ToR for Development of Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) Masterplans

Terms of Reference (ToR)

Development of Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) Masterplans for Marin Rural Municipality, Sindhuli District and Gadhimai Municipality, Rautahat District

1. Background

Heifer Project International Nepal (HPIN) is dedicated to ending hunger and poverty while caring for the earth. Since its establishment in 1998, Heifer has transformed the lives of over 400,000 families through agriculture and livestock programs. By fostering Self-Help Groups and Social Entrepreneur Women’s Cooperatives, Heifer helps build resilient communities and promote sustainable livelihoods.

Building Agroforestry-based Adaptation plans for Resilient floodplains (BAGAR) project aims to reduce climate-induced flood risks and improve livelihoods in the floodplains of Marin Rural Municipality, Sindhuli and Gadhimai Municipality, Rautahat. The project prioritizes vulnerable and marginalized groups such as Dalits and Indigenous populations, through Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) approaches. The project also aligns with national and international commitments like the SDGs, NDCs and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

The project works with community-based organizations (CBOs), municipalities and other stakeholders to develop EbA master plans and document lessons for replication in other municipalities.

Under BAGAR, municipality-specific Land Use Plans and Agroforestry Plans have been prepared for both project municipalities. These documents provide important evidence on land-use dynamics, flood and erosion risks, ecosystems and natural resources, agroforestry opportunities, institutional arrangements, implementation priorities, indicative costs and resource mobilization. The proposed assignment will build on these plans, the Climate Vulnerability and Risk Assessment, hydrological information, municipal plans and budgets, and community knowledge. It shall avoid duplicating completed analyses and instead integrate, update and operationalize them through comprehensive municipal EbA Masterplans.

Marin Rural Municipality represents a diverse Chure-Siwalik and inner-valley landscape shaped by the Marin River and its tributaries. Its key challenges include river flooding and bank cutting, sediment deposition, slope erosion and localized landslides, dry-season water stress, fragile soil, pressure on forests and grazing lands and livelihood vulnerability. Gadhimai Municipality lies in the flat alluvial floodplain of the Bagmati River and faces recurrent flooding, inundation, riverbank erosion, sediment deposition, waterlogging, seasonal water scarcity, declining tree cover and high dependence on agriculture. These distinct contexts require municipality-specific, ward-informed and spatially targeted EbA strategies.

The EbA Masterplans are expected to provide a long-term, municipality-owned framework for conserving and restoring ecosystems while reducing climate and disaster risks and strengthening resilient livelihoods. The plans must go beyond a list of activities and stakeholders. They shall clearly define where and why interventions are needed, how they will be implemented and maintained, who will lead and finance them, what investment opportunities exist, which potential investors or financiers may be approached, what benefits and safeguards are expected and how progress and results will be measured.

2. Project Working Areas

The assignment covers the following local governments in Bagmati and Madhesh Provinces:

1. Marin Rural Municipality, Sindhuli District - 7 wards
2. Gadhimai Municipality, Rautahat District - 9 wards

The master planning process shall cover all 16 wards and the whole municipal territory with detailed attention to floodplains, river corridors, wetlands and water bodies, agricultural landscapes, forests and watersheds, erosion-prone slopes, degraded or underused land, settlements and infrastructure at risk and livelihood systems dependent on ecosystem services.

FOR SUBMISSION

Interested and eligible consulting firms, individuals or organizations shall submit separate technical and financial proposals for the Development of EbA Masterplans for Marin Rural Municipality, Sindhuli, and Gadhimai Municipality, Rautahat. The submission shall include:

• Letter of interest and brief organizational profile.
• Technical proposal demonstrating understanding of the assignment, detailed methodology, consultation and meeting strategy, approach to spatial EbA planning, costing, investment opportunity development and potential investor mapping, quality assurance, risk management workplan.
• Financial proposal with detailed cost breakdown and clear assumptions, including all costs required.
• Copy of legal registration documents, PAN/VAT registration and latest tax clearance certificate.
• Self-declaration on eligibility, conflict of interest and accuracy of information.
• At least three relevant sample assignments or links to comparable EbA, climate adaptation, land-use, agroforestry, landscape restoration, investment or municipal planning work.
• Signed CVs of proposed professionals (maximum two pages each), clearly stating roles, responsibilities, level of effort and availability.
• Team deployment schedule and confirmation of capacity to undertake parallel fieldwork in both municipalities.
• Any proposed consortium or subcontracting arrangement with clear responsibility and authorization.

It is expected that applicants have carefully read and understood the objectives, scope, meeting requirements, deliverables, team requirements and proposal submission conditions.

The technical and financial proposals should be emailed with the subject line: "Development of EbA Masterplans".

The Technical Proposal and Financial Proposal files MUST BE COMPLETELY SEPARATE. The Financial Proposal shall be password-protected and clearly labelled. The password shall be provided only upon request from HPIN after completion of the technical evaluation. Failure to provide the correct password when requested may result in rejection of the proposal.

Submit the proposal on or before 30th July, 2026, 5:00 PM via email to procurement-np@ heifer.org 

For Detailed TOR: TOR_Development of EbA Masterplan