Terms of Reference: Empowered communities and CSOs for inclusive nutrition governance in the hilly and mountain regions of Western Nepal (EU Better Nutrition Project)

Technical support to local government in developing and rolling out local level Food and Nutrition security strategy and Action Plan aligning with MSNP III and nutrition friendly local government framework

Terms of Reference

Welthungerhilfe

1. INTRODUCTION AND CONTEXT

1.1 Welthungerhilfe and Partner Organization

The EU funded Better Nutrition project is a consortium project LI-BIRD, WHH and WAC Nepal.

Local Initiatives for Biodiversity, Research and Development (LI-BIRD)

LI-BIRD is a non-profit, non-governmental organization established in 1995 and registered with the Kaski District Administrative Office (Reg. No. 217/052/053) and the Social Welfare Council (Reg. No. 3394). As the lead organization for the EU-funded Better Nutrition project, LI-BIRD oversees overall project quality, partnership coordination, and governance and implementing projects in 5 municipalities of Bajura district.

LI-BIRD's mission is to strengthen sustainable agrifood systems while improving livelihoods of rural poor and marginalized farmers, especially women. The organization specializes in:

• Participatory research and development methodologies
• Sustainable agriculture and biodiversity conservation
• Climate change adaptation strategies
• Environmental and gender-sensitive programming
• Focus on food, nutrition, and income security

Deutsche Welthungerhilfe e.V. (Welthungerhilfe/WHH)

Welthungerhilfe is one of the largest private aid organizations in Germany; it is politically independent and non-denominational. With courage and determination, it is striving for a world without hunger. Since it was founded on December 14, 1962, 13,424 overseas projects in about 72 countries and territories have been supported with 5.76 billion euros. Welthungerhilfe follows the principle of empowering people to help themselves to sustainably improve their living conditions, through approaches ranging from fast disaster relief to reconstruction and long-term development cooperation projects with national and international partner organizations.

Welthungerhilfe (WHH) has been operational in Nepal since 2012 and currently implements projects across twelve districts under various thematic areas: Humanitarian Action, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Agriculture, Climate Resilience and Natural Resource Management, Nutrition and Health, Economic Development, Civil Society Empowerment, and Digital Innovation. At a broader level, WHH contributes to food systems transformation through agroecology, inclusive value chains, and strong local partnerships. Our work follows systemic transformation pathways focused on sustainable agriculture, resilient livelihoods, improved connectivity, and responsible governance to enhance nutrition, incomes, and local adaptive capacity. By promoting ecological farming practices, we aim to improve soil health and reduce reliance on external inputs. WHH’s overarching goal is to work hand in hand with civil society in Nepal to empower socially marginalized and economically poor citizens, strengthen their resilience, and ensure their right to adequate food and nutrition.

WHH's role in this project includes:

• Technical support on nutrition, governance and programming
• Quality assurance of study design and implementation
• Integration of evidence-based, impact-oriented approaches
• Support in Comprehensive Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) systems
• Promotion of systemic change for sustainable nutrition outcomes.

Working for Access and Creation Nepal (WAC-Nepal) (Local Implementing Partner for Achham): Facilitates community engagement, local stakeholder coordination, participatory processes, and program implementation in 5 municipalities of Achham district

1.2 The project and Context

The EU-funded Better Nutrition Project aims to strengthen sustainable and inclusive nutrition governance for effective implementation of Nepal's Multi-Sector Nutrition Plan III (MSNP III, 2023-2030) in the hilly and mountain regions of Western Nepal. The project is implemented by LI-BIRD as lead organization, with WAC Nepal and Welthungerhilfe (WHH) Nepal as consortium partners. It works with local governments, community-based organizations (CBOs), service providers and citizens to improve equitable access to quality nutrition services and to strengthen Nutrition Friendly Local Governance (NFLG).

The project works in ten municipalities of Achham and Bajura districts. Core and influencing municipalities include Bannigadhi Jayagadhi Rural Municipality, Mangalsen Municipality, Sanphebagar Municipality, Mellekh Rural Municipality, Chaurpati Rural Municipality in Achham district and Budiganga Municipality, Himali Rural Municipality, Budinanda Municipality, Swamikartik Khapar Rural Municipality and Tribeni Municipality in Bajura District.

Under Output 1, the project supports local governments and multisectoral service providers to practise inclusive nutrition friendly local governance. Activities include strengthening the capacities of local authorities including the health workers, extension workers and elected representatives through technical support and policy instruments, facilitating dialogues with CBOs and community stakeholders for participatory decision-making processes and promoting equitable and inclusive nutrition friendly governance. Activity A 1.3 provides technical support to local governments in preparing and mainstreaming LNOB guidance and in developing and rolling out local Food and Nutrition Master Plans / Action Plans aligned with MSNP III and the NFLG framework. This Terms of Reference is prepared for Sub-activity A 1.3.2: Support in developing a Food and Nutrition Action Plan of the targeted Municipality.

Rationale for the Assignment

The project promotes effective implementation of the Multi-Sector Nutrition Plan III (MSNP III), Nutrition Friendly Local Governance (NFLG), Leave No One Behind (LNOB) principles and community-led nutrition governance.

The project has already commissioned an in-depth analytical study to assess bottlenecks in access to and delivery of quality nutrition-related public services, the status of Leave No One Behind (LNOB) and Nutrition Friendly Local Governance (NFLG) indicators, and culturally appropriate local solutions using a positive deviance approach. This combined study which is ongoing will generate the core evidence base for nutrition governance, service delivery barriers and local solutions in the 10 targeted Municipalities.

Based on that result findings the consultant will support 10 Municipalities to develop Food and Nutrition Security Strategy and Action Plans aligned with Multi-Sector Nutrition Plan III (MSNP III), Nutrition Friendly Local Governance (NFLG), Leave No One Behind (LNOB) principles and the local government planning and budgeting cycle.

Click on the link below for the detailed TOR:

ToR_NPL1103_Action Plan

DEADLINE FOR PROPOSAL

The interested and qualified consultant/ consulting firm must apply by 17:00 hours (COB) dated 31 July 2026 via e-tender portal: Public RFT - Technical support to local government in developing and rolling out local level Food and Nutrition security strategy and Action Plan aligning with MSNP III and nutrition friendly local government

Any queries or concerns can be directly sent via the same e-tender portal by 24 July 2026

The proposal should include the following documents:

1. Letter of expression of interest (EoI) signed by the main applicant.
2. Detailed technical and financial offer as stated in bullet 13 above
3. Firm profile detailing the past assignments (at least two similar assignment report as a sample copy)
4. Detailed curriculum vitae of the consultant and of all team members, if any, highlighting their areas of work and experience
5. Company registration certificate
6. Latest tax clearance certificate
7. VAT registration certificate (for both firms and individual consultants).
8. Signed supplier declaration form (Can download from the e-tender portal)

Please note that the selected consultant/ consulting firm should adhere with WHH data protection and other relevant policies during the assignment.

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted for further evaluation process. Welthungerhilfe Nepal reserves all the rights to reject any or all application without assigning any reasons.