Under the technical and financial partnership from Practical Action in Nepal and funded by Jersey Overseas Aid (JOA), DEPROSC-Nepal, an NGO working in different thematic areas, has been implementing Empowering Women Farmers with Digital Finance (Samunnati-Digital Finance), project in eight rural municipalities of Dang (Dangisharan & Shantinagar), Rolpa (Runtigadi, Triveni, Thabang & Paribartan) and Rukum East (Bhume & Puthauttarganga) since August 2022.
DEPROSC-Nepal invites qualified and experienced consultant firms to express their interest in providing consultancy services to develop ‘Digital strategies’ for selected 4 rural municipalities. The consultant will play a crucial role in developing strategies under the guidance and ownership of local governments. The framework of strategy will be broad, however, it will focus on ‘Digital financial services’ within the framework. The engagement will be on an intermittent basis for 42 days, which spans over approximately 14 weeks.
Interested firms should read the ToR below. Firms will drop Technical proposal (including its profile, VAT registration, latest tax clearance and audit report, resume of proposed consultant, a cover letter and one example of previous assignment projects demonstrating success) and a Cost proposal – to [email protected] or DEPROSC-Nepal, P.O. Box 10953, Kathmandu within 25 March 2024. Canvassing or influencing is not expected. The organization reserves the right to reject any/all applications without assigning any reason whatsoever.
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Consultancy Service for drafting ‘Digital Strategy’ focusing on Inclusive Digital Financial Services and its Integration into Local Economic Development Plans of selected rural municipalities
1. Introduction
Development Project Service Center (DEPROSC-Nepal) is a non-profit making, non-political organization established in September 1993 under Association Registration Act 1978 as a non-governmental organization (NGO). It is affiliated with SWC as per Social Welfare Council Act 1992. People centered, participatory community-led planning, social mobilization and pro-poor focus are key features of DEPROSC-Nepal’s implementation approaches which it has practiced for three decades for rural development and poverty reduction programs.
DEPROSC-Nepal invites qualified and experienced consultants to express their interest in providing consultancy services to develop ‘Digital strategies’ of selected 4 rural municipalities in the 1st phase and integrate them within their local economic development plans. This initiative aims to engage rural municipalities in fostering economic growth through innovative digital solutions. These rural municipalities are likely to develop digital strategies for the first time so the framework of strategy will be a broader one, however, it will more specifically cover ‘Digital financial services’ within the framework.
2. Project Overview
Under the technical and financial partnership from Practical Action in Nepal and funded by Jersey Overseas Aid (JOA), Empowering Women Farmers with Digital Finance (Samunnati-Digital Finance), a project implemented by Development Project Service Center Nepal (DEPROSC-Nepal), is a 40-month project which is also implemented in eight rural municipalities of three districts; Dang (Dangisharan & Shantinagar), Rolpa (Runtigadi, Triveni, Thabang & Paribartan) and Rukum East (Bhume & Puthauttarganga) of Lumbini Province in Nepal since July 2022. The project has brought other actors, such as: Prabhu Management, Global IME Bank, IME Pay, internet service providers and 15 partner cooperatives so as to make digital financial services more inclusive and accessible to poor and marginalized women farmers. The project is to reach 5,500 smallholder farmers (80% women) with a range of affordable and appropriate digital financial products (savings, payment, remittance, agri-insurance, credit) to support their agriculture value chain and enterprise development activities. In addition, 3% of the total participants should be people with disability.
The project envisages a need to support local governments for drafting an inclusive digital strategy as it remains vital for local economic development so these remote areas are able to utilize the benefits of digitization. The project is partnering with local governments to develop inclusive policies and programs that prioritize developing a digital financial ecosystem for inclusive financial service provisions. The consultant (to be selected) will play a crucial role in leading the development of comprehensive digital strategies under the guidance and ownership of local governments.
3. Objective of the Consultancy and Scope of Work
Local governments require to prepare and implement periodic, annual and strategic local development plans. The project actively engages with targeted rural municipalities on a continuous basis throughout the project period to develop and integrate digital strategy into local economic development plans. Hence, for developing and drafting such strategies for selected local governments, it is expected that there will be inclusive policies and programmes at local level which will cover digital infrastructure and services for inclusive financial service provisions, in particular.
The consultancy aims to support local government units (LGUs) in developing and integrating digital strategies into their respective local economic development plans. The focus will be on the development of Digital financial strategy within the digital strategic framework of respective rural municipality.
The engagement will be on an intermittent basis for 42 days, which spans over approximately 14 weeks, providing adequate time for each phase of the consultancy while ensuring timely completion of deliverables.
- Kick-off Meeting
Organize a virtual or in-person meeting to introduce/clarify project objectives for developing policy and strategies targeting LGUs.
Study and review existing studies conducted by the project (baseline study, landscape report, annual outcome monitoring report, other relevant reports and studies).
- Inception Report
Develop an inception report outlining the proposed methodology, work plan, and timeline for the consultancy.
- Orientation to project team, palika about the importance, coverage and process of preparation digital strategy
A two day ‘Training cum Workshop’ to project team regarding how local governments are developing and implementing different policies & programs and how a project can contribute in policy strengthening.
A one-day orientation to palika political leadership to introduce the importance of digital strategy, tentative coverage and proposed process for strategy development. Based on the interaction and commitment, 4 palika will be selected to develop their strategies in the 1st phase.
- Need Analysis Workshop (palikawise)
Conduct separate assessments to identify key areas of intervention for selected LGUs. Facilitate participatory processes to gather input and feedback from concerned stakeholders of LGUs on digital financial inclusion policies and strategies.
- Drafting of Policy/Strategy
Draft ‘Digital Strategies with focus on ‘digital financial strategy’.
- Sharing Workshop for Policy Recommendations
Under the leadership and ownership of local government entities, sharing of policy recommendations.
Prepare action plan for integration of recommendations into Local Economic Development Plans focusing just prepared digital financial strategy.
- Final Reporting
Prepare a final report summarizing the consultancy’s outcomes, including achievements, challenges, and recommendations for future initiatives.
4. Timeline
Adjustments can be made based on specific project requirements and stakeholder availability.
| Activities | Date | Deliverables | Responsibility | Remarks |
| Kick-off Meeting | Week 1-2 (April 2024) | Meeting agenda and minutes | Consultant Support: Project Team | 1 (virtual) |
| Inception Report and sharing meeting | Week 3-4 | Inception report outlining methodology, work plan, and timeline | Consultant | 3 (hybrid) |
| Training cum works to project team and orientation on policy to palika officials | Week 5-6 | Training report Commitment letters from LGUs | Consultant Support: Project Team | 5 (on site) |
| Need Analysis Workshop | Week 7-8 | Assessment report highlighting key areas of interventionStakeholder feedback and input documentation | Consultant Support: Local Government Bodies and Project Team | 12 (on site) |
| Drafting of Policy/Strategy: | Week 9-10 | Draft digital strategy with focus on digital financial strategy document | Consultant | 9 |
| Sharing Workshop for Policy Recommendations: | Week 10-13 | Facilitation of Workshop and presentationsPolicy recommendations shared with LGUsAction plan | Consultant Support: Local Government Units and Project Team | 7 (on site) |
| Final sharing and reporting | Week 14 | Final consultancy report summarizing outcomes, achievements, challenges, implementation plan and recommendations | Consultant | 5 |
4. Eligibility Criteria: Interested consulting firms must meet the following eligibility criteria:
4.1 Track record of consulting firm on developing digital strategies and digital financial strategies in collaboration with governmental bodies.
4.2 Proposed consultant should possess strong advocacy and engagement skills, particularly in working with rural municipalities and government stakeholders.
4.3 Demonstrated success in creating inclusive policies and programs that address digital infrastructure and financial services at the local and provincial levels.
5. Submission Guidelines: Interested consulting firms should submit their expression of interest, including:
5.1 A detailed company profile, VAT registration, latest tax clearance and audit report.
5.2. Resume of proposed consultant.
5.3 A cover letter highlighting relevant experience and expertise.
5.4 Examples of previous projects demonstrating success in developing local governments’ policies and strategies.
6. Submission Deadline: All expressions of interest must be submitted by 25 March 2024. Late submissions will not be considered.
7. Budget
The maximum available budget is NPR 640,000.00 (In words: Six hundred and forty thousand Nepalese Rupees only) inclusive of applicable taxes. Costs like consultant’s lodging/accommodation, air fare/travel and stationaries during the field visit, associated with this study will be provided by the project as per the project norms. All applicable taxes will be deducted at source.
The payment will be done in 3 instalments: 25% of total agreed amount shall be disbursed upon submission of inception report, 40% will be disbursed upon submission of report after Sharing Workshop for Policy Recommendations, and remaining 35% will be paid after submission of final report and all other deliverables.
7. Evaluation criteria
| Areas | Weightage | |
| Technical proposal | Institutional profile | 10 |
| CV | 50 | |
| Methodology, workplan | 20 | |
| Sub-total | 80 | |
A panel will review ‘Technical proposals’. Only those at acceptable level will be considered for reviewing of their ‘Cost proposals’.
| Cost proposal | 20 |
| Total | 100 |