Solar Village Ethiopia (SVE) invites consultancy firms or individuals to develop a comprehensive Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Policy.

Invitation for Consultancy Services

Organization: Solar Village Ethiopia (SVE)

Project Title: Development of ESG Policy

Type of Solicitation: Consultancy Services

Submission Deadline: Within 5 consecutive working days from the date of this announcement.

Project Duration: Until  May 30, 2026 

Duty Stations:

• Shaggar City (Melka Nonon, Gelan, Koye Feche Sub-Citie
• Addis Ababa (Gulele and Yeka Sub-Cities)

1. Background

Solar Village Ethiopia (SVE), in partnership with Oxfam GB, is implementing a climate-smart agriculture initiative to strengthen smallholder farmers’ resilience. By combining solar-powered water pump irrigation with organic farming practices, the project promotes low-carbon agriculture and improved food security. Key interventions, such as solar water pumps, organic seedling distribution, and vermicomposting, have increased productivity, improved soil health, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by replacing diesel irrigation and limiting synthetic fertilizer use.

Key interventions implemented by the SVE include:

• Installation and operation of Solar-powered water pump irrigation systems
• Organic seedling distribution
• Vermicomposting and sustainable soil management practice  
• Sistema Bio_ Biogas technology installation

Building on these results, SVE is planning to develop a comprehensive ESG Policy to guide responsible, sustainable, and ethical operations. The policy focuses on three pillars: environmental stewardship (efficient resource use and emission reduction), social responsibility (fair labor, inclusion, and community engagement), and good governance (transparency, accountability, and ethical leadership). This framework will strengthen sustainability performance, build stakeholder trust, and align SVE with global best practices. 

2. Objective of the Assignment

2.1 General Objective

To develop a comprehensive Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Policy for Solar Village Ethiopia (SVE) that guides responsible, sustainable, and ethical operations, while aligning with international best practices and supporting climate-smart agricultural development.

2.2 Specific Objectives

• To assess SVE’s current environmental, social, and governance practices and identify gaps.
• To develop a structured ESG Policy framework tailored to SVE’s operations and project context.
• To integrate climate-smart agriculture principles, renewable energy use, and social inclusion into the ESG framework.
• To ensure alignment with national regulations and international ESG standards and frameworks.
• To provide practical implementation guidelines, monitoring indicators, and reporting mechanisms.

3. Scope of Work

The assignment will cover all operational and programmatic areas of SVE, including its partnership with partners and activities implemented under the climate-smart agriculture initiative.

Key Scope Areas

Key Scope Areas

3.1. Environmental Scope

The assignment will evaluate SVE’s adoption of sustainable practices, with particular attention to renewable energy solutions such as solar-powered irrigation systems, efficient water resource management, and soil health restoration through organic farming and vermicomposting. It will also examine climate change mitigation and adaptation measures, as well as waste management practices and efforts to reduce reliance on agrochemicals.

3.2. Social Scope

The social dimension will focus on assessing labor practices, occupational health and safety standards, and the promotion of gender equality and social inclusion—especially for women, youth, and vulnerable groups. It will further review community engagement approaches, stakeholder participation mechanisms, and the overall socio-economic impact on smallholder farmers and beneficiary communities.

3.3. Governance Scope

From a governance perspective, the assignment will analyze SVE’s institutional structures, accountability systems, and decision-making processes. It will assess transparency, reporting, and ethical standards, including anti-corruption measures, as well as risk management frameworks, compliance systems, and the effectiveness of stakeholder communication and grievance redress mechanisms.

4. Methodology

The ESG Policy development will follow a participatory and evidence-based approach combining qualitative and quantitative methods. The following main approaches will be applied.

4.1. Evidence-Based Desk Review

The assignment will begin with a structured desk review to establish a solid baseline of Solar Village Ethiopia’s (SVE) current Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices. This will include a comprehensive analysis of internal policies, operational guidelines, project reports, and implementation tools, alongside a review of relevant national regulatory frameworks in Ethiopia. The process will be complemented by benchmarking against globally recognized ESG standards, including the International Finance Corporation Performance Standards, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and Global Reporting Initiative, to identify alignment, gaps, and opportunities for improvement.

4.2. Participatory Stakeholder Engagement

A highly inclusive and participatory consultation process will be undertaken to ensure the ESG Policy reflects diverse perspectives and fosters ownership. This will involve key informant interviews with SVE leadership, technical staff, and strategic partners such as Oxfam GB, as well as focus group discussions with smallholder farmers and project beneficiaries. Engagements will also extend to relevant government institutions, sector experts, and development partners to capture cross-sector insights and strengthen policy relevance and applicability.

4.3. Field-Based Assessment and ESG Diagnostics

Field assessments will be conducted in selected project sites to validate desk findings and generate context-specific insights. Direct observation of solar-powered irrigation systems, organic farming practices, and composting initiatives will be complemented by an assessment of environmental and social impacts at the community level. This phase will apply a diagnostic lens to identify ESG risks, opportunities, and performance trends, ensuring that the policy is grounded in operational realities and local conditions.

4.4. Iterative Analysis, Policy Design, and Validation

Building on the evidence gathered, a structured gap analysis and benchmarking exercise will be conducted to compare current practices against international best practices and define priority action areas. The ESG Policy will then be developed through an iterative drafting process, articulating SVE’s vision, principles, strategic objectives, and commitments across all ESG pillars. A validation workshop will be organized to review the draft policy with key stakeholders, ensuring alignment, practicality, and buy-in. Feedback will be systematically integrated to finalize a robust, actionable ESG Policy, supported by implementation guidelines, monitoring frameworks, and capacity-building tools.

5. Detailed Activities

The consultant/team will undertake the following activities:

Phase 1: Inception and Project Mobilization (Day 1–3)

The consultancy assignment will be implemented through six structured phases. The first phase, Inception (Day 1–3), will involve a kickoff meeting with SVE management, followed by the preparation and submission of an inception report outlining the methodology, detailed work plan, and implementation timelines.

Phase 2: Review and Assessment of ESG Practices (Up to Day 21)

The second phase, Review and Assessment (up to Day 21), will focus on reviewing relevant organizational documents, policies, and reports, conducting stakeholder mapping and consultations, undertaking field visits and data collection, and assessing the current environmental, social, and governance practices within SVE.

Phase 3: ESG Framework Development

The third phase will concentrate on ESG Framework Development, where the ESG vision and guiding principles will be defined, objectives under the environmental, social, and governance pillars will be established, and operational guidelines along with key performance indicators (KPIs) will be developed.

Phase 4: Draft ESG Policy Preparation

In the fourth phase, Draft Policy Preparation, a comprehensive ESG Policy document will be developed, including the policy statement, ESG commitments and pillars, an implementation framework, and a monitoring, evaluation, and reporting system.

Phase 5: Validation and Finalization of ESG Policy (5 Days After Feedback)

The fifth phase, Validation and Finalization, will involve facilitating a stakeholder validation workshop, incorporating feedback, and revising the draft to produce the final ESG Policy document.

Phase 6: Capacity Building and ESG Implementation Support

The sixth and final phase will focus on Capacity Building, where SVE staff will be trained on ESG principles and implementation approaches, and practical tools and checklists will be developed to support internal application and sustainability of the policy.

6. Eligibility Criteria

Interested consultants (firms or individuals) must provide:

• Valid business/consultancy license
• Tax Identification Number (TIN)
• Updated CV(s) demonstrating relevant expertise
• Technical proposal (methodology and work plan)
• Financial proposal (detailed budget breakdown)
• Proven experience in GHG accounting, carbon markets, and climate-smart agriculture

7. Submission Guidelines

Interested applicants should submit:

• Technical Proposal
• Financial Proposal
• CV(s) and supporting documents

Submission Method: Hard copy in sealed envelope
Deadline: Within 5 consecutive working days from the date of this announcement

8. Submission Address

Solar Village Ethiopia (SVE)
Solar Village Solar Equipment Importer
Bole Imperial, SAMI Building, 2nd Floor, Office No. 206
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Tel: 0994 577572 / 0929 684072

9. Additional Information

• SVE reserves the right to accept or reject any or all applications without assigning reasons.
• Detailed Terms of Reference (ToR) can be collected from the SVE office

Tender details

• Deadline: 2026-04-25
• Bid closing time: 17:00
• Bid closing (note): Within 5 consecutive working days from the date of this announcement.
• Bid opening: 2026-04-25 17:00
• Bid opening (note): No Specific Opening Date and Time
• Region: Addis Ababa
• Publishing entity: Solar Village
• Buyer TIN: 0060935467
• Published: Apr 21, 2026
• Posted at: 2026-04-21T07:04:02.000Z