SHORT-TERM CONSULTANCY FEASIBILITY STUDY INDIA: JHARGRAM

Terms of Reference

1.Introduction:

The German Doctors e. V. (GD) is a charitable, non-profit organization with legal capacity regis-tered in Bonn, Germany, focusing on the provision of medical services for the poor and under-privileged people in regions with only limited access to medical treatment. GD has a long-standing engagement in India and has cooperated with various partners to implement projects in medical care, primary healthcare, rights-based approaches, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), and related areas since the early 1980s. Our local partner, Kajla Janakalyan Samity (KJKS), is an experienced Indian non-governmental organization with a broad program portfolio. Its work covers education programs with a focus on child-friendly and child-centric quality education, health programs, child protection, women’s empowerment including gender equality, natural resource management with emphasis on sus-tainable and eco-friendly alternative agriculture and allied activities, social security and livelihoods including vocational training, nutrition and food security, as well as disaster risk reduction and humanitarian response. KJKS’s mission is to empower the community, especially tribal populations, fishing communities, slum dwellers, children, women, senior citizens and persons with disabilities, in an integrated and sustainable way. The organization aims to foster resilient communities through full participation and inclusive development. Together, GD and KJKS plan to implement the project “Strengthening Climate-Resilient Agricul-ture and Food Security of Smallholder Farmers including Mothers and Children through Women-led Cooperatives.” The project aims to address extreme poverty, malnutrition, and low agricultur-al productivity among indigenous smallholder farmers in Nayagram Block, Jhargram District, West Bengal. Approximately 3,000 households in 49 villages are expected to benefit from improved food security and resilience. Key project components include the establishment of a women-led cooperative, the formation of producer groups, the promotion of climate-resilient and sustainable agricultural practices, and improved access to local markets. A particular focus will be placed on improving the nutrition of mothers and young children. Additional measures such as capacity building, the introduction of savings schemes, and systematic linkage with government programs will strengthen the economic and social stability of participating households. Replicability of the model is envisaged through strong community structures and policy engagement. In preparation for the funding application to the German Federal Ministry for Economic Coopera-tion and Development (BMZ), a feasibility study is required.

2. Purpose of the Study / Main DutiesGerman Doctors e. V. and KJKS seek to implement a project in the field of climate-resilient agri-culture and food security to be co-funded by the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) after a feasibility study has been conducted to assess the feasibility of the project and to systematically examine the extent to which the project approach can achieve the set goals.  The overall purpose of the feasibility study is to assess the viability of the planned project, analyze the initial situation, and provide recommendations for the conceptual refinement of the project.More specifically, the following deliverables are associated with the feasibility study:

• The study serves as a basis for the further development of the project concept, describes the context of the planned project at all relevant levels, and includes essential data on the initial situation.
• The study identifies to what extent the planned project approach is appropriate to achieve the project objectives, taking into account the evaluation criteria by the Devel-opment Assistance Committee (DAC). 
• Concrete recommendations are given for adjustments to the specific project concept, in-cluding the impact matrix and measures.
• Risks that could affect project objectives and possible risk mitigation strategies have been identified.

The consultant (team) will conduct the following exercises and provide recommendations based on the findings of these exercises to achieve these objectives: Context and problem analysisExamine to what extent the project contributes to one or more of the thematic areas of the Spe-cial Initiative ‘SiAGER’ (1) food security and resilience, (2) innovations in agriculture and food systems, (3) sustainable management of natural resources, (4) secure and fair access to resources and land, (5) rural employment, (6) sustainable fisheries. Assess how well the project fits into the selected thematic area(s) and evaluate its potential contribution. Analyze the local context in Na-yagram with regard to food security, livelihoods, agricultural practices, market access, and the accessibility of public support schemes. Describe causes of the identified problems as well as structural barriers affecting indigenous smallholder women farmers and their households. Sum-marize key trends, geographic specificities, and seasonality, and identify evidence gaps relevant for project design. Examine in particular maternal and child health in relation to nutrition, and the impact of alcohol consumption on household food security and nutrition outcomes. Document current practices related to agriculture, nutrition, savings, and market engagement. Stakeholder analysisIdentify and map all relevant stakeholders at community, block, and district levels. This includes self-help groups, Panchayats, local administration, agricultural training and extension services, civil society organizations, private sector market actors, and relevant government schemes. Clari-fy roles, interests, influence, coordination mechanisms, and potential for collaboration. Identify potential conflicts of power and interest. Detailed analysis of the target groupDescribe and evaluate the selection process and composition of the primary and secondary target groups across the 49 villages. Disaggregate findings by sex, age, disability, socio economic sta-tus, and other relevant characteristics. Identify most vulnerable subgroups and barriers to partici-pation and benefits. Assessment of the planned project approach. Review the theory of change, objectives, results framework, and planned activities. Assess the fit of the approach to identified needs, analyze which short-, medium-, and long-term effects are plausibly achievable, assess the feasibility of the implementation timeline, and complementarities with existing structures and programs. Analyze the sustainability of the proposed approach. Ex-amine the extent to which the planned measures represent an innovative approach in the the-matic fields of improving maternal and child nutrition and adoption of climate-resilient agricul-ture, and whether they set new impulses in these areas. Analyze synergies with other programs in the region (e.g., government subsidies, NGO projects) and identify risks of duplication and propose ways to maximize coherence and added value. Analyse how the project contributes to the empowerment of women and girls beyond their participation. Evaluate which alternatives or complementary approaches could be useful. Identification of risksConduct a comprehensive risk analysis that covers contextual, programmatic, operational, safe-guarding, and data protection risks, as well as climate and market risks. Apply a do no harm lens and integrate a gender equality and social inclusion perspective. Propose specific, actionable mit-igation and contingency measures with clear responsibilities. Analysis of the local partners’ internal capacities and opportunitiesAssess KJKS in terms of governance, staffing, technical expertise, financial management, pro-curement, safeguarding, monitoring and evaluation, data systems, and partnership management. Identify capacity strengths and gaps, training needs, and opportunities for collaboration and scal-ing.Data on the initial situation. Generate relevant baseline information to populate and refine the impact matrix and indicators. Propose realistic baseline values or approaches for establishing them, define data sources and collection methods, and provide recommendations for monitoring arrangements during imple-mentation. 

3.  MethodologyThe feasibility study will be conducted using mixed methodology, including a review of secondary data, qualitative data collection (e.g. focus-group discussion, interviews) and quantitative data collection (e.g. survey). Relevant stakeholders (e.g. community members, government stakehold-ers, NGO representatives) will be engaged during the primary data collection. The data collection should cover all project areas, focusing on the 49 targeted villages. 5.         Responsibilities Stakeholders   Roles and responsibilities German Doc-tors e.V. 

• Tendering / selection process and contracting of consultant(s)
• Approve budget
• Provide internal documents that will be useful for consultant(s) to conduct the feasibility study
• Review reports (inception report, including tools and final study report) and share feedback
• Facilitate contacts with partners / stakeholders in India
• KJKS         
• Provide background information/internal documents on the organization, the planned project, and monitoring data on the ongoing pilot project
• Review reports (inception report, including tools and final study report) and share feedback
• Facilitate the field work, e.g. contacts with partners / stakeholders in the field
• Research con-sultant(s)     
• Desk review / review of secondary data
• Draft inception report
• Develop the tools for primary data collection
• Conduct data collection and ensure quality / supervision
• Data analysis and interpretation
• Develop recommendations for the adaptation of the project
• Draft and finalize the feasibility study report

6.         Minimum criteria

• Education of evaluation lead or co-lead: Master’s degree in Social Sciences, Development Studies, Monitoring and Evaluation or its equivalent
• Experience of evaluation lead: at least 5 years of professional experience in consultancies for NGOs in data collection/analysis (e.g. evaluations, feasibility studies, research studies, etc.)
• Proven knowledge with the implementation of studies in the Indian context
• Proven knowledge with at least 2 of the following study themes: food security, climate resili-ent agriculture, gender, mother-child health
• Proven experience and knowledge of various methods of data collection
• Proven experience with application of the OECD-DAC criteria in evaluations / studies
• Experience with evaluation / studies in the context of BMZ-funded projects or equivalent
• Language Requirements: English

7.         BudgetFor the feasibility study about 40 consultancy days (evaluation team) are budgeted. The proposed budget must include all study-related costs and show exactly how the costs are divided. 

8.         Application and Evaluation The technical proposal should include (no longer than five pages):

• Description of how the work will be done including the proposed methodology
• Description of the different stakeholders involved
• Proposed time frame
• Description of the team members characteristics/expertise and functions within the study
• Names and contacts of 3 professional references for whom similar work has been con-ducted

The financial proposal should include:

• Detailed itemized fees
• All costs related to the work, including transport, translation (if required), printing, com-munication, and accommodation.

The tenderers who submitted the proposal with the highest total score will be invited for an in-terview and contract negotiations.

Interested candidates should email their expression of interest, including the technical and finan-cial proposal, to quotations@german-doctors.de no later than October 22, 2025, at 12 midnight. Any question, communication or requests for additional information concerning this call for ten-ders are permitted in writing (email). The subject for the application should be “Proposal for Fea-sibility Study Jhargram”. 

For detailed information, please check the complete version of the RFP attached below.

Job Email ID:

quotations(at)german-doctors.de

Download Attachment:

ToR_Short Term Consultancy_Feasibility study_Jhargram.pdf