Terms of Reference (ToR) to “Operational Procedure of Sakhi Fish Sanctuary”

Terms of Reference (ToR)

to

“Operational Procedure of Sakhi Fish Sanctuary”

Circulation date:  4 February 2026

Closing date: 10 February 2026

February 2025

Sonaha Bikash Samaj, Rajapur Municipality Ward No. 1, Himalipur, Bardiya

1. BACKGROUND 

The Lower Karnali Watershed covers 747 km2 in Nepal’s Terai Arc Landscape. Rich in aquatic biodiversity, it harbors 136 fish species and provides ecosystem services for local communities. The watershed provides a rich mosaic of habitats that includes rivers, riverine forests, floodplain grasslands and oxbow lakes which is suitable for a large number of fish species and provides habitat for many IUCN Red List species such as Gharial Crocodile (critically endangered), Mugger Crocodile (vulnerable), Gangetic River Dolphin (endangered) and Smooth-Coated Otter (vulnerable). Considering its significance, the Government of Nepal prioritized the western channel of Karnali River as an ecological corridor and the eastern channel is included in Bardia National Park buffer zone. 

Illegal and unsustainable fishing is prevalent in western channels of Karnali River due to interlinked drivers- limited capacity to enforce fisheries regulations and insufficient fisheries management procedures. Unregulated river aggregates extraction has rapidly increased in the western belt of the Karnali. Local governments lack the capacity to ensure sustainable extraction and contractors extract aggregates without following environmental mitigation plans required by Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) reports. Weak compliance and monitoring mechanisms from local governments allow degradation of river systems and otter habitat, destroying vegetation and fish spawning sites.  

This has caused a sharp decline in fish diversity and abundance, threatening the traditional livelihoods and food security of indigenous and marginalized Sonaha and Tharu communities (targeted project participants). In the project intervention sites, there are around 61,125 Tharu and Sonaha people (Tharu: 34,195 and Sonaha: 26,930). Sonaha are an indigenous group, not legally or formally recognized by the Nepalese Government and incorrectly categorized under the indigenous Tharu group. Since ancestral times, Sonaha have practiced gold panning in the lower Karnali river, and fishing is their customary practice. Sonaha depends on fishing for subsistence while Tharus depend on fishing primarily for commercial purposes (fishing is an important component of their traditions).  

With the declining fish population, their subsistence and livelihoods are at risk, however they lack knowledge, tools and techniques for sustainable fishing, and need to diversify their incomes to reduce reliance on fishing and build their financial resilience. Both groups have limited access to other livelihood options and lack representation in local decision-making bodies such as Community Forest User Groups, which has further marginalized these communities, limiting their access to knowledge, services, and opportunities available.

2. Objective of the Study

To develop a comprehensive operational procedure for effective management of fish sanctuary ensuring compliance with relevant laws, ecological integrity and community-based implementation.

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Submission Deadline: Date 10 February 2026

Submission Address/Email: sbsbardiya@gmail.com

INVITATION OF PROPOSAL

Sonaha Bikash Samaj requests interested firms/companies/agencies (registered in PAN/VAT) to submit (i) a letter of interest (1 page), (ii) a brief technical proposal and CVs of professionals to be involved in the assignment, and (iii) a financial proposal with detail budget breakdown to conduct the proposed work to the following address on or before 10 February 2026 within 17:00 hrs.

Sonaha Bikash Samaj.

Rajapur-1, Himalipur, Bardiya

PHONE: +977 9868124126 / 9857824403 / 9848738069

E-mail: sbsbardiya@gmail.com