Call for Proposals: Support for Alternative Livelihoods & School Feeding Programmes in Zambia

Deadline: 15-Apr-25

The World Food Programme (WFP) invites proposals of interest from NGOs, CSOs, CBOs, and FBOs to support the implementation of the Alternative Livelihoods to Tobacco Production Project in Chipangali District and the Home-Grown School Feeding Programmes in the 7 districts.

Objectives

• WFP seeks a local non-governmental organization (NGO) to support the implementation of planned activities for the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme and Alternative Livelihoods to Tobacco Production Project. The objectives will be achieved through the following expected outcomes:
  • Support farmers exiting tobacco contracts and equipping them with information and linkages to market access for alternative value chains as part of the broader project objective of tobacco free farms including those with existing tobacco contracts.
  • Strengthen market systems to ensure predictable demand for surplus crops from both rain feed and irrigation scheme.
  • Develop community managed Integrate the Energy for Rural Transformation (ERT) initiative, enabling solar-powered irrigation scheme for year-round high-value crop production using the Energy for rural Transformation approach.
  • Enhance access to nutritious foods through sustainable school production gardens under the Home-grown school feeding programme.
  • Expand financial services by improving access to credit, savings programs, and financial literacy trainings that will enable smallholder farmers to invest in alternative livelihoods and enhance their economic resilience.
  • Improve access to energy to enhance development and growth of small businesses and income generation activities.

Sectors and Areas 

• Education 
  • School meals
• Food Security
  • Food security and market analysis/vulnerability analysis and mapping (VAM)
• Livelihoods
  • Community mobilization
  • Self-reliance
  • Smallholder agri cultural market support
• Nutrition
  • Nutrition – general

Duration

• 1 May – 31 December (8 months), with a possibility of extension

Project Activities

• Home-Grown School Feeding Programme
  • Establish 32 school production gardens with drip irrigation to ensure year-round production of various nutrient-dense leafy green vegetables and crops and build resilience against future climate shocks.
  • Provide training for teachers, learners and local community members in the 7 districts on sustainable agricultural practices, climate-smart farming techniques, and the benefits of nutritious diets, including methods for preserving and processing the produce, ensuring maximum nutritional value.
  • Raise awareness of the importance of diversified food consumption.
• Alternative Livelihoods to Tobacco Production Project in Chipangali District
  • Component 1: Market Systems Development
  • Component 2: Production and Productivity – Community Managed Solar-powered Irrigation Scheme for year-round high-value crop production using the Energy for rural Transformation approach
  • Component 3: Financial Inclusion for Smallholder Households
  • Component 4: Advocacy for Healthy & Sustainable Food Production

Expected Results

• Support farmers exiting tobacco contracts and equipping them with information and linkages to market access for alternative value chains as part of the broader project objective of tobacco free farms including those with existing tobacco contracts.
• Strengthen market systems to ensure predictable demand for surplus crops from both rain feed and irrigation scheme.
• Develop community managed Integrate the Energy for Rural Transformation (ERT) initiative, enabling solar-powered irrigation scheme for year-round high-value crop production using the Energy for rural Transformation approach.
• Enhance access to nutritious foods through sustainable school production gardens under the Home-grown school feeding programme.
• Expand financial services by improving access to credit, savings programs, and financial literacy trainings that will enable smallholder farmers to invest in alternative livelihoods and enhance their economic resilience.
• Improve access to energy to enhance development and growth of small businesses and income generation activities

Roles and Responsibilities

• The selected cooperating partner (local NGO) will be responsible for field-level execution, mobilizing communities, training farmers and schools, facilitating market linkages, and ensuring the integration of climate-smart agricultural practices. They will work closely with WFP, MoE, and MoA to implement planned activities, monitor progress, and provide ongoing technical support to beneficiaries.
• WFP will provide technical assistance, procure agricultural inputs, and integrate business development models to enhance agribusiness skills, value addition, and market linkages for schools and farmers. WFP will also oversee capacity strengthening, policy advocacy, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E).
• The Ministry of Education (MoE) will oversee school engagement, facilitate the integration of school garden produce into meal plans, and support M&E efforts for school feeding and food production.
• The Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) will offer technical support on climate-smart agriculture, provide training on sustainable farming, and strengthen linkages between schools and local farmers to ensure a reliable food supply.

Requirements

• Interested NGOs should submit an EOI including:
  • Legal registration documents
  • Organizational profile detailing experience in agriculture, market systems, school feeding, and nutrition programs.
  • Proposed implementation approach, including a work plan and sustainability strategy.
  • Financial and technical capacity to execute the outlined activities.
  • Evidence of previous experience implementing similar projects in Zambia

For more information, visit WFP.