Tenders are invited for Consultant - Life Cycle Assessment of the Coconut Value Chain in Maguindanao Closing Date: 9 Jan 2026 Type: Consultancy Terms of reference for the Life Cycle Assessment of the Coconut Value Chain in Maguindanao. 1. General Background. Co-funded by the European Union (EU), Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and Spanish Red Cross (SRC) are implementing the action SWITCH Maguindanao: Transforming Coconut MSMEs into Circular, Sustainable and Inclusive Social Enterprises in Maguindanao. As part of the implementation of the project, a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) will be conducted. The project has started in 2025 and will extend for 42 months until June 2028 in two municipalities, Datu Odin Sinsuat and Datu Angal Midtimbang, promoting the strengthening of the coconut value chain, working with small farmers and their small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Maguindanao. This initiative improves the sustainability of their production strategies and incomes, strengthens their access to credit and bank financing, and promotes the inclusion of beneficiaries in existing value chains. The project has two specific objectives and four outcomes, involving and strengthening the capacities of civil society actors and local authorities, and generating indirect benefits for more than 300,000 consumers. The gender and equity approach in this project, improves the participation of vulnerable groups, building capacities and promoting the peaceful convivence within the community. With this action, 1,000 coconut producers integrating at least 20 MSMEs will improve their productive sustainability through the identification of weakness and bad practices and the incorporation of new technologies and equipment improving their capacities. To address key segments and stakeholders along the entire value chain. MSMEs, local communities, traders, authorities, and financial entities will collaborate to introduce inclusive green and circular economy practices. A comprehensive strategy for facilitating a green transition and enhancing added-value coconut production will be develop with the producers, addressing climate change, reducing pollution and negative impacts, and promoting sustainable consumption choices. This action contributes to transitioning the Philippines to a low-carbon, resource efficient, and circular economy, promoting sustainable value chains and products in the coconut industry. Approximately 50 cooperatives and producer associations, both formal and informal, are dedicated to this productive sector in Maguindanao province. Despite the extensive versatility of coconut, which has the potential to integrate full circularity though the production of coco husk, coco coir and coco pit, farmers limited access to training and equipment, result in an inefficient use of resources and waste generation that could otherwise be integrated into the value chain. 1.2 Key understanding of the project. (The original text of the project is available upon requests of the consultant). The action: The intervention proposes a comprehensive strategy for facilitating the green transition and enhancing added-value coconut production among small producers, contributing to foster the recovery of local economy. It aims to address key segments and stakeholders along the entire value chain. MSMEs, local communities, traders, authorities, and financial entities collaborate to introduce inclusive green and circular economy practices. At the same time, contributes to transitioning the Philippines to a low-carbon, resource-efficient, and circular economy, promoting sustainable value chains and products in the coconut industry. It supports MSMEs in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impacts by strengthening their business models and promoting increased income through resource efficiency. MSMEs, communities, and key government technical agencies collaborate to enhance local capacity and develop skills and knowledge on sustainable production and consumption. Throughout this process, evidence is gathered to inform policy and business decisions and promote innovative alternatives to plastic and waste reduction. This action enhances the investment climate for "Green Solutions" by providing investors with concrete evidence. The intervention proposes 4 different outputs. The Output1 aims to improve productive, processing and marketing (farm to fork) segments of the coconut value chain by bringing in low-carbon, green and circular practices, in order to reduce environmental footprint. MSMEs are accompanied through an organizational capacity strengthening, aiming at creating abilities to undertake change in productive models. Enhancing womens participation in decision making it´s of paramount importance in this process. Communities are also asked to contribute with side protective agricultural practices which can reinforce environmental preservation and reduce risks linked to natural disasters, under a win-win strategy. The Output2 refers to the expected economic benefits coming from value chain improvement. Producers incomes are foreseen to increase, both for better marketability of the final products and for costs reduction linked to an enhanced resources efficiency, in terms of zero waste and circularity. Solutions are designed building up on Promotion of a green and circular economy through civil society engagement and good governance in highly urbanized coastal cities in the Philippines projects experience, especially as far as environmentally friendly packaging is involved. The Output3 seeks creating abilities in MSMEs to access financial opportunities and credit, becoming desirable customers for financial providers, on the basis of their added value as sustainable producers. Finally, Output4 plans to promote an enabling environment for green financing by improving sectoral governance with the involvement of all the consistent stakeholders: customers, providers and institutions. The aim is to reach a fruitful dialogue leading to new financial products and opportunities tailored to MSMEs needs. The beneficiaries: A. Rights-holders: 1.000 entrepreneurs (farmers and producers) in the coconut value chain (60% women) with a focus on indigenous people, integrating 20 MSMEs, including coconut cooperatives, associations and farmers organizations: their business is currently conducted in a basic, low-productive and low-resilient way, entailing negative environmental impact. B. Duty bearers: 30 Policymakers in 30 local, provincial and national government bodies (including at least 3 LGUs); 40 government official/employees, the MAFAR, The MTIT, the MENRE, the BPDA. Their needs reside in capacities for extension of SCP, value chain management and circular economy and in consistent knowledge to provide proper policies. This proposal is relevant for them to better perform their public function and to gain understanding on the needs of the community. C. Responsibility bearers: 200 community leaders and members of local grassroots organizations (CSO/CBO), women associations, and Indigenous People associations, who need to acquire knowledge about innovative aspects of livelihoods and reduction of environmental impact, to be able to accompany and coach the communities and social groups they represent, as well as participate in related governance processes. The context: Although the Philippines is one of the worlds largest producers of coconuts and their derivatives, this crop does not play a significant role in the agricultural production of Maguindanao, where rice, corn, and fishery dominate. Despite this, Maguindanao is the third-largest coconut-producing area in the country, with over 200,000 hectares dedicated to coconut cultivation, yielding more than 700 billion tons annually (Philippines Coconut Authority - PCA). Coconut farming serves as a supplementary source of income, particularly for women in fishing households and in regions inhabited by indigenous peoples. Therefore, it represents a valuable resource for the economy of the most vulnerable households, especially in a context where poverty rates reach around 50% of the population (Poverty Statistics of the Philippine Statistics Authority). However, the sector has not yet fully recovered from the loss of coconut trees caused by Typhoon Nalgae/Paeng in 2022. 2. Objective and Scope of the Assessment. Due the objective of the action, the life cycle assessment (LCA) will provide essential information for the implementation of the project, being the base for the design of a plan for production costs reduction, focused on resources efficiency, including circular economy and zero waste practices. The LCA is required to evaluate the impact of the coconut value chain locally and measure the baseline carbon footprint, specifically the CO2 emissions per unit of value added. Planting & nursery. Evaluation of the resources and methods used for planting coconut trees, such as seedling production, irrigation, fertilizers, and labor inputs. Harvesting. Analysis of the tools, equipment, and energy used during coconut collection, including manual or mechanical harvesting practices and their associated emissions or waste. Transporting mature coconuts. Examination of the transportation methods, distances, and fuel consumption required to move coconuts from farms to copra or processing facilities. Transporting coconut shells. Analysis of the logistics and environmental footprint of moving coconut shells from processing sites to charcoal production units. Copra production. Assessment of the processes used to dry and extract the coconut meat (copra), including energy use, emissions, and waste management. Charcoal production. Evaluation of the methods used to convert coconut shells into charcoal, considering emissions, energy efficiency, and sustainability of the processing technologies, identified opportunities for impact reduction and go Tender Link : https://reliefweb.int/job/4190658/consultant-life-cycle-assessment-coconut-value-chain-maguindanao
