Company Information: About HarvestPlus and GAIN - The Commercialization of Biofortified Crops Program

At HarvestPlus, we believe that hidden hunger should not be inevitable for the people most at risk. We break down silos between agriculture and nutrition to develop creative solutions to hidden hunger. Our food-based approach targets some of the most vulnerable populations around the world. We use a process called biofortification, which adopts conventional breeding to improve crops. This approach complements other nutrition interventions, and is evidence-based, cost-effective, and sustainable. We work across the entire value chain to develop and deliver nutrient enriched seeds, grains, and foods to the people who need it the most via a large collection of innovative and traditional supply chain activities. HarvestPlus is part of One CGIAR, a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future. Its science is carried out by its 15 research centers in collaboration with hundreds of partner organizations.
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The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), is a Swiss-based foundation launched at the UN in 2002 to tackle the human suffering caused by malnutrition. Working with both governments and businesses, we aim to transform food systems so that they deliver more nutritious food for all people. At GAIN, we believe that everyone in the world should have access to nutritious and safe food. We work to understand and deliver specific solutions to the daily challenge of food insecurity faced by poor people. By understanding that there is no "one-size-fits-all" model, we develop alliances and build tailored programs, using a variety of flexible models and approaches. We build alliances between governments, local and global businesses, and civil society to deliver sustainable improvements at scale. We are part of a global network of partners working together to create sustainable improvements at scale. We are part of a global network of partners working together to create sustainable solutions to malnutrition. Through alliances, we provide technical, financial, and policy support to key participants in the food system. We use specific learning, evidence of impact, and results of projects and programs to shape and influence the actions of others. HarvestPlus improves nutrition and public health by developing and promoting biofortified food crops that are rich in vitamins and minerals while providing global leadership on evidence and technology.

In May 2018, HarvestPlus and GAIN launched a landmark partnership to accelerate progress in improving access to biofortified seeds, grains, and foods via commercial channels with the Commercialization of Biofortified Crops (CBC) program. The CBC program works with national partners to catalyze commercial markets for biofortified crops and foods in six countries with pervasive levels of malnutrition: Bangladesh, India, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Tanzania. Initial funding for this program is from Germany's Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The partnership brings together two leading actors in the global nutrition space. It combines the deep expertise of HarvestPlus in all aspects of biofortification with GAIN's proven track record of working with fortification and food companies to create sustainable market models for nutritious food systems.

Biofortification Program in Kenya

Kenya has a total under-5 population of 7 million--1.82 million of which (26 percent) are suffering from chronic malnutrition (stunting or low height-for-age) (Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) et. al. 2015). Although malnutrition indicators are improving, it is estimated that from 2010-2030, undernutrition will cost Kenya approximately US$38.3 billion in GDP, due to losses in workforce productivity (USAID 2017). Kenya's neonatal mortality and children under five mortality rates also remain high. Iron deficiency (26%) and anaemia (42.6%) are high among pregnant women in Kenya, which negatively affects the health and development of the mother and her unborn baby. Maternal deaths make up to 15% of all deaths among women of reproductive age, approximately 7,300 women dying each year (Nutrition International).

Beans are a major staple crop of Kenya. Per capita, bean consumption in Kenya is among the highest in the world, with average estimates of between 50-60 kg per person per year, from 14 kg per year to 66 kg per year in the western regions, resulting in a total national consumption of 755,000 MT per year. High consumption rates of beans make them the perfect vehicle to improve iron intakes for the entire population in Kenya. 

Biofortification is the process by which the nutritional quality of food crops is improved through agronomic practices, conventional plant breeding, or modern biotechnology. Biofortification differs from conventional fortification in that biofortification aims to increase nutrient levels in crops during plant growth rather than through manual means during processing of the crops. Biofortification may therefore present a way to reach populations where supplementation and conventional fortification activities may be difficult to implement and/or limited. Through biofortification, HarvestPlus and their partners have developed and released high iron beans in Kenya. Common bean has rapidly evolved from traditional subsistence to a modern, market-oriented crop with major impacts on household food and nutritional security, and incomes for the most marginalized communities in Africa, which makes commercialization of iron beans a greater opportunity to reach more people with a value added, no added cost product. 

Beans are cultivated by 1.5 million smallholder farmers (92% of bean producers) on about 1 million hectares. Iron Bean yields about 0.6 MT/ha, but has a potential of 1.5T/ha. Most farmers recycle their own seed, which they may also sell to prospective buyers. Biofortificaiton reaches the hardest to reach farmers who consume their own crops. The low-income urban consumers looking for cheap foods, and middle-class consumers looking for convenient, processed foods drive demand in the market.

HarvestPlus and GAIN have joined forces to drive commercialization of IB in Kenya, each partner responsible for specific value chain activities. This project will link to many other commercialization projects for iron beans that collectively aim to reach 3.4 million consumers in Kenya. This project is intended to search for the ideal marketing partner who can target bean farmers and encourage them to switch to the high iron variety with simple, compelling messages.

Details of this Request for Proposals: Statement of Purpose & Scope of Work

As part of the greater CBC program, HarvestPlus and GAIN are jointly issuing this Request for Proposals (RFP). HarvestPlus will be the administrative lead organization for this RFP. We seek a technical partner who has extensive experience in farmer support using digital technologies with a track record of results in an international development setting. They will also need to have readily available technologies that can be easily adapted to the needs of small and medium sized farmers that are cultivating iron enriched beans. 

The purpose of this RFP is to find the best agency partner to develop training manuals for small holder farmers in Kenya and create a plan of delivery and dissemination.

Specific Deliverables

Training manual content, including:

• General bean crop husbandry
• Pest and diseases management in beans
• Post-harvest handling of beans

Audience

The key audience is small holder farmers in Kenya who typically farm on less than 2-5 acre land. The current direct project implementation is in the following counties: Homa Bay, Bomet, Narok, Nakuru, Machakos, Bungoma, Trans Nzoia. However, the content developed should be usable by all bean producers considering that bean production is done across the country. The CBC project aims to reach 2.2 million producers. Women and youth participation is high in Kenya and thus dissemination channels selected need to reach these demographies.

Desired Results of the Campaign

1. Adoption of good crop husbandry for beans that will lead to increased productivity (yield/acre)
2. Increased participation from farmers in growing the high iron bean varieties, which will lead to increased quantities of iron beans available and consumed in the country
3. Improved handling of beans post-harvest, which will contribute to better markets from farmers due to their ability to meet the needs of buyers

Campaign Delivery Dates

Preparation of the information, communication, and educational content will take a maximum of 90 days. Delivery events will also take not more than 90 days.

Information HarvestPlus Will Provide

HarvestPlus will provide the chosen individual consultant or agency with full product information and training on iron bean. Training will cover agronomic traits, nutritional benefits, and available markets for the crops.

This activity has been previously carried out in several other markets and crops--HarvestPlus can provide previous campaign history and learnings to ensure the best messaging strategy is developed.

Timeline

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be reviewed by the selection team. The following indicate a list of the significant criteria against which proposals will be assessed. This list is not exhaustive or 100% inclusive and is provided to enhance the applicants' ability to respond with substance.

Applicants are required to submit the following information, conforming to the guidelines given in this section:

• Understanding of the scope of work
• Understanding of the target audience, with attention to all cultural and literacy requirements and sensitivities
• Understanding of the project objective and deliverables
• Evidence of past experience developing and delivering a campaign of this type to a specific audience
• Understanding of the technical requirements of the RFP
• Creative and methodological approaches required to implement each of the parts of the scope of work
• Comprehensive work plan with reasonable time frame
• Detailed budget, with attention to cost-effectiveness and return on investment
• Proposal shall identify possible challenges and include creative approaches to addressing them
• Management and personnel plan
• Team members with relevant qualifications and overall experience required to successfully implement the project
• Identification of roles and responsibilities of each team member, as well as a main contact person for HarvestPlus
• Standard rate card of the agency deliverables, e.g. print ads, banner advertising, 30 second radio ad, etc.

Instructions for Responding and Queries

In the event of any questions please contact p.muoki@cgiar.org, j.walton@cgiar.org

Send RFP responses no later than 5pm EAT on Sunday, March 20 on the IFPRI website.

Responses shall include:

• Full work proposal, including points laid out in the evaluation criteria
• Budget breakdown/financial proposal

Terms and Conditions of this Request for Proposals

Upon selection of a Consultant, a detailed contract will be agreed upon by both parties. HarvestPlus retains the right not to pursue this project if not enough proposals are submitted or funding for the project is no longer available.

Notice of Non-Binding Solicitation

HarvestPlus reserves the right to reject any and all bids received in response to this solicitation and is in no way bound to accept any proposal. HarvestPlus addtionally reserves the right to negotiate the substance of the successful applicants' proposals, as well as the option of accepting partial components of a proposal if deemed appropriate.

Confidentiality

All information provided as part of this solicitation is considered confidential. In the event that any information is inappropriately released, HarvestPlus will seek appropriate remedies as allowed. Proposals, discussions, and all information received in response to this solicitation will be held as strictly confidential.

Right to Final Negotiations on the Proposal

HarvestPlus reserves the right to negotiate on the final costs, and the final scope of work of the proposal. HarvestPlus reserves the right to limit or include third parties at HarvestPlus's sole and full discretion in such negotiations.
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