Request for proposals: Diversion of Food Waste from Landfills in Cities of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra

Terms of Reference (ToR)

Engaging with Organizations: Diversion of Food Waste from Landfills in Cities of Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) and Pune (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).

Submission and Queries: Submit proposal/queries to . Only complete proposals sent to this ID will be considered.

Eligibility CriteriaBe 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 dateDemonstrated experience in: Food waste diversion/organic waste processing, circular economy solutions, municipal solid waste managementCity-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. 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 CO 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 engage with partner organisations in India to support innovations that divert food waste from landfills in both/either cities of Pune and Bhopal. The engagement objectives are-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. Applicant organisations must clearly articulate how their proposed intervention aligns with these objectives.

Scope of Work

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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:

• Intervention Design and Implementation

Deliverable 1 (M1): Detailed Intervention Design Document, including (but not limited to):Target waste streams (household, HoReCa, wholesale markets, etc.)Technology and innovation approachAlignment with the Food Recovery HierarchyFood waste diversion target (quantitative) and implementation planImplementation Gantt chart with key highlights Deliverable 2 (M2): Baseline Assessment Report, including (but not limited to):Total quantity of waste and food waste generated in the area of operationCurrent treatment and disposal practices in the area of operationProportion sent to landfillQuantity of waste and food waste currently being diverted by the organisation (by pathway)Existing diversion rates achieved 2. Data Collection, Measurement, and Reporting

Deliverable (M2): Measurement & Verification Framework, including (but not limited to):System boundary (geographic + operational)Baseline data and endline targetsData collection methodology (weighbridge, digital scale, sampling, etc.)Data quality assurance protocol 3. Ecosystem Engagement

Deliverable 1 (M1): Stakeholder mapping and engagement plan

Deliverable 2 (M2-M12): Stakeholder engagement with records of minutes, engagement outcomes, etc.

• Reporting and Impact

Quarterly Progress Reporting: M3, M6, M9, M12

Endline Report (M13), covering but not limited to:Total additional food waste divertedTotal landfill diversion (%)Total methane avoidedTotal GHG emissions avoidedTotal livelihoods supported (if applicable) per tonne diverted per tCO e avoidedSustainability and scale potential 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 FormatCover LetterOrganization ProfileRelevant Experience and Past WorkIntended City of Implementation in Madhya Pradesh/Maharashtra (Pune, Bhopal preferred)Proposed food waste-diversion intervention and methodology, including the target for additional food waste diversionDetailed implementation plan with activity-wise timeline and key milestonesTeam Composition and ManagementBudget and financial proposalRisk 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 pointsExpected quantity of food waste diversion through interventions - 10 pointsMonitoring, data quality, and verification approach - 15 pointsTeam composition and capacity - 10 pointsImplementation feasibility and partnerships - 10 pointsCost 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 . click apply for full job details