INTRODUCTION
Introduction to the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA)
The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) is an international organization that works as a solutions broker to catalyze action and support for adaptation solutions, from the international to the local, in partnership with the public and private sector, to ensure we learn from each other and work together for a climate resilient future. Adapting to impacts of climate change provides a “win-win” for livelihoods, food security, water supply, health, security, and economic growth. The work of the GCA elevates the visibility and political importance of climate adaptation and facilitates solutions, such as smarter investments, new technologies and better planning to become more resilient to climate related threats. GCA is a rapidly growing organization with offices in Abidjan, Beijing, Dhaka, Groningen, and Rotterdam.

The GCA’s ambitious 2020-2025 business plan and strategy have three pillars:

• Programs: Food Security; Using Nature for more resilient infrastructure; Water for Urban Growth and Resilience; Climate Finance; Youth Leadership.
• Knowledge: Building adaptation knowledge globally through cutting edge products such as the State and Trends in Adaptation Report and the Adaptation Knowledge Portal.
• Advocacy and Awareness: Formulating policy messages to move the global, regional, and local adaptation agendas forward.

Program Background Information
Guiding GCA’s program in Africa is the Africa-owned and Africa-led Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP), co-created with the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) to implement the vision of the Africa Adaptation Initiative to support African countries on key adaptation initiatives. The AAAP is contributing to closing Africa’s adaptation gap and supporting African countries to make a transformational shift in their development pathways by putting climate adaptation and resilience at the centre of their critical growth-oriented and inclusive policies, programs, and institutions. It is scaling up successful initiatives fundamental to African nations’ economic development, and prosperity for women and men. The four pillars of the AAAP are: Climate Smart Digital Technologies for Agriculture and Food Security, the Africa Infrastructure Resilience Accelerator, Empowering Youth through Jobs and Entrepreneurship, and Innovative Financial Initiatives for Africa.

Purpose of this Assignment
Within this context, GCA is seeking a qualified firm for Technical Assistance Support to the AfDB Agri-MSMEs Development for Jobs (AMD4J) Project In Ethiopia. The detailed Terms of Reference and Deliverables for this assignment are presented in Annex 3. The total duration of this assignment is estimated at up to 12 months.

Bidders shall respond to the strategic requirements of GCA with a strong emphasis on responsiveness to GCA technical requirements and performance, substantive progress reports, achievement of tasks and activities to match the Scope of Services/Terms of Reference and the production of the deliverables on time, to highest applicable standards. For further information See Annex 3 – Terms of Reference.

Objective of the Assignment
The project plans to work with the GCA through the AAAP program to promote the creation of adaptation jobs and to support the strengthening of adaptation focused enterprises through capacity building and empowerment. GCA is seeking an experienced consulting firm to deliver on the following:

• Labor Market Assessment on Adaptation Jobs: Carry out a labour market assessment in Ethiopia with the objective of providing recommendations for creating adaptation jobs through targeted agricultural value chains. The rationale for this intervention is to assess the agriculture sector, identify skills needed and propose strategies for adaptation job creation.
• Pre-Incubator toolkit to build capacity of adaptation focused enterprises: This will involve designing, testing and implementation of a pre-incubator toolkit to build the capacity of the project’s targeted beneficiaries, which constitute youth-led enterprises working in the agribusiness sector on climate change, adaptation and resilience. It will commence with a needs and skills gap assessment to ensure that the training modules and content align with the current realities and business needs. The partner will ensure the curriculum is tailored to respond to the needs of the targeted enterprises.

Submission of the Proposal
If you are interested in participating in this Request for Proposal, you are requested to submit your proposal in PDF format to the link: https://gcaorg-my.sharepoint.com/:f:/g/personal/chisala_mutale_gca_org/EnwKx0OlFQpAmkZyv16e8D8BkkEF6HJolIdRux3WLpw2vQ no later than 16 Dececmber 2024, 16:00:00 hours (04:00:00 p.m. o’clock), Central European Time (CET) (hereinafter referred to as “the closing date and time”).

Bidders are cautioned that the timing of submission is based on when the proposal is received by the GCA, not when a proposal is submitted by a bidder. As transmission can be delayed due to file transfer size, transmission speed or other technical factors, bidders should plan to submit proposals well in advance of the Submission Deadline to avoid submitting late due to technical issues. Bidders submitting near the Submission Deadline do so at their own risk.

Proposals received after the closing date and time will be rejected. GCA will confirm receipt of proposals within 24 hours from the closing date and time. Bidders that do not receive this confirmation must contact GCA within 48 hours from the closing date and time. After 48 hours from the closing date and time, GCA shall not respond to any queries related to whether a bidder’s proposal was received.

Please download the full RFP on this page for more information.