Consultancy - Environmental & Social (E&S) Assessment Technical Assistance for Nile Fresh Produce International Limited (NFP) under the Dutch Fund for Climate and Development (DFCD) – Origination Facility

1. Introduction 

SNV is a mission-driven global development partner, rooted in the contexts and societies where we work. Inspired by the transformational principles and objectives set out by the SDGs, we are committed to building resilient agri-food systems that deliver food security and adequate nutrition; increasing the reliability and availability of water and sanitation at an acceptable quantity and quality; and improving access to affordable and sustainable energy for all.

In doing so, we aim to strengthen institutions, markets, and effective governance within and across the agri-food, energy, and water sectors, reducing gender inequalities and barriers to social inclusion, and enabling adaptation to and mitigation against the climate and biodiversity crises.

Our ability to deliver results rests on our robust foundation of experience, knowledge, evidence, and learning; our commitment to strengthening capacities and catalyzing partnerships; and the relationships and trust of those we work alongside.

Our core values of people-centeredness and respect, equity and equality, and diversity and inclusion, are fundamental to who we are, and what we do. This is reflected in our vision mission, and strategy, which sets out our aspirations and commitments as our compass towards 2030.

For more information on our operations in Kenya and SNV generally visit our website: snv.org  

About The Dutch Fund For Climate And Development (DFCD)

The Dutch Fund for Climate and Development (DFCD) invests in private sector projects tackling climate adaptation and mitigation with a view to increase the resilience of communities and ecosystems most vulnerable to climate change. Under the Origination Facility (OF), DFCD provides grant-funded technical assistance (TA) to develop and de-risk investment propositions for follow-on financing from the DFCD’s Land Use Facility and Water Facility or third-party investors.

About Nile Fresh Produce International Limited (NFP)

Nile Fresh Produce International Limited (NFP) is an integrated agribusiness operating across Northern and Eastern Uganda in primary production, aggregation, first-level processing and trading of cereals, legumes and oilseeds through nucleus farms, regional facilities and an extensive outgrower network.

NFP is seeking long-term financing from FMO, with participation from the Dutch Fund for Climate and Development (DFCD), to expand its climate-smart agriculture model, strengthen working capital, invest in mechanization and internal processing capacity, and deepen its support to smallholder farmers.

Under the DFCD Origination Facility, Milestone 3.0 requires targeted technical assistance on ESG and GESI covering: (i) ESMS development, (ii) OHS risk and audit, (iii) GESI assessment, (iv) biodiversity and climate risk vulnerability assessment, and (v) supply chain management. Milestone 4.0 requires an energy audit focused on energy efficiency, cost savings and avoidance of carbon emissions across NFP’s operations.

The assignment shall therefore update and operationalise NFP's E&S systems, procedures and Energy management tools in a manner consistent with the commitments set out in the DFCD Investment Committee Assessment Form and the technical assistance grant arrangement, while supporting NFP's investment readiness.

2.1 Overall Objective

To strengthen NFP's environmental, social, governance, gender inclusion, occupational safety, biodiversity, climate adaptation, supply chain and energy management systems in line with IFC Performance Standards, DFCD/FMO requirements and applicable Ugandan laws, thereby improving investment readiness and implementation capacity.

2.2 Specific Objectives

• Assess compliance with relevant IFC Performance Standards and identify material gaps, risks and corrective measures needed to develop NFP's ESMS and associated ESG governance arrangements.
• Assess Board and management structures and recommend practical governance improvements, including roles, reporting lines, KPIs, annual targets, review meetings and indicative implementation budgets.
• Assess existing internal and external grievance mechanisms and stakeholder engagement processes and strengthen them for workers, farmers, communities and vulnerable groups.
• Assess environmental hazards and safety management in current facilities and operations, with explicit attention to pesticide storage, handling, use, disposal and any needed phase-out requirements.
• Undertake a GESI assessment and develop a practical GESI operational plan, including measures on workforce diversity, recruitment, retention, leadership, inclusion, and grievance handling.
• Assess biodiversity, ecosystem-service dependencies and climate risks, including the need for a biodiversity assessment and climate risk and vulnerability assessment (CRVA) for proposed avocado production sites, and prepare a Rio Marker 2 justification aligned with DFCD objectives.
• Develop a supplier code of conduct and associated supply chain management process addressing IFC PS2 and PS6 requirements, including screening tools, monitoring processes and contract clauses.
• Conduct an energy audit of existing and planned facilities and recommend energy-efficiency, cost-saving and carbon-emission avoidance measures.

3. Scope of Work

The consultant shall undertake the assignment through the six workstreams below, which correspond directly to the approved DFCD-OF Technical Assistance Milestones.

3.1 ESG Assessment

• Review existing E&S, HR, governance and operational documentation, including developing an IFC compliant ESMS, policies, procedures, registers, grievance channels and monitoring tools.
• Assess NFP's compliance with applicable IFC Performance Standards - at minimum PS1, PS2, PS3, PS4 and PS6 - and relevant national legal and regulatory requirements.
• Undertake an ESG gap assessment covering governance, labour and working conditions, stakeholder engagement, community health and safety, resource efficiency, biodiversity interface, contractor management and operational controls.
• Assess Board and management structures and recommend best-practice E&S governance arrangements proportionate to NFP's scale and financing pathway, including oversight responsibilities, committee structures, escalation routes and management accountability.
• Develop an ESG governance framework with measurable KPIs, annual targets, monthly reporting templates to senior management, and an implementation calendar for periodic management review meetings.
• Prepare a costed Environmental and Social Action Plan (ESAP) or equivalent improvement matrix identifying actions, responsibilities, timelines, priority levels and indicative budget allocations required to strengthen E&S management practice and capacity.

3.2 Environmental Hazards and Safety Compliances

• Assess current environmental hazards management and occupational health and safety practices across representative farms, warehouses, offices, logistics nodes and current processing or storage areas.
• Review hazardous materials management with particular emphasis on pesticides and agrochemicals, including procurement, approved product lists, storage conditions, handling, application practices, transport, spill response, disposal and record keeping.
• Identify any pesticides or practices requiring restriction, substitution or phase-out and propose a practical phase-out and transition plan where needed.
• Assess worker safety arrangements, emergency preparedness, incident reporting, PPE adequacy, sanitation, fire safety, machinery safety, traffic management and contractor controls.
• Prepare facility-specific or function-specific safety protocols and an appropriate safety layout / improvement plan for implementation, including signage, storage zoning, segregation requirements and minimum control measures.
• Develop or refine OHS procedures, toolbox-training topics and a prioritized hazards mitigation action plan.

3.3 GESI Assessment

• Assess NFP's compliance with IFC Performance Standards from a gender and social inclusion perspective, with specific attention to labour practices, community interfaces, worker and farmer access to grievance channels, and protection of vulnerable groups.
• Analyse gender and inclusion gaps in governance, management, staffing, Village Agent arrangements, field operations and farmer-facing business processes, using sex-, age- and vulnerability-disaggregated data where available.
• Identify barriers affecting women's participation, youth inclusion, retention, progression, leadership opportunities, access to services and safe participation in the value chain.
• Prepare a practical GESI operational plan with objectives, actions, responsibilities, indicators, timelines and indicative budget, covering policy strengthening, staff sensitization, recruitment and retention measures, inclusive communication and monitoring.
• Recommend measures for staff recruitment, retention and advancement, including actions to strengthen representation, safe working conditions, prevention of discrimination and harassment, and meaningful inclusion of women and vulnerable groups.
• Design or strengthen GESI-responsive grievance procedures, including clear referral pathways, confidentiality safeguards and survivor-centred handling of SEA/SH or GBV-related complaints.

3.4 Biodiversity & Climate Change Adaptation Assessment

• Assess compliance with IFC Performance Standards relevant to biodiversity, ecosystem services and climate resilience, including screening against PS6 risk considerations for existing and planned production areas.
• Undertake a high-level biodiversity assessment and determine the scope of any further biodiversity work required at investment stage, including for proposed avocado production sites and associated infrastructure.
• Undertake a climate risk and vulnerability assessment (CRVA) or CRVA-light covering current and planned operations, key commodities and outgrower geographies.
• Identify climate hazards, ecosystem dependencies, land-use pressures and biodiversity risks relevant to NFP's operations and supply base, and define practical adaptation and mitigation measures.
• Assess alignment with DFCD climate adaptation objectives and prepare a concise Rio Marker 2 justification note explaining the adaptation rationale and materiality of the proposed interventions.
• Recommend actions to integrate biodiversity management and climate adaptation into operational planning, farmer support services, monitoring systems and the ESMS.

3.5 Supply Chain Management

• Map the core supply chain and identify ESG, labour, land-use, biodiversity and farmer-related risk hotspots relevant to NFP's sourcing and supplier relationships.
• Develop a Supplier Code of Conduct and associated management process addressing IFC PS2 and PS6 requirements, as well as practical expectations on labour standards, health and safety, pesticide management, land rights, environmental practices and grievance handling.
• Design a risk-based process for supplier and aggregator screening, onboarding, performance monitoring, corrective action management and escalation.
• Draft or refine supplier contract clauses and template undertakings for inclusion in supplier, service provider and relevant contractor agreements.
• Recommend a practical implementation roadmap, including internal ownership, training needs, supplier communication materials and monitoring indicators.

3.6 Conduct Energy Audits for Energy Saving and Evidence of Carbon Emissions

• Assess current energy use across NFP's facilities and operations, including warehouses, offices and other relevant operational sites, and establish the major energy-consuming systems and practices.
• Assess the planned energy-use profile of new processing and storage facilities, including likely loads, process requirements, technology options and operational assumptions.
• Identify opportunities for energy efficiency, improved operations, equipment optimization, renewable-energy integration where feasible, and energy cost-saving measures.
• Estimate the baseline energy implications and indicate how recommended measures can contribute to avoidance or reduction of carbon emissions.
• Prepare a practical energy audit report inclusive of an Energy Efficiency Action Plan with prioritized recommendations, indicative savings potential, implementation considerations and management actions needed for adoption of efficient technologies.

4. Methodology

• Desk review of relevant company documents, policies, contracts, layouts, operational records, existing studies, audit reports and monitoring data.
• Interviews with NFP Board and management representatives, operational staff, relevant technical personnel, and DFCD/FMO/SNV focal persons as appropriate.
• Field visits to a representative sample of facilities, farms, farmer aggregation points and other relevant operating sites.
• Focused consultations with workers, Village Agents, farmers and community stakeholders, using a do-no-harm and inclusive engagement approach.
• Benchmarking against IFC Performance Standards, relevant EHS Guidelines, DFCD/FMO requirements and applicable Ugandan legislation.
• Validation of findings with NFP prior to finalization of the key assessment reports and action plans.

5. Key Deliverables

Full Terms of Reference COMPLETE TOR HERE!

6. Governance, Coordination and Reporting

The consultant shall report to NFP, with oversight from the designated DFCD-OF focal.

The consultant shall provide concise progress updates at least every two weeks and promptly flag any access, data or timing constraints that may affect delivery.

Draft deliverables shall be submitted electronically in editable Word and PDF formats. Final deliverables shall incorporate consolidated comments from NFP and DFCD-OF.

7. Duration and Level of Effort

The assignment is expected to be completed within up to 30 calendar days from contract signature.

The consultant shall propose a realistic workplan showing sequencing of fieldwork, analysis, validation and final reporting across all workstreams.

The financial proposal shall clearly indicate the level of effort, professional fees, reimbursable costs and taxes, with costs mapped to the major deliverables.

8. Required Qualifications and Experience

• The lead firm shall have at least 7 years of demonstrated experience in environmental and social due diligence, ESMS strengthening or related advisory assignments aligned to IFC Performance Standards or equivalent DFI standards.
• Proven experience in agribusiness, agro-processing and/or smallholder supply chains in Sub-Saharan Africa is required; prior work in Uganda or East Africa will be an added advantage.
• The proposed team should collectively demonstrate expertise in: ESMS, ESG governance oversight; OHS and hazardous materials / pesticide management; GESI and safeguarding; biodiversity and climate risk / adaptation; supply chain due diligence; and energy auditing / energy efficiency.
• Excellent report-writing skills in English are required. Practical field consultation capacity and familiarity with Ugandan legal and institutional requirements are strongly preferred.

9. Proposal Submission Requirements

9.1 Technical Proposal

• Understanding of the assignment and comments on the Terms of Reference.
• Detailed methodology and workplan, including proposed sampling / site coverage and stakeholder engagement approach.
• Composition of the team, level of effort and CVs of key experts.
• Relevant corporate experience and at least three comparable assignments completed within the last five years.
• At least two client references for similar work.
• Implementation schedule linked to the deliverables.
• Any assumptions, dependencies or support expected from NFP.

9.2 Financial Proposal

• A lump-sum financial proposal showing professional fees, reimbursables, taxes and total price.
• A breakdown of costs by expert and by deliverable or workstream.
• The proposed payment schedule linked to deliverables.

10. Evaluation Criteria

Proposals shall be evaluated using Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS). The indicative weighting shall be 80% for the technical proposal and 20% for the financial proposal. A minimum technical score of 70 points shall be required to proceed to financial evaluation.

 COMPLETE TOR HERE

12. Confidentiality and Ownership

All reports, data, tools and materials produced under this assignment shall remain the property of NFP and DFCD-OF and shall be treated as confidential unless otherwise agreed in writing.

The consultant shall not disclose or reuse assignment information for any other purpose without prior written approval from NFP.

13. Submission of Applications

 How to Submit

Interested consultants/firms shall submit applications through both channels below:

1) Email submission to Nile Fresh Produce (NFP):

• Send applications to: info@nilefreshproduce.com

2) Online submission via SNV Smart Recruiter platform:

• Submit concurrently via SNV Smart Recruiter: https://smrtr.io/xQHxv 

 Please note that the upload on smart recruit should happen in the CV column, clearly marking the        documents as technical proposal, and financial proposal.

Important: Applications must be submitted via both channels.

9.2 Procurement Timelines

• Call publication date: 20 March 2026

• Application window: 10 working days

• Submission deadline: 3 April 2026, 23:59 (EAT). Late submissions will not be considered.

• Expected assignment duration: 30 days from contract signature (one month)

• Proposal validity: 60 days from the submission deadline