Reducing smallholder farmers vulnerability to climate change impacts including water scarcity in Mongolia through ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) and digitalised risk mitigation insurance solutions.

The United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON), on behalf of Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) invites qualified interested firms to submit Expression of Interest (EOI) to participate in the upcoming solicitation for the implementation of technical assistance on Reducing smallholder farmers' vulnerability to climate change impacts including water scarcity in Mongolia through EbA and digitalised risk mitigation insurance solutions. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on behalf of the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) requires the services of an institution to deliver the technical assistance as approved by National Designated Entity from Mongolia. The objective of this Technical Assistance is to support vegetable smallholder farmers in two provinces in Mongolia to adapt to climate change by providing a bankable proof of technology concept for solar-powered irrigation and agroforestry as an ecosystem-based approach for better water resource management. To support this solution, a digital-based crop insurance product will be developed for smallholders to fill the current gap for damage protection and financial instruments for investment risk mitigation. Smallholder vegetable farmers in Mongolia, particularly in the Dundgobi and Uvurkhangai provinces, face significant challenges due to climate change impacts such as water scarcity, extreme temperatures, and increased frequency of extreme weather events. These challenges threaten food security and livelihoods, as traditional farming practices are no longer sustainable under changing climatic conditions. The proposed CTCN technical assistance aims to reduce these farmers' vulnerability by developing and implementing an integrated ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) solution. This includes identifying and promoting appropriate technologies like solar-powered irrigation systems, durable greenhouses, and agroforestry practices, as well as developing a digitalized crop insurance product to mitigate financial risks. The project will focus on policy framework development, technology assessment, financing structures, and capacity building over an 18-month period. Key national actors involved are the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Light Industry of Mongolia. The initiative seeks to enhance climate resilience, improve livelihoods, and contribute to Mongolia's national goals for sustainable agriculture and food security. Some of the expected outputs are: 1. Mandatory Output: Project Management. 2. Inception workshop and technology options. 3. Policy and Legislative Framework for Standards. 4. Financing Structure and Digitalised Insurance Schemes. 5. Capacity Building and Training. 6. Implementation Roadmap and Sustainability Financing Strategy including two Scale-up Project Concept Notes. The complete details of the requirement will be provided in the tender documents that will be issued to bidders after this request for EOI is closed. Specific Requirements/Information The Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) is the Operational arm of The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and hosted by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The mission of the CTCN is to promote accelerated development and transfer of climate technologies at the request of developing countries for energy-efficient, low-carbon and climate-resilient development. CTCN provides technical assistance to the countries using its own funds ( which it recives through voluntary contributions of donor) or through the other funding sources specifically the Green Climate Funds (GCF) through the Readiness Programme. The requests for Technical Assistance (TA) are submitted to the CTCN by the National Designated Entity (NDE) of the respective country. In this present case the CTCN has developed a response plan and expect to implement the technical assistance on its own funding. In case you are not a CTCN network member yet, you may apply for this REOI and subsequent soliciation (Request for Proposal), subject to the condition that you submit your completed application for CTCN membership before the proposal submission closing date, which will be communicated in the subsequent Request for Proposal in due course of time. Furthermore, the contract award – should your proposal be selected – is conditional to your application for CTCN network membership being approved by CTCN management. The requirement to join the CTCN network is only relevant to the main bidder and not subcontractors. Please find more information to join CTCN Network at- https://www.ctc-n.org/network The purpose of this REOI is to identify suitable firms who may be invited for the Request for Proposal after the REOI is closed. In addition to CTCN registration, all applicants should also be registered (free of charge) at United Nations Global Marketplace (www.ungm.org). IMPORTANT: Please note that this REOI is not an invitation for submission of tenders. Its purpose is to identify companies that would be interested and eligible to participate in the solicitation when issued. UNON will examine the outcome of this request for EOI and will consider those companies that have expressed their interest . UNON reserves the right to change or cancel the requirement at any time during the EOI and/or solicitation process. Thus, submitting a reply to this Request for EOI does not automatically guarantee your company will be considered for receipt of the solicitation when issued.