Terms of Reference (ToR) For Consultancy hiring

Terms of Reference (ToR)

PR735892

For Consultancy hiring to conduct market and opportunity assessments for future-ready green livelihoods, employment, and technology-enabled entrepreneurship in Nepalgunj Sub Metropolitan city, Banke and Birendranagar Municipality, Surkhet

Background of Save the Children 

Save the Children is the leading global independent organization for children. Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. Around the world, we work every day to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. When crisis strikes, and children are most vulnerable, we are always among the first to respond and the last to leave. We ensure children’s unique needs are met and their voices are heard. We deliver lasting results for millions of children, including those hardest to reach. 

We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share. 

Our vision: A world in which every child attains the right to survival, protection, development, and participation. 

Our mission: To inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children, and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives. 

Our values: Accountability, ambition, collaboration, creativity, and integrity. 

We are committed to ensuring our resources are used as efficiently as possible to focus them on achieving maximum impact for children. 

2. Background information/context 

Youth Upliftment through Learning, Innovation, Future-readiness and Technical Transformation (UPLIFT) project building  on the learning and outcomes of previously implemented SCI’s Power4AY initiative and is designed as a targeted, future-focused intervention to equip adolescents and youth (AYs) with the skills, competencies, and entrepreneurial mindset to sustain in a rapidly evolving market and economy. The project aims to promote inclusive green jobs and sustainable livelihoods through innovative, technology-driven approaches, market-relevant skills development, and cutting-edge entrepreneurship support, positioning adolescents and youths as job seekers, future entrepreneurs, innovators, and problem-solvers. With emphasis on creativity, digital readiness, enterprise development, and a green livelihood mindset, the project will enable AYs to respond to emerging market demands and contribute to sustainable local economic growth. 

The proposed project focuses on inclusion, and will particularly target young women, persons with disabilities, LGBTQI+ youth, and adolescents and youth from marginalized and economically deprived communities. The project will be implemented in two municipalities, Birendranagar and Nepalgunj, targeting urban and peri-urban areas with high youth unemployment, migration, and exclusion from social as well as economic opportunities. The intervention will prioritize AYs from disadvantaged Dalit communities and ethnic groups, poor households, returnee migrants, and youth facing barriers to employment, and enterprise development.

A rapid assessment conducted during the project design phase revealed that many AYs continue to face systemic barriers, including limited access to finance, weak business ecosystems, gender-based discrimination, social stigmas, unpaid care work responsibilities, and low levels of confidence, negotiation skills, exposure, and professional networks. Building on these findings, the project will undertake a detailed assessment of livelihood options, green job opportunities, and private sector mapping to identify local economic opportunities, green enterprise potential, labor market demand, and barriers affecting marginalized groups' AY's participation in employment and entrepreneurship. The project recognizes that previous interventions primarily focused on strengthening the supply side of employability through skills and entrepreneurship development, while limited engagement with markets, financial systems, and policy environments constrained the sustainability and scaling of results.

To address these challenges, the project will adopt an integrated approach combining Household Economy Approach (HEA), Market Based Approach (MBA), and systemic change strategies. It will support market-oriented technical and entrepreneurship skills, incubation services, mentorship, apprenticeships, and market linkage support for start-up and growth-oriented enterprises. Existing successful entrepreneurs supported in previous phases will be mobilized as mentors and peer learning facilitators for new AY entrepreneurs. The project will also facilitate pathways to wage employment by connecting skilled youth with private sector actors and employers adopting job guarantee modality.

Crosscutting issues including gender equality, disability inclusion, climate resilience, safeguarding, and social inclusion will be mainstreamed throughout implementation. The project will promote green jobs and climate-smart enterprises that contribute to environmental sustainability and resilience. Special provisions such as temporary consumption support during training periods will enable participation of the poorest and most vulnerable youth who otherwise may not afford to engage in capacity-building opportunities.

UPLIFT strengthens social assets by organizing AYs into groups, networks, and platforms for leadership development, advocacy, peer support, and engagement in social dialogue mechanisms. At the community and policy level, the project will engage local governments to promote inclusive youth employment policies, budget allocation for entrepreneurship and skills development, and disability-inclusive service delivery. Evidence generated from implementation will be used for policy influence and strengthening local systems.

Sustainability will be ensured through private sector engagement, strengthening local market systems, building ownership among municipalities, and linking AYs with existing cooperatives, financial institutions, and community networks. The intervention will also focus on strengthening local service providers and market actors so that support systems continue beyond the project period.

To achieve intended result of creating employability among AYs  UPLIFT targets toconduct comprehensive assessment and analysis focusing on: (i) identification of future-ready green livelihoods and enterprise options for youth; (ii) determination of the best-fit employment and green enterprise opportunities for adolescents and youth (AYs),  (iii) mapping of private sector  (industries and employment providers)’s interest to move towards job guarantee based vocational training and business incubation support including  market demand, and investment potential in green enterprises and livelihoods  and iv) Identifying underlying discriminatory norms and barriers for AYs specially women, persons with disabilities, and from socially excluded communities such as Badi, Ghasiharan, Chidimar for participation in economic opportunities specifically on employment and enterprise development .

The assessment team should apply GEDSI sensitive participatory and market-oriented assessment approaches to identify future-ready livelihood, employment, and enterprise opportunities for adolescents and youth, with a particular focus on green, climate-resilient, and technology-enabled sectors. The assessment will actively engage relevant stakeholders, including private sector actors, vocational training providers, employment service providers, business associations, and relevant government authorities. The recommendation will apply throughout the design, implementation, validation, and dissemination processes.

The assessment intends to get practical recommendations to guide project interventions, enterprise promotion, vocational training design and job placement. It also aims to identify industries, hotels, and other private sector employers with the potential to offer employment opportunities and job placement commitments for skilled vocational training graduates in job guarantee modality. Most importantly, key purposes of assessment is to map private sector actors, market systems stakeholders, and service providers that can support micro-entrepreneurs through market linkages, value-chain integration, technology adoption, and business growth. In addition, the assessment expects to  explore opportunities in emerging sectors such as electric vehicle (EV) services, digital marketing, drone-based services, renewable energy solutions, and other technology-enabled enterprises with potential for youth employment and entrepreneurship.

The detailed Terms of Reference (ToR) and the Consultancy Proposal Form can be downloaded here:

Detailed ToR

Consultancy Proposal Form

How to apply for this consultancy services

Proposal Submission Guideline/Required Documents 

• Proposal Submission Deadline- 09 August 2026
• Required Documents-
  • Filled out Consultancy Proposal Form (enclosed with this ToR)
  • CV(s) of the proposed consultant(s) with full date of birth in dd/mm/yyyy format. 
  • For firms: Copies of- Firm registration certificate, VAT registration certificate, Latest tax clearance certificate. For firms that are tax exempted by the government, a copy of tax exemption certificate should be submitted.
  • For Individuals (Nepali): Copies of citizenship certificate and PAN/VAT registration certificate. 
  • Proposals must be submitted exclusively via email to: - procurementmfwfo.nepal@savethechildren.org

If an individual is a full-time staff member of another organization, a no objection/consent letter signed by the organization head must be submitted along with the proposal. This is not applicable for proposals sent through a firm.