Terms of reference (ToR) for Assessing India’s Food System Transformation and Strengthening Regional Policy Dialogue under ATMI-II

1. Background

The project “Ensuring Inclusiveness, Sustainability, and Efficiency of Food System Transformation in the ASEAN and BIMSTEC Countries” (ATMI-II) responds to the rapid transformation of agri-food systems across selected ASEAN and BIMSTEC member states. These countries face significant development challenges, including persistent rural poverty, inequality across socio-economic groups, and high vulnerability to climate change and natural disasters. As agricultural markets become more integrated regionally and globally, concerns have intensified regarding inclusiveness, particularly the participation of smallholder farmers, women, and youth in value chains, markets, and policy processes.

Food systems in the region, including in India, operate within complex economic, environmental, and institutional contexts. High domestic trade costs, gaps in logistics and cold chain infrastructure, and fragmented policy approaches continue to constrain the ability of smallholders to fully benefit from expanding market opportunities. At the same time, deepening cross-border value chains, transboundary risks, and evolving bilateral and regional trade arrangements call for coordinated policy responses that go beyond single-country interventions.

Building on the achievements of ATMI-I, ATMI-II expands both its geographic and thematic scope to include countries from both ASEAN and BIMSTEC, namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Project adopts a regional and policy-oriented approach, working directly with governments and the ASEAN and BIMSTEC Secretariats to strengthen institutional capacity, promote evidence-based policymaking, and foster cross-country learning.

The overall goal of ATMI-II is to strengthen the institutional capacity of selected countries to develop and implement policies and sub-regional programmes that support the integration of smallholders into agricultural and food markets. While governments and regional bodies are the direct beneficiaries, smallholder farmers and marginalized rural households are the intended indirect beneficiaries through improved, inclusive, and sustainable policy frameworks.

India, as a major BIMSTEC member state and one of the world’s largest agricultural economies, is central to the ATMI-II agenda. The country’s agri-food system is undergoing significant transformation driven by evolving trade policies, expanding regional and bilateral economic partnerships, rapid growth in agri-food enterprises, and shifting patterns of domestic consumption and production. Understanding these dynamics is essential for formulating evidence-based policies that promote inclusive and sustainable agricultural transformation.

To support this agenda, IFPRI, under ATMI-II, seeks to engage a qualified institution based in India to implement select project activities. The engaged institution will contribute to the project's analytical and capacity-strengthening objectives, leveraging its expertise in trade policy analysis, regional economic integration, and South-South cooperation.

2. Objective of the Assignment

Overall Objective

The overall objective of this assignment is to generate evidence-based policy insights on India’s agri-food system transformation in the context of evolving trade and economic partnership arrangements, and to strengthen regional policy dialogue and analytical capacity under the ATMI-II framework.

Specific Objectives

· To review and assess national strategies, policies, and institutions governing food system transformation in India, with particular attention to the implications of evolving economic partnership arrangements and free trade agreements.

· To facilitate policy dialogue by organizing a national-level policy roundtable to disseminate findings and promote evidence-based discourse among policymakers and stakeholders.

· To strengthen analytical capacity of policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders through a regional-level capacity strengthening event organized under the NePAA (Network of Policy Advisors and Analysts) framework.

· To support the formal integration of relevant Indian institutional networks into NePAA to strengthen South-South collaboration and knowledge sharing on agricultural transformation and market integration.

· To compile and provide granular, 8-digit monthly port-wise trade data (exports and imports, in value and quantity terms) for India’s agricultural commodities, including inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, and agricultural machinery.

· To provide technical and institutional support for the design and structuring of NePAA, including the establishment of national/regional technical advisory groups, working groups, communities of practice (CoPs), and a steering committee.

3. Scope of Work

The selected institution will carry out the following interconnected activities:

Activity 1: Policy Review Report

Prepare a comprehensive report reviewing national strategies, policies, and institutions that respond to food system transformation in India amid evolving economic partnership arrangements and free trade agreements. The report should cover the policy and institutional landscape governing agricultural trade, food processing, value chain development, and market integration, and identify key gaps, opportunities, and reform priorities.

Activity 2: National Policy Roundtable

Organize one policy roundtable at the national level, inviting policymakers and stakeholders from national and regional institutions to disseminate and discuss findings from the policy review report and other analytical outputs generated under ATMI-II. The event should foster informed dialogue on policy priorities for inclusive and sustainable agricultural transformation in India.

Activity 3: Regional Capacity Strengthening Event

Organize one regional-level capacity strengthening event under the NePAA framework, aimed at strengthening the analytical capacity of policymakers, researchers, and relevant stakeholders on agricultural transformation and market integration. The event should promote cross-country learning and regional collaboration among BIMSTEC and ASEAN member states.

Activity 4: Integration of Indian Institutional Networks into NePAA

Support the formal integration of relevant Indian institutional networks into NePAA to strengthen South-South collaboration and knowledge sharing on issues related to agricultural transformation, trade policy, and market integration across developing countries.

Activity 5: Trade Data Compilation

Compile and provide 8-digit monthly level, port-wise trade data for India covering both exports and imports, in value and quantity terms, for agricultural commodities including inputs (seeds, fertilizers, and agricultural machinery). The data should be organized in a structured, analysis-ready format suitable for integration into ATMI-II’s analytical work.

Activity 6: Technical and Institutional Support to NePAA

Provide technical and institutional support to the design and structuring of NePAA. This includes supporting the establishment of national and regional technical advisory groups, thematic working groups, communities of practice (CoPs), and a steering committee to ensure the network’s operational effectiveness and sustainability.

4. Deliverables

The following deliverables are expected from selected institution upon the completion of the respective activities:

5. Institutional Qualifications

The institution engaged for this assignment should demonstrate the following:

· Established expertise in trade policy analysis, agricultural economics, and regional economic integration.

· Proven track record of conducting policy research and analysis relevant to developing countries, with particular focus on South and Southeast Asia.

· Experience in organizing high-level policy dialogues, roundtables, and capacity strengthening events involving government stakeholders and international organizations.

· Existing institutional relationships with BIMSTEC and ASEAN secretariat and framework, and experience collaborating with CGIAR centers or similar international research organizations.

· Strong networks with government policymakers, research institutions, and stakeholder communities in India and the broader region.

· The institution must be based in India and legally registered with the relevant government authorities.

6. Reporting and Coordination

· The selected institution will work closely with IFPRI’s team under ATMI-II for the implementation of all activities.

· All deliverables will undergo technical review by IFPRI before finalization.

· Regular virtual meetings will be scheduled for progress updates, coordination, and quality assurance.

· Event planning (roundtable and capacity strengthening) will be undertaken in close consultation with IFPRI and relevant government and regional stakeholders.

7. Intellectual Property

All data, analysis, reports, and outputs produced under this assignment will be the property of IFPRI. The selected institution may use the findings for academic and policy purposes with due acknowledgment to IFPRI and the ATMI-II project.

8. Period of Assignment

The contract period will be from April 01, 2026, to December 31, 2027.