Terms of reference (Entrepreneurship Development and Business Set-up Training for Selected Farmers)

Call for Expression of Interest (EOI) 

Terms of reference

Project Activity:  Entrepreneurship Development and Business Set-up Training for Selected Farmers

Duration: Up to Maximum of 45 days (from September to November 2025)

1. Project Overview

Action Against Hunger | Action Contre la Faim (ACF) is an international humanitarian organization committed to ending child hunger and recognized as a leader in the fight against malnutrition. ACF saves the lives of malnourished children while providing communities with access to food, safe water, and sustainable solutions to hunger. As a non-governmental, non-profit organization, we are committed to principled humanitarian action as outlined in our International Charter of Principles: independence, neutrality, non-discrimination, free and direct access to affected populations, professionalism, and transparency. In partnership with Sahara Nepal, ACF Nepal has implemented a food security and livelihoods project in Belaka Municipality, Udayapur, Koshi Province, Nepal, in August 2022. The primary objective of the project is to ensure disaster-resilient livelihoods and enhance food security among the most vulnerable households in Belaka through innovative agri-businesses utilizing bamboo, vegetables, mushrooms, and Neglected and Underutilized Crop Species (NUCS). Over its duration to date, the project has implemented interventions with subsistence farmers who have the potential to transition to small-scale commercial farming, in addition to various other interventions. At this stage, the project aims to engage with medium-scale commercial farmers who have the potential to enhance their entrepreneurial skills.

2. Objective of the Assignment

This assignment aims to help farmers enhance their entrepreneurial skills and expand their existing small and medium-sized businesses, thereby increasing the scope and income-generating opportunities for their livelihoods through training that includes guidance, coaching, and marketing support. This initiative has two primary objectives: 

i) To educate farmers about the essential business requisites and develop a business-oriented mindset. 

ii) To provide input support and tools to expand their agribusinesses.

iii) To facilitate the continuation of marketing of their commodities

3. Scope of Work

• Identify and selection of semi-commercial and commercial farmers 
• Conduct a needs assessment of the selected farmers.
• Design and deliver a tailored training curriculum.
• Facilitate hands-on sessions on business planning, budgeting, and marketing.
• Provide coaching and mentoring support.
• Distribute relevant inputs and agricultural tools to support agribusiness expansion of the agribusiness sector.
• Facilitate linkages with local and regional markets
• Provide relevant inputs and agricultural tools to support agribusiness expansion of the selected farmers
• Facilitate linkages with local and regional markets in Nepal.

4. Key responsibilities    

• Take overall responsibility for developing agri-business strategy, business plan, and market-linked farming systems to achieve the project objectives.
• Analyze the aspects of crop selection, production plan, marketing plan, farm records, and book- keeping.

5. Expected Deliverables

• Training curriculum and materials.
• Completion of training for selected farmers.
• Business plans developed by participants.
• Report on inputs and agricultural tools distribution.
• Marketing facilitation report and outcomes.

6. Eligibility Criteria

The applicant must be a legally recognized civil society organization or federation, officially registered and operating in accordance with the existing laws of Nepal, with the following criteria:

• Proven experience in farmers’ entrepreneurship development, agribusiness, and farmer training.
• At least 5 years of experience in supporting agricultural cooperatives and having established networks with smallholder farmers.
• Should have its own well-equipped training center and demonstration sites

7. Key requirements

Interested parties must submit the following:

• Organization/individual profile.
• Technical proposal outlining approach and methodology.
• Financial proposal.
• Relevant experience and references.(at least two)
• Legal documents (registration, PAN/VAT, tax clearance, etc.).

8. Evaluation Criteria

The procurement committee will evaluate the proposals submitted to ACF Nepal based on predetermined criteria using a weighted scoring method. Technical and Financial Criteria will be provided with the following weightage.

• Technical Criteria: 70% 
• Financial Criteria: 30%

9. Application Procedure

ACF Nepal will select applications from service providers and consultancy firms. Given the scope of this ToR: 

• Applications must include a Curriculum Vitae (CV) for all proposed individual or team members.
• The following documents are required: registration, VAT/PAN, profile, audited report, and tax clearance certificate.
• Technical proposal– outlining methodologies and a plan for assessment with a timeframe and an outline of the roles and responsibilities of each member of the team, 
• Financial proposal– including daily rate and all costs in relation to travel, accommodation, and other expenses related to Training and business set up.

Interested applicants are requested to apply for the call. The Financial, Technical proposal and with organizational documents should be submitted to procurement@np-actionagainsthunger.org by 15 September 2025 by 5 pm Nepal time. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for further process. 

Action Against Hunger Reserves the right to reject any or all applications. Telephonic inquiries will not be entertained. 

Action Against Hunger | Action Contre la Faim is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from women, people with disabilities and members from disadvantaged /under represented ethnic groups