Request for Proposals: Accelerating Critical Transformations (ACT) for Ports in the Blue Economy: Toolkit

Ports operate as complex ecosystems involving a wide range of public and private actors. While many stakeholders are already undertaking sustainability initiatives, efforts are often fragmented due to the lack of a shared framework, common language, and coordinated direction.  

The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RfP) is to identify and engage a qualified consulting firm or individual to support the development of the Accelerating Critical Transformations (ACT) for Ports in the Blue Economy: Toolkit.  

This toolkit will build on the Accelerating Critical Transformations for Ports: Briefing Paper (to be released in April 2026) and on the Nature Positive: Role of the Port Sector report. 

This RfP seeks expertise to design a practical, adaptable toolkit that enables port-anchored industrial clusters and co-located companies within the port ecosystem to align around a common vision and collaboratively advance a transition that delivers positive outcomes for a regenerative blue economy, including benefits for nature, people, and long-term port competitiveness.  

The selected provider will contribute to the development of a step-by-step guidance framework to support collective action, complement individual organizational efforts, and ensure applicability across diverse port geographies, development stages, and governance contexts. The toolkit will provide practical guidance to co-located actors within the port ecosystem on how to operationalize a vision contributing to the blue economy into concrete strategies and identify potential barriers.  

It is also expected to help identify a pool of preferred suppliers to support the Accelerating Critical Transformations (ACT) for Ports workstream in-country workshop design that will take place in 2027.  

The consulting firm or individual will be responsible for supporting the design, development, and refinement of the Accelerating Critical Transformations (ACT) for Ports in the Blue Economy: Toolkit. Key duties are expected to include, but are not limited to: 

• Developing a risk assessment framework to anchor the development of the toolkit

• Building on a shared conceptual framework that provides a common understanding of what a blue economy, with a focus on nature and people, means in a port context. 

• Designing a clear, practical, and user-friendly toolkit structured as a step-by-step guide for co-located actors of the port ecosystem 

• Supporting the definition of a shared ambition, vision, principles, and priorities among diverse port stakeholders, while ensuring that all perspectives are meaningfully heard and reflected 

• Integrating guidance on key phases, including: 
  • Baseline assessment  
  • Stakeholder mapping and engagement  
  • Vision-setting and identification of collective priorities, opportunities, and trade-offs  
  • Priority action areas and implementation pathways  
  • Governance and collaboration models  
  • Monitoring, evaluation, and progress tracking 
• The guidance should integrate and build on existing frameworks. The task at hand will be to identify and assess the current use of the different reports and frameworks including: 
  • For nature: the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), EU’s European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), Science Based Targets for Nature (SBTN), Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), IFC's Performance Standards on Environmental and Social Sustainability  
  • For people: EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD – Social Pillar), Just Transition Frameworks (ILO / OECD / UNFCCC), Making the Green Transition Work for People and the Economy (World Economic Forum) 
• Embedding cross-cutting elements such as innovation, finance, policy and nature-based solutions  
• Incorporating practical examples, tools, templates, or case insights where relevant to enhance usability and uptake  
• Ensuring the toolkit is adaptable to different port sizes, geographies, regulatory environments, and governance structures  
• Collaborating closely with the commissioning team and relevant stakeholders to incorporate feedback and ensure alignment with project objectives

Requirements and Experience of the Consulting Firm or Individual

Proposals should demonstrate that the consulting firm or individual has the qualifications, experience, and capacity to deliver the scope of work effectively. Desired requirements include:

• Strong understanding and experience of port ecosystems, industrial clusters, and related sectors (e.g. logistics, maritime, infrastructure, energy, or industrial hubs)
• Proven experience in sustainability, systems transformation, or transition planning in complex, multi-stakeholder environments
• Demonstrated experience and expertise in port and master planning, including strategic development, capacity optimization, land-use, and long-term infrastructure investment planning
• Demonstrated expertise in the blue economy, climate and nature, social impact, and inclusive development
• Experience developing practical toolkits, frameworks, guidance documents, or roadmaps for public-private or multistakeholder collaboration
• Familiarity with governance models, collaborative platforms, and stakeholder alignment processes
• Knowledge of innovation, finance mechanisms, policy frameworks, and nature-based solutions relevant to industrial or infrastructure contexts is a must
• Strong analytical, facilitation, and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex concepts into accessible and actionable guidance
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders across geographies and institutional contexts 

• Length: 9000 words – 25 to 35 pages, indication on the format will be indicated by the Forum Team. 50% of the report should comprise charts and graphics 

• Format and design: this report will likely be on landscape mode, digital and in PDF. Design will be performed by the Forum team 

• Rounds of edits and feedback: the provider will create a draft report and will integrate feedback from the in-person workshops led by the team taking place in June 2026 and September 2026. Insights can also be collected during 1:1 interviews with targeted stakeholders.