Request for Proposals: Review of “Scaling up Investments in Nature-based Solutions for Climate Resilience (Bangladesh)” Project grant supported by Global Affairs Canada

INTRODUCTION
Introduction to the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA)
The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) is an international organization that works as a solutions broker to catalyze action and support for adaptation solutions, from the international to the local, in partnership with the public and private sector, to ensure we learn from each other and work together for a climate resilient future. Adapting to impacts of climate change provides a “win-win” for livelihoods, food security, water supply, health, security, and economic growth. The work of the GCA elevates the visibility and political importance of climate adaptation and facilitates solutions, such as smarter investments, new technologies and better planning to become more resilient to climate related threats. GCA is a rapidly growing organization with offices in Abidjan, Beijing, Dhaka, Groningen, and Rotterdam.
The GCA’s ambitious 2020-2025 business plan and strategy have three pillars:
Programs: Food Security; Using Nature for more resilient infrastructure; Water for Urban Growth and Resilience; Climate Finance; Youth Leadership.
Knowledge: Building adaptation knowledge globally through cutting edge products such as the State and Trends in Adaptation Report and the Adaptation Knowledge Portal.
Advocacy and Awareness: Formulating policy messages to move the global, regional, and local adaptation agendas forward.
Program Background Information
GCA’s work is structured around six core pillars of intervention: Food Security; Infrastructure and Nature-based Solutions (NbS); Water and Urban Systems; Locally Led Adaptation (LLA); Youth, Education, and Adaptation Jobs; and Adaptation Finance. Through these interconnected pillars, GCA designs, supports, and scales initiatives that translate global policy commitments into practical, on-the-ground outcomes. At the same time, GCA leverages insights and lessons from local and regional implementation to inform and shape global dialogue and decision-making on adaptation. This two-way exchange that links policy to practice and practice to policy enables GCA to promote innovative, evidence-based solutions that strengthen resilience, enhance equity, and accelerate transformative adaptation action across all levels of society.
By partnering with governments, international organizations, and private sector actors, GCA brings together technical expertise, financial innovation, and policy influence to scale-up adaptation efforts where they are needed most. Its multidisciplinary teams of specialists provide strategic guidance, technical assistance, and policy support to strengthen the adaptive capacity of communities, particularly those most vulnerable to climate impacts. International and national consultants and implementation partners bring in specific expertise and contribute to ground-level implementation of sub-projects.
Beyond implementing programs, GCA plays a vital role in elevating the visibility and political priority of climate adaptation on the global agenda. It champions evidence-based solutions and facilitates pathways for smarter investments, innovative technologies, and improved planning. In doing so, GCA enables countries and communities to become more resilient to climate-related risks such as floods, droughts, and sea-level rise, ultimately advancing a more sustainable and climate-secure future for all.
In 2023, GCA received CAN $9,850,413 from “Global Affairs Canada”1 for the “Scaling up Investments in Nature-based Solutions for Climate Resilience” Project (henceforth referred to as the “project”). The nine sub-projects designed by GCA under this project are primarily focused on climate-resilient and gender-responsive infrastructure, as well as water and urban systems, adaptation finance, and LLA solutions, implemented in partnership with governments, academia, community-based organizations, and international financial institutions (IFIs). The sub-projects reflect both the scale of investment and the diversity of sectors through which GCA can support the integration of NbS into climate adaptation and infrastructure planning. As per Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP), GCA has prioritized and integrated Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI) into sub-project design and implementation.
The sub-projects are expected to shape about $2.6 billion in IFI investments by ensuring that in-depth climate risk and vulnerability analysis is incorporated into development projects, and to build the climate resilience of vulnerable people in Bangladesh. The sub-projects are expected to reach at least 500,000 direct and indirect beneficiaries.
Purpose of this Assignment
Within this context, GCA is seeking a qualified firm/organization (hereby referred to as Service Provider or Bidder) to conduct an independent end-of-phase evaluation of results to generate credible, evidence-based findings on the performance, effectiveness, and value for money (VfM) of the Project in Bangladesh between 2022 and 2026.
The expected services to be provided under this assignment include validating outputs and intermediate outcomes, assessing the quality and uptake of GCA’s technical assistance and capacity-building efforts, examining GESI integration, and identifying lessons learned and recommendations for future programming. The detailed Terms of Reference and Deliverables for this assignment are presented in Annex 3. The total duration of this assignment is estimated at up to 14 weeks.
Bidders shall respond to the strategic requirements of GCA with a strong emphasis on responsiveness to GCA technical requirements and performance, substantive progress reports, achievement of tasks and activities to match the Scope of Services/Terms of Reference and the production of the deliverables on time, to highest applicable standards. For further information See Annex 3 – Terms of Reference.
HOW TO EXPRESS INTEREST
If you are interested in participating in this Request for Proposal, you are requested to submit your proposal in
PDF format
to the link indicated in the RFP document.
The evaluation of bidders and proposals will be done in accordance with the criteria delineated in the RFP document (Section 5).
The closing date for submissions is
16.00 CET, 9th January 2026
.
The point of contact for all questions or requests for additional information is procurement@gca.org. Please check the document for guidelines on the closing date for clarification requests concerning this Request for Proposal.