Consultancy -Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Assessment for EA Foods Limited under the Dutch Fund for Climate and Development (DFCD) – Origination Facility

1. Introduction and Content

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.

EA Foods Limited (EAF) is a Tanzania-based tech-enabled aggregator and distributor of fresh produce, grains, and pulses sourced from smallholder farmers and supplied to urban customers in Tanzania, with plans to expand into Kenya and Uganda and vertically integrate into maize and rice value chains. EAF operates through a network of collection centres and fulfilment centres, supported by a Farmer Management System (FMS) and a Distribution Management System (DMS) that enable climate-smart sourcing, reduced post-harvest loss, and improved food safety and quality.

EA Foods Limited works with thousands of smallholder farmers and a diverse workforce across its sourcing and distribution operations. Women, youth and bottom-of-the-pyramid (BoP) farmers are key actors in its supply chains and target groups for DFCD support.

DFCD’s Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) approach requires that origination activities explicitly identify and address barriers faced by vulnerable and marginalised groups and link these insights to the structuring of the investment and to company-owned action plans. The DFCD Origination Facility TA being provided through SNV will therefore support EA Foods to (i) integrate GESI considerations into the design and content of its digital Farmer Management System (FMS), (ii) conduct GESI assessment whose scope will encompass at corporate level and across EAF’s sourcing chain and develop a corresponding GESI Action Plan, (iii) establish inclusive, GBV-sensitive external grievance mechanisms for communities and farmers, and (iv) embed GESI indicators in EA Foods’ monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework.

2. Objectives of the Assignment

The overall objective of this assignment is to strengthen EA Foods’ capacity to promote Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) across its workforce, farmer network and digital platforms, thereby ensuring that the DFCD investment effectively reaches and empowers vulnerable groups that form part of EA foods stakeholders and are active in its value chains.

The specific objectives are to:

1. Integrate gender- and inclusion-responsive design principles into the FMS platform and associated farmer support services.
2. Conduct a GESI analysis of EA Foods’ internal policies and external GESI practices across its value chain and develop a practical GESI Action Plan.
3. Design and help operationalise accessible, safe and GBV-sensitive external grievance mechanisms for farmers and community stakeholders.
4. Develop a GESI M&E framework with core indicators and practical guidance for data collection and reporting.

3. Scope of Work and Key Tasks

Task 1: GESI-Responsive FMS and Farmer Support Design

• Review current and planned FMS modules and related processes for farmer onboarding, profiling, training content, service offerings (inputs, finance, information) and feedback channels.

• Identify how women, youth and BoP farmers currently engage (or may struggle to engage) with the platform, considering digital literacy, phone ownership, language, time constraints and social norms.
• Develop simple personas (for example, woman smallholder farmer, young farmer, BoP farmer with limited literacy) and map their journey through the FMS (registration, training, service uptake, complaints and feedback).
• Identify key barriers and opportunities for inclusive design, including access to devices, literacy, language and costs.
• Provide recommendations on FMS features and content that better target and serve marginalised groups, including sex- and age-disaggregated profiling and reporting, low-literacy-friendly design (icons, audio, local languages), tailored content on climate-smart agriculture, financial literacy and entrepreneurial skills for women and youth, and accessible feedback and support channels.
• Outline how financial products, insurance, input packages and extension services can be tailored and communicated to women and BoP farmers to improve their access and uptake.

Deliverable 1: GESI Design Note for the FMS and Farmer Support Services, including personas, user journeys and recommended features and content.

Task 2: Corporate GESI Analysis and GESI Action Plan

• Review EA Foods’ human resources and people policies and practices, including recruitment, promotion, pay and benefits, working conditions, leave and family-friendly policies, anti-harassment provisions, code of conduct and disciplinary procedures.
• Review gender diversity data in the workforce (where available), disaggregated by role, level, function and location.
• Conduct selected interviews and focus group discussions with staff (women and men, across departments and levels) to understand workplace culture, inclusion, career progression, safety and harassment concerns.
• Identify specific barriers faced by women, youth and other under-represented groups in recruitment, retention and advancement.
• Benchmark EA Foods’ practices against agri-sector GESI frameworks, IFC PS2 labour requirements and relevant good practice frameworks (e.g. 2X Challenge criteria).
• Identify gaps and opportunities for improvement, including leadership pipeline for women, flexible work arrangements, parental leave, anti-harassment mechanisms and training.
• Taking a participatory and consultative approach with EAF’s stakeholders guide EAF in drafting a concise GESI Policy/Strategy for EA Foods, outlining commitments, principles and responsibilities.
• Develop a 3–5-year GESI Action Plan that covers workplace diversity and inclusion measures, training and capacity building, targets and indicators (for example, proportion of women in management, women farmers engaged, youth participation) and governance arrangements (for example, GESI focal point or committee).
• Clearly distinguish actions that can be initiated during the OF phase and those to be implemented under the investment phase.

Deliverable 2: Corporate GESI Assessment Report and Draft GESI Policy and Action Plan.

Task 3: Establishment of External, GBV-Responsive Grievance Mechanisms

• Review existing internal and external grievance mechanisms used by EA Foods for staff, farmers and communities, including how complaints related to product quality, payments, labour issues and potential GBV/SEA/SH are currently managed.
• Design an external grievance mechanism framework that is accessible to smallholder farmers and local communities in key sourcing and operational areas, including multiple safe channels (for example, hotline, SMS/USSD, in-person through designated community focal persons, suggestion boxes and integration with the FMS where appropriate).
• Ensure options for anonymous reporting and confidential, survivor-centred handling of GBV/SEA/SH-related complaints, including referral pathways to appropriate services.
• Define clear roles and responsibilities for receiving, logging, assessing and resolving grievances, and for reporting back to complainants.
• Develop standard operating procedures (SOPs), flowcharts and templates for grievance handling, classification, escalation, documentation and reporting, including GBV-sensitive procedures consistent with survivor-centred principles.
• Propose a pilot implementation plan for one or two regions, detailing training needs for staff and community focal points, communication and awareness-raising measures, and basic indicators for monitoring performance.

Deliverable 3: External Grievance Mechanism Framework and SOPs, including GBV-sensitive procedures, and a Pilot Implementation Plan.

Task 4: GESI Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Framework and Capacity Building

• Identify a core set of GESI-related indicators to be tracked across EA Foods’ workforce, farmer network and FMS users, aligned with DFCD impact indicators and EA Foods’ own key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Define indicators that may include, for example, the proportion of women and youth in the workforce by job level; proportion of women and youth farmers engaged and actively using the FMS; changes in income for women and youth farmers (where possible); uptake of climate-smart practices by sex and age; and use and resolution rates of grievances by type and sex and age of complainant (while ensuring confidentiality).
• Consider gender and social inclusion aspects, such as time burdens, differential access to inputs and extension services, security and safety risks for women and youth
• Provide guidance on integrating these indicators into EA Foods’ existing M&E systems and the FMS data model, in collaboration with the E&S and technology teams.
• Recommend feasible data collection methods, including periodic surveys, system-generated data and qualitative feedback mechanisms.
• Develop and deliver targeted training sessions for relevant EA Foods staff (HR, operations, M&E, extension teams, grievance focal points) on basic GESI concepts, the new GESI Action Plan, roles and responsibilities in implementation, use of the grievance mechanism and handling of sensitive cases, and GESI data collection and reporting.

Deliverable 4: GESI M&E Framework and Indicator Guide, including data collection guidance, plus training materials and a brief training completion report.

4. Cross-Cutting Requirements

Ensure that all recommendations are aligned with international reference frameworks on GESI e.g. 2X Challenge & Minimum Standards for Gender Equality, IFC PS and other relevant social safeguard requirements.

Ensure that all tools, training and communication materials are accessible and understandable to diverse users, including those with low literacy levels.

Adopt a participatory and inclusive approach in stakeholder engagements, ensuring safe spaces for women, youth and marginalised groups to contribute.

5. Expected Deliverables

• Inception Report (including stakeholder mapping, refined methodology and workplan).
• GESI Design Note for the FMS and Farmer Support Services.
• Corporate GESI Analysis Report and Draft GESI Policy and Action Plan.
• External Grievance Mechanism Framework and SOPs, including GBV-sensitive procedures, plus Pilot Implementation Plan.
• GESI M&E Framework and Indicator Guide, with data collection guidance.
• Final Consolidated GESI TA Report and slide deck summarising key findings and recommended actions for the investment phase.

6. Duration and Level of Effort

The assignment is expected to be implemented within the DFCD Origination Facility for 30days period. The detailed schedule and level of effort will be agreed during the inception phase and synchronised with the broader DFCD OF workplan and budget.

7. Governance, Reporting and Coordination

The Consultant will report to SNV (DFCD OF Coordinator), with close coordination with EA Foods (HR/People and Culture, Operations, Technology/FMS and ESG leads).

Close collaboration is expected with the E&S TA provider to ensure coherence and avoid duplication.

DFCD OF’s E&S and GESI specialist will review key outputs for alignment with DFCD and FMO/SNV requirements.

8. Consultant Profile and Team Composition

The Consultant (firm or consortium) should demonstrate the following expertise:

• Lead GESI Specialist: at least 8–10 years’ experience in gender equality and social inclusion in private sector and/or agricultural value chains; proven experience designing GESI assessments and action plans; and familiarity with globally recognized GESI frameworks and related standards e.g. 2X Challenge, UN Compact, and IFC Performance Standards.
• Digital Inclusion / Human-Centred Design Expert: experience in human-centred design for digital platforms for low-income users, ideally in agriculture or fintech; and experience integrating gender and inclusion in digital products and services.
• Social Safeguards / SEAH/SA/GBV Specialist: experience designing and operationalising grievance mechanisms and GBV/SEA/SH-sensitive reporting and referral systems for private sector with preference in the agricultural sector.
• Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist: experience with designing GESI indicators and data systems, preferably in donor-funded or impact investment contexts.
• Local Expertise: knowledge of Tanzanian (and ideally Kenyan/Ugandan) contexts, with Swahili language capacity, for fieldwork and engagement with farmers and communities

Submission of Applications (Technical & Financial Proposals)

1) How to make submissions through both channels below:

1. Email submission to EA Foods (EAF):
   Send applications to: procurement@eafoods.com
   Email subject line: “DFCD-OF | EA Foods | [Assignment Title] | Technical & Financial Proposal | [Consultant/Firm Name]”
2. Online submission via SNV Smart Recruiter platform:
   Submit concurrently via SNV’s Smart Recruiter platform:
   https://smrtr.io/xjbkX 

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

Important: Applications must be submitted via both channels.

2) Submission deadline and validity

• Application window period: 10 working days, effective 20 February 2026.
• Submission deadline: 5 March 2026, 23:59 (EAT) (10th working day after 20 Feb 2026).
• Late submissions will not be considered.
• Proposal validity: proposals shall remain valid for 60 days from the submission deadline.

3) Application package and file format

Applicants shall submit two separate PDF files (clearly labelled):

A. Technical Proposal (PDF)
File name: TECH_Proposal_[Consultant/FirmName]_EAF_DFCDOF_[AssignmentShortTitle].pdf

B. Financial Proposal (PDF)
File name: FIN_Proposal_[Consultant/FirmName]_EAF_DFCD-OF_[AssignmentShortTitle].pdf

4) Content of the Technical Proposal (minimum requirements)

The Technical Proposal should include (at minimum):

1. Understanding of the assignment (context, objectives, key deliverables).
2. Proposed methodology and approach (including tools, stakeholder engagement approach, fieldwork plan where applicable, quality assurance).
3. Workplan and timeline confirming completion within 30 days (1 month).
4. Team composition and roles (org chart), including CVs of key personnel and level of effort.
5. Relevant experience (minimum 3 comparable assignments), with references (name, role, email/phone).
6. Risk management (key risks + mitigation measures).
7. At least 3 references for similar assignments done in the past 5 years.
8. Deliverables and reporting (how drafts/finals will be produced; review cycles with SNV/EAF).

5) Content of the Financial Proposal (minimum requirements)

The Financial Proposal shall be all-inclusive and include:

1. Summary budget (grand total).
2. Detailed budget breakdown (professional fees by role/days and daily rates; travel; accommodation/per diem; workshops; communications; printing; taxes; any other direct costs).
3. Assumptions underpinning costs (e.g., number of sites to be visited, number of workshops/FGDs/KIIs, travel days).
4. Proposed payment schedule aligned to milestones (see section below).

Budget Scope and Payment Schedule

1) Budget scope

The quoted price shall be a fixed-lump-sum for completion of the assignment within 30 calendar days, and must cover all costs required to deliver the outputs, including:

• Professional fees (by personnel category/role)
• Travel and logistics (fieldwork, local transport, accommodation, per diem)
• Stakeholder consultations (venue, facilitation costs, if any)
• Data collection costs (as relevant)
• Report production and workshop costs (if applicable)
• Statutory taxes

No additional payments will be made for costs not explicitly included in the Financial Proposal.

2) Payment schedule (milestone-based)

Payments will be made upon satisfactory acceptance of deliverables by SNV and EA Foods, using the following indicative structure (to be confirmed at contracting):

• Payment 1 – 20%: Upon contract signing and approval of Inception Report / Workplan.
• Payment 2 – 30%: Upon submission and acceptance of draft core deliverables (as defined in the ToR deliverables section).
• Payment 3 – 50%: Upon submission and acceptance of final deliverables, including a close-out presentation/workshop with EAF.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be evaluated using a combined quality-and-cost approach:

1. Technical evaluation (80%)

Technical proposals will be assessed on:

1. Understanding of assignment & DFCD context – 10%
2. Methodology, tools, and implementation approach – 25%
3. Workplan feasibility (30-day delivery) & quality assurance – 10%
4. Team qualifications & role fit (incl. local/context expertise) – 20%
5. Relevant experience (similar assignments done in the past) – 15%

Applicants must score at least 60% of the technical score to proceed to financial evaluation.

B) Financial evaluation (20%)

Financial proposals will be assessed on:

• Cost reasonableness and value for money (competitive, realistic LOE and rates)
• Budget clarity and completeness (transparent breakdown, assumptions stated)
• Alignment with milestone-based payments

Standard disclaimer

SNV and EA Foods reserve the right to accept or reject any application, to annul the process, and/or to modify the procurement process at any time without incurring liability. Late applications will be rejected. Any form of canvassing, collusion, coercion, or corrupt practice will lead to disqualification.