The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is a Swiss-based foundation launched at the UN in 2002 to tackle the human suffering caused by malnutrition. Working with both governments and businesses, we aim to transform food systems so that they deliver more nutritious food for all people.

GAIN’s work to improve the consumption of safe and nutritious food is based on three interlinked strategic objectives:

1. to improve the demand for safe, nutritious foods,

2. to increase the availability of nutritious foods and enhance the nutritional value of foods, and

3. to strengthen the enabling environment to improve the consumption of safe, nutritious foods

We build alliances between governments, local and global businesses, and civil society to deliver sustainable improvements at scale. We are part of a global network of partners working together to create sustainable solutions to malnutrition. Through alliances, we provide technical, financial and policy support to key participants in the food system. We use specific learning, evidence of impact, and results of projects and programmes to shape and influence the actions of others. 

Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, GAIN has representative offices in Denmark, The Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In addition, we have country offices in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Tanzania. Programmes and projects are carried out in a variety of other countries, particularly in Africa and Asia.

Background

The Nutritious Fruit Bars Project, implemented by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) under the DANIDA Market Development Partnerships (DMDP), aimed to address malnutrition, reduce post-harvest fruit losses, and promote inclusive business models in Pakistan. The project utilized the SUN Business Network (SBN) Pakistan Platform, focused on fostering partnerships, developing locally produced, nutritious fruit bars to improve dietary diversity, particularly among vulnerable populations, while creating inclusive income-generating opportunities across the fruit value chain.

The project aimed to contribute addressing malnutrition and reduce post-harvest fruit losses in Pakistan by developing a locally produced nutritious fruit bar that is affordable, and nutritious, with an inclusive approach engaging small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

The intervention focused on:

• Mobilizing and capacitating the fruit processors to produce high value added nutritious fruit bars. 

• Developing sustainable business models that incorporate environmentally friendly processing techniques.

• Fostering comprehensive partnerships and knowledge exchange among SUN Business Network members, public sector entities, private sector partners, global partners, and relevant stakeholders.

• Sharing expertise, resources, and best practices to implement sustainable and innovative initiatives effectively.

• Engaging diverse stakeholders in dialogue, decision-making, and collective action towards transforming food systems in Pakistan.

• Catalyzing positive changes across the entire fruit value chain, from production to consumption, to create a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable food system.

The project was implemented in Pakistan in 2024–2025 at Lahore (EcoGlobal Foods, Cakes and Bakes) Karachi (Reload, NIBL Foods, Nutrilove), Gilgit (Hunza Foods, Hunza Delight) and Skardu (Shazday Fruits, The Himalayan Foods). The project adopted a multi-stakeholder approach, leveraging the expertise and resources of public sector organizations, private sector partners, global partners, and other relevant stakeholders. Project activities included:

• Capacity building and technical assistance to fruit processors to produce nutritious fruit bars/products. 

• Capacity Building and technical assistance to partner companies on food safety and related certification (HALAL, HACCP, Social Marketing etc). 

• Facilitation to partner companies to adopt sustainable and cost effective packaging options. 

• Support to partner companies on environmentally friendly processing techniques and sustainable business models.

• Collaboration and knowledge exchange through workshops, seminars, and stakeholder meetings.

• Pilot testing and scaling of successful initiatives to maximize impact across the fruit value chain.

OBJECTIVES OF THE RFP: 

As the project reaches its conclusion, GAIN seeks the services of a qualified consulting organisation to conduct an independent end-line evaluation to:

• Assess the project’s impact, effectiveness, relevance, efficiency, sustainability, and potential for scale-up.

• Document lessons learned and best practices for replication in other regions or product categories.

• Provide credible evidence to inform future programming in Pakistan’s nutritious snack sector

Scope of work and deliverables

1.1 OVERVIEW

A. Consumer-Level Assessment:

• Measure awareness and consumption of nutritious fruit bars in project target areas.

• Assess changes in consumer knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to nutritious snacking.

• Identify key drivers and barriers for adoption of fruit bars among target groups, especially women and youth.

• Analyze market penetration across different distribution channels (retail, schools, workplaces, community events).

B. SME and Value Chain Assessment:

• Assess the revenue of the partner companies impacted through the project. 

• Assess the change in the livelihood of partner companies’ staff and relevant value chain actors impacted through the project.

• Verify the number of servings sold by the partner companies.  

• Evaluate the effectiveness of SME capacity-building in RBC, nutrition, and food safety standards.

• Assess adoption of improved production practices, business models, and sustainability measures.

• Document the role of women and youth entrepreneurs in the fruit bar value chain

C. Project Implementation and Impact:

• Assess the efficiency and effectiveness of the project including the progress on KPIs. 

• Analyze the potential for commercial scaling and integration into nutrition programmes (e.g., school feeding).

• Provide actionable recommendations and a scale-up roadmap.

DELIVERABLES

• Inception Report including methodology, sampling framework, survey protocols, tools, and workplan.

• Field Data Collection including consumer surveys, SME interviews, focus group discussions, and market observations.

• Preliminary Findings Presentation to GAIN and partners.

• Final Report including analysis, conclusions, recommendations, and datasets with codebooks.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered:

1. Organizational Experience: At least 3 years of proven experience in conducting project evaluations in the nutrition, food systems, or public health sectors.

2. Technical Expertise: Demonstrated capacity in both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, including data collection, analysis, and reporting.

3. Relevant Sector Knowledge: Familiarity with Pakistan’s food value chains, nutrition interventions, and community-based programming.

4. Human Resources: Availability of qualified personnel, including a lead evaluator with at least a master’s degree in a relevant discipline.

5. Compliance: Ability to comply with ethical standards for research, including informed consent, confidentiality, and safeguarding.

6. Legal Status: Must be a registered organization in Pakistan or have an agreement with a registered local partner.

7. Past Performance: At least two references from previous clients for similar assignments.

Proposal Submission Guidelines

Interested organizations should submit proposals containing the following components:

• Cover Letter (max. 1 page) introducing the organization and its interest in the assignment.

• Technical Proposal (max. 10 pages) including:

• Understanding of the assignment and methodology.

• Work plan and timeline.

• Team composition and CVs of key personnel.

• Organizational capacity and relevant experience.

• Financial Proposal in PKR, clearly itemizing all costs, including taxes, logistics, and overheads.

• Company Profile and evidence of legal registration.

• References from previous relevant assignments.

Note: Proposal should highlight the willingness of the company to share costs or provide in kind support, demonstrating their commitment to the success of the project. 

PROJECT TIMELINE

The assignment needs to be completed in a period of three months. Following table details the anticipated project timelines. It is expected that the selected applicants ensure deliverables are submitted in a timely manner at the end of each phase of the project. 

2. Instructions for responding

This section addresses the process for responding to this solicitation. Applicants are encouraged to review this prior to completing their responses.

CONTACT

Staff will be available to respond to clarifications on this solicitation. Please direct all inquiries and other communications to the GAIN email address: [email protected]. The queries about the RFP will be responded to latest by August 22, 2025. 

Budget

Applicants are required to provide an illustrative budget in PKR, in a separate document. The final budget will be elaborated as the scope of the assessment is clarified and as part of the contracting process but would not be more than USD 10K. The budget submitted with this proposal should include (i) justification of overall value for money, (ii) a comprehensive budget justification which should be presented for each category of costs including: personnel, cost of travel, including any subsistence allowances, meeting/workshop, overhead if applicable, and miscellaneous expenses. All prices/rates quoted must be inclusive of all taxes/VAT as required.

Format for proposal

The proposal needs to be formatted and attached as two separate documents:

1. Technical proposal outlining objectives and methodological approaches; detailed profiles (qualification, expertise, relevant experience etc.) of the agencies and individuals who will be completing the work including their full names, their expertise and publications in relevant research; and, past experience (previous similar assignments over the last five years which are relevant for this evaluation) and references. Length of the proposal should not exceed 10 pages. 

2. Financial proposal outlining budget accompanied by a budget narrative (as above).

Submission

Proposals should be in English and submitted in electronic copy to the following e-mail address:  [email protected] . Please include IMPACT EVALUATION OF THE NUTRITIOUS FRUIT BARS PROJECT IN PAKISTAN in the subject line. As mentioned, the research partner can apply for either the quantitative, qualitative, or process monitoring components, or all components combined. Please make it clear in the application which components are included in the proposal.

Deadline

Completed proposals should be submitted electronically to GAIN before 5:00 pm Pakistan Standard Time on August 31 2025. 

Unacceptable

The following proposals will automatically not be considered or accepted:

• Proposals that are received after the RFP deadline at the specified receiving office.

• Proposals received by fax.

• Incomplete proposals.

• Proposals that are not signed.

Revisions

Proposals may be revised by electronic mail provided such revision(s) are received before the deadline.

Acceptance

GAIN will not necessarily accept the lowest cost or any of the Proposals submitted. Accordingly, eligibility requirements, evaluation criteria and mandatory requirements shall govern.

Completion

• Proposals must be submitted on official letterhead of the lead organisation or firm and must be signed electronically by a principal or authorising signatory of the lead firm or organisation.

• In case of errors in calculating overall costs, the unit costs will govern.

• It is the applicant's responsibility to understand the requirements and instructions specified by GAIN. In the event that clarification is necessary, applicants are advised to contact GAIN at [email protected] prior to making their submission. 

• While GAIN has used considerable efforts to ensure an accurate representation in this Request for Proposal (RFP), the information contained in this RFP is supplied solely as a guideline. The information is not warranted to be accurate by GAIN. Nothing in this RFP is intended to relieve applicants from forming their own opinions and conclusions with respect to the matters addressed in this RFP.

• By responding to this RFP, the applicant confirms its understanding that failing to comply with any of the RFP conditions may result in the disqualification of their submission.

Rights of rejection

GAIN reserves the right to reject any or all submissions or to cancel or withdraw this RFP for any reason and at its sole discretion without incurring any cost or liability for costs or damages incurred by any applicant, including, without limitation, any expenses incurred in the preparation of the submission. The applicant acknowledges and agrees that GAIN will not indemnify the applicant for any costs, expenses, payments or damages directly or indirectly linked to the preparation of the submission.

References

GAIN reserves the right, before awarding the Proposal, to require the applicant to submit such evidence of qualifications as it may deem necessary, and will consider evidence concerning the financial, technical and other qualifications and abilities of the applicant. 

Release of information

After awarding the Proposal and upon written request to GAIN, only the following information will be released:

• Name of the successful applicant. 

• The applicant's own individual ranking. 

SUMMARY of deadlines

1. Queries to be submitted by: August 22 2025

2. Responses will be disseminated individually to inquirers by: August 29 2025

3. Proposal submission deadline:  August 31 2025

4. Response from GAIN on acceptance or rejection of proposal to be communicated by:  September 05 2025

5. Award of contract:  15 September 2025

3. Terms and conditions of this solicitation

Notice of non-binding solicitation

GAIN reserves the right to reject any and all bids received in response to this solicitation and is in no way bound to accept any proposal. GAIN additionally reserves the right to negotiate the substance of the successful applicants’ proposals, as well as the option of accepting partial components of a proposal if deemed appropriate.

confidentiality

All information provided as part of this solicitation is considered confidential. In the event that any information is inappropriately released, GAIN will seek appropriate remedies as allowed. Proposals, discussions, and all information received in response to this solicitation will be held as strictly confidential.

Right to final negotiations on the proposal

GAIN reserves the right to negotiate on the final costs, and the final scope of work of the proposal. GAIN reserves the right to limit or include third parties at GAIN’s s