World Resources Institute
Website:
wri.org
Job details:
Terms of Reference (ToR)
Engaging with Organizations: Diversion of Food Waste from Landfills in Cities of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra
About WRI
The World Resources Institute (WRI) is an independent, non-profit global research organization that turns big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity, and human well-being.
Duration: 14 months (1st May 2026 to 1st July 2027).
Background
Food loss and waste reduction is a critical priority given its impacts across environmental, economic, and social dimensions. Further, a significant portion of food waste ends up in landfills or open dumps, exacerbating climate change through greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, especially methane.
Globally, an estimated 13 percent of food production is lost as food loss and waste, contributing 8 to 10 percent of global GHG emissions (UNEP 2024).
Despite being one of the largest global producers of food grains, fruits, and vegetables, India faces significant annual food loss and waste. Households alone generate over 78.2 million tonnes of food waste annually—approximately 55 kilograms per capita per year. This massive quantity highlights serious inefficiency in the food supply chain. The average GHG emissions associated with food waste in India are approximately 19 grams of CO₂ equivalent per capita per day.
The food waste problem requires prioritizing prevention and recovery over disposal. The Food Recovery Hierarchy (US EPA, 2023) recommends prevention as the most effective strategy, followed by food recovery for human consumption, diversion to animal feed, and resource recovery through composting and anaerobic digestion. Disposal in landfills or open dumps is the least preferred option.
Engagement Objectives
Through this call for proposals, WRI seeks to support organizations that can contribute to the following objectives:
- Improve food waste management systems in cities of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra by supporting innovations that divert food waste from landfills through solutions prioritized higher up the food waste recovery hierarchy.
- Achieve measurable environmental, economic, and social outcomes. Environmental outcomes include reduced landfill disposal and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, supported by credible data. Economic and social co-benefits include job creation, livelihood inclusion (including gender and informal workers), cost savings, and improved food and nutrition access.
- Strengthen data, monitoring, and reporting practices for food waste diversion from landfills in an urban context. Generate evidence and learning to inform replication and scale-up of operationally viable solutions for diverting food waste across other cities.
Applicants must clearly articulate how their proposed intervention aligns with these objectives.
Scope of Work
1. Intervention Design and Implementation
Selected organizations shall design and implement food waste diversion interventions in close coordination with WRI. The intervention design must include a clear baseline assessment of current operations, including the total quantity of waste and food waste generated in the operational area; the proportion currently sent to landfill; the quantity currently being diverted (by pathway); and existing diversion rates achieved.
Intervention pathways may address redistribution for human consumption, conversion to animal feed, food waste valorization, composting, or energy recovery.
2. Ecosystem Engagement
Organizations shall coordinate with the relevant city and ward-level authorities. They shall also engage fairly with other municipal solid waste stakeholders, including informal waste workers or waste picker collectives, where relevant, to align with existing municipal waste collection, segregation, and processing systems.
3. Data Collection, Measurement, and Reporting
Organizations shall systematically collect, maintain, and share data related to food waste quantities, diversion outcomes, operational performance, and outputs generated. When possible, organizations should help measure the reduction of greenhouse gases, recovery of resources, and social results, following the monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) frameworks created together with WRI.
4. Reporting and Impact
The organization will prepare brief progress summaries (quarterly or as agreed), highlighting activities completed, challenges, and course corrections. The organization will submit an endline report covering total additional food waste diverted, total landfill diversion, and project impacts (climate and livelihood), along with documented lessons learned.
Key Deliverables and Timelines
Organizations shall ensure operational reliability throughout the project period, maintain compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements, and implement appropriate safety, hygiene, and worker protection protocols.
Over the 14-month engagement period, selected organizations will deliver:
1. Intervention Design and Implementation
- Develop a detailed intervention design document outlining programme strategy, including target waste streams (households, HoReCa, wholesale markets, etc.) – Timeline: M1
- Define technology and innovation approach for food waste diversion and recovery— Timeline: M1
- Ensure intervention design aligns with Food Recovery Hierarchy— Timeline: M1
- Establish quantitative food waste diversion targets with a clear implementation plan— Timeline: M1
- Prepare implementation Gantt chart highlighting key milestones – Timeline: M1
- Conduct and submit a baseline assessment report analyzing waste generation patterns. Timeline: M2
- Assess total waste and food waste generated, current treatment and disposal practices, proportion sent to landfill—Timeline: M2
- Document quantity currently diverted, including pathways and existing diversion rates – Timeline: M2
2. Data Collection, Measurement, and Reporting
- Develop Measurement and Verification (M&V) Framework – Timeline: M2
- Define system boundaries (geographic and operational scope)— Timeline: M2
- Establish baseline data and endline targets. Timeline: M2
- Design data collection methodology (weighbridge, digital scales, sampling, or other validated tools). – Timeline: M2
- Implement data quality assurance protocols – Timeline: M2
3. Ecosystem Engagement
- Conduct stakeholder mapping and develop an engagement plan, identifying key partners. Timeline: M1
- Lead stakeholder engagement activities, maintaining records of meetings and outcomes – Timeline: M2–M12
4. Reporting and Impact
- Prepare and submit quarterly progress reports – Timeline: M3, M6, M9, M12
- Develop comprehensive endline report summarizing programme impact – Timeline: M13
- Report on key impact metrics: total additional food waste diverted, landfill diversion percentage, methane avoided, GHG emissions reduced – Timeline: M13
- Document livelihoods supported (where applicable) and assess programme efficiency (₹ per tonne diverted, ₹ per tCO₂e avoided)— Timeline: M13
- Provide insights on long-term sustainability and scaling potential— Timeline: M13
Eligibility Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated using a weighted scoring approach. Submit proposals to Shwetmala.Kashyap@wri.org. Only complete proposals sent to this ID will be considered.
- Be a legally registered entity in India (non-profit, start-up, business, etc.)
- Have been in operation for a minimum of three (3) years as of the application date
- Demonstrated experience in:
- Food waste diversion/organic waste processing, circular economy solutions, municipal solid waste management
- City-level implementation (preferably in partnership with ULBs)
- Ability to operate within the target city (existing presence preferred)
- Quantitative waste measurement (weighbridge/digital systems)
- No actual or perceived conflict of interest could compromise integrity or credibility.
Budget
The maximum budget for this engagement is INR 4,500,000/- inclusive of taxes (per city). Bidders should consider all capital costs and travel expenses in their bid price, as these will not be reimbursed separately.
Proposal Format
- Cover Letter
- Organization Profile
- Relevant Experience and Past Work
- Intended City of Implementation in Madhya Pradesh/Maharashtra (Pune, Bhopal preferred)
- Proposed food waste-diversion intervention and methodology, including the target for additional food waste diversion
- Detailed implementation plan with activity-wise timeline and key milestones
- Team Composition and Management
- Budget and financial proposal
- Risk Management and Mitigation Plan
Proposal Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be assessed on a 100-point scoring system:
- Strategic fit of intervention pathway and food waste diversion innovation – 45 points
- Expected quantity of food waste diversion through interventions – 10 points
- Monitoring, data quality, and verification approach – 15 points
- Team composition and capacity – 10 points
- Implementation feasibility and partnerships – 10 points
- Cost effectiveness and scalability – 10 points
Selection Process
No proposal development costs shall be charged to WRI; all expenses are to be borne by bidders. WRI may award to the bidder offering the best value without discussions. However, WRI reserves the right to seek clarifications and negotiate with bidders deemed within a competitive range. WRI may, at its discretion and without explanation, discontinue this RFP without obligation or make multiple awards. Contracts will not be awarded to organizations debarred by the government or named on restricted parties lists.
Disclaimer
No part of this Request for Proposal shall be construed as an offer document. The acceptance of a proposal does not contractually bind WRI. The vendor must sign definitive contractual documents governing their relationship with WRI. Requirements mentioned are subject to change.
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