Terms of Reference (ToR): Engagement of Artist(s) for Heatwave Mural Art

1. About the organization

Youth Innovation Lab (YI-Lab) is a not-for-profit civic tech company that works at the intersection of emerging cutting-edge technological tools and their applications by equipping young professionals to solve emerging challenges in our community. YI-Lab’s mission statement is, ‘to engage young people to bridge science to people and policy through innovation’. YI-Lab harnesses indigenous knowledge, citizen science approach, develops low-cost technological solutions, promotes open data, promotes entrepreneurship, and conducts evidence-based advocacy campaigns. YI-Lab provides a conducive environment for young people to co-create solutions for inclusive development. 

2. About the RAIN Project

RAIN has been designed to support and contribute to the overarching early action and climate resilience aims of the British Embassy Kathmandu’s (BEK) Resilience, Adaptation and Inclusion in Nepal (RAIN) program. The RAIN project aims to bring significant value and sustainable scale-up to the RAIN program, particularly by reaching the most vulnerable and marginalized communities at risk of multiple hazards. To achieve this, RAIN employs evidence-based approaches tailored to local contexts, promoting systemic resilience building through localization, inclusion, and strategic mobilisation of government fiscal resources for climate adaptation. Its two core outcomes focus on 1) enhancing community resilience, and 2) strengthening sub-national government systems for early warning (EW), early action (EA), and adaptation, in line with NDRRMA’s strategic goals and key national frameworks including the National Disaster Risk Financing Strategy (2020), the DRR Policy (2018), and the National Strategic Plan for Action (2018–2030).

RAIN is grounded in long-term, equitable partnerships between international, national, and local organizations, combining technical expertise with deep contextual knowledge. The project will work directly with 35 +grassroots Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) representing marginalized populations in 11 local governments across two provinces in year 1. These CBOs will receive training and sub-grants to actively co-design and implement EW, EA, and adaptation actions in their communities. Together with thematic leads, RAIN Technical Assistance (TA), and other stakeholders, they will also work to hold local and provincial governments accountable while helping unlock public funding for inclusive climate resilience measures. Central to RAIN is the use of science, technology, innovation, and proven best practices to strengthen multi-hazard EWS at the sub-national level, enhance access to risk information for the most at-risk groups, and improve data-driven, inclusive planning and coordination. The insights generated will directly inform DRR and anticipatory action policy frameworks, ensuring that localized, inclusive, and gender-responsive strategies are embedded into government systems and sustained through national fiscal mechanisms.

Youth Innovation Lab (YI-Lab) is a technical partner of RAIN, leading the integration of digital innovation, youth engagement, and risk communication. YI-Lab is responsible for the localization and expansion of the Bipad, enabling local governments and communities to access and use real-time, multi-hazard risk data for timely decision-making. It also leads inclusive communication strategies, such as the use of art, and storytelling, to ensure early warning information is understandable and accessible to all, including youth, women, and marginalized communities. By engaging youth networks and CBOs, YI-Lab empowers young people to actively participate in the design and implementation of early warning, early action, and climate adaptation activities, fostering a generation of climate-resilient leaders and bridging the gap between data, technology, and community action.

7. Duration and Location

- The assignment is expected to be completed within 3 weeks from contract signing.

- Field work and mural creation will be done in Gaur Municipality, Rautahat.