Request for Proposal (RFP) - Research Institute

Request for Proposal

Promoting Inclusive and Participatory Environmental Governance Program in Nepal

Issued:  May 1, 2024

Responses Due: May 20th, 2024 by 12:00 pm NPT

Vendors may email questions and responses to, nepaljobs@ndi.org

National Democratic Institute

Fifth Floor, Continental Complex, Uttardhoka, Gairidhara, Kathmandu

I. About NDI

The National Democratic Institute (NDI) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, nongovernmental organization working to support and strengthen democratic institutions worldwide through citizen participation, openness, and accountability in government. Since its founding in 1983, NDI has worked with local partners in 156 countries and territories, bringing together individuals and groups to share ideas, knowledge, experiences, and expertise. Partners receive broad exposure to best practices in international democratic development that can be adapted to the needs of their own countries. NDI’s multinational approach reinforces the message that while there is no single democratic model, certain core principles are shared by all democracies.. It also promotes the development of institutionalized channels of communication among citizens, political institutions, and elected officials, and strengthens their ability to improve the quality of life for all citizens.

II. Introduction

The National Democratic Institute (NDI)'s 'Promoting Inclusive and Participatory Environmental Governance in Nepal' program aims to enhance representative, responsive, inclusive, and accountable environmental governance. Environmental governance involves the formulation and implementation of policies, regulations, decision-making processes, and stakeholder engagement to address environmental concerns in Nepal. It prioritizes amplifying the voices of citizens, particularly traditionally marginalized groups such as women, youth, social and ethnic minorities, and local civil society organizations (CSOs).

The program targets Nepal's unique environmental policy vulnerabilities, exacerbated by rapid urbanization, inadequate planning, and governance inefficiencies, especially concerning human settlement development. Concurrently, NDI seeks to understand and reconcile settlement development with existing land use and management policies. Recognizing the complexity of these challenges, NDI strategically collaborates with research institutes, civil society organizations, and relevant government entities to devise effective policy solutions for Nepal’s environmental challenges and the impact of rapid urbanization, particularly on marginalized communities. This program emphasizes grassroots, and local-level support and aims to empower citizens to engage in public consultations and effectively interact with the government. Ultimately, it aims to lay the groundwork for a more inclusive and equitable environmental governance landscape across all three tiers of government.

III. Scope of Work

Objectives

The main objectives of the research are as follows:

1. To conduct research aimed at identifying, understanding, and addressing environmental issues and policies affecting communities undergoing rapid urbanization with a focus on provincial, geographical, and ecological belts, identifying highly, moderately, and least vulnerable hotspots based on the vulnerability assessment framework.
2. To analyze the disproportionate impacts of environmental issues and policies on communities that are traditionally marginalized (such as women, youth, social and ethnic minority groups, and Dalits, among others) and are at risk and vulnerable to rapid urbanization. 
3. To identify potential policy and legislative opportunities for human settlement and urban development, thereby addressing environmental challenges in urban and rural settlements. 
4. To investigate and develop effective bottom-up strategies for engaging the public with government entities on environmental issues linked to human settlement in Nepal to help inform the design of environmental community forums, public awareness campaigns, and multi-stakeholder dialogue 

The findings from this research will be used to inform the design and implementation of subsequent activities to strengthen environmental governance in Nepal. 

Research Questions:

1. What are the specific environmental challenges faced by communities undergoing rapid urbanization, and how do these challenges disproportionately impact women and traditionally marginalized groups? What are the expected patterns and severity of impacts, including health concerns, pollution, landslides, and floods, in these settlements across diverse ecological regions?
2. What strategies effectively facilitate meaningful citizen-government engagement on environmental issues concerning human settlement and urban development, especially with traditionally marginalized groups involved? 
3. What's the optimal approach to compile a comprehensive list of communities affected by rapid urbanization's environmental impact, and to organize targeted community forums, selected through sampling, to inform citizens about environmental issues and gather policy feedback?
4. How can we effectively convene various government agencies and stakeholders at provincial and federal levels to ensure the incorporation of community needs and perspectives into urban environmental policy development and implementation?

Methodology

The research will utilize a robust mixed-method approach, incorporating various research techniques. This may include:

• Assessment framework: Provide a framework for collecting, processing, validating, analyzing, and interpreting data to achieve the research objectives. For instance, methods such as secondary data analysis, GIS mapping, composite index analysis, and quantitative and qualitative data analysis, including descriptive, parametric, and non-parametric analysis and vulnerability assessment frameworks, should be explicitly mentioned in this proposal.
• Desk Research: Conduct thorough literature reviews on existing environmental issues and policies that impact communities undergoing rapid urbanization and settlement expansion, encompassing government and non-governmental publications, academic research, and reports from relevant organizations. Following this extensive review, the research institution should produce secondary data and information that substantiate the objectives of this research.
• Interviews and Surveys: Engage with diverse stakeholders, including citizens, civil society organizations (CSOs), political parties, parliamentary representatives, municipal officials, and local contractors, through structured interviews and surveys. These interactions will provide valuable insights into the perceptions, experiences, and needs of different stakeholders regarding environmental challenges and policy responses. The sample size determination methods and the estimated sample size should be clearly mentioned.
• Field Visits: Undertake field visits to directly observe and interact with communities experiencing rapid urbanization and environmental impacts. This immersive and integral methodological approach will facilitate a deeper understanding of on-the-ground realities, enabling researchers to contextualize findings and identify specific issues and needs.

Research Activities

The following key activities will be undertaken within the scope of this research:

1. Comprehensive Literature Review: Review existing literature to build a strong foundation of knowledge on environmental issues, focusing on rapid urbanization and its impact on vulnerable communities.
2. Data Collection and Analysis: Gather quantitative and qualitative data through surveys, interviews (including phone interviews), and field observations. Analyze collected data to identify patterns, trends, and areas for intervention.
3. Identification of Legislative Opportunities: Identify potential legislative opportunities, such as amendments to existing policies or the development of new legislation and policies, to address identified environmental issues and promote sustainable urban and rural development.
4. Report Synthesis: Synthesize research findings into a comprehensive report that provides insights, analysis, and actionable recommendations for informing subsequent project activities and policy advocacy efforts.

Deliverables

1. Inception Report: The inception report will comprise of, but not limited to methodology, detailed work plan, and proposed timeline for the entire activities.
2. Draft Final Report: Provide an analytical report and annexes highlighting environmental concerns, focusing on human settlement patterns, policy gaps and prospects, and effective public engagement strategies. Emphasize the identification of vulnerable communities and their geographic locations. Clearly outline data processing methods, including secondary analysis, Google Maps, GIS mapping, and composite index analysis, along with selection criteria for vulnerable spots and expected output tables. Include a list of sample vulnerable sites (to conduct Community Forums), photos and GIS maps, primary datasheets and analysis details, and a list of participants engaged in the research.
3. Final Report: A final report, including technical and financial, upon receiving feedback from the NDI.

IV. Criteria for Vendor Selection

To ensure that local applicants are equipped for the research activities, the following eligibility criteria will be used to determine their eligibility for the grant. These criteria must be met by the submission date of the concept note:

• Valid organizational registration as a legal entity in Nepal;
• Detailed information on the organization, research team's composition, and lead investigators' expertise (GIS, descriptive, parametric, and non-parametric analysis, trend analysis,  knowledge of natural resource management, urbanization principles and norms)
• Prior experience working on environmental issues in Nepal; experience working with vulnerable communities is a plus
• Expertise in identifying environmental issues and policies affecting communities undergoing rapid urbanization and depopulation, coupled with a comprehensive understanding of their impact on traditionally marginalized and disproportionately affected populations
• Employ GESI analysis and focus on a bottom-up approach (engaging directly with communities at the grassroot level, "bottom" of a traditional hierarchy or structure); 
• Financial competitiveness 

It is anticipated that one fixed price award will be awarded based on this RFP, subject to the availability of funds.

V. Proposal Guidelines and Submission Process

The proposal shall be divided into: A. Summary B. Background, C. Project Objectives, D. Methodology, E. Project Activities (with proposed timeline), F. Organizational Background with Team Knowledge and Expertise, G. Action Plan and Timeline; and H. Budget with Breakdown. The full proposal, along with all documents above must be sent by email to nepaljobs@ndi.org by May 20th, 2024 by 12:00 pm NPT in Microsoft Word format.

All final proposals should be submitted via email to the contact information (same as above) at the National Democratic Institute by 12:00 pm NPT on May 20th, 2024. The proposal must be less than 10 pages in length. The funding for this contract totals between $15,000 to $20,000, designated for two months, with an expected start date in June 2024, determined through a competitive budgeting process.

Early submissions are welcome and appreciated. NDI will evaluate bids based on the vendor’s experience, costs, and ability to satisfy the proposed tool requirements. NDI may request meetings or calls to discuss proposals and reserves the right to reject any bids. NDI also reserves the right to consider bids for modification at any time before an award is made. NDI will not be liable for any costs associated with the preparation, transmittal, or presentation of any materials submitted in response to this RFP, but reserves the right to request further information before making an award.  Please note that selected vendor(s) would be expected to use NDI’s standard contract template, a copy of which is available upon request.

Information session: The Institute will set up a virtual informational session for interested organizations upon request, depending on their needs and feasibility.

If you have further queries, please find the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) link here.