Terms of Reference (TOR)
Expression of Interest (EOI) for potential partnership with AMDA-MINDS

Name of Project:

Project for promoting market-oriented agriculture throughcoffee and vegetable farming for better and sustainablecommunities

Project Duration:

3 years ( form December 2023 onwards )Target area:

Sahid Lakhan and Gandaki RM, Gorkha district

Date of EOI Notice Publication:

27th May 2023

Deadline for submission of EOI:

16th June 2023

1.

Background
AMDA-Multisectoral and Integrated Development Services (AMDA-MINDS) is a nongovernmental organization (NGO) whose headquarters in Japan and currently carrying out
projects in Nepal, Myanmar, Zambia, and Honduras. The organization’s mission is to contributeto promote health and poverty reduction for better life among developing countries with peopleof the world, for attaining out vision that the society would be established in which peaceful daily
life of people are assured and hope for tomorrow can be hold.
In Nepal, AMDA-MINDS has been implementing projects since 2008 in health and livelihood
sectors. It has been affiliated with the Social Welfare Council (SWC) since 2010 and has beenworking in different regions in partnership with local NGOs.
AMDA-MINDS Nepal Office is now planning a new project in Gandaki and Sahid Lakhan Rural
Municipalities of Gorkha district that aims for promoting market-oriented agriculture for thepurpose of better and sustainable livelihood in the target communities, which is succeeding thepilot activities that has started since 2019 targeting promotion of coffee farming and processing
as a better source of cash income. In the new project, it is planned to expand its target to vegetable
farmers who have not been covered by the pilot activities as well as to increase coffee farmers
who can produce high quality of coffee products. Our aim is to establish a community which issustainable for coming generations led by young innovations utilizing locally available sources.
To implement the project, AMDA-MINDS has got an approval of funding from the Japan
International Cooperation Agency for three years that is supposed to start from December 2023.
We are now expecting for a partner organization who can jointly contribute to community people
for their better livelihood and sustainable communities.

2.

Project overview
2-1 Target areaGandaki Rural Municipality, Sahid Lakhan Municipality of Gorkha district
Total population: Gandaki 31,205 (5,771HH)Sahid Lakhan 29,545 (5,782HH)
2-2 Beneficiaries(Direct)- Existing coffee farmer: 200 HH- New coffee farmer: 400 HH- Vegetable farmer: 300 HH

2-3 Objective and outputs
Project Objective
Concrete system of the market-oriented agriculture in the target area is establishedOutput 1
Proactive coordination among stakeholders in the agriculture sector and communitybased activities for accelerating the market-oriented agriculture are promoted
Output 2
Practical skills/ technics of farming cash crops (coffee and vegetables) and farming
management are improved
Output 3
Effective relationship between farmers and market is established, and local commercial
chain is well functional in considering appropriate profitability
2-4 Budget for activities
400,000 USD for three years
3.

Criteria of eligibility to be considered a Potential Partner
a. The organization should be officially registered in the District Administration Office ofGrokha and be affiliated with SWC as per the prevailing Law of Nepal Government,
which shall be renewed and updated.
b.

The organization shall NOT be affiliated with any political parties and religious groups,
and NOT be utilized for expand their political/ religious activities.

c.

Office/ structure for project operation currently functional in the target area is preferable.

d.

The organization should have annual financial audits and renew the tax clearance/exemption certificate.

e.

The organization should have good reputation and relationship with government
agencies and stakeholders, i.e., Ward and Rural Municipalities, Local AgriculturalOffices, District Agriculture Knowledge Centre, Coffee Cooperatives of working area andDistrict Coffee Cooperative Union).

f.

The organization should have by-laws, functional executive board, policy procedureswith no preferential treatment in board and staff structure.

g.

Basic financial management system shall be established and maintained.

h.

The organization shall have a clear vision that it would contribute to improvement of
livelihood from grassroots of communities.

i.

Preference will be given to organizations with prior experience in the coffee, vegetableproduction and marketing sector and working closely with proposed project community.

j.

Preference will be given to the local organizations of Gandaki and Sahid Lakhan Rural
Municipalities.

k.

The organizations working experiences with Japan funded projects will be encouraged
and given priorities in the process.

4.

Documents to be submitted for EOI
a. Detail profile of the organization (Ref. Annex-I)b. Concept note of detailed activities (Ref. Annex-II)c. Cover letter with an official stamp of the organization

5.

Selection process
Partner Selection Committee (PSC) will be established by the AMDA_MINDS Nepal Office.
Based on the prescribed criteria, potential organizations obtaining high score will be shortlisted and contacted for further queries. The selection process includes, but is not limited to,the following:(1) Verification of submitted documents
PSC is responsible for opening the submitted documents and their verification.
Documents will be verified in accordance with the criteria mentioned in the “6. SelectionCriteria”. AMDA-MINDS may ask for additional documents for clarification in case anyqueries arise.
(2) Presentation
Only the shortlisted organizations will be invited for the presentation of the concept noteof detailed activities.
(3) Site verification
AMDA-MINDS may conduct the site verification of the selected candidate(s) for a
confirmation of practical skills over the project operation.

6.

Selection criteria
S.N
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.

Score
weightage
Minimum Criteria/ require and support documents of the applicant
17%
NGOs
Organizational board and Staff/Program management, leadership,
5%
expertise
Organization expertise, relevant working experience (Current and Past
12%
Work experience)
Organization competencies in the program implementation, community
12%
mobilization, finance management, coordination and so on.
Organization's resources which could be useful/ relevant for this
4%partnershipConcept note of detailed activities
50 %Major Thematic AreasTotal

7.

Remarksa. EOI will not be considered for the selection in below cases;-It is received after the deadline
It is not sealed properly
There are any missing documents
Information submitted by the organization is found to be false
It is incomplete

100 %

8.

b.

Any kinds of activity with an intention to affect the selection process will not beentertained. No question will be answered via phone call or verbal conversation. Anyqueries can be sent to via email no later than 13th June 2023.

c.

Submitted documents will not be returned back to the applicant organization.

d.

AMDA-MINDS reserves the right to reject any applicants or to dismiss the EOI process
without any prior notice or justification to applicants.

e.

Digital copy of the EOI documents will not be accepted. Please submit in hard copies.

f.

The partnership is subject to the availability of funding and the approval of all thenecessary documents by the governmental agencies, including the approval of theProject Agreement by the Social Welfare Council (SWC).

g.

AMDA-MINDS will not bare any expenses related to the participation of the applicant’sorganization in the hereby EOI process.

Deadline
Interested, qualified and eligible organization can apply with the complete EOI, whichshould be submitted in sealed envelope to the following address no later than 16th June 2023.
AMDA-MINDS Nepal OfficeHouse number 195, Ichhunadi Marg, Baluwatar-4, Kathmandu, Nepal
G.P.O. Box No.: 12014
Tel No.: +977-1-4410395
Email: amdaminds.nepaloffice@gmail.com