Better Cotton is the world’s largest cotton sustainability programme. Our mission: to help cotton communities survive and thrive, while protecting and restoring the environment. In difficult times, we are meeting the challenge head on. Through our network of field-level partners we have provided training on more sustainable farming practices to more than 2.9 million cotton farmers in 26 countries. More than a fifth of the world’s cotton is now grown under the Better Cotton Standard and our membership network includes more than 2,400 members.
Better Cotton Initiative, Pakistan (BCI Pakistan) is registered in Pakistan and working under a collaboration/service agreement with Better Cotton, Global.
More information about Better Cotton can be found on our website: www.bettercotton.org
Objective
The objective of this invitation is to identify capable and committed organizations that can implement the Better Cotton Standard System (BCSS) and contribute to delivering impact in Pakistan. Selected partners will support cotton farmers to adopt more sustainable practices, improve livelihoods, and promote decent work principles.
Scope of Work
Better Cotton currently is working in Pakistan with nine programme partners, 140 Producer Units and more than 320,000 cotton farmers in Punjab and Sindh provinces.
Better Cotton coordinates a capacity strengthening programme, delivered through Better Cotton staff and experienced field-level partners, referred to as Better Cotton Programme Partners. This programme aims to help farming communities adopt practices consistent with our Standard - the Better Cotton Principles and Criteria, and adjust to their local context. Better Cotton does not train farmers directly but shares training and resources through its network of Programme Partners, who are crucial for the success of the initiative at field level. The activities that partners are involved in vary from training of farmers, undergoing third-party certification for Better Cotton certification, as well as completing thematic area-based activities such as those on livelihoods, women empowerment, crop protection, climate change and soil quality among others.
Programme Partners are primarily responsible for:
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Implementing Better Cotton’s Better Cotton Standard System (BCSS) at the field level.
Training farmers, workers, and communities on the Better Cotton Principles & Criteria.
Collecting and reporting data related to implementation of the standard as well as environmental, social, and economic performance.
Engaging with stakeholders including ginners, local authorities, and community groups to enhance implementation and livelihoods of Better Cotton farmers and workers.
Contributing to continuous improvement and innovation in programme delivery.
Partner engagement and monitoring takes place primarily through virtual/online meetings with relevant program partner staff on a recurring basis with quarterly in-person visits to the project areas. Funded partners are also issued Program Improvement and Action Plans (PIAP) annually on the basis of improvement areas identified during previous seasons and progress against these PIAPs is part of the performance monitoring process. In addition, partners also undertake corrective actions as outcome of certification cycle, changes based on due diligence assessments and any other improvement areas identified by Better Cotton country or global teams. Finally, partner performance is also based on other areas like MEL data quality and efficiency, effectiveness of their cascading model, farmer knowledge and practice adoption, etc.
More information on this can be found in our Theory of Change and on our Capacity Building info page.
Eligibility Criteria
Organizations must meet the following minimum requirements:
Be legally registered as a non-profit, NGO, cooperative, or other eligible entity in Pakistan.
Have at least 5 years of experience in implementing projects with local communities on agricultural development, sustainable farming, livelihood enhancement or any other relevant area.
Demonstrated capacity to deliver field-level training and monitoring in rural settings.
Have relevant staff members with experience in multiple thematic areas, capacity building, research and MEL, etc.
Have established systems, infrastructure and policies related to governance, ethics, HR, operational infrastructure, and financial management systems.
A proven track record in gender mainstreaming, climate-smart agriculture, or worker welfare is an asset.
Experience of working with local and international donors.
Application Requirements
Interested organizations have to send a filled version of the attached application form and submit the relevant mentioned documents before the deadline.
Better Cotton will give preference to applications based on:
Alignment with Better Cotton’s strategic priorities.
Technical and operational capacity.
Geographic relevance to target cotton-growing regions.
Commitment to sustainability, gender equity, and decent work
The ‘Better Cotton Programme Partner Process Overview’ document (attached) highlights the keys steps for potential organizations to join Better Cotton as a programme partner.
High-level Timeline
June 15, 2025
Applications deadline
June 15 – June 30, 2025
Applications review, interviews/visits
July 2025
Shortlisted applicants are invited for Due Diligence and next year’s project application cycle
Application Requirements
Interested organizations may respond to this request for EOI with the following documents:
Filled application form as shared with the TORs
A clear description of the project team members with details of their relevant experience and their CVs
Any other documents mentioned in application form
We thank all applicants for their interest. However, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
Better Cotton is committed to good practice and transparency in the management of natural, human and financial resources. All applications will be reviewed under the principles and subject to Better Cotton’s policies on equal opportunity, non-discrimination, anti-bribery & corruption and conflict of interest.
Apply By:
EOI n#: 2025-06-PR-PP
Location:Pakistan
Start date:April 2026
End date:March 2027
Better Cotton key contact:
All queries must be sent by email, [email protected] ONLY with the subject header: “EOI – Program Partners for Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) Pakistan – EOI n# 2025-06-PR-PP”. Questions, requests and applications sent after the deadline (15/06/2025) will only be considered in exceptional circumstances.