Sustainable Diets for All - Proposal

1. About Hivos

We believe that every human being has the right to live in freedom and dignity and that we are all free to be who we are, with respect for our individual gender and sexual identity. Living such a life means feeling free to believe and say what you want, to challenge governments and influence the established order. In exercising that freedom, we also carry the responsibility of not impinging on the freedom of others, and of respecting the natural limitations of the earth.

We believe in open societies, in which freedom and diversity are valued individually and collectively. Such a society welcomes diversity and offers equal opportunities to all. We also believe in green societies, in which the environment and the planet’s natural resources are protected and used sustainably to the benefit of every living creature on the planet. Open and green societies are interwoven: together they create a free, fair and sustainable world.

Our mission

Based on a track record of 50 years of partnering with frontrunners in daring, innovative and impactful development programs, Hivos seeks new and creative solutions to persistent global problems; solutions created by people taking their lives into their own hands.

We offer a positive counterbalancing force against discrimination, inequality, abuse of power and the unsustainable use of our planet’s resources. Our mission is to innovate for a social change. With smart projects in the right places, we work towards more open and green societies.

Our focus areas

We work in 5 areas towards more open and green societies:

Freedom and accountability are essential for an open society, where people feel free and safe to express themselves, where they have the information and opportunities to make informed decisions and where they are empowered to hold government and companies to account.

Women’s empowerment ensures that women and girls have control over their lives and are able to participate actively in social, political and economic domains. It is about realizing true equality for men and women.

Sexual rights and diversity ensure that people have control over their own bodies, their sexual identity, and their relationships. Respecting these rights is vital to achieving true equality. People should never be discriminated or excluded.

Sustainable food allows people to have access to sufficient, affordable and healthy food that is produced sustainably, now and in the future. With an ever-growing world population, sustainable food production is critical to ensure food security in the long run whilst maintaining our planet's resources and to counter the negative effects of climate change.

Renewable energy creates access to clean energy without destroying the environment, particularly for marginalized people living in remote areas. If done in a sustainable way, it helps alleviate poverty, improves living conditions and propels economic development.

2. Background

Hivos Middle Eastern and Northern African regional team would like to commission a scoping study on Sustainable Diets for All in Lebanon. Sustainable Diets for All is a Dialogue and Dissent strategic partnership with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is implemented by the Citizens Agency Consortium, consisting of Hivos and the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED).

The SD4ALL program was launched in 2016-2017 in Uganda, Bolivia, Indonesia, Kenya and Zambia and we are currently exploring the feasibility to roll it out in Lebanon. The SD4ALL program seeks to influence the national and local food systems policies and practices guided by the Theory of Change (ToC) framework which is elaborated by Hivos, IIED and partners and adjusted to the results, learnings, and changes in the national context every year. 

The aim of the program is to work with citizens and partner organizations to influence policies, market practices, government actors and international institutions (at a global level) to promote diets which are diverse, healthy, fair and green.

The five-year program focuses on a specific lobby and advocacy goals (influencing policies and practices of civil society, public, private sector/market, and legislators and government actors) as well as on strengthening of advocacy capacities of civil society actors, specifically in the food sector and involves research and the use of media. The long term goal is more sustainable, diverse, healthy and nutritious food available for low-income citizens.

The goal of Sustainable Diets for All Program: Sustainable, healthy and affordable food available for all, in particular for low-income consumers, with a focus on women and youth that respects the planetary boundaries, now and in the future.

Sustainable Diets defined: those diets with low environmental impacts which contribute to food and nutrition security and to a healthy life for present and future generations. Sustainable diets are protective and respectful of biodiversity and ecosystems, culturally acceptable, accessible, economically fair and affordable; nutritionally adequate, safe and healthy; while optimizing natural and human resources (FAO, 2010).           

Sustainable Diets according to this program are:

Healthy: nutritionally adequate and safe.

Fair: affordable and accessible for low-income consumers and inclusive for all producers (women, men, and youth) who get a fair deal.

Green: Productive and respectful of biodiversity and ecosystems.

Diverse: Reclaiming diversity in food systems using indigenous seed.

3. Purpose of the mandate

The concept of sustainable diets, although fairly new, is gaining increased attention across the globe and the region, within the broader and complex context of the sustainability of the food systems, especially in relation to the concerns of effects of a changing climate as well as the projections of increasing population. How foods and dietary patterns interconnect with ecosystems and use of natural resources in ways that are environmental, economically, socially, and culturally sustainable, is garnering increasing interest, however, information on the topic is just emerging.
Information that brings together nutrition and health, agriculture, environment, economics, culture, and trade is needed to identify synergies and trade-offs and to inform the sustainable diets for all program in Lebanon.

The objective of the country scoping study is to provide the ‘ground’ level of the status of Sustainable Diets in Lebanon.

The tasks will be split into two phases, namely the scoping study phase (research) and analytical phase (discussions & recommendations) on how to move forward. The final phase is dependent on satisfactory completion of the first phase.

3.1 The consultant will embark on the following tasks for the scoping study:

Provide a detailed report on the scoping study highlighting key findings regarding a, b, c, d, and e:

1. Assess the sustainable diets in context of the four thematic areas (diversity, green, fair and healthy), food and nutrition security status and indicators, an analysis of the food systems including the production, consumption and market actors and informal market actors focus), knowledge attitudes and perception on sustainable diets, gender perspectives – women and youth.
2. Review food security and nutrition and other relevant policies, plans, legislation, strategies at national and governorates level with a specific focus on: 1) youth in entrepreneurship and agriculture, 2) crop and seed diversity, in respect to sustainable diets to identify current status of sustainable diets in the policy and legislative framework, the gaps and opportunities, and possible strategies.
3. Prepare a comprehensive inventory of platforms/networks, potential collaborators/partners/CSOs, the private sector, research institutions and media persons working on sustainable diets. Including donor, mapping to understand what type of food-related activities are supported already.
4. An analysis should be also provided in the SDGs-related framework and Hivos-strategic framework (key strategies: frontrunners, multi-actor platforms, and advocacy).
5. On the basis of the above, prioritize recommendations for enhancement of program implementation should be provided. The recommendation will also include the selection of a governorate or city to start with, or the argumentation to work at national level.

3.2 The consultant will embark on the following tasks for the analytical phase:

1. Provide an analytical report, based on findings in the scoping study with annexes:      
   1. Meeting outcomes;
   2. Interview outcomes;
   3. Focus group discussions.
2. Provide results based on earlier discussions and outcomes.
3. Provide a presentation with key outcomes and recommendations for decision making.

4. Methodology

The assessment should use both qualitative and quantitative methods. The consultant shall identify suitable data collection tools, sampling methodology, and agree with the MENA program development manager sustainable food on the approach for the assessment. The consultant will form an independent perspective to inform programming.

5. Deliverables

The assignment will take an estimated 30 days, to be finalized by latest 31 May 2019.

The objective of the scoping study is to gather and provide background and current information on sustainable diets for all in Lebanon. In order to implement the Sustainable Diets program in Lebanon, a good understanding of the Sustainable diets in context of the four thematic areas (diversity, green, fair and healthy), the policies and legislation to be influenced (Production, Consumption and Small and Medium Enterprises) and food systems and the role of gender- (youth and women) analyzed at the national and governorate level with a brief regional context is required.

The consultancy will provide in-depth information on the current contexts in Lebanon, to make concrete recommendations to improve relevance and efficiency of Sustainable Diets for all program in line with the contexts at the county and national level, in relation to the three selected topics namely: 1) Youth in entrepreneurship and agriculture, 2) Seed diversity 3) Crop diversity (especially to provide an alternative to maize mono-cropping) including proposed measures to guide in meeting the objectives of the program.

The expected outputs/deliverables from this assignment are;

• An inception report.
• A scoping study report (phase 1: scoping and phase 2: Analytical).
• Key findings Summary document (Scoping Report) with a prioritized recommendation for presentation to stakeholders in PowerPoint Presentation Format.
• Presentation to program staff to be scheduled.

6. Expression of Interest

The consultant would need to provide a detailed technical and financial proposal, clearly demonstrating a thorough understanding of this ToR and including, but not limited to, the following:

• Company profile (where applicable).
• Demonstrated previous experience in similar tasks and other qualifications outlined in this ToR.
• Description of the methodology.
• Proposed data management plan.
• Proposed timeframe detailing activities and a work plan.
• Critical issues for the assignment.
• A detailed budget quoted in Euros. The consultancy fees and terms of payment should be specified to include the daily rate, number of days and amount, as well as withholding tax.

In the case of team proposal:

• Team composition and level of effort of each proposed team member (include CVs of each team member).

7. Skills and qualifications of consultants

We are looking for a consultant/team with the following skills and qualifications;

- Demonstrable expertise and experience in conducting scoping studies.
- Have proven expertise in agriculture, food-related issues, entrepreneurship, lobby and advocacy and media analysis with a people-centered approach focused on women and youth.
- Have a strong analytical approach taking into consideration the political, socio-economic and environmental situation.

• Experience in research for lobby and advocacy purposes.
• Experience in data collection and analysis using participatory methodologies
• Have experience with ToC methodology (not required, but desired).

8. Fees and payment method

The consultant will be paid as specified below:
40% upon signing the contract.
40% upon submission draft report for comments.
20% upon acceptance of the final presentation and discussion

The budget proposal should not exceed €15.000