Invitation for submission of expression of interest for implementation of pilot project in Taplejung, Nepal

Transcription

1 Rural Livelihoods and Climate Change Adaptation in the Himalaya (Himalica) Invitation for submission of expression of interest for implementation of pilot project in Taplejung, Nepal National open bidding for agencies registered in Nepal Published on: 25 February 2015 Questions and/or clarifications on concept note: 10 March 2015 Submission date for expression of interest and concept note: 24 March 2015 Purpose The intended pilot project will increase community resilience through income diversification, risk management, and improved natural resources management in a selected cluster of villages in Tapljung District, Nepal. Background The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) is a regional intergovernmental learning and knowledge sharing centre based in Kathmandu, Nepal, serving the eight regional member countries of the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan. ICIMOD works to develop an economically and environmentally sound mountain ecosystem to improve the living standards of mountain populations and to sustain vital ecosystem services for the billions of people living downstream. Globalization and climate change have an increasing influence on the stability of fragile mountain ecosystems and the livelihoods of mountain people. ICIMOD aims to assist mountain people to understand these changes, adapt to them, and make the most of new opportunities, while addressing upstream downstream issues. The Rural Livelihoods and Climate Change Adaptation in the Himalaya (Himalica) programme is funded by the European Union and managed by ICIMOD. The programme aims at supporting vulnerable mountain communities in the HKH region in mitigating and adapting to climate and socio economic change. Himalica programme works to reduce poverty, increase the resilience of local communities, and facilitate the equitable and sustainable wellbeing of women and men in the HKH region. The programme encourages the conservation of ecosystems by building the capacity of national and regional stakeholders, developing innovative livelihood options for rural communities, and promoting regional cooperation in the facilitation of approaches to sustainable mountain development. Objective of pilot projects The objective of pilot projects in different countries under Himalica programme is to reduce poverty among mountain men and women through increased resilience and unlock new livelihood opportunities through the promotion of more equitable approaches. The focus of pilot projects is to design and implement activities in a collaborative manner through delivery of services and products that will improve livelihood opportunities and ensure the sustainable management of natural resources. The final beneficiaries of the pilot projects will be mountain communities. These are groups that are in most cases economically active or can potentially become so with access to appropriate technical support. Women and the young stand out as special vulnerable groups. 1

2 Objective of the pilot project in Taplejung The pilot project is to be implemented in Taplejung district, which represents 44.37% of total land area (5,190 sq km) under Kanchenjunga Landscape Conservation and Development Initiative (KLCDI) Nepal, to leverage on knowledge gained by ICIMOD and its national partners (Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation and other collaborators) over the years of engagement in KLCDI. In line with KLCDI strategy, the pilot project intends to showcase results of improved resilience of mountain women and men in selected cluster through designing and implementing context/target community specific interventions in cardamom value chain. The District Agriculture Development Office (DADO) listed following VDCs as pocket areas of cardamom: Ikhabu, Hangphang, Sanghu, Tellok, Surumkhim, Fakumba, Nalbu, Limbudin, Sanba, Khejenim, Fulbari, Khebang, Dhungesanghu, Thukimba, Sikaiya, and Furumbu. From the list of these VDCs, the clusters of villages will be selected in consultation with concerned stakeholders while having situation assessment. Altogether 250 households will be targeted for pilot interventions. The pilot project is designed around three broad areas: improved production system (ensure sustainable supply of cardamom), income diversification (adding value thorough upgrading products, processes, linkages, and diversification of products) and institutional strengthening (with focus on gender, social inclusion, and governance). The entry point for pilot interventions will be the assessment of the current situation. This will be followed by detailed diagnosis of the value chain to identify leverage points, implement interventions and connect target communities with wider stakeholders for long term planning and scaling up so as to reduce their vulnerability, increase resilience, and improve adaptive capacity. The project supports target communities to design and apply climate smart practices/technologies for upgrading selected value chains and organize themselves to be able to meet quantity requirement and quality specifications of the buyers (i.e. actors involved at the upper nodes of the value chain). 2

3 Annex 1: Information about the intended pilot project Purpose Main indicator Coordination Activities and outputs to be carried out to achieve the purpose The pilot project will contribute to overall objective of Himalica programme, i.e. increase community resilience through income diversification, risk management, and improved natural resources management. Specific objectives include: Sustainable production and utilisation of resources through promotion of production, pre harvest, and post harvest technologies Better relationship among value chain actors Strengthened institutional capacity to ensure continuation and replication of interventions in wider areas. The project will increase household s income by 30% from the sale of cardamom, alder timber and other opportunities created by the project along the chain/sub chains at the end of duration. Project steering committee that comprises the Government line departments, ICIMOD, and other key stakeholders The pilot project needs to be designed around three major themes (resilient production and pre and post harvest management, value chain upgrading, and institutional strengthening). The major activities and outputs are outlined below: Improvement in production, pre harvest and post harvest practices Develop package of practices (POP) with list of technologies/services to be promoted and training and demonstration strategies to improve production system Establish at least 3 demonstration plots for testing of climate smart practices as elaborated in POP Capacity building in the field of farming/harvesting practices, processing and packaging technologies for farmers & cooperatives (Identification of lead farmers and trainees, organization of training, coaching and follow up) Cross learning visits (e.g. between Nepal, Sikkim, southern Bhutan) Better relationship among VC actors and sustainable service provisions Organize interaction programme/workshop to link producers with traders and service providers Dialogue with processors/traders to explore opportunity for setting value adding facilities closer to production pockets 3

4 Expected duration of work Strengthening of farmers organizations to improve their negotiation skills and meet buyers quantity requirements and quality specifications Improving access to finance, information, and other services Facilitate national institutions to address trade, quality and other issues which have regional/transboundary implications 3. Institutional development and scaling up Support communities to develop micro plans in dealing with livelihood development Facilitate dialogue between value chain actors, service providers, and development organizations (both government and non government) Organize multi stakeholder platform to explore possibilities for resource sharing with GON initiatives and other development projects Raising awareness on climate change and adaptation mechanisms Develop links with government agencies, donors and show an exit strategy. Cross cutting Issues Integrate activities as below for each of the three theme discussed above: Research requirements to bridge information gaps Gender Policy Capacity development and Community engagement 3 years Starting date 1 May, 2015 Geographical areas Eligibility Partnerships for implementation Terms and conditions Scope of work Selected cluster of villages with at least 250 households in Taplejung District Any agency registered and has been working in Nepal (preferably in KLCDI Nepal) with more than 5 years of relevant areas of expertise, and proven track record of having successfully implemented activities, that can implement external projects. With NGOs, academic institutions, private sector, and government agencies and ongoing programmes. As per ICIMOD standard practice ICIMOD through competitive bidding process will select an appropriate agency as a Project Implementation Partner to 4

5 Budget limit US Dollars 400,000 Mode of submission implement the pilot interventions. The roles and responsibilities of the project implementation partner will be, but not limited to, the following: Ensure efficient and effective implementation of the project activities, including documentation, supervision, follow up and quarterly reporting of the project s on the ground activities and progress, including data collection and reporting as per templates agreed by ICIMOD. Explore possibilities of resource leveraging and dissemination of information and outreach, including the following: o Capture the learning and experiences in the project as case studies, success stories etc. o Develop and disseminate prints/videos to capture results through commodity associations. o Organize sector workshops to discuss sector related issues/disseminate project knowledge Help establish project steering committee and convene meeting to seek advice and guidance for project implementation Online at with template of expression of interest, and a separate concept note on pilot project proposal with the structure provided in Annex II. 5

6 Annex II: Structure for concept note on pilot project proposal Brief profile of the organization (300 words) Technical and/or professional ability (Programmes/projects, number of employees and annual turnover) of the organization (500 words) Project implementation approach and methodology to achieve results (800 words) Partnerships and collaboration to achieve results (400 words) Implementation schedule indicating breakdown and timing of activities over three years. Up scaling and exit strategy (300 words) Bio data of key staff members to be involved in project implementation Brief profile of the key professional for backstopping the project Measure used to ensure quality along with result chain and/or intervention logic Budget as per the following line items (maximum USD 400,000). Salary Consultancy Travel Equipment Workshops IT Communication Material Supply Specify co financing (cash and in kind) 6