TERMS OF REFERENCE
External Consultant to Inform WHH India Country Strategy (CSP) 2027–2030
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Country and Region:
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India
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Scope/ Topic:
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Consultancy assignment to support the development process of the Country Strategy Plan for Welthungerhilfe India 2027-2030
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Requested by:
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Senior Management Team, Country Office India
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Working with
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CSP Working Group, WHH India
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Period:
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May to July 2026
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Deutsche Welthungerhilfe e. V. is one of the largest non-governmental organisations in Germany operating in the humanitarian assistance and development fields. It was established in 1962, as the German section of the “Freedom from Hunger Campaign”, one of the world’s first initiatives aimed at the eradication of hunger. Welthungerhilfe’s work is still dedicated to the following vision: All people have a right to a self-determined life in dignity and justice, free from hunger and poverty.
1. Background
Welthungerhilfe (WHH) India has been working for over six decades to address hunger, malnutrition, and poverty through integrated, community-led approaches. The current programme portfolio focuses on food and nutrition security, climate resilience, water and sanitation, and sustainable livelihoods, implemented largely through local partner organisations. These interventions aim to strengthen climate-resilient communities, improve access to food and nutrition, safe water, and sustainable livelihoods, while enabling women and youth to play a stronger role in decision-making and local development processes.
Over time, WHH India has evolved from a primarily project-based implementation model toward a more integrated and partnership-driven approach. However, the operating context is changing rapidly. As a growing global economy, India is no longer seen as a traditional aid recipient, and development cooperation is increasingly shifting toward strategic partnerships, co-financing, and system-level approaches. At the same time, donor priorities are evolving — with greater emphasis on localisation, , and measurable, scalable impact. Regulatory frameworks governing foreign funding have also become more complex, requiring strong compliance and institutional credibility.
WHH India is in the process of developing its Country Strategy Plan (CSP) for 2027–2030, ahead of the current strategy's expiry at end-2026. And, considering the shifts in the operating environment since the last strategy cycle, WHH India is reassessing its project-based model and exploring a transition toward portfolio stewardship, systems facilitation, and knowledge partnership. The new CSP will position WHH India as a relevant and future-ready partner aligned with the development policies of the donor as well as Government of India to enable sustainable, system-level impact.
2. Objectives of the Assignment
WHH India seeks an external consultant to conduct a structured external contextual analysis and internal programme review, and facilitation to inform the development of its Country Strategy Plan (CSP) 2027–2030. The assignment aims to generate an evidence-based understanding of the external and internal operating environment within which WHH India operates.
The process of CSP development will address the following core strategic questions:
- What is WHH India's future role and value proposition in a localisation-driven environment?
- How does WHH India adopt a programmatic approach shifting from a higher number of individual projects (~20) to a smaller number (~3–4) of strategic platforms / portfolios?
- How should WHH India position itself in the changing development cooperation landscape, including partnerships, financing trends, and alignment with public systems?
- How can WHH India strengthen its partner-based model, including quality, accountability, and scale-readiness?
- What are the organisational implications of this repositioning, including roles, capacities, and required skill sets?
- How can WHH India strengthen evidence, learning, and positioning to support policy influence, scale, and resource mobilisation?
The WHH Global Strategy (2025–2030) —centred on the goal of ‘Zero Hunger on a Healthy Planet, is the key guiding document for this process.
3. Scope of Work
The purpose of the consultancy is to ensure a structured and participatory process for the development of the WHH India Country Strategy 2027–2030 through a sound and independent facilitation, ensuring the active and inclusive engagement of WHH staff, local partners, and key stakeholders. The consultant will work closely with the CSP working group to guide the process, ensure quality, and facilitate internal and external coordination.
4. Qualifications of the Consultant
Welthungerhilfe India is looking for an individual consultant or a consulting firm with the following qualifications and experience:
- Proven experience in facilitating strategy development processes for INGOs or UN agencies
- Strong understanding of civil society engagement; prior experience in India or South Asia is highly desirable
- Expertise in participatory methodologies, facilitation, and strategic planning
- Strong knowledge of food systems transformation; familiarity with other systems (e.g., WASH) transformations, climate resilience, gender equality, and youth empowerment
- Excellent communication and drafting skills in English
5. Application Process
Evaluation –Proposals will be evaluated based on technical quality and financial offer using a weighted scoring system.
Technical Evaluation (70%)
Technical proposals will be assessed based on the following criteria:
- Understanding of the assignment and objectives15%
- Soundness and appropriateness of the proposal 25%
- Experience of the firm in conducting assignments 10%
- Qualifications and experience of the proposed team members10%
- Quality assurance mechanisms and feasibility of the proposed work plan10%
Financial Evaluation (30%)
The financial proposal will be evaluated based on cost competitiveness and value for money.
The contract will be awarded to the bidder with the highest combined technical and financial score.
Please note – The committee may ask for a more detailed presentation from the shortlisted candidates before awarding the contract. The presentation is in no way binding on the contracting authority. Applicants will be informed of their selection & non-selection, but scores and other details of the evaluation committee will remain confidential.
For detailed information, please check the complete version of the RFP attached below.