Terms of Reference: Consultant (Agriculture Officer)

Terms of Reference: Consultant (Agriculture Officer)

1. Background

HPIN works with farmer institutions, cooperatives, local governments, private businesses, and service providers to strengthen locally led, inclusive, and resilient food systems. These projects require field-level agriculture support to help partners implement approved plans, improve technical quality, and build durable services and market relationships for smallholder farmers. HPIN seeks an experienced Consultant - Agriculture Officer, for time-bound assignments in the Janakpur region. The consultant will work with the regional program team and thematic leads, and support implementing partners, frontline extension staff, cooperatives, and local governments in the assigned location.

2. Purpose of the Assignment

The consultant will facilitate effective implementation of regenerative agriculture, local value chain development, and market linkage activities through technical guidance, system strengthening, partner capacity strengthening, coordination, monitoring, and learning. The role will help local actors improve regenerative and climate-resilient production, cooperative enterprise performance, access to services and markets, and ownership of results.

3. Specific Objectives

• Translate approved project objectives, implementation guidelines and detailed plans into practical field actions, milestones and follow-up with partners.
• Strengthen the ability of implementing partners, frontline extension staff, cooperatives and local service providers to deliver technically sound agriculture and enterprise support.
• Facilitate farmer access to appropriate practices, inputs, advisory services, finance and buyers through public and private providers.
• Document and use evidence on adoption, enterprise performance, market participation and institutional changes to improve implementation and support scale.

4. Scope of Work

4.1. Project planning, implementation and quality assurance support

• Review the sub-award project documents, implementation guidelines, detailed implementation plans (DIPs), budgets, targets and partner commitments; help prepare realistic monthly field plans with clear responsibilities and milestones.
• Coordinate with implementing partners and project staff to sequence activities, resolve field-level bottlenecks, follow up on agreed actions, and keep implementation aligned with approved scope and timelines.
• Review the technical design and readiness of proposed agriculture, cooperative and value chain activities before rollout, including suitability to local conditions, inclusion, environmental considerations and prospects for sustained local service delivery.
• Conduct joint supervision and quality assurance visits; check technical standards, participation, records and use of approved resources, and provide practical feedback and corrective action recommendations to the responsible partner and supervisor.
• Flag delays, quality gaps, safeguarding or compliance concerns promptly; use monitoring evidence and partner feedback to recommend adjustments through HPIN’s approval and adaptive management processes.

4.2. Regenerative Agriculture and market linkage strengthening 

• Provide technical guidance on regenerative agriculture, agroecology, climate smart practices, soil health, biodiversity, care for earth and relevant One Health considerations, tailored to local crops, livestock and farmer priorities.
• Coach partner and local government extension staff and lead farmers on practical demonstrations, advisory tools, quality inputs, appropriate technologies and follow-up for adoption; identify gaps in technical services and broker suitable providers.
• Support producer groups and cooperatives in production planning, aggregation, postharvest handling, grading, quality assurance, value addition and enterprise planning for priority value chains.
• Facilitate buyer engagement, business to business meetings, market information, access to finance and insurance, and linkages to business development services; track whether arrangements continue to benefit farmers and cooperatives.
• Promote the participation and leadership of women, youth and marginalized groups in technical services, enterprise opportunities and local decision-making.

4.3. Capacity strengthening and partnerships

• Assess the practical capacity needs of implementing partners, frontline staff, cooperatives and local governments; deliver or coordinate targeted orientation, coaching, mentoring, peer learning and technical backstopping.
• Convene joint planning and problem-solving sessions with local governments, cooperatives, input suppliers, buyers, financial institutions, research and extension organizations, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Support local governments to reflect viable agriculture, cooperative and market priorities in plans, budgets and service arrangements; encourage public and private co-investment where appropriate; design and implement appropriate food system strengthening policy instruments.
• Support farmer institutions to identify resources and maintain locally owned service and market arrangements beyond the consultancy period.

4.4. Monitoring, learning and reporting

• Conduct regular field visits with partners; verify implementation quality, progress against milestones and budgeted activities, and agreed corrective actions.
• Track extent of adoption of improved and regenerative practices, service access, cooperative enterprise performance, market relationships, inclusion and relevant institutional changes using approved project indicators and reporting formats.
• Use field observations, farmer and partner feedback, and monitoring data in periodic reviews to recommend practical adjustments; maintain an issue and follow-up log.
• Prepare timely monthly technical and progress reports with disaggregated evidence where available, concise learning notes and selected cases or success stories suitable for review and authorized publication.
• Follow donor and HPIN requirements on safeguarding, environmental stewardship, data quality, ethical communication and use of project resources; promptly escalate material implementation or compliance concerns.

5. Deliverables and Acceptance Criteria

The inception work plan will confirm location-specific priorities and dates. All deliverables shall be submitted in editable electronic format, supported by verifiable records, and accepted by the Regional Program Manager.

Related monthly deliverables may be submitted as one consolidated report where agreed in the inception work plan.

6. Assignment handling and Working Arrangements

• Supervision: The Consultant shall report to the assigned regional program manager and while maintaining efficient working relationships with multi-disciplinary departments and functions.
• Duty station and travel: The assignment will be field based, with deployment to designated project locations and extensive travel to rural project sites. Travel will be undertaken in accordance with the approved work plan and applicable HPIN procedures.
• Coordination: The Consultant will participate in agreed planning, review, learning, and coordination meetings and maintain regular communication with the designated supervisor and project leads.
• Facilities and inputs: HPIN will provide access to relevant project documents, approved plans, reporting formats, and key stakeholders. Access to any equipment, workspace, communication, travel, or logistical support will be specified in the contract.
• Consultancy status: The Consultant will serve as an independent contractor. The consultancy does not create an employer-employee relationship or entitlement to employee benefits.

7. Required Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in agricultural sciences or a closely related field from a recognized university; a relevant master’s degree is an advantage.
• At least five years of relevant experience in agriculture, value chain development, or food system projects, including field-level technical support.
• Practical experience in regenerative or climate-resilient agriculture, farmer advisory or extension services, and agricultural market or cooperative enterprise development.
• Experience working with local governments, producer organizations, cooperatives, implementing partners, and private service or market actors in Nepal.
• Demonstrated facilitation, coaching, field monitoring, data use, technical documentation and report writing skills.
• Ability to travel extensively within assigned project areas; strong communication, coordination and problem-solving skills; professional proficiency in Nepali and English; proficiency in common office and digital reporting tools.

8. Professional Fee and Payment Schedule

The professional fee and payment schedule will be specified in the ICA. Payment will be linked to satisfactory completion and acceptance of agreed deliverables and submission of supporting documents. Applicable taxes will be deducted under Nepalese law. Preapproved travel and reimbursable costs, if any, will follow the contract and HPIN procedures.

9. Confidentiality, Ownership and Standards of Conduct

• The consultant shall use project data, reports, images and other materials only for authorized purposes and maintain confidentiality.
• Ownership and permitted use of consultancy outputs will be governed by the ICA. Publication or external sharing requires prior written authorization from HPIN.
• The consultant shall follow applicable HPIN policies on safeguarding, prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment, child protection, anti-fraud, conflicts of interest, data protection and ethical communication. Any actual or potential conflict of interest shall be disclosed promptly.

10. Application Requirements

Interested candidates should submit the following documents by 15 October 2026, 5 : 00 PM through                     Procurement-NP@heifer.org with the email subject line ‘Application for Consultant-AO’. 

• An application letter indicating suitability, availability, and expected monthly remuneration for the agreed deliverables.
• An updated CV highlighting relevant experience.
• A copy of the citizenship certificate.
• A copy of the Permanent Account Number (PAN) certificate.
• A copy of the academic certificate for the highest qualification.