Consultancy for Environmental and Social Assessment for Hi-tech Farming Expansion Project in Lam Dong

CALL FOR EXRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI)

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL ASSESSMENT FOR HI-TECH FARMING EXPANSION PROJECT IN LAM DONG

SNV Netherlands Development Organization

SNV is an international not-for-profit development organisation, working in more than 25 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. SNV specializes in supporting the resourcefulness of development actors by developing local capacities, improving performance and services, strengthening governance systems, helping to create access for excluded groups and by making markets work for the poor. Our global team of advisors use their specialist sector expertise in Agriculture, Renewable Energy and WASH to facilitate sustainable change in the livelihoods of millions of people living in poverty.

The Dutch Fund for Climate and Development (DFCD)

The Dutch Fund for Climate and Development (DFCD) provides finance and Technical Assistance (TA) to mobilize and scale external private sector funding for climate smart development. The DFCD’s Origination Facility (OF) managed by SNV and WWF identifies investment opportunities that support climate change adaptation, mitigation as well as key sustainable development co-benefits. The OF supports the further elaboration of projects with private sector partners through the provision of TA for project design, feasibility assessments, piloting and other activities.

The OF has identified an opportunity to develop and scale Orlar’s hi-tech/minimal input vertical farming as a climate smart solution for the sustainable intensification of agricultural production in Viet Nam’s Central Highlands, part of the DFCD’s Greater Annamites priority landscape.

Orlar and the DFCD

Orlar, founded in 2014 in Australia and began their operations in Viet Nam in 2017, is seeking to change the paradigm of inefficient use of land and other resources for food production. They are introducing a model of vertical farming which can increase intensity, reduce the food production land footprint, while at the same time reducing emissions to feed a growing population. They provide a model of sustainable intensification which reduces environmental and climate impacts, while also supporting rural economies and sustainable development. This transformation in agriculture is critical for the world to meet its climate targets.

Project Sites

The project sites are located in two districts in Lam Dong province – the Southernmost province in Vietnam’s Central Highlands, and part of the Greater Annamites DFCD priority landscape and recognised WWF Ecoregion. Orlar proposes a phased expansion of their business model during the OF develop stage. With SNV TA support, Orlar plans a small expansion at the existing site in Da Sar, Lac Duong District (just outside the key hi-tech agriculture hub-city of Dalat and within the buffer zone of the Langbiang UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve) and establishment of operations at nearby Di Linh District (also in Lam Dong province).

SNV is open for EOIs to support Orlar’s expansion of this climate-positive approach to food production. Part of the TA also includes building on the company’s positive intentions and early stage ESG actions to thoroughly assess the company’s Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS), as well as the specific environmental and social impacts of the project. The overall intention of the assignment is two-fold: i) to assess and support the strengthening of Orlar’s ESMS and company capacity to implement it; ii) to assess the specific environmental and social benefits and risks associated with the business model/investment case and develop appropriate management/mitigation measures. These actions aim to de-risk the investment as it graduates to the commercial investment phase but should also result in the development of market opportunities for Orlar.

The following tasks are to be performed under the guidance and supervision of SNV and Orlar and in in consultations with relevant stakeholders. SNV’s Central Highlands team (based in Da Lat) will support fieldwork implementation.

• Desk-based analysis of Orlar’s business model, approach, systems, and available data
• Desk-based review of national legislation and local policies/regulations applicable to Orlar’s business model.
• Development of an ESA approach and methodology
• Conduct a review of Orlar’s existing ESMS.
• Site visits/field surveys to conduct interviews and collect data in Lac Duong and Di Linh
• Local stakeholder consultations and presentations of findings
• Elaboration of an Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP).
• Elaboration of a Gender Action Plan (GAP).
• Presentation of ESMP and GAP to Orlar and other relevant stakeholders
• Preparation of a draft ESMS document that responds to the IFC Performance Standards and addresses relevant ESG issues.
• Preparation of an in-house training manual/guidelines and associated presentations, training materials on environmental and social management

For more details on the Expression of Interest process, submission requirements, and evaluation details, please see corresponding sections below:

Selection Process

SNV Vietnam will review all Expressions of Interest received in accordance with the guidelines and criteria in this solicitation. SNV Vietnam reserves the right to exclude any EOIs that do not meet the guidelines. Please note that SNV is unable to provide detailed feedback to those EOIs that are not selected.

Step 1: SNV Vietnam will shortlist selected EOIs, and unsuccessful respondents will be notified. Successful applicants will be contacted by SNV Vietnam.

Step 2: SNV Vietnam will release Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for the specific activities and contract with the selected organizations/ consultants.

Protection of Information

We request that Expressions of Interest responses be free of any intellectual property that the applicant wishes to protect. Should offerors wish to include proprietary intellectual property that they believe would be helpful for SNV Vietnam, please note the proprietary nature of such information. Costing information will be kept confidential and will not be shared beyond SNV Vietnam.

Issuance of this EOI does not constitute a commitment, award, or engagement on the part of SNV Vietnam nor does it commit SNV Vietnam to any future commitment or engagement.

Note: SNV Vietnam reserves the right to change or cancel this requirement in the EOI/or solicitation process at any time.

The applicant needs to complete the Advanced Due Diligence Framework in the Annex then attach to the application.

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