Rikolto is currently seeking consulting services to conduct a focused City Region Food System (CRFS) analysis to generate actionable insights that directly inform Rikolto in Vietnam’s 2027–2031 strategy and programming.
Description
Deadline:
Rikolto International (hereinafter “Rikolto”) is a global NGO dedicated to transforming food systems to be more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable. Active in 18 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe, Rikolto collaborates with farmers, businesses, governments and civil society actors to co-develop actionable and scalable solutions that ensure access to affordable, nutritious food while strengthening local livelihoods and ecosystems.
In Vietnam, Rikolto is currently implementing two flagship programmes (2022-2026) that reflect its commitment to food system transformation through three key pillars: sustainable agricultural production, inclusive business and an enabling environment. The Good Food for Cities (GF4C) programme focuses on strengthening inclusive food governance and promoting sustainable urban food environments to improve access to healthy diets. The Sustainable Rice Production (SRP) programme supports smallholder farmers in adopting regenerative, climate-resilient practices while enhancing their integration into inclusive and equitable markets.
To inform its next strategic programming cycle (2027-2031), Rikolto will conduct a City Region Food System (CRFS) analysis. This analysis will guide the design of system-based interventions aligned with Rikolto’s Global Theory of Change (2027-2036),which aims to contribute to three interconnected impact areas: healthy diets, livelihoods and prosperity, and a thriving ecosystem. The strategy focuses on supporting key target groups, including the majority of consumers, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and smallholder farmers, through three main levers of change: regenerative and climate-resilient agriculture, inclusive and viable food business models, and an enabling environment fostered by inclusive governance and responsive policies.
A city region refers to a functional area that includes an urban centre and its surrounding peri-urban and rural hinterlands, which are economically, socially, and ecologically interlinked. A CRFS, defined as the network of actors, processes, and relationships involved in food production, distribution, marketing, consumption, and waste management within a defined city region, provides acritical lens for understanding territorial food system dynamics. It captures the economic, social, and environmental interactions across urban, peri-urban, and rural areas (FAO & RUAF, 2023). The CRFS framework offers a valuable entry point for analysing Vietnam’s food system, enabling a holistic understanding of supply chains, governance structures, and sustainability challenges. Through this analysis, Rikolto seeks to identify strategic leverage points for systemic, inclusive, and sustainable food system transformation.
The purpose of this assignment is to conduct a focused CRFS analysis to generate actionable insights that directly inform Rikolto in Vietnam’s 2027–2031 strategy and programming. The analysis will examine food system structures, governance, and transformation opportunities in three strategically selected locations, including Hanoi, Cao Lanh City (Dong Thap province), and Tuyen Quang City(Tuyen Quang province, which reflect the diversity of Vietnam’s agro-ecological and institutional contexts. Hanoi represents the Red River Delta and urban CRFS models; Tuyen Quang reflects challenges in mountainous, less urbanised areas; and Dong Thap offers lessons from the Mekong Delta, Vietnam’s primary agricultural zone. Rather than aiming for a full-scope national assessment, the assignment will use these case studies to explore key trends and leverage points within Vietnam’s food system, particularly in relation to governance, sustainable value chains, and inclusive market access. The findings will support Rikolto in Vietnam in refining its strategic positioning, programming priorities, and stakeholder engagement, while also contributing to the global knowledge base on CRFS transformation.
The consultant will apply the framework outlined in Rikolto’s Food System Analysis Guidelines and work in close coordination with Rikolto Vietnam staff. The assignment will adopt a mixed-methods approach, combining participatory research techniques with field-based data collection to ensure both analytical depth and contextual relevance.
The consultancy will commence immediately after contract signing and must be completed by 05 September 2025.
For more information, please refer to the Job Description.
Interested consultants should submit the following:
Applications should be emailed before July 22, 2025 to: vietnam@rikolto.org.
Subject line: Application - National Consultant for CRFS Analysis in Vietnam
Only qualified candidates (firms) will be invited for an interview.
For more details about the responsibilities and the requirements of the role download the job description.