REOI for NGO Partnership for SWISSAID's upcoming Community-led Climate Adaptation Project

Request for Expression of Interest for NGO Partnership for its upcoming Community-led Climate Adaptation Project

About SWISSAID

Swiss Foundation for Development Cooperation (SWISSAID) is a 75-year-old Swiss non-profit organisation dedicated to transform the global food system by facilitating a transition towards agroecology, climate resilience and gender equality. It fosters partnerships and provide resources to empower marginalised communities building better futures. Currently, it is focusing on agriculture, peasant seed systems, food system transformation, natural resource management, sustainable livelihoods, prevention of domestic violence and child marriage and coordinated support to survivors of domestic violence. Headquartered in Bern, Switzerland, SWISSAID has a presence in 09 countries from the global south. The India country programme coordination office is in Pune, Maharashtra. In India, SWISSAID is working in the states of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, West Bengal and Karnataka. For more information, please visit www.swissaid.ch.

Project Context

Climate change is a global crisis affecting us all, and its impact is felt acutely on local levels. Communities relying on agriculture, forests, water, and livestock are particularly vulnerable, with small farmers, forest produce gatherers, fisherpersons, labourers, and women facing disproportionate challenges. Understanding the plight of these communities is paramount. Their traditional knowledge about adapting to climate change is invaluable, and any solution must be tailored to fit their specific needs. It's not just about dealing with the symptoms but understanding the problem from their perspective and finding sustainable, community-centric solutions. Despite substantial investments by both government and non-government organizations to improve agriculture, livelihoods, and climate resilience in India, there remains a gap in aligning these interventions with the real, on-the-ground impacts of climate change. It's not enough to implement broad measures; the solutions need to be carefully studied and tailored to the unique challenges faced at the grassroots level.

In response to this urgent need, SWISSAID encourages participatory climate change adaptation planning, specifically involving rural and tribal communities. The goal is to develop plans that consider the local nuances, strengthen grassroots institutions, and sensitize government bodies to implement these adaptation plans. SWISSAID wants to take this holistic approach forward by initiating a dedicated project with a geographical focus on Maharashtra. The project emphasizes collaboration with both government and non-government programs to ensure a comprehensive and impactful response to climate change. This involves active engagement with communities, understanding their challenges, and working collectively to implement effective adaptation strategies. In this pursuit, SWISSAID is actively seeking NGO partners who share their commitment and passion for creating meaningful change.

Project Outcomes

The project is expected to start from 2025 onwards subject to availability of funds and approvals from the donor agencies. The envisaged outcomes are as follows;

1. Communities vulnerable to climate change lead a decentralised, participatory and inclusive Climate Change Adaptation Planning (CAP) process to increase awareness about climate change impacts on their livelihoods and locally appropriate adaptation measures; and benefit from implementation of these plans
2. Elected representatives and government functionaries are better informed about the climate change impacts on the lives and livelihoods of local communities; and locally appropriate adaptation strategies.  
3. Communities with support from NGOs implement CAPs by leveraging funds from government and non-government sources (CSR, Philanthropic).  
4. Communities have enhanced climate adaptive capacities because of implementation of Climate adaptive plans.

Project Duration

The project duration will be around 3 years from the date of signing of the contracts

Project Location

The proposed project is to be implemented in up to 05 of the following districts in Maharashtra: Nandurbar, Amravati, Nashik, Thane, Palghar, Gadchiroli, Chandrapur, Nagpur, Dhule, Akola, Jalgaon, Yavatmal, Nanded, Osmanabad, Gondiya, Wardha, Raigarh, Lature, Aurangabad, Washim, Hingoli and Pune.    

Application Details:

Who can apply

Registered non-profit organizations with experience and expertise in implementing projects in the following areas may apply:

1. Making participatory Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDP), Micro-plans for agriculture, health, nutrition or education sectors, Watershed Development Plans under IWMP.
2. Implementation of projects around soil and water conservation, agroecological/natural/organic farming, agroforestry and horticulture, forest or Non-Timber Forest Produce (NTFP) based livelihoods, Freshwater Fisheries, and Livestock Management (Goatery and Poultry).
3. Implementation of government programmes and schemes, especially NREGS, Watershed Development, GPDP, NRLM, POCRA, Crop Insurance Schemes etc.

Eligibility Criteria

1. A registered entity under the Societies/Trusts Act, Section 8 Company  
2. Must have valid FCRA registration, 12 A and 80 G certification
3. Must have minimum 3 years of audit statements of expenditure
4. Must have an annual turnover of at least 1 crore or more over the past three years.   
5. Must have an active, on-ground presence in at least 20-60 villages in one of the districts mentioned above
6. Must have been working with community institutions in some form, for example Women Self Help Groups (SHGs), Farmers Groups, Fisheries Cooperative etc.
7. Must be part of a few active and influential networks
8. Must have adequate in-house human resource capacity

How to apply

1. Fill in the Google Form available at the following link by 12 am on 21^st April 2024
2. Do NOT send proposals/applications by email or post. Only applications submitted through Google Forms will be considered for selection.  
3. Do NOT call SWISSAID India office.

Link to the Application Form:

Google Form: https://forms.gle/YuBQj3PBUNr24pZQ7

Selection Process 

1. Shortlisting of agencies will be done based on details provided through Google Forms
2. Only shortlisted agencies will be notified about the selection by 17^th May 2024 
3. Shortlisted agencies may be asked to submit a detailed technical and financial proposal along with other important documents such as registration documents, audit statements for last three years, FCRA details, 12A and 80G certificates along with the copies of policies of the organization and reference letters from the donors.
4. Final selection will be made through detailed participatory assessment according to SWISSAID’s norms. 03-05 of the shortlisted agencies will be selected
5. Kindly note that participation in this Call does not guarantee selection as project partner. SWISSAID will only contact the shortlisted organizations. Verbal and telephone calls will not be entertained.
6. SWISSAID reserves the right to cancel this request.

Deadline for Submission of EOI (Google Form):

21^st April 2024 before 12 am.    

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