DEADLINE: 3RD APRIL, 2026
TECHNOSERVE
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR SUSTAINABILITY & OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY CONSULTANT

Project Background
TechnoServe (TNS) is a non-profit organization that works with enterprising people in low-income communities to build competitive farms, businesses, and industries. By linking people to information, capital, and markets, TechnoServe has supported inclusive economic growth for over 50 years, helping communities improve incomes, resilience, and long-term prosperity.

TNS is a core partner in the Food Convergence Innovation for Africa (FCI4Africa) initiative, a multi-country consortium funded by the European Union. The initiative brings together 14 partners across Africa, Europe, and Canada to advance sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient food systems while strengthening Africa–EU trade through innovation, digital tools, and policy engagement.

Under Work Package 5, TNS leads the design and deployment of digital tools in Nigeria and Kenya that strengthen quality assurance, sustainability, traceability, and competitiveness in agri-food value chains. This work builds on TechnoServe-led indices such as the Micronutrient Fortification Index (MFI) in Nigeria and the Kenya Millers Fortification Index (KMFI). These have served as food quality governance innovations that drive market incentives and continuous improvement among food processors through data-driven frameworks.

As part of FCI4Africa, TNS is implementing various pilot initiatives including; sustainability and digital traceability pilots in Nigeria to test and refine scalable approaches for improving transparency, performance, and resilience in food processing systems. This work is undertaken in close collaboration with food processors, academic institutions, and global partners, creating a practical evidence base grounded in real-world implementation.

Scope of Work

The Technical Consultant will support TechnoServe in conducting practical sustainability assessments among participating food processors in Nigeria and providing actionable recommendations to improve operational efficiency. This will include conducting operational (energy management, water & waste management, raw materials sourcing etc) efficiency assessments, identifying opportunities to reduce losses, enhance resource efficiency, and implement practical measures that improve both environmental and operational performance.

Reporting to the Technical Lead, Food Convergence Innovation (FCI) Africa, the Program Specialist’s duties and responsibilities will include:

1. Sustainability Assessments & Technical Support

Conduct practical sustainability assessments with participating food processors, covering energy use, water and waste management, raw materials sourcing, and production efficiency
Provide technical input on sustainability frameworks, metrics, and indicators across environmental, social, and governance dimensions
Support integration of sustainability considerations into program tools and reporting frameworks
Sensitize food processors on the business rationale for sustainability and ESG adoption

2. Energy Audits

Conduct energy audits at selected food processing facilities, assessing major energy-consuming processes and equipment
Identify cost-effective interventions to improve energy efficiency and reduce operational costs

3. Operational Efficiency & Process Improvement

Identify practical interventions to reduce losses, improve resource efficiency, and lower costs
Provide guidance on technologies or operational changes processors can realistically adopt
Prepare concise assessment reports for each participating processor

4. Stakeholder Engagement & Convenings

Support the coordination and facilitation of stakeholder engagements, workshops, and learning sessions with pilot firms and partners
Contribute to building a community of practice among participating processors around sustainability best practices

Required Deliverables

Sustainability assessment reports for all participating processors.
Energy audit reports with prioritized efficiency recommendations.
Operational efficiency briefs with actionable, processor-specific improvement measures.
Sustainability & ESG integration framework grounded in pilot evidence.
Stakeholder convening reports and facilitation materials.

Qualifications

Proven experience conducting sustainability assessments, energy audits, or operational efficiency work in manufacturing or food processing sectors — as an individual consultant or firm
Working knowledge of sustainability frameworks, ESG practices, or industrial resource efficiency
Ability to engage directly with food processors and translate technical findings into practical, accessible recommendations
Experience facilitating stakeholder workshops or technical convenings preferred
Strong analytical and report-writing skills with ability to work independently in field settings
Familiarity with Nigerian food processing or agri-food systems is an advantage

The attached files, as applicable, constitute an integral component of the solicitation document, and should be duly considered by all prospective vendors. In the event of any inconsistency between the information contained in the attached files and the main solicitation text, the provisions set forth in the solicitation text shall prevail.

SELECTION CRITERIA

The following criteria will be used by TechnoServe to evaluate and compare vendor responses.

Max Points	Selection Criteria
40	Proven experience conducting sustainability assessments, energy audits, or operational efficiency work in manufacturing or food processing sectors — as an individual consultant or firm
30	Familiarity with Nigerian food processing or agri-food systems
20	Price, inclusive of all delivery, fees, taxes, and other charges
10	Ability of the vendor to deliver goods/services in line with the dates requested

RESPONSE INSTRUCTION

To ensure consideration, all responses must be submitted no later than 04/03/2026, written in English with prices stated in NGN.

All responses must:

Contain a detailed cost with applicable taxes and other charges clearly identified.
Provide requested payment terms and conditions.
Include a contact name, email address, and telephone number.
For quotes from a firm, provide a brief outline of the company and services offered, including the company’s full legal name and address, the jurisdiction of incorporation, the full legal name and country of citizenship of the company’s owners/principal officers, and the year the business was established.
If a consortium of firms or a team of consultants submits a quote jointly, the above information should be provided for each member of the team.
Only include attached files that are 10 MB or smaller in size. Do not include compressed (ZIP, RAR), executable, or other unusual file formats as these will be rejected.