Request for Proposal for Consultancy Service on "Formulation of National Agriculture Policy"

Request for Proposal for Consultancy Service on "Formulation of National Agriculture Policy"

1. PROJECT BACKGROUND

USAID’s Feed the Future (FTF) Nepal Knowledge-based Integrated Sustainable Agriculture in Nepal (KISAN II), implemented since 2017, is a seven-year project that contributes to the Government of Nepal (GON)’s Agricultural Development Strategy (ADS). KISAN II facilitates systemic change in the agricultural sector, including: (1) greater climate-smart intensification of staple crops and diversification into higher value commodities; (2) strengthening of local market systems to support more competitive and resilient value chains and agricultural-related businesses; and (3) improving the enabling environment for agricultural and market systems development in its zones of influence (ZOI). As part of a 24-month (July 2022 – June 2024) supplemental scope (extension), KISAN II is supporting GON’s response to the impact of COVID-19 in agriculture by promoting transformational change in the fine rice and industrial maize sub-sectors.

2. INTRODUCTION

The National Agriculture Policy (NAP) 2004 is currently the umbrella policy document that guides agriculture sector development in the country. Agriculture sectoral and commodity policies, strategies, rules and regulations, directives, procedures, and guidelines are formulated within the basic framework of this NAP. After its implementation of nearly 20 years - particularly in the context of a new federal governance system -recent opportunities and challenges have emerged to realize the socio-economic transformation of this sector in Nepal. The GON’s current 15th Five-Year Plan (2019/20 – 2023/24) has attempted to address some of them; however, there is a realization that the existing NAP needs to be reviewed and reformed. Moreover, the global scenario of agriculture sector is increasingly becoming industry-based and highly competitive. This presents daunting challenges to Nepalese agriculture to grow and find a place in the international markets. Nevertheless, it also creates opportunities for the sector to design appropriate policies and programs to harness new opportunities.

Against this backdrop, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MOALD) is preparing a new policy document addressing such challenges that includes intervention areas such as reducing hunger, improving food and nutrition security, poverty reduction, climate change mitigation and adaptation, inclusive agriculture, and GESI aimed at meeting SDGs. Thus, it becomes imperative to align the new NAP with national and sub-national vision and priorities, regional and global policy environment, and international commitments that Nepal has made so far. For this, the Second Agriculture Development Strategy (ADS) - Joint Sector Review (JSR) meeting held in 2021 requested USAID to serve as a key development partner(DP) to support formulating the proposed new NAP. To move forward for new NAP formulation in 2022, MOALD in collaboration with provincial ministries and DPs including USAID’s KISAN II has supported sub-national consultations in seven provinces. Feedback obtained from these consultations now needs to be incorporated on the draft NAP. In this endeavor, USAID’s KISAN II intends to support MOALD in formulating NAP by incorporating feedback received from sub-national consultations and discussions, suggestions from various institutions, and relevant literature reviews. To this end, KISAN II announces this Request for Proposal (RFP) for a firm to support formulation of the NAP to achieve the anticipated transformational change in the agricultural sector - becoming more commercialized, competitive, resilient, inclusive, and sustainable.

3. METHODOLOGY

This assignment will be undertaken in-person complying withCOVID-19 health protocols, or virtually if required. The consultant will support MOALD in formulating the NAP, building on the current draft, by reviewing literatures including Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), NAP 2004, Agriculture Development Strategy (ADS), Provincial Agriculture Development Strategy (PADS), contemporary agriculture development policies of developing countries to extract promising ideas, and other relevant documents. The consultant will incorporate feedback from sub-national consultations, further discussions with concerned stakeholders and finalize the NAP. To collect required information, the consultant will develop questionnaire/checklist for stakeholder discussions with private sector actors, Government of Nepal (GON) agencies, commodity associations, and experts. The consultant, in coordination with MOALD and KISAN II, will conduct stakeholder meetings on different issues, interviews with major stakeholders and market players as per requirement, synthesize the draft and finalize the NAP.

4. SCOPE OF WORK

The Agency will undertake (but not limited to) the following tasks:

1. Analyze constraints, weakness, challenges, issues, and opportunities in agriculture sector.
2. Examine the strengths and gaps in the changed sector context to transform agriculture sector in terms of agricultural production, agricultural livelihood and employment, trade, performance and inclusive growth.
3. Review GON’s policy instruments - agricultural policies (NAP2004 and new draft prepared by MOALD, ADS, PADS, Acts, rules and regulations, global-regional goals, and relevant documents). Furthermore, the desk review may include contemporary agriculture development policies of developing countries to extract promising ideas.
4. Conduct issue-wise discussions in coordination with MOALD and USAID’s KISAN II.
5. Review and incorporate appropriate feedback obtained from sub-national level consultations, concurrent meetings/discussions, suggestions from various stakeholders, and key informant interviews on MOALD's drafted NAP. 
6. Identify institutional arrangement/improvement required for implementation of draft policy, and enlist guidelines and directives required for implementation for proposed policy.
7. Conduct a national workshop to validate the draft NAP.
8. Develop afinal draft "National Agriculture Policy 2022" in GON format for submission to MOALD.

5. DESCRIPTION OF WORK AND CONSULTANT’S QUALIFICATION

The lead Consultant will have 40 person-days of inputs to be carried out within three months, to prepare a draft for new National Agriculture Policy, identifying systemic issues/constraints encountered by the sector and support preparing NAP that contributes to making agriculture more competitive, inclusive, resilient and sustainable.

The Lead consultant will have the following qualifications:

• Master's degree (preferably Ph.D.) in agriculture, agricultural economics,or related field.
• Minimum of 20 years of experience working in agriculture and agri-business sector.
• Proven experience in conducting agriculture policy related assessment/study, and policy formulation.
• Excellent English and Nepali language skills and proven report writing ability.

6. DELIVERABLES

1. Submit an inception report within 15 days of signing the contract. The report will indicate how the work will be completed within 3 months.
2. Conduct assessment and submit final draft report on "National Agriculture Policy" in both Nepali and English within 2 months after submitting the inception report. The assessment in formulating NAP will build on an existing draft prepared by MOALD as per the scope of work (section 4).
3. Give presentation of the report to representatives from MOALD, USAID, KISAN II, and relevant stakeholders and submit revised final draft within 15 days of submitting the final draft.

7. AGREEMENT DURATION: The agreement duration will be for three months.

8. REPORTING: The agency will report to KISAN II’s Enabling Environment Director.

9. SELECTION CRITERIA AND WEIGHTAGE:

Agency will be selected based on the following weightage value for technical and financial proposal.

Application procedure:

Agency should submit:

• Technical Proposal (maximum 10 pages).
• Financial Proposal: Please refer Annex 1: Budget/Cost estimate format.  
• For official field visit outside Kathmandu Valley, transportation cost (travel, DSA, Accommodation) will be paid separately for lead Consultant as per KISAN II norms.
• CV of Lead Consultant.
• Agency registration documents with renewal, if applicable.
• VAT registration certificate.
• Latest audit report and tax clearance certificate.
• Any other relevant document/s.

Disclaimer:

Issuance of this notice does not obligate Winrock International to award a Consultancy Service, nor will Winrock International pay any costs associated with the preparation or submission of application. Furthermore, Winrock International reserves the right to reject any and all applications, if such action is considered to be in the best interest of Winrock International. The consultancy service is contingent upon donor approval.

1. Annex A: Budget/Cost Estimate Format