Terms of Reference for Consultant

Terms of Reference

Expression of Interest to Hire consultant on Training on Gender inclusive responsive governance and Digital Security and prevention from cyber harassment to elected women ward members

Position title: Consultant

Background:

Women's Rehabilitation Centre (WOREC) is a non-governmental organization working for the protection and promotion of human rights. Established in 1991, WOREC is one of the leading national organizations that works to prevent violence against women, its causes and consequences, and to ensure economic, social and cultural well-being of women as well as other marginalized groups by promoting their access to rights and social justice. 

Promotion of Gender responsive and inclusive governance and transformative leadership is the key to promoting gender equity and fostering sustainability in achieving gender equality. This project focus on the capacity development of the elected women representatives (EWRs) and other duty bearers, key government officials and service providers to enhance their understanding of gender-inclusive governance. 

Promoting inclusive and gender-responsive governance, alongside strengthening digital security and safety, is therefore essential to enhance women ward members’ leadership, agency, and effective participation in governance processes. This consultancy seeks to design and deliver a comprehensive training program that integrates inclusive governance principles with digital security knowledge and practical skills, enabling women ward members to engage safely, confidently, and effectively in both physical and digital governance spaces.

The overall objective of this consultancy is to strengthen the capacity of elected women ward members to practice inclusive, gender-responsive governance while ensuring their digital safety and security. 

Specific objectives are to:

• Enhance understanding of gender-responsive and inclusive governance frameworks at the local level.
• Strengthen leadership, decision-making, and advocacy skills of women ward members from an intersectional feminist perspective.
• Build awareness on gender-based violence in public, political, and digital spaces, including online harassment and cyber violence.
• Equip participants with practical tools and strategies for digital security, privacy, and safe use of digital platforms in governance and public engagement.
• Foster confidence and collective strategies to challenge exclusionary power structures and promote accountable, inclusive local governance.

2. Consultant’s scope of work:

The consultant will be responsible for:

• Designing a detailed training program including session plans, interactive methodologies and case studies.
• Facilitating trainings sessions for elected women ward members on practicing gender-responsive governance while ensuring their digital safety and security.
• Providing detailed knowledge document summarizing the training outcomes, recommendations and future action plans. 

3. Required expertise:

1.1. Education:

• At least master’s degree, or equivalent, in gender studies, social sciences, development studies, international studies, economic studies, political science or relevant subjects. 

1.2. Work Experience

• Knowledge of gender equality and women empowerment and training skills
• Experience in developing and delivering training in feminist leadership, transformational leadership, gender inclusive governance.

1.3. Language

• Fluency in English both written and oral.
• Fluency in Nepali in both written and oral. 
• Fluency in local language is an asset.

4. Duration of work

The contract with the consultant will be implemented from February 2026-May 2026 

5. Deliverables 

The consultant is expected to deliver the following:

Training Design and Preparation

1. Review relevant national policies, legal frameworks, and provisions related to local governance, gender equality, inclusion, and digital rights, including the Local Government Operation Act, 2017.

2. Design a detailed, participatory, and interactive training program tailored for elected women ward members.

3. Develop a comprehensive training agenda and methodology that integrates:

• Gender-responsive and inclusive governance (GESI mainstreaming in local governance).
• Roles and responsibilities of women ward members in local decision-making processes.
• Feminist and transformational leadership principles.
• Governance, accountability, and prevention of gender-based violence in public and political life.
• Digital security and safety, including:
  • Online harassment and cyber violence against women in politics.
  • Digital privacy, data protection, and safe communication practices.
  • Secure use of social media and digital platforms for advocacy and public engagement.

4. Prepare training materials, including session plans/schedule, presentations, handouts, case studies, exercises, role plays, and practical tools.

Training Delivery: Training on Gender responsive inclusive governance and digital security and prevention from cyber harassment will be delivered training at three project provinces.

• Facilitate participatory and inclusive training sessions for elected women ward members in selected project provinces.
• Ensure the training approach promotes critical reflection, peer learning, and practical application in local governance contexts.
• Integrate real-life examples, local experiences, and mentorship-oriented discussions to strengthen learning outcomes.

Reporting: A detailed report covering the training process, participant feedback, outcomes and recommendations will be prepared and submitted by the consultant for proper documentation to ensure sustainability of the project. 

6. Payment schedule:

Payment shall be provided upon satisfactory completion of each delivery outlined above.

• Payment requests submitted by the Consultant must be certified by the project coordinator.
• Reporting.

Note: 15% tax will be deducted from the amount after completion of service and submission of appropriate invoices. 

7. Entire Contract

This contract is the final, exclusive and complete expression of the consultant agreement related to this service, and it supersedes all task, oral or written, and all other representations, statements, negotiations and undertakings relating to the service unless expressly incorporated herein.  No modification of any term, provision or condition in this contract shall be effective unless it shall be in writing and signed by the consultant. However, as per the need both parties should be agreed to provide the services for further days.

8. Relationship of the Parties

In performing the services, the consultant shall act as an independent and shall not be deemed to be an employee or agent of WOREC.  The consultant shall be solely responsible for and shall be liable for, indemnify, defend and hold WOREC harmless against all wages, fees, contributions, charges and taxes required by legislation. All appropriate deductions are made in respect of income tax and other contributions.

WOREC shall not be liable for providing any benefits of any kind except as provision of payment mentioned above in sub heading 6 to the consultant. 

This contract shall not be deemed to create any kind of partnership, joint venture, agency or franchise agreement with the Consultant.

9. Assignments and Sub-Contracting

The resource person shall not assign this contract its right or obligations under this MOU, in whole or in part. Nor enter into any sub-contracting to perform any portion of this MOU, without the written consent of the organization.

The resource person shall not sublet the whole or part of their obligations without the prior written consent of WOREC, which consent, if given, will not relieve the Resource Person from any liability or obligation under this contract.  The Resource Person shall be responsible for the acts and omissions of any sub-contractor as if they were the acts or omissions of the Resource Person.

10. Termination

Without prejudice to the rights of the other consultant under this contract, consultant shall have the right to terminate this contract for any reason at any time in writing to the other Consultant.

If consultant exercises its rights to terminate this contract, the consultant shall immediately cease all services and shall return to WOREC any resources loaned by WOREC.  All material prepared in advance shall be given to WOREC and may be invoiced for under the terms of this agreement.

WOREC maintains strict zero tolerance policy. In case the consultant does not follow the code of conduct of PSEA or is found to be involved in any kinds of fraud, discrimination, or violence based on caste, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation class, ethnicity, indigeneity, language, race or geography the contract shall be subject to immediate termination. 

11. Confidentiality

The consultant agrees not to discuss its performance of services or any confidential information to which the consultant may have access, as a result of this MOU with any third party without obtaining written consent from the organization. 

12. Risks and Challenges

It is important that the hired consultant has taken all reasonable measures to mitigate any potential risk to the delivery of the required outputs for this consultancy.

13. Data Protection

The Consultant shall not disclose or allow access to any other personal data provided by WOREC or acquired by consultant during the course of performing the service other than to a person employed by the Resource Person or an approved sub-contractor with the prior consent of WOREC.

Any disclosure of or access to personal data allowed under above clause shall be made in confidence and shall extend only so far as that which is specifically necessary for the purpose of this contract.

If the Consultant fails to comply with any provision of this condition, then WOREC may summarily determine the contract by notice in writing provided always that such determination shall not prejudice or affect any right of action or remedy which shall have accrued or shall accrue thereafter to WOREC.

14. Law

This contract and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with it shall be governed by and construed in accordance with Nepalese law and the parties irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Nepal.

15. Application requirement:

The consultant should apply for this announcement with the following documents in a sealed envelope: 

• CV
• Technical proposal
• Financial proposal
• Two references
• Copy of PAN

16. Application submission

• Priority will be given to the teams with intersectional diversity during the selection process. 
• Applicants may apply for the full package or for individual training sessions based on their area of expertise. Both types of applications will be considered, provided they meet the required competency requirements.