Terms of Reference (TOR) for Coffee Value Chain Research Assignment in the Kaligandaki Region

Terms of Reference for Coffee Value Chain Research Assignment in the Kaligandaki Region

1. Background

Heifer International Nepal works with smallholder farmers, women and their cooperatives to build sustainable livelihoods, stronger local enterprises and resilient communities.

The mid-hills along the Kaligandaki river corridor have the altitude, rainfall and soils needed for high-quality shade-grown Arabica coffee. Coffee is grown by many smallholders in the region, yet production volumes remain small and productivity is low. Farmers face fragmented holdings, limited access to quality planting material, weak post-harvest processing, uneven quality, limited finance and insurance, and weak links to reliable buyers. At the same time, domestic demand is growing, Nepal still imports a large share of the coffee it consumes, and specialty buyers abroad are interested in traceable Himalayan coffee.

Several actors in the region are exploring larger, more organized models, including cooperative and collective farming, private investment with buyback arrangements, and integrated agroforestry systems. A clear, evidence-based understanding of the whole value chain is needed to decide where and how support will make the greatest difference.

Heifer International Nepal is therefore commissioning a value chain research assignment in the Kaligandaki region. Its findings will inform the design of a long-term project for the area.

2. Purpose and objectives

Purpose: to generate evidence on the coffee value chain in the Kaligandaki region and to design a long-term, investment-ready project that improves smallholder incomes in a fair, inclusive and climate-resilient way.

Specific objectives:

1. Map the coffee value chain in the region, its actors, their roles and the relationships between them.
2. Analyse production trends over the past ten years, and current production bottlenecks, at farm, cooperative and regional level.
3. Compare Nepal's and the region's production, productivity, costs, quality and market systems with selected major coffee-producing countries and draw practical lessons.
4. Assess the economics of coffee production and processing: costs, prices, margins and investment needs at each stage of the chain.
5. Identify market opportunities in domestic and export markets, and the conditions needed to reach them.
6. Assess gender, social inclusion, climate and environmental issues along the chain.
7. Recommend and design a long-term project, including its implementation and operational model, investment requirements and results framework.

3. Required expertise

Individual researchers must meet the requirements below. Organizations must propose a team whose Team Leader meets them, supported by the team composition described in section 9.

Team Leader or individual researcher:

• Master's degree in agriculture, agricultural economics, agribusiness, an MBA in Agribusiness, rural development, economics or a related field
• At least 5 years of experience in value chain analysis, agribusiness, market systems or agricultural project design
• Proven experience in field research, both quantitative and qualitative
• Experience in cost-benefit or financial analysis and in designing development projects
• Excellent writing skills in English and fluent Nepali
• Willing and able to travel to rural hill areas

Desirable:

• Knowledge of the coffee sector or other high-value crops in Nepal
• Experience with cooperatives, women's groups and private sector partnerships
• Familiarity with international coffee markets and producing countries
• Knowledge of the Kaligandaki region

How to submit

Please submit the following documents in PDF format to Procurement-NP@heifer.org by November 15, 2026, 5 :00 PM, with the subject line: "Proposal: Coffee Value Chain Research Assignment in the Kaligandaki Region”.

• Cover letter
• Technical proposal
• Financial proposals
• Company registration certificate
• PAN/VAT certificate
• Tax clearance certificate (FY 082-83)

Note: VAT registered vendors are encouraged to apply.

Heifer International Nepal reserves the right to accept or reject any proposal, and to cancel the process, without giving reasons.

Click Here for detailed TOR