Terms of Reference (TOR) for Consultancy Service: 4-Day Nbs training (Bio-engineering)

Terms of Reference (TOR) for Consultancy Service: 

4-Day Nbs training (Bio-engineering)

1.     Background 

Nepal National Social Welfare Association (NNSWA), established in 1990 and registered in 1994, is a leading NGO headquartered in Mahendranagar, Kanchanpur. Operating across Sudur Paschim Province, NNSWA is dedicated to promoting social justice and inclusive development. The organization primarily focuses on empowering the 3D communities Dalits (discriminated by caste), persons with disabilities, and deprived populations including freed Kamaiyas/Kamlaharis, displaced groups, women, children, PLHIVs, and those affected by leprosy.Its thematic areas include education and awareness, health and nutrition, disaster preparedness, livelihood promotion, economic empowerment, rights advocacy, capacity building, and research. Through collaboration with local governments and development partners, NNSWA works to build resilient communities and foster equity for Nepal’s most vulnerable groups.

In Sudurpashchim Province’s Kailali and Kanchanpur districts, the diverse landscapes from the Terai plains to the Chure hills present both opportunities and risks, with communities frequently exposed to climate-induced hazards such as floods, droughts, and landslides. To address these growing challenges, the Nepal National Social Welfare Association (NNSWA), in partnership with Mercy Corps Nepal and with support from The Coca-Cola Foundation, is implementing the “Strengthening Anticipatory Action in Nepal (SAAN)” project. The project, covering Chure and Bhajani of Kailali and Punarbas and Laljhadi of Kanchanpur, aims to enhance early warning systems, build institutional and community capacity, strengthen resilience, and promote evidence-based coordination and advocacy. 

As part of this initiative, the NbS training aims to strengthen the capacity of program staff and local governments representatives to effectively and efficiently implement Bio-engineering activities while also promoting learning, documentation, and institutionalization of these approaches within municipal plans.

2.     Objective of the Consultancy: 

The main objective of the consultancy is to design and deliver practical training on Nature-Based Solutions (Bio-engineering) to strengthen the capacity of SAAN program representatives to:

• Understand the concept and importance of NBS and bio-engineering for disaster risk reduction.
• Identify suitable bio-engineering techniques for both Hill and Terai areas.
• Apply sustainable and locally adaptable NBS measures within their municipalities.
• To familiarize participants with types of bio-engineering techniques for landslides and floods.
• To train participants on technical specifications, design principles, and construction methods for NbS interventions.
• To build skills in conducting feasibility studies, including hazard assessments and site-specific evaluations.
• To incorporate hands-on field practice for practical application and monitoring of bio-engineering solutions.

3.     Scope of Work

The consultant/firm will be responsible for:

• Developing the NBS (Bio-engineering) training curriculum and materials (manual, presentation, handouts).
• Delivering 4 days of participatory training sessions for selected participants from the target municipalities.
• Demonstrating practical field-based bio-engineering applications. 
• Facilitating group exercises and discussions on local NBS planning and implementation.
• Preparing a comprehensive training report including key learnings, challenges, and recommendations for future scaling.

4.     Deliverables:

The consultant/firm will deliver the following:

• Inception Report: Work plan, methodology, training outline, and materials list.
• Training Materials: Manual, presentations, handouts, and field guides.
• Training Delivery: 4-day participatory sessions with documentation.
• Field Practice: Demonstration of bio-engineering techniques and site visits.
• Final Report: Summary of activities, feedback, challenges, and recommendations.

5.     Time frame: 

The consultancy will provide training sessions from November 17, 2025 to November 20, 2025. The assignment is expected to be completed within 14 days from the date of contract signing, including:

• Preparation phase: 2 days
• Training delivery: 4 days
• Reporting and submission: 7 days

6.     Scope of the contract:

This is a short-term consultancy for technical service delivery. The consultant/firm shall work closely with NNSWA’s technical and programming team. All outputs and materials developed under this contract will remain the property of NNSWA.

7.     Education and Eligibility Criteria of Consultant:

The consultant/firm should meet the following qualifications:

• Master’s degree in civil engineering, Environmental Science, Forestry, Watershed Management, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in NBS, bioengineering or watershed management projects.
• Proven experience in facilitating technical training for community groups and local governments.
• Strong knowledge of participatory learning methodologies and field-based training.
• Excellent reporting and communication skills in Nepali and English.

8.     Technical Monitoring and Role of Organization:

NNSWA’s technical team, in coordination with Mercy Corps, will:

• Provide orientation and background information about the SAAN project.
• Approve the training methodology and materials before implementation.
• Participate in and monitor training delivery.
• Review and approve the final deliverables before payment release.

9.     Criteria for Contract Award:

The selection will be based on:

• Relevance of academic qualification and experience (40%)
• Quality of technical proposal and methodology (40%)
• Financial competitiveness (20%)

10.     Nature of Consultancy:

Short-term and assignment-based, focusing on designing and delivering capacity-building training on Nature based solution(NbS).

11.     Consultancy firms or individuals are required to submit the following documents: 

Interested candidates/firms/companies are requested to submit all required documents as mentioned above to the NNSWA Head Office, Kanchanpur, during office hours, or via email at nnswasaan@gmail.com  no later than 13th November 2025. Proposals must be submitted in separate technical and financial sealed envelopes/folders.

12.     Administrative and Financial Management

• The consultant will be contracted by NNSWA under the terms and conditions agreed upon in the consultancy agreement
• The consultant shall be responsible for maintaining accurate records of workdays, deliverables, and field activities
• Payments will be made upon submission and approval of deliverables as per the agreed schedule
• Any applicable taxes will be deducted at source in accordance with prevailing government regulations
• The consultant is expected to work independently while maintaining close communication with NNSWA and Mercy Crops Nepal throughout the assignment period

For more details: 

National Nepal Social Welfare Association (NNSWA), Head Office Bhimdatta Municipality Mahendranagar Kanchanpur, Nepal, Phone (Head Office): +977-99-522182, +977-9858750377 Toll-Free (NTC): 16609952002, Email: nnswasaan@gmail.com, Website: