TOR - Implementation of Community Based Urban Food Garden

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About the Organization

ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability is a global city network association of more than 2500 local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development. ICLEI South Asia, the South Asian arm of ICLEI, is implementing the ‘Climate Development Knowledge Network (CDKN): Accelerating Inclusive Action’ programme in Asia. In this regard, ICLEI South Asia has partnered with Kakinada Municipal Corporation (KMC), Andhra Pradesh, India for planning and implementing climate induced disaster resilient development that has mainstreamed gender-responsive, socially inclusive, ecosystembased approaches.

About the Proposal

Kakinada is the highest populated city in the Kakinada Urban Development Authority (KAUDA) Region and the sixth most populated city in Andhra Pradesh. The city’s population in 2021 is estimated to be about 3,60,000 persons1 . There are 101 slum areas in Kakinada city that cater to 38% of the city’s population residing in 25,921 households2 . Out of the 101 slums, only 67 are notified, while 34 are non-notified slums. The 101 slums are scattered over approx. 6.25 sq. km in and around the city. Slums are located along the canal, near railway tracks, flyovers, and industries. Yetimoga is the largest notified slum in Kakinada, with a population of 8,892 in 1,636 households. Parlopeta is the largest nonnotified slum in Kakinada, with a population of 4,792 in 1,016 households. Self Help Groups (SHGs) with all women members are set up within the slums by Mission for Elimination of Poverty in Municipal Areas (MEPMA) to improve socio-economic well-being of the inhabitants. 43 out of 101 slums have active SHGs, primarily engaged in different economic activities such as construction work, daily wage labour, fishing, tailoring, working as house help etc.

Climate Resilient City Action Plan (CRCAP) for Kakinada identifies that 38.9% (46,250)3 of the total slum population resides in heat hotspot areas and 9.5% (~11,200) of the total slum population are exposed to urban flooding. As a majority of the slum residents work in the informal sector, and are daily wagers, extreme climate events interrupt their source of income, leaving the residents extremely vulnerable. Food and nutrition is an added challenge that the slum residents face which could be attributed to their irregular income.

Recognizing the relevance of urban agriculture in building locally led climate resilience, the project aims to set up an urban food garden in close proximity to slum settlements having SHGs. This will be designed such that they are continuously productive, incorporate traditional and culturally significant crops, utilize innovative farming technique, and are resilient to the existing and projected adverse impacts of climate change. The urban food gardens will also integrate innovative marketability component to it, to facilitate sustainability of the work beyond project period. The project, will instil the skills of urban gardening amongst the participants, including offering training which will allow the participants to identify several actors that they can engage with as they sustain and possibly scale up the urban food gardens in the future.

Preliminarily, parks spread over about half an acre area were identified followed by shortlisting 2 parks in close proximity i.e. 0.5 to 1km distance to slums having an active SHG. Feasibility study would be conducted in these two (2) shortlisted parks for finally selecting one (1) site for implementing the proposed pilot project.

Both the shortlisted sites span over less than 0.5 acre area. The sites have provision of onsite or adjacent water supply, electricity connection and have a compound wall with iron gate. Please refer to Annexure A for site details.

Objectives

• To build a productive green space within the community
• To build sustainable and resilient food system for the community
• To improve food security in the community focusing on traditionally edible local vegetables and crops
• To provide alternative source of livelihood for the community especially women
• To improve adaptive capacity of the slum dwellers especially women through economic and health improvements
• To foster awareness and capacity building on biodiversity, ecosystem services, and cultural conservation

Scope of Work

Implementation of the project would be taking place in 2 phases: Feasibility Study and Formulating Business Model, and Implementation

Feasibility Study and Formulating Business Model:

ICLEI South Asia has shortlisted 2 parks based on areal extent, proximity to slums having Self Help Groups (SHG) in discussion with KMC for setting up urban food garden. Feasibility study needs to be carried out for identifying the following components for a successful implementation.

• Site Suitability Assessment: The optimum site needs to be selected out of the shortlisted parks, depending on soil quality, source and quality of water for irrigation, drainage, scope of yield vis-à-vis self-consumption. Soil and water quality will be tested in Govt. accredited laboratory. Production potential in reference to the soil quality will be assessed and further validated in consultation with experts such as Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Rythu Sadhikara Samstha (RSS), Horticulture Department etc. Volume of community consumption will be assessed to explore sufficiency for market linkage beyond selfconsumption through surveys or focus group discussions. Simultaneously, interest from the community residing in adjacent area, and cohesion amongst the community members will reflect on the opportunity of effective community engagement.
• Crop Typology: It will consist of identification of crops especially leafy vegetables, focusing on the local consumption pattern, local cultural practices and ritual requiring specific items and market prices. Especially if multi-tier method is adopted, different crops need to be selected rationally for cultivating at ground level and at trellis structure in different seasons to ensure optimum production. Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with the communities and expert consultation would play a key role in this assessment.
• Cropping Method and Technologies: Feasibility study will also entail exploring viable technique with reference to the soil and water availability and financial feasibility such as but not limited to multi-tier farming, step/ vertical farming using organic, hydroponic, permaculture etc. Thus, a horizontal and vertical layout of the garden need to be prepared indicating seasonal positioning of identified crops. It is envisaged to adopt zero to minimum budget organic farming procedure without resorting to chemical fertilizer, pesticide, weedicide etc. Consultation with experts such as Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Rythu Sadhikara Samstha (RSS), Horticulture Department etc. would contribute to taking an informed decision in this regard.
• Market Potential: Feasibility study will assess seasonal yield vis-à-vis community demand that would analyse the potential of selling the produce thereby becoming a source of livelihood generation for the community. The demand determinants of the urban garden include population, sex and household income, preferences, prices etc. that can influence or affect the project as against existing supply of fresh produce and prices.
• Marketing Plan: Various innovative options of market linkage will be explored such as app-based marketing, mobile vending, tying up with local vendors/ local markets, etc. This includes a brief description of the product, market place, price, and strategies.
• Preparation of Business Model: Upon completion of feasibility study, key findings would be utilized to develop a sustainable business model in close coordination with KMC and community. It needs to identify the scale at which the food garden could reach breakeven and operate profitably. Labour, time, and resource required to reach the scale need to be quantified as well.

Deliverables

• Feasibility Report- a comparative site suitability analysis, identification of crop typology, cropping technique, market potential, and finalize one (1) site for setting up food garden with vertical and horizontal layout of seasonal crops
• Business Model- outlining marketing plan, resource requirement to reach the scale of break even and profitability
• Formation of community farming group
• One (1) functional community based urban food garden
• At least five (5) rounds of training across farming stages 6. Market linkage set up
• Maintenance and Sustainability Factsheet
• Maintenance of Garden for 1 Year
• Agreement Signed between Community and KMC and Ceremonial Hand Over to Community

Eligibility

Technical requirements

• Should be well versed with the subject
• Should have led similar work for at least 5 years
• Should have experience in successfully implementing community based urban food garden development and should have undertaken the implementation of the same through atleast two projects in the region in the past three years as on date of release of the TOR.
• Should furnish self-attested copies of work orders for these works and a copy of certificates for successful establishment of community based urban food garden from the same client
• Should not be under declaration of ineligibility for corrupt or fraudulent practices or deficiencies of services or blacklisted with any Government/Non-Government agencies at the time of bidding

Financial requirements

• Copy of valid PAN card, GST registration and TIN.
• Bidders registered in India must have an FCRA4 account.
• Minimum annual turnover of INR 20 lakh for last two years.
• Audited account statements for last two years.

Language requirement

• Proficiiency in English and Telugu is madatory

How to Apply

The Terms of Reference (ToR) can be downloaded free of cost from the ICLEI South Asia website. Each page of all the documents mentioned above as well as technical and financial bid documents shall be duly signed by the contractor. The bid documents consisting of both technical and financial bids, and the supporting documentation shall be submitted by the bidder through email to the below mentioned email IDs on or before 6 th May 2025.

• Bedoshruti Sadhukhan, Associate Director, ICLEI South Asia (Email: shruti.sadhukhan@iclei.org)
• Anuradha Adhikari, Assistant Manager, ICLEI South Asia (Email: anuradha.adhikari@clei.org)
• The bid shall be valid for a period of 60 days from the date of submission of bid document
• A bidder shall submit the bid documents that satisfies each and every condition laid down in this notice, failing which, the bid will be liable to be rejected by ICLEI South Asia
• No sub-contracting allowed

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