Harvestplus And Global Alliance For Improved Nutrition (GAIN)- Request For Proposals From Government, Public, And Private Sector Advocacy For The Commercialization Of Biofortification In Nigeria

DEADLINE: 5TH OCTOBER, 2021
HARVESTPLUS AND GAIN
CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC, AND PRIVATE SECTOR ADVOCACY FOR THE COMMERCIALIZATION OF BIOFORTIFICATION IN NIGERIA
JOB DESCRIPTION
COMPANY INFORMATION: ABOUT HARVESTPLUS AND GAIN – THE COMMERCIALIZATION OF BIOFORTIFIED CROPS PROGRAMME

At HarvestPlus, we believe that hidden hunger should not be inevitable for the people most at risk. We break down silos between agriculture and nutrition to develop creative solutions to hidden hunger. Our food-based approach targets some of the most vulnerable populations around the world. We use a process called biofortification, which adopts conventional breeding to improve crops. This approach complements other nutrition interventions, and is evidence-based, cost-effective, and sustainable. We work across the entire value chain to develop and deliver nutrient enriched seeds, grains and foods to the people who need it the most via a large collection of innovative and traditional supply chain activities. HarvestPlus is part of the CGIAR Research Program on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health (A4NH). CGIAR is a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future. Its science is carried out by its 15 research centres in collaboration with hundreds of partner organizations.

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is a Swiss-based foundation launched at the UN in 2002 to tackle the human suffering caused by malnutrition. Working with both governments and businesses, we aim to transform food systems so that they deliver more nutritious food for all people. At GAIN, we believe that everyone in the world should have access to nutritious and safe food. We work to understand and deliver specific solutions to the daily challenge of food insecurity faced by poor people. By understanding that there is no “one-size-fits-all” model, we develop alliances and build tailored programmes, using a variety of flexible models and approaches. We build alliances between governments, local and global businesses, and civil society to deliver sustainable improvements at scale. We are part of a global network of partners working together to create sustainable solutions to malnutrition. Through alliances, we provide technical, financial and policy support to key participants in the food system.

We use specific learning, evidence of impact, and results of projects and programmes to shape and influence the actions of others. HarvestPlus improves nutrition and public health by developing and promoting biofortified food crops that are rich in vitamins and minerals while providing global leadership on evidence and technology.

In May 2018, HarvestPlus and GAIN launched a landmark partnership to accelerate progress in improving access to biofortified seeds, grains and foods via commercial channels with the Commercialisation of Biofortifed Crops (CBC) programme. The CBC programme works with national partners to catalyse commercial markets for biofortified crops and foods in six countries with pervasive levels of malnutrition: Bangladesh, India, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Tanzania. Initial funding for this program is from Germany’s Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The partnership brings together two leading actors in the global nutrition space. It combines the deep expertise of HarvestPlus in all aspects of biofortification with GAIN’s proven track record of working with fortification and food companies to create sustainable market models for nutritious food systems.

BIOFORTIFICATION PROGRAMME IN NIGERIA
Maize and cassava are grown widely across Nigeria owing to their wide adaptability and acceptance both in rural and urban regions, as they are common staples consumed by Nigerians. The country is the largest producer of cassava, and 12th largest for maize, amounting to about 60 million tons and 11 million MT for cassava and maize annually, respectively. Cassava is widely consumed in the forms of garri or fufu, which accounts for more than 60% of processed cassava. Over 100 million persons in Nigeria consume cassava products as a daily staple averaging 0.23kg of processed food per person. An estimated 100 million Nigerians consume maize products in one form or the other with per capita consumption standing at 25kg. Two types of maize – white and yellow – are mostly grown and consumed by farmers. White maize is very dominant in the north where it is grown for human consumption and for animal feed, yellow maize is popular in the south where it is grown mostly for fresh consumption.

Nigeria is home to some 200 million people. According to 2018 National Nutrition Health Survey, about 60% of children in Nigeria do not receive adequate vitamin A in their diet and are therefore at risk of developing vitamin A deficiency. Biofortified varieties of cassava and maize are proven vehicles to increase vitamin A intake by Nigerians and contribute to reducing the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency, especially for those individuals with less diverse diets. These biofortified crops have the potential of meeting up to 40% of the daily vitamin A needs of individuals.

HarvestPlus and their partners The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) have been working jointly over the years to release improved seed varieties of these biofortified crops to small- and medium-scale processors in the food sector, enhancing availability and distribution of the biofortified crops across the country.

The Federal Ministry of Health, via the Department of Family Health and Nutrition recommended biofortification as a long-term strategy to control vitamin A deficiency in its 2013 National Guidelines on Micronutrient Deficiency Control.

Vitamin A Maize (VAM) and Vitamin A Casava (VAC) seeds, grains and foods are now increasingly available on the open market. GAIN have joined HarvestPlus in Nigeria to accelerate existing efforts in the commercialization of VAM and VAC. Together we will encourage supply chain actors / value chain players along of all sizes to embrace VAC and VAM. It is essential to understand how to sell and market biofortified goods to the next person in the value chain. Lacking technical understanding of selling and marketing biofortified goods can deter involvement. VAC and VAM have clear value propositions to consumers and provide naturally high levels of vitamin A to consumers.

The food processing sector from primary processing of grain to advanced processing is seen as a key driver for developing a market for biofortified foods. With both crops, we will work with food producers to develop the markets for these processed products through linkages and service provision that will make these products available and accessible to consumers. Simultaneously, we will engage with governments to encourage distribution of biofortified varieties through agricultural development programs across the country.

Details of this request for proposals: Statement of purpose & Scope of work

As part of the greater CBC programme, HarvestPlus and GAIN are jointly issuing this Request for Proposals (RFP). HarvestPlus will be the administrative lead organisation for this RFP.

The main purpose and objective is develop and deliver a cohesive public and private sector advocacy plan to create the perfect enabling environment for the commercialisation of Vitamin A Maize and Vitamin A Cassava.

The chosen agency/consultant partner will work with our 8 implementation partner agencies by providing support, intelligence, materials and tools.

Specific deliverables
(1) Review existing advocacy plans withing the CBC and in the HarvestPlus program. Review existing materials for the Government engagement and private sector outreach and write a gap analysis with recommendations of weak points.

(2) Collect existing public and private sector policies that support the use and adoption of biofortification into 1 document (this information can be collected from GAIN and HarvestPlus staff and short desk review).

(3) Update and renew stakeholder maps of key influencers in the maize and cassava sector.

(4) Private sector advocacy – establishing the best routes to engagement with organizations such as business communities, seed sector alliances, food, and drink federations, etc.

(5) Understanding public procurement systems and policies in target regions. Establish routes to discuss with relevant departments to adopt the new Publicly Available Standard in procurement – improve and bolster the work with the Home-Grown School Feeding Program (HGSFP) to include Vitamin A Maize and Cassava as raw material in foods.

(6) Conduct a short survey of stakeholders to listen to views on some of the barriers to growth / bottlenecks hindering the development of the VAC and VAM value chains.

(7) Establish public and private sector views on the use of Aflasafe and communicate CBC efforts to promote and extend the use of Aflasafe.

(8) Communicate the existence of existing Nigerian agriculture, seed, and food policies with recommendations how to turn existing policies into action.

(9) Assisting in the use, adoption and communication of the standards work and integrating all discussion on standards & breeding targets.

(10) Coordinate and improve on the work with the National Seed Council of Nigeria (NASC) to reform seed laws to facilitate commercialization of Vitamin A Maize.

(11) Develop a toolbox for the HarvestPlus implementation partners including items such as letters to stakeholders, PowerPoint presentations for meetings, etc.

REGIONS OF INTEREST
The plan should be specifically tailored to Niger, Oyo, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, and Anambra.

POINTS TO NOTE
HarvestPlus and GAIN already have established advocacy plans which this plan will build on, this is not starting a new strategy but coordinating existing efforts, providing areas of improvements and collating existing activities into 1 packet of information.

This is a rapid, 3 month project which will culminate with a presentation to the CBC team end of December 2021 with a final report and deliverables submitted by December 20th 2021.

Recommendations can be provided before and during the project to potentially extend work into 2021.

INFORMATION HP WILL PROVIDE
HarvestPlus will provide the chosen agency/consultant with extensive training and information on biofortification and the existing HarvestPlus program. This will include a list of existing policies from seed, grain and food and existing work plans in advocacy.

TIMELINE OF THIS PROJECT
It is envisaged that this project will be extended into 2022 but this first part of the work will be a short term contract.

EVALUATION CRITERIA
Proposals will be reviewed by the Selection Team. The following indicate a list of the significant criteria against which proposals will be assessed. This list is not exhaustive or 100% inclusive and is provided to enhance the applicants’ ability to respond with substance.

Applicants are required to submit the following information, conforming to the guidelines given in this section:

• Understanding of the scope of work
• Understanding of the target audience and consider all cultural and literacy requirements and sensitivities
• Clear understanding of the project objective and deliverables as outlined in Section I
• Evidence of past experience developing and delivering a project of this type
• Existing experience with biofortification or agricultural interventions – experience with GAIN, HarvestPlus, CGIAR would be desirable but not essential
• Knowledge of the specific state government system with connections to public and private sector influencers in each state
• Demonstrate a clear understanding of the technical requirements of this RFP
• Methodological approaches required to implement each of the parts of the scope of work
• Comprehensiveness of work plan and reasonableness of proposed time frame
• Detailed, cost-effective budget and return on investment of proposed approach
• Identification of possible challenges and creative approaches to addressing them
• Management and personnel plan:
• The team members working on this project shall have the relevant qualifications and overall experience required to successfully implement the project
• Roles and responsibilities of each team member shall be clearly defined. HarvestPlus shall each have one main contact person clearly identified in the proposal

Instructions for responding and queries
In the event of any questions please contact Jenny Walton (j.walton@cgiar.org) Senior Specialist, Demand Creation and Business Development

Submit RFP responses no later October 5th on the IFPRI website: https://phf.tbe.taleo.net/phf04/ats/careers/v2/viewRequisition?org=IFPRI&cws=50&rid=2516

Responses shall 2 documents:

• Full work proposal including the points laid out in the evaluation criteria especially the time plan how all objectives will be achieved in the 3 month time window
• Budget breakdown (financial proposal)

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
Upon selection of Consultant/agency a detailed contract will be agreed by both parties.

NOTE: HarvestPlus retain the right not to pursue this project if enough proposals are not submitted or funding for the project is no longer available.

NOTICE OF NON-BINDING SOLICITATION
HarvestPlus reserves the right to reject any and all bids received in response to this solicitation and is in no way bound to accept any proposal. HarvestPlus additionally reserves the right to negotiate the substance of the successful applicants’ proposals, as well as the option of accepting partial components of a proposal if deemed appropriate.

CONFIDENTIALITY
All information provided as part of this solicitation is considered confidential. In the event that any information is inappropriately released, HarvestPlus will seek appropriate remedies as allowed. Proposals, discussions, and all information received in response to this solicitation will be held as strictly confidential.

RIGHT TO FINAL NEGOTIATIONS ON THE PROPOSAL
HarvestPlus reserves the right to negotiate on the final costs, and the final scope of work of the proposal. HarvestPlus reserve the right to limit or include third parties at HarvestPlus sole and full discretion in such negotiations.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Subject to the terms of the contract to be concluded between HarvestPlus and the applicant, the ownership of the intellectual property related to the scope of work of the contract, including technical information, know-how, processes, copyrights, models, drawings, source code and specifications developed by the applicant in performance of the contract shall vest entirely with HarvestPlus.

APPLY AT IFPRI’S WEBSITE