Terms of Reference (ToR) for Support to local government to prepare and formalization of Farmers Field Schools guideline

Terms of Reference (ToR)

for

Support to local government to prepare and formalization of Farmers Field Schools guideline (Consultation meeting, meeting executive body and endorsement) by considering DI.

Contract period:  4th week of June 2025

Background and Rationale

Panchtara Yuwa Samrakshak Manch (PTYSM), Jajarkot is an NGO dedicated to upholding the rights of marginalized and excluded communities through community empowerment, promoting equality and social justice, livelihood improvement (by vocational skills, agriculture and non-agriculture), improving education, health nutrition status and disaster management in the district focusing women, children, Dalit, Janajati and vulnerable people. The organization has a vision of a just and prosperous society where people having access and ownership over resources. PTYSM has been implementing various project/Program funding support from different partners organizations. The Karnali Earthquake Recovery – Inclusive livelihood project is implementing two Local Governments (LGs) namely Nalgad Municipality, Jajarkot and Sanibheri Rural Municipality Rukum (West). The project’s Overall project goal is to “Improved disability inclusive and accessible recovery program and restore livelihood opportunities to the earthquake-affected households through risk reduction and climate adaptive technologies.”

Karnali Earthquake Recovery – Inclusive livelihood project is implementing with the funding support of CBM Global. To update and enhance the new technology for farming system, the Farmer Field School (FFS) guideline is an essential thing. Based on the developed curricula and manual/guideline the community level FFS will be conducted and then farmers will succeed to produce more food, vegetables and livestock which support to ensure their food security and increase their livelihood status.

Nepal has been entered into the new era and lot of technologies have been developed, but in the context of hilly regions which are deprived from adequate technology, they are cultivating as a traditional way. They are spending lot of economy, time and labor but not succeed to produce as per their expectation. To enhance their knowledge and skills in FFS then the farmers will succeed to produce more livelihood option. Assimilating this FFS guideline will be developed. After developing the guideline local governments also assist to finalize and then the guideline will be established as a resource book for local governments. Based on the developed guideline there would be easier to run the FFS sessions in coming days.

The curriculum of the guideline will be:

The FFS guideline will be prepared for: Rice, Maize, Cabage, Cauliflower and Goats etc.

Purpose and Deliverable

• To prepare a Disability Inclusion climate resilience FFS guideline for Rice, Maize, Cabage, Cauliflower and Goats etc.
• Prepare DI FFS curricula of 16 weeks along with FFS guideline.
• Event completion report with relevant annexes (Photo, Participant details) within seven days completion of event. 
• Comply with Disability Inclusion in FFS and its curricula.

Scope of work

• To be prepared an FFS guideline of rice (Shanker), Cauliflower, maize, cabbage (Green Coronet) and cauliflower (Late season Snow Crown and Early season White Top) of Nalgad municipality, Jajarkot and Sanibheri Rural Municipality Rukum (West). Then the guideline would be a resource book of municipal level.
• Strong coordination and collaboration with local governments, OPDs and interaction with community level stakeholders.
• Description review of FFS guideline
• Interaction with communities and collect genuine demands of farming practices, like cereal crop, vegetable firm, etc.
• Draft sharing and feedback collection
• Feedback address, and submit final copies of FFS guideline with its curriculum.
• Endorsement through LG executive committees.

Timeframe and Duration

The guideline preparation timeframe will be 15 days from the agreed date and do other necessary task also done as per mutual understanding.

Place/location of service delivery

The consultant will deliver her/his service as per their applicable places but she/he should be collected genuine information from communities and also physically participate at Local level meetings during the endorsement by Local Governments (LGs).

Required Expert Profile

The expected qualifications and competencies required for the consultant include:

• Academic Qualification at least Bachelor degree in Agriculture Science from TU and equivalent universities and priority will be given to master degree in plant science (Agriculture).
• Language skills: Proven proficiency in Nepali, English and local.
• Proven working experience in facilitation of training on Agriculture field in developing FFS guideline, curricula, Agri climate resilient policies, Local Disaster and Climate Resilience Plan (LDCRP), climate smart agriculture related documents etc.
• Previous working experience in preparing short-term and long-term FFS guideline and Climate Resilient Livelihood/ Agriculture, GDSI assessments.
• Must have competences knowledge and skills in disability inclusion.
• Strong background in guideline development related to rice, maize, goat, vegetable (Cabbage, Cauliflower etc).
• At least 2- 3 years working experience in the respective areas.

Payment schedule

The Consultant shall be paid in three instalments upon request with tax invoices:

• First Instalment: 30% of the contract amount shall be paid upon submission of inception report with detailed methodology framework and plan and acceptable to the procuring entity.
• Second instalment: 40% of the contract amount shall be paid upon submission of the draft report and acceptable to the procuring entity.
• Third/Final Instalment: 30% of the contract amount shall be paid upon completion and submission and acceptance of the final report.

Required Documents

The following are the key instructions for freelancer/Consulting forms who are interested in submitting a proposal:

• Be on your organization’s letterhead, in the context of individual consultant submit a request letter. 
• A detailed technical and financial proposal with a necessary budget breakdown of human resources, travel, accommodation, and miscellaneous.
• Regarding an organizational Profile
• Copy of Nepali citizenship, VAT/PAN registration certificate
• Tax clearance certificate of FY 2080/81
• Curriculum vitae
• Similar work experience documents.
• Understanding and interpretation of the Terms of Reference.
• Methodology
• Time and activity schedule
• Include details of two referees and a brief description of the work carried out for them (work should be relevant/ similar to this ToR).

Evaluation Criteria

• Quality of submitted documents based with least cost selection.
• Quality of financial proposal.
• Quality and Cost Based selection (As per 50% technical offer and 50% Price weight distribution)
• Commitment to accomplish the task within an agreement deadline.
• Full acceptance of the PTYSM policy.

The parties should send their questions and queries related to the TOR, if any in following address

Applicants should mention the position title in the subject line of the email. Preference will be given to candidates with experience working on GEDSI groups (Women, Dalit, Persons with Disabilities, and Janajati) and local residents. Candidates must also disclose any relationships with the organization or potential conflicts of interest in their application. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Telephone inquiries will not be entertained. Any attempt to influence the selection process will result in automatic disqualification.

Annex 1: Format for submitting proposal

The above cost will be managed from the Karnali Earthquake Recovery - Inclusive livelihood project code number P00558