Business Service Providers - Biochar Carbon Market Development

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR BUSINESS SERVICE PROVIDER (BSP) - Biochar Carbon Market Development

BACKGROUND

MEDA is an international economic development organization whose mission is to create business solutions to poverty. Founded in 1953 by a group of business professionals, MEDA partners with the poor to start or grow small and medium-sized businesses in developing regions around the world.

In support to the sustainability and inclusive farming business performance for the cacao SHFs and cacao-based enterprise, RIISA will engage a qualified BSP to conduct a feasibility study on biochar production and marketing in Davao Region and Bukidnon that embedded gendered environmental, social, and governance (G-ESG) principles or practices in the methodologies and reporting. The objective of the study is three-fold: 1) to determine whether there is commercial demand for biochar as soil applications in Mindanao, and for carbon credits trading within and outside the Philippines; 2) to determine whether the available supply of feedstocks such as cacao pods, coconut husks, durian husks, sugarcane bagasse, and pineapple wastes would be sustainable enough to meet the identified and projected demand for biochar; and 3) to estimate potential decent jobs1 opportunities created or supported from biochar production and marketing in Davao region and Bukidnon.

SCOPE OF WORK

With the emphasis on creating opportunities for the RIISA clients such as the smallholder farmers and SMEs from participating in the biochar production and marketing activities to grow sustainable and inclusive businesses, MEDA seeks an experienced business service provider (BSP) to meet the following deliverables:

• Embed G-ESG considerations in the biochar feasibility study methodologies including the data collection tools.

• Conduct the biochar feasibility study working with the relevant actors of the target value chains.

• Submit a feasibility study report on biochar production and marketing that embed G-ESG practices.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Deliverables
Inception report that embeds G-ESG considerations in the biochar feasibility study methodologies including the data collection tools.

1. Data sources (e.g., completed questionnaires in electronic copy) submitted for each province.
2. Feasibility study report (in electronic copy) on biochar production and marketing that embed G-ESG practices

Activities

1. Inception meeting with MEDA-RIISA Team to discuss how to embed G-ESG considerations in the biochar production and marketing feasibility study.
2. Mobilization and coordination activities
3. Conduct the biochar feasibility study
4. Submit data sources for each province (Davao del Sur including Davao City, Davao Occidental, Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro, Davao Oriental, and Bukidnon).
5. Data collation and cleaning and Analyze data and interpret results
6. Submit the draft feasibility study report
7. Submit the final copy (electronic copy) of the feasibility study report.

DELIVERABLES AND TIMEFRAME

March 1, 2026 - Inception report that embeds G-ESG considerations in the biochar feasibility study methodologies including the data collection tools.

April 2026 – August 2026 - Data sources (e.g., completed questionnaires in electronic copy) submitted for each province.

September 18, 2026 - Feasibility study report (in electronic copy) on biochar production and marketing that embed G-ESG practices.

QUALIFICATIONS AND SELECTION CRITERIA

A. Generic and Mandatory:

• Legally registered in the Philippines and been providing business services on biochar production and marketing involving women and men farmers, cooperatives, SMEs, Local Government Units, and other relevant market system actors, for at least three (3) years.
• Familiar with the agrifood ecosystem in Davao Region and Bukidnon in Mindanao.
• Business services are supporting their corporate’s commercial interests. Their services are aligned with the priority of cooperatives and SMEs in Davao region and Bukidnon that is to develop new or additional revenue streams to improve their business performance to create decent jobs opportunities.
• BSP and staff are not involved in terrorist, illegal or criminal activities, including but not limited to drug, arms or sex trafficking, money laundering, violation of women’s rights and human rights.

• BSP does not appear on the US, UK, UN, or EU lists of terrorist organizations.

• Local and financially stable organization/company. Need to provide 2-3 years audited FS.

B. Specific Expertise and Capacities:

• A business service provider with demonstrated evidence in conducting feasibility studies on biochar production, carbon market development, and climate finance.

• Demonstrated expertise and experience with demonstrated evidence in embedding G-ESG considerations in the conduct of feasibility studies.

• Demonstrated expertise and experience in working with government agencies and Local Government Units, cooperatives, SMEs, councils, and development-oriented organizations.

• Experience in global and Canada carbon market development.

FUNDING: Will be discussed with the selected BSP.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Interested BSP to send application to MEDA via email at RIISA_Submissions@meda.org
and cc: rvalones@meda.org, or through the BambooHR platform with the PROPOSAL as attachment, by 5:00pm on January 30, 2026. Please indicate “BSP Biochar Production and Marketing Feasibility Study”.

A. Contact Information

1. Organization’s Legal Name:

2. Mailing Address:

3. Main Contact Person and Title:

4. Telephone and Email address:

6. Website, if available (Facebook, twitter):SEC/CDA/DTI Registration Number:

B. Proposal Outline

1. Introduction (maximum half page): provide understanding of the ToR and how your organization or company can respond to the ToR’s requirements. Proponent to add a brief explanation on their motivation to partner with MEDA.

2. Capability Statement (maximum of one page):

• Briefly describe your organization’s business services, in relation to the expertise required by this ToR, in the last three years with specific information on the beneficiaries, contracting company/organization, and the results of your engagements.

• Briefly describe the financial position of the organization/company.

• Please include the contact details (contact person, phone, and email) of at least three (3) organizations/companies/cooperatives who can speak to the capability and credibility of your organization.

• Describe the qualifications of the personnel who will possibly be involved in the engagement.

3. Proposed Methodology (maximum of one page).

• Describe how the proponent will provide the business services required and achieve the desired deliverables within the prescribed timeframe.

• Discuss the strategy to embed G-ESG considerations in the implementation processes and reporting to ensure the meaningful participation and benefits of women, youth and Indigenous peoples, and to promote good governance in biochar production and marketing enterprises.

4. Proposed Work Plan (maximum of one page). Outline the activities, timeline, expected outputs, resources and the expertise needed.

5. Estimated Cost of the Engagement (in matrix format): Itemized cost and unit, and total cost.

6. Annex:

• Copy of DTI/SEC/CDA Certificate of Registration

• Copy of CV of BSP staff who will work on this engagement.

• Copy of the work sample/s of BSP or the assigned staff.

MEDA welcomes and encourages applications from all genders, backgrounds, religions, cultures, nationalities and abilities. Accommodation is available on request for candidates with disabilities taking part in the selection process.