Consultancy Environmental & Social (E&S) Assessment Technical Assistance for EA Foods Limited under the Dutch Fund for Climate and Development (DFCD) – Origination Facility

2. Objectives of the Assignment

The overall objective of this assignment is to support EA Foods to strengthen its E&S risk management and develop a road map for its food safety systems certification in line with IFC Performance Standards and DFCD requirements thereby de-risking the proposed DFCD investment.

The specific objectives are to:

1. Review and benchmark EA Foods ESMS against IFC Performance Standards and DFCD/FMO requirements and identify priority gaps and actions.
2. Conduct targeted site-level E&S risk assessments for 23 representative expansion sites (e.g. rice mill packhouses collection centres and logistics routes).
3. Provide strategic recommendations on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and sustainable supply chain management for smallholder farmers.
4. Undertake a baseline assessment and preparation support for food safety certification (e.g. FSSC 22000) focused on packhouse and supply chain operations.

  of Work and Key Tasks

Task 1: ESMS Review and Gap Assessment

The Consultant will undertake the following activities:

• Review EA Foods existing policies procedures and tools related to E&S including any ESMS manual health safety and environment (HSE) policies human resources policies contractor management procedures incident reporting grievance mechanisms audit/inspection procedures and farmer-facing requirements.
• Map existing ESMS components against IFC PS1PS4 (and relevant aspects of PS6 for supply chain) E&S safeguards and FMOs E&S requirements including climate and food safety relevant aspects.
• Assess organisational structure roles and responsibilities for E&S including Board senior management operations logistics and HR/people teams.
• Assess integration of E&S into key business processes such as due diligence of suppliers contracted farmers and off-takers new site selection project design construction operations contractor management and monitoring and reporting.
• Assess E&S incident management including traffic accidents worker incidents community incidents and environmental events.
• Identify gaps relative to IFC PS requirements and good practice in agri-food supply chains.
• Prioritise high-risk gaps that must be addressed prior to or in parallel with DFCD/FMO investment (e.g. supply-chain labour risk agrochemical management community traffic safety).
• Develop a phased Environmental and Social Action Plan (ESAP) that distinguishes short-term OF-phase actions (policies critical procedures high-level frameworks) and investment-phase actions (detailed SOPs systems roll-out additional studies and infrastructure investments).

Deliverable 1: ESMS Gap Assessment Report and phased ESAP including a summary alignment matrix with IFC Performance Standards.

Task 2: Expansion Sites-Level E&S Risk Assessment

The Consultant will undertake targeted:

• E&S risk assessments for 23 representative expansion sites linked to the proposed investment.
• In consultation with EA Foods and DFCD identify 23 priority sites (for example: proposed/new rice milling facility expansion collection centre(s) in key sourcing regions and main logistics corridors/fulfilment centre with high traffic volumes).
• Carry out a focused baseline review (secondary data site visits stakeholder consultations) to understand the environmental and social context including land use water use and availability community settlements traffic patterns worker conditions and presence of vulnerable groups.
• Screen potential project-related risks during construction and operation phases including: community health and safety (traffic safety dust/noise influx of workers GBV/SEA risks) labour and working conditions (direct workers contract workers and farm-level labour where relevant) resource use and pollution (water abstraction wastewater solid and organic waste emissions agrochemicals) supply chain risks (child/forced labour unsafe agrochemical use deforestation/land conversion in sourcing areas) and climate and GHG aspects.
• Provide site-specific and portfolio-level recommendations for risk avoidance mitigation and monitoring including requirements for further studies at the investment stage (e.g. ESIA/ESMP traffic risk assessment OHS audits) indicative mitigation measures and monitoring parameters and implications for E&S risk categorisation and covenants for the DFCDs Land Use Facility investment phase.

Deliverable 2: Site-Level E&S Risk Screening Report(s) and a synthesis note summarising key risks and recommendations.

Task 3: Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Sustainable Supply Chain Recommendations

• Review current farmer training content and extension support including climate-smart agriculture content embedded in the FMS.
• Map current practices against GAP/global best practice and relevant national standards including soil fertility management water management agrochemical use and biodiversity-friendly practices.
• Identify key E&S risks and opportunities at the farm level including soil degradation water abstraction agrochemical mismanagement and deforestation/land conversion in sourcing areas.
• Develop a practical GAP Roadmap that defines minimum mandatory practices for contracted/partner farmers (e.g. basic environmental labour and safety practices) identifies priority GAP modules to be integrated into the FMS and extension packages and outlines a phased path towards potential GAP certification for selected farmer groups or sourcing areas.

Deliverable 3: GAP and Sustainable Supply Chain Recommendations Note including a roadmap priority modules and minimum operating standards for adoption by EAF.

Task 4: Food Safety Certification Preparation (e.g. FSSC 22000)

• Conduct a baseline food safety audit of selected packhouse(s) collection centres and relevant logistics/warehousing operations.
• Assess current practices against FSSC 22000 or equivalent internationally recognised food safety standards including hygiene sanitation traceability hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) cold chain integrity pesticide residues and aflatoxin risk management.
• Prepare a structured gap analysis report and prioritised roadmap specifying key system infrastructure and behavioural changes required; documents and records needed (policies procedures SOPs logs audits); and the sequence of actions that can be initiated during the OF phase versus those requiring investment-phase resources.
• Design and deliver targeted training for key EA Foods staff (e.g. QA/QC operations warehouse/packhouse managers logistics leads) on food safety principles roles and responsibilities and basic internal audit skills.

Deliverable 4: Food Safety Baseline Audit and Food Safety Standards Certification Roadmap Report plus training materials and attendance records.

4. Cross-Cutting Requirements

Align all work with IFC Performance Standards and DFCD E&S safeguard requirements and flag any critical risks or potential show-stoppers at an early stage.

Ensure that recommendations are practical realistic costed at a high level and phased to align with the OF and investment-phase budgets.

5. Expected Deliverables

• Inception Report (methodology detailed workplan revised timeline and data needs).
• ESMS Gap Assessment Report and Draft ESAP.
• Site-Level E&S Risk Screening Report(s) and synthesis note.
• GAP and Sustainable Supply Chain Recommendations Note.
• Food Safety Baseline Audit and Food Safety Standards Certification Roadmap Report with training materials.
• Final Consolidated E&S 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 during a 30 days period.

7. Governance Reporting and Coordination

Client: EA Foods Limited.

DFCD OF Coordinator: SNV East Africa Region Business Origination Advisor.

The Consultant will report primarily to SNV with day-to-day coordination with EA Foods designated E&S focal point. Key outputs will be shared with DFCD-OFs E&S lead for review and QA/QC alignment before final approval.

Regular check-ins (e.g. bi-weekly calls) will be held with SNV/DFCD and EA Foods to track progress.

Qualifications :

8. Consultant Profile and Team Composition

The assignment is expected to be delivered by a multidisciplinary team that may include:

• Team Lead / Senior E&S Specialist (Agrifood focus): at least 10 years of experience in E&S risk management for agribusiness food supply chains and/or logistics; proven experience applying IFC Performance Standards and/or World Bank ESF; and a strong track record in ESMS design and implementation.

• Food Safety and Quality Systems Expert: in-depth knowledge of FSSC 22000 ISO 22000 and HACCP; experience with packhouses cold chain or fresh produce supply chains.
• Environmental / Climate Specialist: experience in resource efficiency pollution prevention GHG assessment and climate-resilient agriculture.
• Social / Community and Labour Specialist: experience with labour and working conditions community health and safety stakeholder engagement and GBV/SEA risk mitigation in rural/agri contexts.
• Local Field Experts / Enumerators: for site visits interviews and liaison with local stakeholders.
• Experience in Tanzania and/or East Africa and fluency in English (and Swahili for fieldwork) are highly desirable.

9. Submission of Applications

9.1 How to Submit

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

1) Email submission to East Africa Foods (EAF):

Send applications to:

Email subject line: DFCD-OF EA Foods E&S Assessment TA Technical & Financial Proposal Consultant/Firm Name

2) Online submission via SNV Smart Recruiters platform:

Submit concurrently via SNV Smart Recruiters:

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.

9.2 Procurement Timelines

Call publication date: 20 February 2026

Application window: 10 working days

Submission deadline: 5 March 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

Additional Information :

9.3 Proposal Submissions

Applicants shall submit two separate files:

 A) Technical Proposal

File name: TECHEAFDFCD-OFESTAConsultant/Firm Name

 B) Financial Proposal

File name: FINEAFDFCD-OFESTAConsultant/Firm Name

9.4 Content Requirements - Technical Proposal

The Technical Proposal must clearly demonstrate capacity to deliver the ToR scope and deliverables within 30 days and shall include at minimum:

Understanding of the assignment and DFCD-OF context including the objectives and expected outputs.

Proposed methodology and approach for: (i) ESMS review and IFC Performance Standards benchmarking; (ii) site-level E&S risk screening for 2-3 representative sites; (iii) GAP and sustainable supply chain recommendations; and (iv) food safety baseline audit and certification roadmap (e.g. FSSC 22000 / ISO 22000 / HACCP) including associated training approach.

A task-based workplan and timeline confirming delivery within 30 calendar days including internal quality assurance and review cycles with SNV/EAF.

Team composition and roles (including an organogram) level of effort per role and CVs of key personnel.

Relevant experience (minimum three comparable assignments) with references (client contact person email/phone).

Key delivery risks and mitigation measures.

9.5 Content Requirements - Financial Proposal

The Financial Proposal shall be all-inclusive and presented as a fixed lump-sum for completing the assignment within 30 calendar days. It must cover all costs required to deliver the outputs including (as applicable):

Professional fees (daily rates and level of effort by role).

Travel and logistics for site visits (local transport accommodation and per diem).

Stakeholder consultation and workshop/training costs (if any).

Communications reporting and printing (if any).

Applicable taxes/withholding taxes.

The Financial Proposal must include (i) a summary budget (grand total) (ii) a detailed budget breakdown and cost assumptions (e.g. number of sites to be visited travel days workshops/training sessions) and (iii) a proposed milestone-based payment schedule aligned to the deliverables.

9.6 Payment Schedule

Payments will be made upon satisfactory acceptance of deliverables by SNV and EA Foods against the following milestone-based structure (indicative):

20% - Upon contract signature and approval of the Inception Report / Workplan.

40% - Upon acceptance of the core technical drafts comprising the ESMS Gap Assessment Report (including draft phased ESAP) and the site-level E&S risk screening report(s).

40% - Upon acceptance of final deliverables including the GAP and sustainable supply chain recommendations note food safety baseline audit and certification roadmap (including training materials where applicable) and the final consolidated report and slide deck.

10. Evaluation Criteria

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

Technical Proposal: 80%

Financial Proposal: 20%

10.1 Technical Evaluation (80%)

The Technical Proposal will be scored against the criteria below (indicative weighting):

Understanding of the assignment and DFCD/IFC Performance Standards context - 10%

Methodology and implementation approach across all tasks (ESMS site screening GAP food safety) - 25%

Workplan feasibility and deliverability within 30 days including quality assurance - 10%

Team composition qualifications and role fit (including food safety competence) - 20%

Relevant experience in comparable agrifood supply chain E&S assignments - 15%

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

10.2 Financial Evaluation (20%)

Financial proposals will be assessed based on cost reasonableness and value for money completeness and clarity of the budget and assumptions and alignment of costs with the proposed deliverables and payment milestones.

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time