Consultancy for an Improved Cookstove Expert

Terms of Reference (To R)

Background of Save the Children

Save the Children is the leading global independent organization for children. Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. Around the world, we work every day to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. When crisis strikes, and children are most vulnerable, we are always among the first to respond and the last to leave. We ensure children’s unique needs are met and their voices are heard. We deliver lasting results for millions of children, including those hardest to reach.

We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share.

Our vision: A world in which every child attains the right to survival, protection, development, and participation.

Our mission: To inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children, and to achieve immediate and lasting changes in their lives.

Our values: Accountability, ambition, collaboration, creativity, and integrity.

We are committed to ensuring our resources are used as efficiently as possible to focus them on achieving maximum impact for children.

1. Background information/context

Save the Children Nepal, with support from Save the Children Global Venture (SCGV), is implementing the Improved Cookstove Project in Karnali Province of Nepal. The project promotes clean cooking solutions to reduce household dependence on firewood, improve health outcomes, and contribute to climate change mitigation.

The project builds on earlier feasibility studies and pilots in Surkhet and Jajarkot and is designed for registration either as a Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) project under the Gold Standard for the Global Goals (GS4 GG) or an Article 6.2 project. It aims to scale to at least 10,000 households across Surkhet, Dailekh, and Jajarkot districts of Karnali province. Target areas are characterized by heavy reliance on solid biomass, deforestation pressure, and indoor air pollution from traditional cooking. Community Forest User Groups (CFUGs) are central partners in household identification, stove distribution, and adoption monitoring.

The project has completed an initial pilot that distributed 2 stove types (ceramic and metal) to 112 households in Barahatal Rural Municipality of Surkhet and Chhedagadh Municipality of Jajarkot and following up through regular surveys and collection of sensor data from selected stoves. This early pilot has confirmed that a key challenge for the Improved Cookstove (ICS) Project is ensuring adoption and sustained usage. A follow-up behavioural survey found that there were factors affecting adoption and usage at the geographic, social and household level; including, ease of firewood collection, availability of LPG, entrenched cooking preferences, the need to chop firewood into smaller pieces, stove maintenance requirements, and social behavior patterns that influence daily practices. This show adoption is not only a matter of technology but also of usability, cultural habits, and household economics.

The project is planning a second pilot distribution, in 3-4 new locations, trialing 2 new metal cookstove models. Save the Children requires dedicated technical support to strengthen partner capacity for these distribution, follow-up and monitoring activities; ensuring that households are effectively guided in the transition to improved cookstoves. This includes the development of Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) materials to promote awareness and behavioral change, systematic monitoring of stove adoption, and analysis of both sensor data and KOBO monitoring data to generate evidence on usage patterns and performance. The findings will be compiled into reports and used to inform strategies for scaling. This technical support role is therefore critical to enabling effective stove distribution, achieving high adoption and regular usage, ensuring that the ICS Project delivers measurable benefits in terms of reduced firewood consumption, improved health outcomes, and enhanced climate resilience.

1. Objectives of the Assignment

The overall objective of this assignment is to provide technical and operational support to partners and field teams for the effective implementation of the Improved Cookstove (ICS) Project in Karnali Province. The role is designed to ensure that stove distribution transforms into sustained adoption and generates measurable outcomes, and evidence.

The specific objectives of the assignment are to

• Strengthen partner capacity in ICS user demonstration, stove distribution, and adoption follow‑up, ensuring that households are guided through behavioral and technical barriers to sustained use

• Ensure systematic monitoring and analysis of ICS sensor data and KOBO tool monitoring data, generating credible evidence on stove performance, usage patterns, and adoption trends.

• Compile and synthesize weekly updates from partners into consolidated progress notes that highlight achievements, challenges, and lessons learned.

• Support preparation of periodic reports (monthly and quarterly), ensuring clarity, accuracy, and alignment with SCI reporting standards.

• Conduct field monitoring visits to CFUGs and partner sites, documenting findings, providing technical guidance, and identifying corrective actions where needed.

• Provide support in developing SBCC materials and communication tools to promote awareness, encourage behavioral change, and support households in overcoming adoption barriers.

• Provide technical inputs to SCI technical teams and contribute to the preparation of the Project Design Document (PDD) for climate financing, integrating evidence from sensor data, KOBO monitoring, and household adoption studies.

1. Scope of Work and Key Responsibilities

The ICS expert will be responsible for ensuring that the Improved Cookstove (ICS) Project achieves effective implementation, high adoption and usage, and evidence‑based reporting.

Key responsibilities include

• Provide hands‑on guidance to partner organizations and CFUGs on ICS user demonstrations, stove distribution processes, and household engagement strategies to overcome behavioral and technical barriers.

• Facilitate training and coaching for partner field staff, focusing on user demonstration techniques, adoption follow‑up, stove maintenance practices, and community mobilization.

• Review and validate sensor data submitted by partners; conduct trend analysis to assess stove usage, performance, and adoption levels; prepare concise analytical summaries highlighting key findings and recommendations.

• Review KOBO monitoring data collected by partners; identify adoption trends, challenges, and lessons learned; provide feedback to improve data quality and ensure consistency with SCI monitoring standards.

• Compile weekly updates from partners into consolidated progress notes, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and timely submission to SCI/SCGV.

• Draft monthly and quarterly reports that highlight progress, challenges, lessons learned, and recommendations; ensure reports are aligned with donor requirements and SCI templates.

• Undertake regular visits to CFUGs and partner sites; document findings through structured monitoring tools; provide technical feedback and corrective guidance to improve implementation quality.

• Support the design and dissemination of SBCC materials to promote awareness, encourage behavioral change, and strengthen household adoption of ICS.

• Work closely with SCI technical teams to implement additional activities as suggested, ensuring integration of donor priorities, technical recommendations, and cross‑project learning.

• Provide technical inputs to SCGV/SCI technical teams and contribute to the preparation of the Project Design Document (PDD) for climate financing, ensuring integration of field evidence into donor reporting and carbon credit registration processes.

1. Ethical consideration

The ICS expert will engage with households, partners and community groups during monitoring, training/coaching and data collection activities under the ICS Project. Prior to any interviews or household visits, the objectives of the activity will be clearly explained to participants. Verbal consent will be obtained from all respondents, and in the case of children, consent will be obtained from parents and assent from children. Respondents may withdraw their participation at any time. All personal identification will be kept confidential, and no real names will be disclosed in reports; pseudonyms will be used when quoting responses. The expert shall not use collected data for personal purposes outside the scope of this assignment.

Following aspects will be strictly followed during entire consulting period as:

• Inclusive- ensure that participants from different ethnic, social and religious backgrounds have the chance to participate.

• Safeguarding – demonstrating the highest standards of behavior towards children and adults.

• Sensitive – to child rights, gender, inclusion and cultural contexts.

• Openness - of information given to the highest possible degree to all parties involved.

• Confidentiality and data protection - measures to be put in place to protect the identity of all participants and any other information that may put them or others at risk.

• Broad participation - the relevant parties should be involved where possible.

• Reliability and independence - findings and conclusions are correct and trustworthy.

1. Deliverables

• Organize and deliver training/coaching for partner field staff on ICS demonstration, stove distribution, adoption follow‑up, and stove maintenance practices.

• Consolidate weekly updates from partners into clear progress notes, capturing achievements, challenges, and lessons learned.

• Review and analyze ICS sensor data and KOBO monitoring data monthly; prepare concise analytical briefs highlighting adoption trends, stove performance, and key findings.

• Draft monthly reports documenting progress, challenges, lessons learned, and recommendations, aligned with SCI reporting standards.

• Undertake regular visits to CFUGs and project sites; document findings, corrective actions, and recommendations in structured monitoring notes.

• Provide contributions to SCGV/SCI technical teams and support the preparation of the Project Design Document (PDD) for climate financing, integrating evidence from sensor data, KOBO monitoring, and household adoption studies.

1. Duration and Location

• Duration: 3 months. Extension of the contract may be considered based on project requirements and performance.

• Location: Save the Children Surkhet Field Office, Birendranagar with frequent travel to SFO project sites.

1. Reporting and Management

• Reporting line: The expert will report to the Senior Project Coordinator based in Surkhet.

• Technical guidance: Provided by the SCGV/SCI technical teams

• Coordination: Close collaboration with local governments, forest authorities, partners and CFUGs is expected throughout the consulting period.

1. Required Qualifications and Experience

• Education: Postgraduate qualification in a relevant field such as environmental science, engineering, public health, natural resource management or international development.

• Experience: Minimum 3 years and above proven experience in ICS projects (implementation, monitoring, adoption follow‑up, and reporting).

• Technical skills: Strong ability in data analysis (sensor data, KOBO tool) and report writing.

• Communication: Strong skills in Nepali and English; ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders.

1. Payment information

• The expert will be paid on a monthly basis.

• Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) will be paid as per the policy of the organization. Travel and accommodation costs will be reimbursed as per actual expenses incurred.

• Payments are subject to satisfactory performance, timely submission of deliverables, and compliance with Save the Children’s policies.

Link: Consultancy Proposal Form