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
Within the framework of the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP), a partnership between the African Development Bank and GCA, GCA plans to support the Burundi-Rwanda Integrated Development Program (BRIDEP) project.  The BRIDEP project is structured by country components. The component in Burundi focuses on climate resilient agriculture transformation, while the component in Rwanda focuses on cross border transport.  GCA is looking for a firm to support the Burundi component of the BRIDEP project that has the development objective of transforming Burundi’s agriculture and food systems to contribute to food sovereignty and resilience. Specifically, the project will:

• intensify the productivity and production of value chains (rice, maize, pork, and poultry) through the development of the irrigable potential of the Ruzizi plain and the scaling up of climate-smart technologies;
• promote agro-industrialization and entrepreneurship of youth and women in targeted value chains;
• contribute to social cohesion and the promotion of peace in the Ruzizi plain;
• strengthening financial inclusion in rural areas by promoting access to innovative and adapted financial services based on new technologies;
• strengthen the resilience of communities to climate change and other agricultural risks; and
• promote regional integration through access to integrated infrastructure, including payment infrastructure and transport corridors that will support cross-border trade.

Purpose of this Assignment
Within this context, GCA is seeking a qualified firm/organization (hereby referred to as Service Provider or Bidder) to enhance climate resilience in Burundi’s agricultural sector by promoting the adoption of climate-resilient seeds and innovative production technologies.

The expected services to be provided under this assignment include a comprehensive market analysis of bottlenecks and barriers for deployment and uptake of climate resilient seeds by farmers, provide capacity building for scaling up climate resilient seeds and develop investment guides for innovative production technologies for climate adaptation in Burundi. 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 twelve (12) months.

Scope of the Services and Activities to be Performed
The scope of services encompasses the following two (2) activities:

• Activity A. Market Analysis of Bottlenecks and Barriers for the Deployment and Uptake of Climate-Resilient Seeds by Farmers. This activity involves a comprehensive market analysis focused on identifying bottlenecks and barriers for the deployment and uptake of climate-resilient seeds in Burundi, focusing in Ruzizi plain. The aim is to understand the factors limiting the use of these seeds among farmers and provide actionable insights for scaling up their adoption.
• Activity B: Development of Investment Guides for Innovative Production Technologies climate adaptation and Provide Capacity Building for Scaling Up Climate-Resilient Seeds in Burundi. This activity aims to strengthen the capacity of farmers and key institutional stakeholders within the seed systems to scale up the adoption of climate-resilient seeds in Burundi. It will also assess innovative agricultural practices that enhance productivity and resilience to climate change, particularly in target project areas.

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: GCA-PR-24-636 – Technical Support to the BRIDEP no later than 17 January 2025, 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.