Terms of Reference (TOR) for Coffee Value Chain Research Assignment in the Kaligandaki Region

Terms of Reference for Coffee Value Chain Research Assignment in the Kaligandaki Region

Heifer International Nepal works with smallholder farmers, women and their cooperatives to build sustainable livelihoods, stronger local enterprises and resilient communities.

The mid-hills along the Kaligandaki river corridor have the altitude, rainfall and soils needed for high-quality shade-grown Arabica coffee. Coffee is grown by many smallholders in the region, yet production volumes remain small and productivity is low. Farmers face fragmented holdings, limited access to quality planting material, weak post-harvest processing, uneven quality, limited finance and insurance, and weak links to reliable buyers. At the same time, domestic demand is growing, Nepal still imports a large share of the coffee it consumes, and specialty buyers abroad are interested in traceable Himalayan coffee.

Several actors in the region are exploring larger, more organized models, including cooperative and collective farming, private investment with buyback arrangements, and integrated agroforestry systems. A clear, evidence-based understanding of the whole value chain is needed to decide where and how support will make the greatest difference.

Heifer International Nepal is therefore commissioning a value chain research assignment in the Kaligandaki region. Its findings will inform the design of a long-term project for the area.

Purpose: to generate evidence on the coffee value chain in the Kaligandaki region and to design a long-term, investment-ready project that improves smallholder incomes in a fair, inclusive and climate-resilient way.

Individual researchers must meet the requirements below. Organizations must propose a team whose Team Leader meets them, supported by the team composition described in section 9.

Team Leader or individual researcher

Please submit the following documents in PDF format to [email protected] by November 15, 2026, 5 :00 PM, with the subject line: "Proposal: Coffee Value Chain Research Assignment in the Kaligandaki Region”.

Note

VAT registered vendors are encouraged to apply.

Heifer International Nepal reserves the right to accept or reject any proposal, and to cancel the process, without giving reasons.

https://www.jobsnepal.com/terms-of-reference-tor-for-coffee-value-chain-research-assignment-in-the-kaligandaki-region-144897