Request for Proposal: Environmental Defense Fund Climate Corps®: India 2024 Fellow Training
Application deadline is January 15, 2024
Environmental Defense Fund We are Environmental Defense Fund, a leading environmental nonprofit focused on stabilizing the climate while helping build strong and healthy communities. Our game-changing solutions put people at the center of everything we do. Communities, governments, NGOs and businesses invite us to the table because our people find innovative solutions to the climate crisis. We work where we can make the biggest impact: fighting climate change, saving rainforests, supporting community-led clean air efforts and more. We bring team members together from a wide range of backgrounds. We are defined by our collective optimism, perseverance and ingenuity — and we are united in our mission. Learn more: https://www.edf.org/our-mission-and-values
Project Manager:
Paridhi Mishra, Senior Advisor, Climate Corps®, India
Betty Zhong, Manager, Climate Corps®, China & India
Contact: bzhong@edf.org
a) Context & Objective:
The goal of Environmental Defense Fund’s (EDF) Climate Corps® program in India is to empower private and public sector organizations in high-emitting, underserved sectors such as Freight & Logistics, Food and Agricultural Systems, and Manufacturing to address climate impacts and achieve Sustainability & Net-Zero objectives. Since 2021, we’ve custom-matched nearly 70 experienced, graduate student-level fellows with 22 host organizations in various sectors. Read about past fellowships here.
To support the 2024 cohort of fellows we aim to engage a qualified training vendor (organizational vendor) to develop and execute a comprehensive training program. This includes generating a pre-fellowship learning package, developing, and managing a oneweek-long high-quality professional training event, and continuous professional support during the fellowship to enhance their expertise in sustainability and climate action.
b) Scope of Work:
Target audience:
In 2024, the Climate Corps India program is set to support 25-30 graduate-level fellows from leading Indian educational institutions. These individuals will have diversebackgrounds, spanning supply chain management, process engineering, climate risk assessment, GHG accounting, ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) ratings, and more. Their common motivation lies in their passion to make a significant impact through
climate and energy projects.
The selection criteria for these fellows include proficiency in conducting technical and financial analyses, adept project management skills, strong communication abilities, and the capacity to catalyze organizational change.
Language: English
Service:
The training partner is responsible for creating and conducting virtual training sessions and workshops covering a range of climate-related topics. EDF emphasizes the importance of having a diverse set of trainers rather than relying on a single trainer for all sessions. The training program will encompass:
1. Developing a pre-fellowship learning package, including webinar recordings, journal papers, public reports, book chapters, and more.
2. Conducting interactive webinars and workshops for India Climate Corps fellows as part of the April 1-5, 2024 Fellow Training Week.
3. Preferred but not compulsory: multiple advanced training sessions, and interactive workshops throughout the fellowship season.
Deliverables:
1. Pre-Fellowship Learning Package: The pre-fellowship learning package is designed to be a compilation of top-notch learning resources and references. These resources may or may not be directly created by the vendor but should be tailored for graduate-level students who are in the early stages of transitioning into careers in climate and
sustainability. The aim is to provide a solid foundation for participants before they engage in the interactive fellow training week scheduled for April 1-5, 2024.
The delivery of pre-fellowship training materials is asynchronous, utilizing accessible recorded videos and various resource materials like books, chapters, journal papers, and reports. The goal is to ensure a comprehensive and accessible learning experience for all participants.
These materials should serve as an introductory primer, delving into the intersection of climate change with key sectors crucial for India’s Net-Zero and decarbonization goals.
These sectors include energy, transportation, supply chains, industries, manufacturing, buildings, freight and logistics, construction, agriculture, food systems, waste management, and the circular economy.
We are seeking materials that cover:
- Energy & Decarbonization Pathways for India
- Introduction to Climate Smart Agriculture
- Introduction to Carbon Pricing and Carbon Markets
- Net-Zero Carbon Buildings
- Accelerating the Engine of Sustainable Transportation in India
- Translating corporate ESG goals into action plans
- Climate Corps Fellowship FAQs (written & recorded)
- A Toolkit for Effective Climate Corps Fellowship
2. Interactive Training Week: Design and lead interactive and hands-on 12-15 sessions, including at least 1 workshop on each of the key focus area (Manufacturing, Food & Agriculture Systems, Freight & Logistics, and Climate Commitments & Carbon Markets) as part of the Climate Corps India Fellow Training Week from April 1 to 5, 2024. This practitioner-level training is geared towards offering in-depth insights into specific sectors through interactive sessions covering concepts, tools, practices, and case studies related to net-zero acceleration and carbon pricing strategies. To promote diversity, EDF prefers multiple trainers, each specializing in different topics, rather than a single individual leading all sessions.
Before the training, each presenter is expected to participate in 1-2, one-hour meetings with EDF to collaboratively finalize content, discuss technical requirements, and undergo preparation for their involvement. Presenters must submit speaker biographies, headshot photos, presentation slide decks, and any other relevant materials in advance.
The training will concentrate on key sectors such as Freight & Logistics, Food & Agricultural Systems, and Manufacturing, with a focus on climate commitments and carbon pricing strategies. These practitioner-level training sessions will feature live, interactive sessions conducted on Zoom and facilitated by Indian experts, professionals, and researchers to create an engaging and immersive learning experience for participants.
Sample session topics:
Technical:
1. Using Internal Carbon Pricing to Manage Climate Risk
2. How to Engage Suppliers in Reducing Scope 3 Emissions
3. GHG Accounting & Reporting
4. Industrial Efficiency
Skill development:
1. Building Narratives, Creating Coalitions, and Fostering Champions Around Sustainability
2. Systems Thinking for Climate
Anticipated webinar and workshop topics for upcoming cohorts cover various aspects, including emissions reduction and sustainability in manufacturing processes, the implementation of climate-smart practices in agriculture and food systems, optimization of freight and logistics to reduce Scope 3 emissions, and exploration of climate commitments, carbon markets, net-zero strategies, science-based targets, and internal
carbon pricing.
The workshops will encompass a 90-minute session dedicated to each key focus detailed below, scheduled during Fellow Training Week. These workshops may feature guest speakers and are designed to prioritize interactive and hands-on training methods for fellows.
The 2024 fellow project focus:
1. Manufacturing: Reduce emissions, incorporate sustainable materials, and add circularity to manufacturing processes, enabling efficient industrial operations.
2. Agriculture/Food Systems: Incorporate climate-smart practices, measure and reduce emissions across agricultural and food value chains.
3. Freight & Logistics: Reduce Scope 3 emissions, engage suppliers in sustainability initiatives, and implement zero-emission medium and heavy-duty vehicle fleets.
4. Climate Commitments & Carbon Markets: Net Zero, Science-Based Targets, Climate Action Plans, Internal Carbon Pricing strategies.
3. Continued Learning Support (preferred but not compulsory): Create and lead a series of 3-4 comprehensive multi-session workshops for Climate Corps India, spanning from April to September 2024. These workshops aim to equip fellows with project-specific tools, resources, and methodologies by establishing connections with subject matter experts and peers. Each workshop series will be overseen by a Cohort Advisor, a seasoned practitioner or subject-matter expert, who will take the lead in sustaining educational initiatives and collaborative exercises. The expectation is that each Cohort Advisor will dedicate approximately 15-20 hours to their role. We anticipate the need for up to 4 Cohort Advisors, each specializing in one of the following areas:
1. Manufacturing
2. Agriculture/Food Systems
3. Freight & Logistics
4. Climate Commitments & Carbon Markets
Cohort Advisors, who should be practitioners and/or subject-matter experts, play a crucial role in the professional development of Climate Corps Fellows. They will lead their assigned cohort in ongoing education and collaboration exercises through six workshops. In April, Advisors will attend a Meet and Greet session to acquaint themselves with one another and discuss potential collaborations for summer working sessions. Each Advisor will also meet with EDF staff to plan the four workshops, which will include one 90-minute session during Fellow Training Week and 3 hours sessions spaced throughout the summer. The workshops may involve guest speakers and should
prioritize training fellows in interactive and hands-on ways. Advisors will then facilitate the four workshops as planned. Materials developed by the vendor will be featured publicly as recorded webinars in EDF’s web hub and may be reused by EDF for future Climate Corps training needs.
c) Requirements:
Consultants are encouraged to submit a comprehensive proposal outlining their approach, methodology, timeline, and budget breakdown for each phase of the training.
We kindly request the inclusion of pertinent experience in similar training programs. Proposals should feature detailed resumes of all team members, highlighting their expertise in climate/sustainability training and professional education. To expedite the process, please include a draft schedule and expected completion date for this project.
d) Timeframe:
RFP Released Dec. 21, 2023
Bids Due Jan. 15, 2024
Interviews Jan. 15-31, 2024
Project Timeframe Feb-Sep*, 2024
*Specific dates for each phase will be mutually agreed upon with the selected training partner.
e) Evaluation Criteria:
Proposals will be evaluated based on:
1. Expertise and experience in developing and executing capacity building/ training programs related to sustainability and climate action.
2. Feasibility and clarity of the proposed methodology and approach.
3. Budget alignment with the scope of work and deliverables.
f) Bidder’s Primary Contact for the RFP: Please provide the contact information for the bidder, including name, title, organization, mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address.
g) Budget: The allocated budget for this training project falls within the range of $30,000 to $35,000. Please submit a budget that comprehensively covers all aspects of the specified scope of work. This cost should include all expenses related to the development, implementation, and support of the pre-fellowship learning package and week-long training and the continued learning support (not compulsory to be considered).
Proposals must be submitted in written form (not exceeding 10 pages, single-spaced, 12- point font) to Betty Zhong at bzhong@edf.org.
Upon successful completion of this project, there exists the potential for an extension into a long-term contract for ongoing development and execution of the fellow training project.
