Request for Submission of Concept Note from Liberian NGOs. School Gardening Initiative to Support School Feeding and Climate-Smart Agriculture.

1. Background.

Concern Worldwide is currently implementing the Transforming Households for Increased

Vitality and Empowerment (THRIVE) Programme in District One, Grand Bassa County. The

programme aims to improve livelihoods, nutrition, WASH, and education outcomes for

vulnerable households through integrated, community-based interventions.

As part of its education and nutrition interventions, THRIVE seeks to strengthen school

feeding initiatives through sustainable school gardening while equipping learners, parents,

and teachers with practical Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) knowledge and skills. School

gardens will serve as practical learning sites, improve access to nutritious vegetables for

school meals, and promote household adoption of improved vegetable production practices.

The school feeding initiative targets 10 schools, five (5) regular government schools and 5

Accelerated Learning Program schools.

Concern Worldwide Liberia therefore invites interested Liberian Non-Governmental

Organisations (LNGOs) with demonstrated experience in school agriculture, climate-smart

agriculture, community mobilisation, and capacity strengthening to submit a concept note for

the implementation of a School Gardening Initiative between July and December 2026.

2. Purpose of the Call.

The purpose of this call is to identify a qualified Liberian Non-Governmental Organisation

(LNGO) to establish and support school gardens in 10 schools that contribute to improved

nutrition, school feeding, agricultural learning, and community participation in District One

(1), Grand Bassa County.

3. Geographic Coverage.

10 schools in District One (1), Grand Bassa County.

4. Proposed Intervention.

The LNGO will work with Concern Worldwide to implement school gardening activities in 10

schools, comprising:

• Five (5) Alternative Learning Programme (ALP) Learning Centres.
• Five (5) Public Schools.

Each school will establish an approximately 0.5-acre assorted vegetable garden.

5. Expected Scope of Work.

The proposed concept note should describe how the applicant will deliver the following

interventions:

1. Alternative Learning Programme (ALP) Learning Centres.

The successful applicant will:

• Mobilise parents and caregivers of ALP learners to establish and manage 0.5-acre

vegetable gardens.

• Provide practical training on Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) and sustainable

vegetable production.• Promote environmentally sustainable production practices.

• Support production planning, crop management, harvesting, and post-harvest

handling.

• Ensure produce contributes to the ALP school feeding programme.
• Develop mechanisms for marketing surplus produce to generate income that can

support food preparation and other school feeding costs. This data will be followed

up by Concern MEAL team.

• Identify a Focal Person for the school garden from the ALP Facilitators?
• Provide continuous technical backstopping throughout implementation.

1. Public Schools.

The successful applicant will:

• Work closely with agriculture teachers/ focal persons, school management, students,

and Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs).

• Establish 0.5-acre vegetable gardens in each selected public school.
• Deliver practical training on vegetable production and Climate-Smart Agriculture

practices.

• Build the capacity of school pupils through hands-on learning.
• Encourage students to replicate improved production practices within their household

gardens.

• Provide regular technical mentoring and troubleshooting support to improve

production and productivity.

• Promote school ownership and sustainability of the gardens.

6. Expected Results.

The intervention is expected to achieve the following:

• Ten (10) functional school vegetable gardens established across five (5) ALP learning

centres and five (5) public schools, producing vegetables to support school feeding

programmes.

• Parents, teachers, pipils, and PTAs equipped with practical Climate-Smart Agriculture

skills.

• Improved availability of nutritious vegetables for school meals.
• Increased knowledge and adoption of improved vegetable production practices by

students and households.

• Sustainable school gardening systems supported through community ownership and

technical mentoring.

7. Expected Deliverables.

The LNGO working with Concern THRIVE team will be expected to deliver:

• Inception report and implementation workplan.
• Baseline assessment of selected schools.
• Mobilisation of schools, PTAs, and parents.
• Establishment of ten (10) school gardens.
• Delivery of Climate-Smart Agriculture training.
• Regular technical mentoring and monitoring visits.
• Progress reports (Monthly updates and quarterly report).• Completion report documenting achievements, lessons learned, challenges, and

recommendations (for upscale where necessary).

8. Eligibility Criteria.

Organisations should demonstrate:

• Registered as a legally recognised NGO in Liberia.
• Proven experience implementing agriculture, school gardening, nutrition, or climate

smart agriculture programmes.

• Experience working with schools, PTAs, community groups, and government

stakeholders, especially Ministry of Education.

• Strong technical expertise in vegetable production and sustainable agriculture.
• Experience in community mobilisation and participatory training.
• Strong financial and programme management systems.
• Experience working with donor-funded projects is an added advantage.

9. Concept Note Format.

Interested organisations should submit a concept note of no more than six (6 pages) that

includes:

• Organisational profile and relevant experience in this sector.
• Understanding of the assignment.
• Proposed implementation approach and methodology.
• Proposed activities and implementation schedule. (Annex – Detailed workplan

required).

• Sustainability strategy.
• Risk analysis and mitigation measures.
• Monitoring and reporting approach.
• High-level budget both detailed and summary of key headers. (Annex – Budget

should be phased monthly and by activity).

10. Selection Criteria.

Concept notes will be assessed based on:

11. Required Submission documents.

The interested LNGO should submit:

▪ Cover Letter.

▪ Organisational Profile.▪ Certificate of Registration.

▪ Governance Structure and organisational Organogram.

▪ Latest Audited Financial Statements (or management accounts).

▪ Evidence of similar assignments

▪ References from at least two previous donors

▪ Concept note (maximum 6 pages) describing the proposed implementation

approach.

Note: Selected Organisation will be requested share with Concern Relevant Policies (Finance,

Procurement, HR, Safeguarding, Anti-Fraud, etc.) and Strategic Plan (if available) before

contract is signed.

12. Submission Details.

Interested organisations should submit their concept note and accompanying documents

electronically by 24th July, 2026 to:

Concern Worldwide Liberia.

Email: concernlr.partnership@concern.net.

Subject Line: Concept Note – School Gardening Initiative.