency both in terms of internal governance and the realization of organizational promises.

3) Call for Consultancy 

dZi Foundation/ Nepal aims to continue improving the institutional capacity and performance of its implementing NGO partners in Solukhumbu, Khotang, and Bhojpur districts, in Koshi Province. The EOI is to hire the expertise of a Nepalese consultancy firm to formulate and roll out the organizational policy and procedures of three partner NGOs. The adoption and realization of organizational policies drive robustness and efficiency in the decision-making process of the partner NGOs and thus effective prioritization, spending, and sustainability of the project resources.

4) Specific objectives:

The main objective of this assignment is to provide expert support to dZi Foundation/ Nepal in its objective to improve the institutional performance of the partner NGOs to adopt and roll out organizational policies and procedures. More specifically, the consultant will review the existing organizational assessment findings, prioritize the minimum number of policies to be formulated, and develop and roll out at least six policies per partner NGO.

5) Activities:

Under the contractual obligation of the dZi Foundation/ Nepal, and coordination of the respective partner NGOs, the consultant is expected to carry out the following key activities, but not limited to:

• Prepare and submit an inception report consisting of background, methodologies, timeline, and milestones in addition to deliverables and minimum standards of deliverables. 
• Review the existing assessment report of partner NGOs and prioritize the need to formulate a minimum of six policies and procedures per partner NGO. Ensure consultation with the board and key staff of partner NGOs while prioritizing the need. The policies and procedures should cover the program, result measurement, operations, and sustainability of the organization. 
• Formulate policies and procedures in consultation with dZi and partner NGOs in line with the role as envisioned by the applicable law, regulation and policies of the Government of Nepal. Highlight the areas where there may area/s of contradiction between dZi Foundation/ Nepal, and NGOs’ policy guidelines in relation to exercising smooth partnership, 
• Design and deliver the orientation/training to partner NGOs- board, staff, and members- on the newly adopted policies.
• Prepare a progress report highlighting the needs identified, processes followed, and immediate indicators of change achieved due to the assignment.

6) Deliverables

1. Inception report within 15 days of signing the contract.
2. Draft version of policy and procedures in Nepali language, and orientation/training plan and materials.
3. Final version of policy and procedures in Nepali language, and final progress report incorporating key steps followed, deliverables produced, challenges encountered, measures taken, lessons learned, and all information used to produce the key deliverables.

7) Duration of the Consultancy

The duration of the consultancy is approximately 60 (sixty) days between January 29, 2024, and April 19, 2024. Preference shall be given to those with a proven track record of completing the assignment within tight deadlines and without compromising the quality of deliverables.

8) Minimum Qualification of the Firm

• Should have completed at least 5 (five) assignments of a similar nature. 
• Should have sound acquaintances with the socio-cultural norms and practices as well as political economy of the proposed districts though direct engagement with local actors in terms of needs assessment, and institution performance improvement measures. 
• Should possess in-house capabilities and resources to carry out the assignment. 
• Should possess in-depth knowledge of operations, policies, and procedures required to formulate, integrate, and roll out development organizational policies, procedures, plans and systems of local non-government organizations.
• Familiarity with the Government of Nepal, including Social Welfare Council, regulations, and national best practices about civil society’s scope in local governance, community development, poverty reduction, and localizing development priorities of the national government. 
• Analytical skills, sound interpersonal communication, political sensitivity, negotiation and conflict resolution skills, and presentation skills.
• Others relevant to efficiently carry out the deliverables, listed above.

9) Evaluation Factors

• Technical approach (35 points) – understanding of the approach and proposed methodologies to carry out the assignment in line with the described activities and deliverables.
• Professional experience of the team (15 points) – educational and professional credentials of the team to be engaged in the assignment. Prior experience working in the remote areas in Koshi Province in general and proposed districts in particular will be preferred. 
• Experience of the firm/organization (20 points) – proven experience of the firm/organization in carrying out similar assignments in the past, client’s satisfaction, and physical and human resources to ensure smooth delivery of the assignment. Prior experience working in the remote areas in Koshi Province in general and proposed districts in particular will be preferred.
• Costing (30 points) – cost-effectiveness, relevancy, and alignment of the estimated cost with technical deliverables, as outlined in the EOI and in the proposal.

10) Submission of EOI

Interested Nepalese firms/organizations meeting the above qualifications can submit their EOI with (1) a cover page, (2) a brief technical and financial proposal, not more than 5 pages, (3) updated CVs of the consultant/s including PAN/VAT certificate, (4) evidence of similar assignment, at least five, and (5) company profile with latest tax clearance and certificate. Any question/s in relation to the EOI must be submitted by January 18, 2024, to procurement.np@dzi.org. Please submit your EOI and required documents electronically to procurement.np@dzi.org by/before January 23, 2024, with EOI for ICBPN in the subject line. Please ensure that the attachment should not be larger than 10 MB. Telephone inquiries shall not be entertained. Canvassing will lead to automatic disqualification. Only shortlisted applicants will be invited for further process. dZi will make one or more awards to carry out the whole or part of the assignment as deemed necessary.

dZi reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals without assigning any reason whatsoever.