Terms of Reference: Up-scaling WASH systems strengthening approach in the Terai region of Nepal Final Evaluation

Up-scaling WASH systems strengthening approach in the Terai region of Nepal

Final Evaluation - Terms of Reference

Welthungerhilfe

1. INTRODUCTION AND CONTEXT

1.1 Welthungerhilfe and Partner Organization

Deutsche Welthungerhilfe e. V. is one of the largest non-governmental organizations in Germany working in the fields of humanitarian assistance and development cooperation. Established in 1962 as the German section of the United Nations’ “Freedom from Hunger Campaign,” it was one of the first international initiatives focused on eradicating hunger. Today, Welthungerhilfe’s work remains guided by its founding vision: All people have a right to a self-determined life in dignity and justice, free from hunger and poverty.

In line with its Strategy 2025–2030: Zero Hunger on a healthy Planet, Welthungerhilfe promotes systemic change through evidence-based, impact-oriented approaches that are environmentally sustainable and socially just. The organization works in close partnership with local actors and communities to strengthen resilience, ensure food and nutrition security, and advance the realization of rights and agency among people affected by hunger and poverty.

Welthungerhilfe (WHH) has been operational in Nepal since 2012, and it is currently managing different projects in twelve districts under eight thematic areas (sectors): Humanitarian Actions, Agriculture, Climate Reliance and Natural Resource Management, Nutrition & Health, WASH, Economic Development, Civil Society Empowerment, ICT4D and Other. WHH works partnership with civil society in Nepal to empower socially marginalized and economically vulnerable citizens, to strengthen their resilience and to ensure their right to adequate food and nutrition through a systems thinking approach.

Welthungerhilfe is committed to program quality, accountability, and continuous learning. Comprehensive Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) systems are embedded across the program cycle to ensure that interventions are effective, context-sensitive, and continuously improved. A central element of this approach is the Defining Impact paper, which outlines how WHH distinguishes between outcomes and impact to enhance clarity, credibility, and learning in its work. The organization fosters a culture of reflection, transparent sharing, and collaboration - ensuring that evaluations contribute to both organizational learning and broader sectoral knowledge.

SABAL Nepal is a leading humanitarian and development organization working in disaster risk reduction, WASH, governance, community development, livelihood, clean energy, and climate change in Madhesh Province, with its headquarters in Rajbiraj, Saptari, to improve health, education, social justice, water, sanitation, and hygiene, while also creating economic opportunities to make communities more resilient and less vulnerable to the factors that cause poverty. Sabal Nepal is implementing this project in 5 municipalities/ rural municipalities of Siraha district, Madhesh Pradesh.

Mahuli Community Development Center (MCDC) is a non-governmental organization working in the Saptari district since 1994 to improve the status of the poor, Dalits, women, and youth in coordination with national, international, and government organizations. MCDC is responsible for implementing the project in 5 municipalities/ rural municipalities of Saptari district, Madhesh Pradesh.

1.2 The project and Context

The project “Up-scaling WASH systems strengthening approach in the Terai region of Nepal” is being implemented in 10 Municipalities which includes Karjanha, Kalyanpur, Siraha, Bishnupur and Golbazar in Siraha district (63 wards) and municipalities of Dakneshwori, Bishnupur, Rajgadh, Saptakoshi and Agnisair in Saptari district (40 wards) since March 2023. It aims to promote the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation through community engagement, WASH systems strengthening, and advocacy.

The project area is characterized by high poverty, reliance on subsistence farming, and daily wage labour and food insecurity. Community faces limited and inequitable access to water, sanitation, and hygiene services, particularly in rural and marginalized communities. Educational facilities in these areas also lack essential WASH services, forcing students to travel for drinking water and toilet access. These local conditions exist within the broader national context in which Nepal has achieved high basic coverage but continues to struggle with safely managed services and quality gaps in WASH infrastructure.

To address these gaps, the project works closely with communities and government stakeholders at local, provincial, and federal levels. It targets 448.827 users (50.523 households) directly benefitting which includes 10.000 HHs reached through CLTS campaigns and at least 170 communities (8.500 HHs) declared as "towards total sanitation and water safe"; 4 schools and 2 HCFs supported with the construction/rehabilitation of model WASH facilities that directly benefit 1.200 students and teachers and approximatively 100 patients/visitors on daily basis; 200 marginalized households accessing safe drinking water through the 4 sustainable decentralized drinking water supply model schemes and 19 WSUCs strengthened through capacity building and equipped with CR-WSPs.

The project contributes to SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation) and SDG 2 (zero hunger) and aligns with Nepal’s WASH Sector Development Plan (2019–2030), WASH in School Procedure (2019), and Total Sanitation Guidelines (2073). Implemented by Sabal Nepal and MCDC with support from BMZ, Viva con Agua, and WHH, the project runs until April 2026.

Project Goal:

Availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation is promoted through community engagement, WASH systems strengthening and advocacy

Project Outputs:

1. The sustainable access to water, sanitation and hygiene is improved for disadvantaged communities through community-led initiatives and management
2. Municipal WASH governance is strengthened to deliver climate resilient, safe, sustainable, and accountable WASH services.
3. Approaches, tools and learnings of the project are exchanged and promoted at provincial and federal level through evidence-based advocacy initiatives and knowledge sharing.

Click on the link below for the detailed TOR:

TOR_NPL 1082_Final evaluation

DEADLINE FOR PROPOSAL

The interested and qualified consultant/ consulting firm must apply by 17:00 hours (COB) dated 21 January 2026 via e-tender portal: Public RFT - Final Evaluation Up-scaling WASH systems strengthening approach in the Terai region of Nepal

Any queries or concerns can be directly sent via the same e-tender portal by 15 January 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 final evaluation 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

The supplier declaration form and other relevant documents can be accessed via e-tender portal with the same link provided above.

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.

Applicants believing that they have been harmed by an error or irregularity during the award process may file a complaint at https://welthungerhilfe.whispli.com/reportconcerns.