Terms of Reference To Conduct a Comprehensive Study on Water Governance and Sustainability of Water Supply Schemes in the Hilly and Terai Region of Nepal

Terms of Reference

To Conduct a Comprehensive Study on Water Governance and Sustainability of Water Supply Schemes in the Hilly and Terai Region of Nepal

1. INTRODUCTION AND CONTEXT

1.1 BACKGROUND

Deutsche Welthungerhilfe e.V. is one of the largest private aid organizations in Germany with a dual mandate in both development cooperation and humanitarian response. Welthungerhilfe (WHH) fights against hunger and works together with civil society organizations in the countries where it operates. Welthungerhilfe’s vision is to create a world in which all people can exercise their right to a self-determined life in dignity and justice, free from hunger and poverty.

Welthungerhilfe (WHH) has been operational in Nepal since 2012 and currently implements projects across twelve districts under various thematic areas: Humanitarian Action, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Agriculture, Climate Resilience and Natural Resource Management, Nutrition and Health, Economic Development, Civil Society Empowerment, and Digital Innovation. At a broader level, WHH contributes to food systems transformation through agroecology, inclusive value chains, and strong local partnerships. Our work follows systemic transformation pathways focused on sustainable agriculture, resilient livelihoods, improved connectivity, and responsible governance to enhance nutrition, incomes, and local adaptive capacity. By promoting ecological farming practices, we aim to improve soil health and reduce reliance on external inputs. WHH’s overarching goal is to work hand in hand with civil society in Nepal to empower socially marginalized and economically poor citizens, strengthen their resilience, and ensure their right to adequate food and nutrition.

1.2 THE PROJECT AND CONTEXT

WHH Nepal is currently implementing a project “WASH systems strengthening and behaviour change in the hilly region of Makawanpur district in Nepal” in Bagmati Province and “Up-scaling WASH systems strengthening approach in the Terai region of Nepal” in Siraha and Saptari districts in Madhesh province with the support of BMZ and Viva con Agua (VCA). The working rural municipalities in Makawanpur district are Raksirang and Kailash. In Terai, 10 municipalities include Karjanha, Kalyanpur, Siraha, Bishnupur and Golbazar in Siraha district and Dakneshwori, Bishnupur, Rajgadh, Saptakoshi and Agnisair in Saptari district. 

The specific objectives of the project in Makawanpur are:

• Adoption of adequate and safe WASH and nutrition practices of vulnerable and marginalized households and beneficiaries as a result of behaviour change 
• Improve drinking water supply schemes and sanitation and hygiene facilities in target communities, schools and health care facilities 
• Strengthening WASH service delivery through enhanced governance at local government level 

The specific objectives of the project in Terai are:

• Improved sustainable access to water, sanitation and hygiene for disadvantaged communities through community-led initiatives and management 
• Strengthen Municipal WASH governance to deliver climate resilient, safe, sustainable, and accountable WASH services 
• Approaches, tools and learnings of the project are exchanged and promoted at provincial and federal level through evidence-based advocacy initiatives and knowledge sharing 

Both projects seek to strengthen the long-term basis for service delivery at micro and meso levels and using lessons and evidence to change and influence systems at national levels (macro level). In the Terai region, the current intervention is an upscaling of Phase I of the project “Strengthening WASH Governance for Social Change in Siraha and Saptari Districts,” which was implemented from 1 November 2018 to 28 February 2023 in the municipalities of Karjana, Golbazaar, Siraha, Dakneshwori, Bishnupur, Rajgadh, and Agnisair Krishnasawaran. During Phase I, four water supply schemes (WSS) were constructed, while Phase II includes six WSS, of which two have been completed and four are ongoing.

In Chitwan District, the project “Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion amongst Marginalized Communities in Hilly VDCs of Chitwan District was implemented from 2015 to 2021 in Icchakamana, Kalika, and Bharatpur. Through this project, 33 water supply systems were constructed. This was followed by the project “Advancing WASH Systems in Poor and Marginalized Communities in Chitwan District, from 2021 to 2022. Under this project, 9 water supply systems were constructed.

Nepal has made progress in WASH services, but major gaps still persist. Although 88.6% of the population has basic water services, only 16% use safely managed drinking water. In sanitation, 95% have basic facilities, yet only 51% have safely managed services, and open defecation continues. Hygiene practices remain limited, with only 64% of households having handwashing facilities. In Nepal, only 25% of water supply schemes are fully functional. About 36% require minor repairs, while the remaining 39% need major repairs, rehabilitation, or complete reconstruction. The primary challenge affecting the functionality of these schemes is the limited capacity and weak governance of Water and Sanitation Users Committees (WSUCs). Studies indicate that these committees often struggle to operate schemes sustainably due to inadequate tariff collection, insufficient technical capacity for maintenance, and a lack of accountability and transparency. Governance and financing challenges further affect progress, as only 10% of the required national WASH financing is available, and many local governments lack complete plans and reliable data. In addition, one of the declarations of the Joint Sector Review also focuses on the sustainability of the water supply schemes with the capacity enhancement of the service providers.  

WHH therefore intends to conduct the study on Water Governance and Sustainability of Water Supply Schemes in the Makawanpur, Siraha and Saptari districts of Nepal. The study will generate evidence-based insights to guide WHH’s future programming, partnerships, and advocacy efforts, while also supporting provincial and local governments in strengthening their systems. This TOR outlines the scope of work, methodology, deliverables, expertise requirements, evaluation criteria, and conditions for undertaking this assignment.

Click on the link below for the detailed TOR:

TOR_NPL 1082_Water Governance

DEADLINE FOR PROPOSAL

The interested and qualified consultant/ consulting firm must apply by 17:00 hours (COB) dated 25 February 2026 via e-tender portal: Public RFT - Comprehensive Study on Water Governance and Sustainability of Water Supply Schemes in the Hilly and Terai Region of Nepal.

Any queries or concerns can be directly sent via the same e-tender portal by 20 February 2026.

The proposal should include the following documents:

1. Letter of expression of interest (EoI) signed by the main applicant.
2. Detailed technical and financial offer as stated in bullet 13 above
3. Firm profile detailing the past assignments (at least two report as a sample copy)
4. Detailed curriculum vitae of the consultant and of all team members, if any, highlighting their areas of work and experience
5. Company registration certificate
6. Latest tax clearance certificate
7. VAT registration certificate (for both firms and individual consultants).
8. Signed supplier declaration form

Please note that the selected consultant/ consulting firm should adhere with WHH data protection and other relevant policies during the assignment.

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted for further evaluation process. Welthungerhilfe Nepal reserves all the rights to reject any or all application without assigning any reasons.

Applicants believing that they have been harmed by an error or irregularity during the award process may file a complaint at https://welthungerhilfe.whispli.com/reportconcerns.