Terms of Reference (ToR) for Redefining the VITA Signature Program of Heifer Project International Nepal

1. Background

Heifer Project International Nepal (HPIN) is committed to transforming rural communities by co-creating inclusive, thriving, resilient, and sustainable food systems, with smallholder farmers at the centre of change. Since 1998, HPIN has served more than 418,000 families, supporting their journey from subsistence to prosperity through community-driven agriculture andrelated livestock initiatives.

Grounded in the principles and practices of food systems sustainable, locally led development, Heifer places women, youth, and marginalized groups at the heart of its work, fostering a culture of belonging and ensuring that every solution reflects local knowledge, values, and context. By strengthening self-help groups, women-led cooperatives, and producer organizations, Heifer builds social capital and collective agency, empowering communities to lead their own transformation. In pursuit of its mission to end hunger and poverty while caring for the Earth, Heifer collaborates with governments, private sector actors, and civil society to support smallholder farmers in adopting regenerative practices, accessing inclusive markets, and shaping policies.

HPIN has emerged as a leading development agency in forging strategic partnerships, advancing sustainable agriculture and mobilizing investments through its three signature programs. These programs share strong synergies in operations, local government collaboration, and private sector engagement, positioning them for greater impact.

Globally, Heifer has recently started implementing its new program and operation model, prioritizing sustainable food system, bringing smallholder farmers together, caring for the earth (C4E), private sector engagement, creating an enabling environment, and policy engagement while continuing its commitment to empowering smallholder farmers. In line with this, HPIN is redefining its signature programs to align with new program models, integrate innovative approaches and strengthen collaboration.

HPIN, building on its past successes, plans to strategically align its signature programs with national priorities. These include Agriculture Development Strategy (ADS 2015-2035), National Agriculture Policy 2004,  Nepal’s Food Systems Transformation Strategic Plan (2022-2030), National Pathways of Food System of Nepal 2021 which emphasizes multi-sectoral coordination, resource mobilization, and the implementation of the Right to Food and Food Sovereignty Act 2018; the Agriculture Investment Decade (2024-2034); the national goal of achieving middle-income country status by 2026; and the Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF) Financing Strategy 2025–2030.

The INFF will channel both public and private resources through six interconnected pillars. Nepal Green Finance Taxonomy (2024) and National Insurance Policy of Nepal (Micro, Livestock, Crop, Herbs etc.).

The Value Chain for Inclusive Transformation of Agriculture (VITA) Signature Program is one of HPIN’s signature programs (flagship initiatives) that empowers smallholder farmers to shift from subsistence to sustainable agribusiness. By strengthening women-led cooperatives, expanding access to finance, markets, and technology, and promoting climate-smart practices, VITA has enabled farming communities to boost productivity, increase incomes, and contribute to inclusive rural economic growth fostering strong collaboration among farmers, cooperatives, local governments, financial institutions, and the private sector.

HPIN is seeking a consultancy with a highly competent and dynamic team to support the redefine and development of its VITA signature program document. The team will be expected to facilitate participatory workshops, conduct field-level assessments, and carry out in-depth qualitative reviews of national initiatives and redesign impactful programs. The ideal team will demonstrate strong expertise in food systems, resilient farming, inclusive market system development, agriculture value chain financing, investment facilitation, and private sector engagement, with proven knowledge of cooperatives and smallholder farmer dynamics. The team must be capable of delivering high-quality outputs, ensuring transparent presentation of Theory of Change, results, and providing strategic support in shaping a comprehensive, nationally relevant program that advances HPIN’s mission.

2. Objective

To review and revisit HPIN’s current VITA signature program and develop a redefined signature program framework that is aligned with Heifer’s new program model, national priorities, and local needs. The specific objectives are to:

• Assess and review existing programs – Evaluate the current signature program, documenting successes, best practices, opportunities and areas for improvement.
• Align with National Policies and Heifer’s Vision – Ensure the new signature program reflects Heifer International’s new program model, updated priorities and relevant national strategies.
• Analyze Needs and Priorities – Identify the key needs of smallholder farmers and cooperatives, value chain actors, investors, private sectors, and determine thematic focus areas.
• Design a Signature Program for 10 years (2025–2035) – Develop a forward-looking new VITA signature program that addresses gaps, integrates lessons learned, and promotes sustainable impact.

3. Scope of Work

Desk Review

• Review relevant documents, including all signature programs, particularly documents of the project, HPIN program and operating models, current programs results and lessons learned on social capital development, strengthening SHFs and Cooperatives, Inclusive Market System Development and Access to Finance Initiative of Heifer.
• Analyze secondary documents related to food systems, their status and existing gaps, as well as resilient agriculture, agricultural investment, private sector engagement in agriculture, the Care for Earth concept and other relevant national and international policies and programs.

Key Informant Interviews

• Conduct Key Informant Interviews (KII) to identify gaps at the farmer and cooperative levels, understand their context and develop a program plan to address these gaps and challenges.

Consultation Workshops (in cooperation and consultation with Heifer International Nepal)

• Organize workshops across ecological regions ensuring coverage of at least four rural municipalities within Heifer’s working areas.
• Conduct provincial-level workshops in Heifer’s operational provinces.
• In addition, organize workshops with:
• Relevant private sector actors
• Government stakeholders
• Farmer’s producer organizations/cooperatives
• Communities
• Bring together a national-level workshop.
• Compile and present key summary of findings and recommendations from each workshop.

Gap Identification

• Identify gaps in the entire ecosystem from extension services, knowledge, production, aggregation, business development, marketing, investment, and stakeholder engagement to inform the redesign of a signature program.

Strategic Planning and Documentation

• Define program’s goal statement, objectives, coverage/locations, priority themes, outcomes, indicative value chains/commodities and potential areas for strategic interventions. Suggest the appropriate name of the signature program and prepare draft/final signature program framework/document aligned with Heifer International’s new program model as well as government policies and plans.

4. Deliverables

The consultancy will deliver the following:

• Inception Report: a detailed methodology and work plan.
• Compilation of Event/Workshops Report: Compilation of preliminary suggestions and findings of the participants of the consultation workshops/events from the field.
• Photographs taken during the assignment.
• Draft Signature Program Documents: Major Findings Sharing and Validation Workshop Reports: Present draft program document to Heifer Team and key stakeholders and integrate feedback.
• Final Signature Program Document: Alignment with Heifer International program model and national priorities, goal statement, geographical locations, major themes, objectives, results/outcomes, strategic partners, development agencies/donors, academia, business cases, strategic interventions, best practice case studies, financing gap analysis, and program design recommendations.
• Identify and list strategic partners, development partners, key stakeholders, their potential roles and possible donors relevant to the field area.
• Presentation of Pitch Deck.

5. Duration

The assignment is expected to take 2.5 months from the date of signing the contract.

6. Required Qualification and Expertise

• Master in Business Administration, economics, agri-economics, agri-business (Team Leader)
• Proven, at least 10 years of experience in consultations, particularly in designing signature (Long Term) programs (Team Leader).
• Knowledge of policies, strategies and operational approaches of various national and international development organizations.
• Portfolio or work samples of programs previously designed by the consultant(s).
• Experience working in the food system, agriculture, smallholder farmer development, private sector engagement, access to finance and value chain development.
• Strong understanding at various levels of sustainable food systems, regenerative agriculture, and the Care for the Earth principle and practices.
• Prior experience in policy engagement and collaborating with government agencies and development organizations.
• Experience working with donors, private sector actors, investors, and cooperatives.
• Excellence in documentation, analysis, and reporting.
• Strong facilitation, and stakeholder analysis skills.

7. Reporting & Supervision

The consultant will operate under the direct supervision of the Program Director-VITA Signature Program and will be required to submit regular progress updates as per the agreed schedule.

8. Payment Terms

Payments will be released based on approved deliverables and agreed timelines.

9. Application Process

Qualified organizations are invited to submit the application to Procurement-NP@heifer.org  with the title “Application for Redefining VITA Signature Program” by no later than 7th of October 2025, 5 :00 PM along with the following documents.

1. A cover letter outlining interest in the assignment, availability within given timeframe.

2. Organizational profile (not more than 5 pages)

3. A technical proposal outlining understanding of the ToR, methodology, work plan, and team composition.

4. Financial proposal (with budget breakdown)

5. CVs of key personnel (not exceeding 3 pages each).

6. Relevant work samples (two recent documents or reports), or references.

7. Company/Firm registration certificate

8. A copy of PAN/VAT certificate

9. Tax clearance certificate FY 080-81

Note: VAT-registered vendors are encouraged to apply.

Heifer reserves the right to accept or reject any proposal and to annul the selection process and reject all Proposals at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to affected individuals.