Terms of Reference - Evaluation of the effectiveness of strategies to reach LNOB+ groups under SNV/EnDev Electric Cooking project in Nepal

Terms of Reference

Evaluation of the effectiveness of strategies to reach LNOB+ groups under SNV/EnDev Electric Cooking project in Nepal.

SNV Nepal, 2025

Background to the Assignment

SNV is a global development partner, deeply rooted in the countries where we operate. We are driven by a vision of a better world: a world where across every society all people live with dignity and have equitable opportunities to thrive sustainably. To make this vision a reality, we need transformations in vital agri-food, energy, and water systems. SNV contributes by strengthening capacities and catalysing partnerships in these sectors. We help strengthen institutions and effective governance, reduce gender inequalities and barriers to social inclusion, and enable adaptation and mitigation to the climate and biodiversity crises. Building on 60 years of experience we support our partners with our technical and process expertise and methodological rigour. We do this in more than 20 countries in Africa and Asia with a team of approximately 1,600 colleagues. 

In Nepal, pursuing sustainable energy solutions is becoming crucial against pressing environmental challenges and the imperative of rural socio-economic development. In Nepal, the widespread use of inefficient traditional cookstoves and dirty fuels has resulted in severe environmental degradation and health hazards, primarily due to indoor air pollution. The Government of Nepal, committed to eradicating this issue, has set several goals to achieve an indoor air pollution-free status, which also includes promoting the adoption of clean/electric cooking technologies. The poor and marginalised population further suffer from the drudgery of traditional cooking methods as they might not be able to afford the clean cooking transition through regular market systems and therefore, a dedicated and focused approach is necessary to include them in this transition.

SNV’s energy sector supports the development of inclusive markets for sustainable energy, contributing to more equitable livelihoods for all. With financial support from the GIZ managed EnDev programme, SNV Nepal is implementing the “Market Development of Electric Cooking in Nepal” project. This project aims to increase access to clean cooking and market system development for clean kitchens, improved health of the family and improved socio-economic and environmental conditions. It is important to acknowledge that this project is part of a longer-term process leading towards universal access to clean cooking in the country. This project has helped in developing a healthy market for electric cooking (induction cooktop sets) for households in Karnali, Lumbini and Sudurpaschim Provinces offering customer choice in cooperation with communities, rural/municipalities, service providers, and other related community organisations.

Recognizing this, SNV Nepal aimed to expand the outreach of electric cooking markets into new geographical areas and deepen penetration in existing markets. Further, SNV built upon past successes to extend the experience and learning for scaling and creating a critical mass. Moreover, the project aimed to ensure we ‘leave no one behind’ by ensuring inclusion of poor and margalised groups and gender elements  (LNOB+ groups)  within the planned interventions. This included targeted incentives for household wiring upgrades, discount vouchers for quality utensils, behaviour change communication to support demand creation and adoption/usage, and supply-side engagement (job creation).

SNV Nepal is also applying a gender-transformative approach to strengthen women's agency for making informed decisions through mentor-mentee support, household dialogues, and agency and leadership training. Furthermore, assessment of LNOB+ groups, outreach (vulnerability surveys), and measurement of local climate resilient interventions due to clean cooking adoption is a key learning assignment during the current period of implementation.

As the programme enters its final phase, SNV Nepal is seeking insights from the dedicated support it has provided to bring poor and marginalised groups of the population into the mainstream market development system for electric cooking promotion.

Click on the link below for the detailed TOR:

ToR-Evaluation of the effectiveness of strategies to reach LNOB groups

Response to the ToR

Qualified consulting firms that wish to respond to this ToR should submit an application detailing the following areas;

• Understanding of the assignment
• Approach to completing the assignment and proposed methodology (technical proposal)
• Team proposed for this assignment and relevant expertise – include min of 3 experts’ CVs as Annex; no need to submit enumerators’ CV.
• Proposed work plan 
• Budget (financial proposal-sealed bid)

Applications (Technical Proposal) should not exceed 10 pages (excluding the experts' CVs-which should be included as an annex). Technical proposal and experts’ CVs should be submitted electronically (in PDF format as a single file) to nepal@snv.org and financial proposal and registration/legal/tax documents should be submitted in a sealed envelope at SNV Nepal Office Reception (SNV Nepal, Bandel Marg, Sanepa Heights, Lalitpur, Nepal) by 5 pm, 6th June 2025. The envelope should have a subject line of Financial Proposal for – Evaluating the effectiveness of strategies to reach LNOB groups.