Call for Expression of Interest (EOI) for

Partners for implementing “Building Blocks to scale CWIS in Nepal”

Date of First Publication:  23^rd May 2023

The United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat) Nepal is advancing City Wide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS) in Nepal. In this regard, UN-HABITAT is seeking an EXPRESSION OF INTEREST from interested organizations to partner for advancing CWIS at both policy level and at Municipal Levels. The organizations eligible are International and National Non-Governmental Organizations (I/NGOs), Associations, Academic Institutions, Private Companies based in Nepal and working within Nepal.   (This EOI is not intended for international / global agencies)

The EOI submission form and requirement as well as programme details can be downloaded from the following site: https://unhabitat.org.np/interest

Organizations interested should submit their EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (in ENGLISH) along with link to supporting documents addressing to NPO / WASH, United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), P.O. Box 107, Kathmandu, Nepal.

The EOI to be submitted electronically at unhabitat.nepal@unhabitat.org.np in soft copies. The total files size of the electronic submission to be within the limit of 10 MB. The EOI (in electronic copy) should reach the above-mentioned address not later than 1^st June 2023 by COB 12:00 AM.

For further information on CWIS program
Please visit the website: www.unhabitat.org.np

Note: UN-HABITAT reserves the right to change or cancel this requirement in the EOI/or solicitation process at any time. Telephone enquires will not be entertained. If you have any queries, please communicate through the email as mentioned above.

Microsoft Form: https://forms.office.com/r/07qT1z6mxg

Link to the Detailed EOI and Documents:  EOI Documents - CWIS

United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) Nepal

Call for Expressions of Interest: “Building Blocks to scale CWIS in Nepal.”

Date of Issue: 23^rd May 2023

Deadline for submission of applications: 1^st June 2023

1. Background

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme office in Nepal is seeking organizations to support its work on “Building Blocks to scale CWIS in Nepal”. As the lead United Nations agency responsible for promoting sustainable urban development and addressing urbanization challenges, UN-Habitat is committed to promoting inclusive sanitation services in Nepal. 

As per Multi Indicator Cluster Survey (2020), wastewater from 3.2m people (11% of homes) in Nepal is transported away by sewers which could be either be connected to a treatment plant or discharged as untreated wastewater. Human waste from on-site sanitation system from 25.8m people (89% homes), in the absence of regulation, continues to be indiscriminately dumped into nearby water bodies and lowlands without any treatment which poses severe risks to public health and environment pollution. 

Nepal’s transition to federalism in 2015 has been accompanied by rapid urbanization, putting additional pressure on the Municipalities to expand and improve citywide service delivery including safe and inclusive sanitation services. Safe and inclusive sanitation services is in infant stage in Nepal. The inherent bottlenecks identified by the Urban Sanitation Policy Assessment, undertaken by the UN Habitat in 2021, brought to the sector’s attention key policy pointers for mainstreaming Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS) into the sector policy, strategies, and plans. 

In that context, assessing the sectoral priorities of Government of Nepal with Ministry of Water Supply for further paving the sustainable path ahead to advance CWIS in Nepal. With the federal transition of Nepal and achievement of Open Defecation Free (ODF) in Nepal, the graduation towards safely managed sanitation has been the key priority of the sector.

2. Rationale

CWIS is a new concept in Nepal, but the need for its adaption suitable to its local context and priorities are beginning to emerge. The Ministry of Water Supply (MoWS) has taken institutional measures to effectively position itself to leverage from the urban sanitation policy assessment work that was supported by UN-Habitat. It has established a dedicated CWIS Thematic Group in the Ministry to institutionally anchor CWIS underlying principles into policy and programming and to systematically roll out CWIS policy recommendations through the implementation of Country CWIS action plan. 

3. Purpose of the Call

UN-Habitat is looking for organizations to support its work on Building Blocks to scale CWIS in Nepal: Specifically, to work on the following outcomes

Outcome 1:     Policy-practice-regulation interface strengthened by catalyzing prudent action for realizing citywide safe and inclusive sanitation services

Outcome 2:     CWIS indicators mainstreamed in National WASH Management Information System

Outcome 3:     CWISAN (CWIS Alliance Nepal) developed as a credible knowledge catalyst driving collaborative action to both promote and scale up CWIS

Outcome 4 :    Sector prioritize the assessment of Climate change impacts in sanitation service chain and regularize the dialogue on nexus between climate change and   sanitation with awareness and mandated assessment in sanitation services

4. Scope of the EOI
   1. A summary of relevant organizational experience, skills, and knowledge on City / Municipal Wide Inclusive Sanitation
   2. A description of how you can contribute to UN-Habitat's work on achieving the four intended outcomes
   3. A brief human resource and expertise indicating availability for achieving the tasks.
   4. An indication of the tentative costs associated with your offer, including what cost elements will be offered (in cash or in-kind) by your organization.
   5. Organizations must meet the following criteria:
      • International / National Non-Governmental organizations, Associations, Academic institutions, Private companies based and working in Nepal.
      • Aligned with and keen to strengthen the work of UN-Habitat

5. Selection Process

           The selection process will be undertaken according to the following timeline.

23^rd May 2023: Launch of the call for expressions of interest on the UN-Habitat and UN Nepal websites.

1^st June 2023: Deadline for interested parties to submit an expression of interest indicating their intention to submit a supporting proposal.

5^th June – 13 June 2023: Review and assessment of the submitted proposals by the selection committee.

16^th June 2023: Announcement of the successful entity.

1^st July 2023 (Anticipated): The signing of an agreement of cooperation or other suitable legal instruments.

1^st October 2023: Commencement of the cooperation.

6. Overall Timeframe

The engagement outlined in this EOI is for 12 to 28 months, commencing in the month of October 2023 and ending in the month of September 2026.

7. Submission Requirements and Guidelines

Expressions of Interest must be delivered by email no later than Thursday 1st June 2023 to unhabitat.nepal@unhabitat.org.np with the reference “EOI CWIS - 2023” in the subject of your email. 

Failure to indicate the reference may result in your proposal not being considered.

8. Contact Information

Rajesh Manandhar, CWIS Technical Officer, UN-Habitat Nepal rajesh.manandhar@unhabitat.org.np     

9. Other

Please note that this EOI notice does not constitute a solicitation. UN-Habitat reserves the right to change or cancel this requirement at any time in the Expressions of Interest/or solicitation process.

Submitting a reply to an EOI does not guarantee that a Cooperation Partner will be considered for receipt of the solicitation when issued and only Cooperation Partners who are deemed qualified by UN-Habitat upon completion of evaluation of submission will receive the final solicitation document.