Call for Expression of Interest (EoI) for Establishing Baseline for Integrated Climate Adaptation Solutions for the Hindu Kush Himalaya Region (HI-CAS) Project in Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal

Photo: Jitendra Raj Bajracharya/ICIMOD.

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) invites Expression of Interest (EoI) from established firms or institutions to undertake the baseline study for the HI-CAS project. The call is open to both national and international entities with a proven track record and an established presence in Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal. Preference will be given to firms or institutions with the capability to execute the baseline simultaneously across all three countries and to assemble a well-balanced team of highly qualified thematic experts, and technical professionals from each country, with demonstrated hands-on expertise in designing and executing well-linked baselines, midline and endline assessments. The team demonstrates hands-on expertise in designing and executing gender-responsive research as well as applying feminist and rights-based approaches. For additional details, please download the Terms of Reference (ToR) from:

Download TOR

About the HI-CAS Project

ICIMOD is in the process of executing the Integrated Climate Adaptation Solutions for the Hindu Kush Himalaya Region (HI-CAS) project across selected sites in three countries. In the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh, the project will be implemented two upazilas (sub-districts) in the Bandarban and Khagrachhari hill districts. In Bhutan, the project covers two gewogs (blocks) within Paro and Punakha districts. In Nepal, the project focuses on selected sites in Roshi Municipality and Dhankuta Municipality. The HI-CAS project is funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) through the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development. Over its four-year duration, the project aims to strengthen the climate resilience and improve the livelihoods of approximately 40,000 Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs). The project will be implemented through the adoption of gender-responsive and locally tailored climate adaptation solutions, grounded in feminist and rights-based approaches that prioritize the rights, agency, and leadership of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs). HI-CAS focuses on Integrated Adaptation Solution Packages (IASPs). The IASPs will be complemented by capacity building and knowledge-sharing initiatives aimed at strengthening institutional policies and actions, while also catalyzing sustainable investments in climate action and development—particularly in the water, energy, and agrobiodiversity sectors through gender responsive policies and enabling environment for scaling of innovations – with a strong emphasis on promoting women’s and IPLCs’ leadership.

The project is designed to deliver the following outcomes.

Ultimate outcome: Improved climate resilient and nature-positive livelihoods of rural women and Indigenous People and Local Communities (IPLCs) with biodiversity and climate mitigation co-benefits in Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal.

Intermediate outcome 1: Enhanced adoption of the Springshed specific, gender responsive Integrated Adaptation Solutions Packages (IASP) for climate change adaptation by women’s groups, IPLC networks, and local institutions.

Intermediate outcome 2: Increased development and implementation of gender responsive policies, strategies and guidelines by sub-national institutions that enable scaling of watershed specific, gender-responsive IASP.

Intermediate outcome 3: Increased use of climate finance by women’s groups and IPLC networks for implementing the gender responsive IASP.

Each of the intermediate outcomes is linked to one or more immediate outcomes and associated output level results. For additional details, please refer to the HI-CAS results framework and the HI-CAS performance measurement Framework. Project document (declassified) can be found here.

Structure of EoI, and submission deadline

Interested institutions or firms are required to submit their EoI, along with a cover on the firm’s or institution’s letterhead (duly signed by the designated contact person) in the format specified below. Submissions must be made no later than 11 August 2025 (12:00 PM Nepal Standard Time) to the following email address: ieu@icimod.org. Any email correspondence regarding this call should include the subject line: EoI for HI-CAS Project Baseline.

1. Why is your firm or organization well-qualified for this assignment? (500–800 words)
   In your response, clearly demonstrate your firm’s or organization’s suitability for this assignment. Please carefully read the baseline objectives, proposed methodology, scope of work, and required qualifications and experience as outlined in the Terms of Reference (ToR). Please separately attach, or provide a link to, the most relevant work your firm or organization has completed in the last 3 to 5 years that you are particularly proud of.
2. What would be your preferred team composition for this assignment? (100-200 words)
   In your response, clearly demonstrate how the proposed team’s composition and expertise align with the requirements of this assignment. Please ensure your answer reflects careful consideration of the team composition and balance criteria outlined in the ‘Qualifications and Experience’ section of the ToR. Separately attach or provide a link to CVs (maximum two pages each) of your proposed team members.
3. What would be your preferred baseline (evaluation) design for this assignment? (200 – 400 words)
   In your response, clearly demonstrate that the baseline evaluation design is not only relevant to the project context but also at par with the objectives of the baseline as outlined in the ToR.
   In your response, clearly demonstrate how your proposed baseline evaluation design is tailored to the project context and aligns closely with the objectives of the baseline as outlined in the ToR.

Declaration: Provide a short declaration statement that:

• You are a registered firm or organization with audited financial accounts maintained for at least the past three years and are compliant with all applicable tax regulations in your country of registration. You will be able to provide copies of these financial and tax compliance documents if your firm or organization qualifies for the Request for Proposal (RFP) stage.
• The information provided in this EoI is correct and complete and will be used to assess your firm’s or organization’s suitability to proceed to the full proposal submission stage for this assignment. ICIMOD reserves the right to reject this EoI in the event of false or misleading information or any other circumstances that ICIMOD deems disqualifying.

Any questions – please address them to: ieu@icimod.org

Thank you for your interest.