Offer for the SDC GPFS Tender Document

Reduced Water consumption in food production for enhanced food security

Reference to GPFS strategy 2013-2017: Component 2: Competing claims on natural resources,
Target 2.3: Promote technological and financial approaches to reduce water consumption of
agricultural production

Increased water efficiency and food production in key
commodity value chains through multi-stakeholder
partnerships applying a push-pull-policy strategy

Consortium Lead: HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation
(contact: Frank Eyhorn, frank.eyhorn@helvetas.org, +41 44 368 65 00)
Consortium partners: Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP)
1
, Better Cotton Initiative (BCI)
2
,
Coop Switzerland
Associated partners: SRP member companies (particularly Mars Foods, IRRI), BCI member
companies (e.g. Ikea, H&M, Levi Strauss, Sainsbury, Marks & Spencer, OLAM, ECOM), UNEP,
Swiss and Global Water Partnership.

1. Description of the project initiative
The proposed project (three years, 2015-2017) builds on our analysis that despite the availability of
proven practices and technologies for reducing water consumption, farmer adoption is constrained
by lack of a) awareness, know-how and guidance; and b) effective incentive mechanisms to
stimulate adoption. We propose to address this dilemma by means of a push-pull-policy
3
approach:


The PUSH effect consists of campaigns to raise awareness and build capacities on efficient water
management practices, re-enforced by national water policies. The PULL effect is created by buyers
of agricultural produce demanding that water efficiency is addressed as a condition for market
access, and their technical and financial support to producers to meet this requirement. Experience
of successful adoption and knowledge-sharing (KS) is used to inform evidence-based POLICY
development at national, sector as well as corporate (CSR) levels. Taken together, these processes
create the conditions for up-scaling (within the respective supply chains), crowding-in (other
companies adopt this approach) and replication in other countries and commodities.

1
http://www.sustainablerice.org
2
http://bettercotton.org
3
Hereby with a pinch of salt! we redefine the meaning of PPP !
POLICY dialogue
+ Knowledge Sharing
National
Water Policies
CSR-Policies
Evidence based
Up-scaling,
crowding-in
Outreach to
more countries
PUSH
Campaign on efficient
water management
practices
PULL
Buyers demand and
support water saving
Producers adopt efficient
water management practices
and diversify production

2
The proposed project applies this approach for two key crops (rice and cotton) that together account
for more than 30% of global irrigation water consumption and are mainly produced in countries with
water scarcity
4
. Both crops are relevant to food security, due not only to their direct consumption
5
but
also their competition for water and other factor endowments with food crops. To achieve sector-
wide leverage we partner with two well-established multi-stakeholder platforms that address efficient
water management in these commodities: the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) and the Sustainable Rice
Platform (SRP). We collaborate with key companies actively engaging in improved water
management in these crops: Coop Switzerland (ongoing rice project in India), Mars Foods (ongoing
rice project in Pakistan), Ikea, H&M, Levi Strauss, Sainsburys and Marks & Spencer (ongoing
activities to improve cotton production in India and Pakistan). The project also leverages the
HELVETAS experience in cotton and sustainable irrigation projects in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
The project partners will publicize the initiatives outcomes and experiences, and promote the
approach in relevant fora. The consortium will make use of well-established networks and key actors
such as UNEP, IRRI, ICAC, Textile Exchange, the Swiss and the Global Water Partnership. For
national policy outreach we will seek collaboration with the 2030 Water Resource Group. This
extensive global network will enable stakeholders from the private sector, civil society, governments
and multi-stakeholder initiatives to contribute their respective strengths and to learn from each other.
Furthermore, the project will bring food security on the sustainable commodity trade agenda.

Impact hypothesis
Adoption of best water management practices will result from a combination of effective promotion
and outreach in key value chains (push) and the articulation of buyer demand and their support for
water-saving and crop diversification (pull). As a result smallholders produce more food and gain
more income, contributing to reduced water footprints and increased food security. Promoting this
approach, sharing best practice and demonstrating impact will influence policy-making at sector
(cotton and rice), corporate (CSR-policies of buyers) and national government level. Participating
companies can be expected to scale up and replicate the approach for their own supply chains;
sharing these success stories will encourage new companies to also join the initiative (crowding-in),
and national governments will increasingly embrace this approach in their water resource policies.
The figure below summarizes the main result chains.





4
Calculation based on http://www.fao.org/nr/water/aquastat/main/index.stm and www.waterfootprint.org
5
Cotton seed oil is an important edible oil for human consumption; seed cake is used as animal fodder

3
Activities
The main activities as per the result chains depicted above are listed in the following table:
Main activities Details
A1 Campaign (PUSH)
Compile available know-how on tested
water management practices in key crops
Awareness raising on water consumption
in cotton and rice among stakeholders in
target countries (India, Pakistan, Tajikistan,
Kyrgyzstan), using various media
Capacity building of promoters / extension
Monitoring of water use (remote/crowd
sensing)
Building on material and tools developed by HELVETAS, BCI, SRP,
IRRI and companies
Tested key water management practices include:
o Cotton: short/alternate furrow irrigation, water course management,
conservation tillage, crop rotation, field levelling, water scouting
o Rice: System of Rice Intensification (SRI), Alternate Wetting and
Drying (AWD), field levelling, water scouting, crop rotation, use of
organic inputs (green manure, biogas slurry etc.)
Strengthening of Water User Associations including conflict prevention
Where relevant: apply watershed management approaches
A2 Buyers demand and support water saving
and diversification (PULL)
Agreements with producers that address
water management
Support producers in applying tested water
saving practices and diversify cropping
systems (advice, extension, infrastructure
development)
Coop (India): Sustainable basmati project, supporting PTD on SRI and
AWD methods, integration of other food crops in the rotation
Mars (Pakistan): Advice & hands-on support through IRRI on AWD,
and other water management techniques, sustainable use of inputs,
use of sustainability dashboard
BCI with associated companies Ikea, H&M, Levis, Sainsbury, Marks &
Spencer (Pakistan, India): Capacity-building for up-scale of water
saving methodologies within the implementation of BCI standard

A3 Policy dialogue and knowledge sharing
Document the approach, the evidence
(through remote sensing) and experience
Share in relevant sector events and fora
and engage in national policy dialogue
Inform national water policy development
by providing evidence and experience (e.g.
to the 2030 Water Resource Group)
Linking local and global level, government and CSR, different sectors
Key events and fora include:
o Cotton: BCI conference, ICAC conference, Textile Exchange (TE)
o Rice: International Rice Congress (IRRI), SRI network
o Water policy: Agri-Food Initiative (UNEP), Swiss and Global Water
Partnerships, Stockholm Water Week, World Water Forum
CoP discussions on water management and food security issues
hosted by BCI and SRP
Support crowding-in (companies) and replication in other countries

2. Expected results
The main expected results at impact, outcome and output level as per the result chains are:
Level Expected results (2015-2017) Main indicators (benchmarks)
Impact
Enhanced food security
Increased water productivity
Food secure households (>50000)
Crop per drop (+20%)
Outcomes
Producers adopt efficient water management practices
and diversify farming systems
More production of food crops
Increased and secure income
Conducive regulatory frameworks
Companies scale up and new companies use the
approach
Uptake rate (>50%)
Crops per farm (>3)
Food per farm area (+20%)
Farm income (+20%)
# of national/regional and CSR policies
addressing water use and FS (6)
# additional value chains (4)
Outputs
Efficient water management practices for cotton and rice
are documented and promoted
Extension staff trained in target countries / value chains
Smart monitoring system for water consumption
introduced (remote/crowd sensing)
Buyers demand and support water saving and
diversification
Approach, best practices and impacts are documented
and shared on suitable platforms / conferences
Extension tools developed and used (6)
Extension staff trained (>100)
Annual data on applied irrigation system
in target areas ( uptake rates)
Project investments of participating
companies (> 2.5 Mio. CHF)
Fact sheets / videos on case studies (6)
Presentations at events (12)
Facilitated CoP discussions (2)


4
3. Partners and beneficiaries
HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation will be the main contractor and will serve as coordinator for the
project. The consortium partners BCI and SRP will coordinate activities of their respective member
companies and collaborate with outreach partners, building on their existing missions. All listed
partners have confirmed their readiness to participate over the envisaged timeframe of this project.


OFWM: On-farm Water Management; OVCD: Organic Value Chain Development;
TE: Textile Exchange, ICAC: International Cotton Advisory Council
Beneficiaries
The projects direct beneficiaries are farm households involved in targeted value chains (cotton:
Tajikistan: 3000, Kyrgyzstan: 10000, Pakistan: 20000; India: 15000, rice: Pakistan: 3000, India:
3000; total: 54000). Indirect beneficiaries are those additional farmers reached through up-scaling,
crowding-in and policy outreach (approx. another 50000 farmers).

4. Opportunities and risks
Opportunities Risks and their mitigation Risk level
Multi-stakeholder initiative with strong partners
and innovative approach.
Organizational structure requires clear definition of
roles, smooth coordination and effective monitoring.
low
Strong private sector participation (pull-effect for
adoption) and leverage funding, getting food
security on the sustainable commodity agenda.
Water saved in cash crop production may not fully be
utilized for food production unless profitable and
encouraged through market linkages.
medium
Collaboration with existing sustainable
commodity platforms supports replication; policy
outreach through key multipliers; high visibility.
Water efficiency improvements at field level may not
lead to catchment level improvements unless
integrated into a holistic water management strategy.
medium
Building on proven practices and ongoing field
activities; up-scaling and crowding-in are likely.
Major buyers of rice and cotton (espec. traders, BRIC
countries) may ignore water and food security issues.
medium

5. Expertise and network in the thematic field of the project proposal
The consortium has the following established networks relevant for this project:
HELVETAS Swiss and Global Water Partnership, International Cotton Advisory Council, Textile
Exchange (multi-stakeholder platform), Coop Switzerland, Intercooperation SD (India)
Sustainable Rice Platform UNEP, IRRI, Mars Foods, Kelloggs, Ahold, IFC, Solidaridad, Bayer, GIZ, CCAC etc.
Better Cotton Initiative WWF, IDH, Ikea, H&M, Levi Strauss, Sainsbury, Marks & Spencer, Olam, AproCA etc.

The following table highlights key reference projects of partners, with focus on the consortium leader
HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation. In addition to this SRP, BCI and the participating companies
have experience in promoting sustainable production and value chains at global level.

Tajikistan OVCD
Textile
Exchange
Sustainable Rice Platform
Water
Partnerships
SDC - GPFS
UNEP ICAC
Kyrgyzstan OFWM
Coop
(India)
Mars
(Pakistan)
Better Cotton Initiative
BCI companies
(Pakistan, India)
ConsortiumLead
Sustainable
Commodity
Platforms
Lead Companies
Outreach
Partners
Mandator
HELVETAS Swiss
Intercooperation

5

Clients Time/place Volume
(CHF)
Project / Services provided
HELVETAS, Peter Schmidt,
peter.schmidt@helvetas.org,
+41 44 368 65 00
2009 2017
Kyrgyzstan
1.26 M On-farm Water Management Project. Developed outreach
material for water saving practices (water saving catalogue,
extension tools, videos).
SECO, Barbara Jggin,
barbara.jaeggin@seco.
admin.ch, +41-31 324 08 98
2008-2016
Kyrgyzstan,
Burkina
Faso, Mali
10.5 M Organic cotton projects. Production system design, capacity
building, facilitating certified value chains, collaboration with textile
companies, knowledge sharing (including global CoP on organic
cotton).
HELVETAS/ICCO/GIZ, Hartwig
Ungethuem, GIZ,
HartwigUngethuem@t-
online.de, +992 918 655 802
2009-2015
Tajikistan
2.4 M Organic Value Chain Development. Supporting farmers to adapt
organic techniques and diversify from cotton; facilitating
sustainable value chains in collaboration with private sector;
collaboration with BCI in extension and capacity development.
Coop Sust. Fund, Karl Haf,
karl.haf@reismuehle.ch, +41-
41-825 30 00
2011-2014
India and
Thailand
1.0 M Sustainable rice project. Project management, PTD and capacity
building on sustainable rice production (including SRI), organizing
farmer groups, improving the value chain, knowledge sharing.
Swiss Water Partnership,
Christian Eggs,
christian.eggs@deza.
admin.ch, +41-31 325 9293
2012-2015
CH / Global
750 K Coordination of the secretariat, shaping the multi-stakeholder
platform, information, knowledge exchange and learning events,
global water policy dialogue and advocacy, international
networking.
SECO, Anne Schick,
anne.schick@seco.admin.ch
+41 31 323 53 80
2012
CH / Global
450 K Organizing the Annual conference of the International Cotton
Advisory Council (ICAC), focus on sustainability; knowledge
sharing. Advice to SEEP panel (Social, Environmental and
Economic Performance).
BCI, Patrick Laine, patrick.
laine@bettercotton.org, +41
229 39 1258
2009-2014,
global
10.0 M
per year
BCI program on sustainable cotton production, reaching
900,000 farmers in 17 countries in 2014

6. Budget for first phase (3 years)

*Only confirmed cash contributions linked to efficient water use are listed.
Budget SDC Main items CHF %
ER1: Push (campaign) 1'006'000 16%
Fees Compile know-how, campaigns, capacity building 370'000
Material Training / tools, remote sensing monitoring 600'000
Travel Local travel in target countries 36'000
ER2: Pull (buyers) 1'416'000 22%
Fees Technical advice 300'000
Material Contribution to up-scaling 1'080'000
Travel Project visits 36'000
ER3: Policy & KS 294'000 5%
Fees Documentation, knowledge sharing 120'000
Material Print material, videos, events 150'000
Travel To events, exchange visits 24'000
Coordination 225'000 3%
Fees Helvetas project management 180'000
Material External evaluation / impact assessment 30'000
Travel Meetings, field visits 15'000
Total SDC contribution 2'941'000 45%
Co-funding partners* Main contribution to:
Helvetas Kyrgyzstan ER1: Campaign in cotton systems, technical advice on irrigation 300'000
Helvetas Tajikistan ER1: Campaign in cotton systems, crop diversification 300'000
BCI + companies (Pakistan) ER2: Capacity building, scale-up of practices, policy shaping 750'000
BCI + companies (India) ER2: Capacity building, scale-up of practices, policy shaping 750'000
Mars (Pakistan) ER2: Extension in rice, technical advice by IRRI 900'000
Coop (India) ER2: Extension in rice, technology refining, infrastructure 400'000
BCI ER3: Technical guidance and tools, knowledge sharing, events 60'000
SRP ER3: Technical guidance and tools, knowledge sharing, events 80'000
Total partner contribution 3'540'000 55%
Total overall budget 6'481'000 100%

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Annex 1: Reference list of key personal resources

Name/Title/Organization Professional background and key qualifications Role in the project
Jens Soth, MSc Agr;
MSc. Env Eng., Senior
Advisor Commodities,
HELVETAS
25 years experience in development cooperation with
focus on sustainable agriculture, value chains, standard
implementation, life-cycle assessments with focus on
natural fibres, cereals and perennial crops.
Project coordinator;
partnerships with private
sector and sustainable
commodity platforms
Frank Eyhorn, PhD Env.
Sc., Team Leader Rural
Economy, HELVETAS
16 years experience in development cooperation with
focus on sustainable agriculture, value chains and rural
livelihoods, with focus on rice and cotton.
Advisor sustainable
agriculture and value chains
Chris Morger, MSc
Agron., MSc Soil Sc.,
Senior Advisor W4F,
HELVETAS
30 years of experience in development projects focusing
on soil and water management, crop water requirements,
irrigation. SDC backstopping mandate on Water for
Food.
Senior Expert on water
requirements, irrigation
practices and infrastructure
Marco Daniel, MSc, SWP
Coordinator, HELVETAS
6 years of experience in development cooperation and
multi stakeholder environments with focus on water
policy dialogue across sectors and scales.
Water policy and water
footprint expert
Wyn Ellis, PhD,
Coordinator Sustainable
Rice Platform
30 years development experience in multi-stakeholder
environments in SE Asia. Experience of sustainable
value chains, standards and incentive mechanisms.
Coordination of SRP
member inputs; liaison with
outreach partners
Patrick Laine, CEO, BCI MBA Stanford; Director of Corporate Partnerships at
WWF (6 years).
Coordination of BCI
activities; link to companies
Joe Rickman, MSc,
Senior Scientist, IRRI
40 years experience on cereal cropping systems in Asia,
Africa, Australia. Specialization in crop production, farm
mechanization, post-harvest, extension and training.
Technical advisor (agronomy
and mechanization) to Mars
rice project in Pakistan
Mustak Khan, BSc Agr.,
PG Rural Mgmt., Coord.
Intercooperation SD
28 years of experience in development programme for
sustainable agriculture and value chain development and
management. Experience on liasoning and managing
multi sector partners, including in interventions in rice.
Project activities on rice with
Coop in India
Arjumand Nizami, PhD,
Country Director Helvetas
Pakistan
20 years experience in development programmes with
focus on sustainable agriculture and adaptation to
climate change. Experiences with multi sector planning,
policy development and knowledge management.
Liaison to Mars, Rice
Partners Ltd and IRRI
Jyldyz Abdyllaeva,
OFWM Project Manager,
HELVETAS Kyrgyzstan
8 years experience in development cooperation with
focus on sustainable resources management and
governance & peace (water), value chain development.
Project Manager for
Sustainable Irrigation
Sherzod Abdurakh-
manov, HELVETAS
Tajikistan
10 years of experience in design and management of
private sector development and improving economic
environment. Experience in sustainable value chains.
Project management
Organic value chain project
(cotton)
James Lomax, MSc
Tropical Agriculture, Agri-
food Programme Officer,
UNEP
14 years experience in tropical agriculture. Leading the
agri-food programme in UNEP's Sustainable
Consumption and Production (SCP) Branch looking at
developing pathways to sustainability in food production
Chairman of the SRP on
behalf of UNEP.



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Annex 2: Audit report 2012 of HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation