Contractor for Tipping Points Program Evaluation at Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research
FFAR seeks to evaluate the success of the Tipping Points program. The evaluator, in collaboration with FFAR, will define criteria and standards of success (i.e. metrics). It is important for the evaluator to capture project outputs, outcomes and where available, impacts (including how project outputs have influenced the agriculture value chain and/or informed policy development).
We envision a summative program evaluation to assess outcomes and impacts, as defined in the FFAR Program Evaluation FAQs . Through the evaluation, we hope to uncover whether and how project deliverables are being used to date and contributing to the U.S. food and agriculture system. We foresee the evaluator conducting a cross-project comparative analysis for the 5 completed projects, using an agreed-upon set of metrics. Finally, we envision the evaluator creating 1-2 exemplar cases (i.e. detailed case studies) using a mixed methods approach, which includes quantitative analyses and qualitative analyses to calculate cost-effectiveness and counterfactuals. We expect all findings—and recommendations where applicable—to be evidence-based with references to supporting evaluation data (e.g., survey findings).
About the Tipping Points Program
The Tipping Points Program explores the intricate dynamics of regional food systems, focusing on critical research questions that investigate why existing food system interventions—such as those centered solely on food access and affordability—have not resulted in substantial improvements in food security and health. The program aims to identify systems-level leverage points that, when targeted, could drive transformational change in reducing food insecurity, enhancing health outcomes, and strengthening economic resilience.
Through collaboration with communities and organizations in U.S. cities, program-funded researchers developed models of regional food systems to assess the interactions among key system components and how these interactions influence broader outcomes. FFAR challenged grantees to examine multiple food-system interventions and external factors—including connections to housing, transportation, and other regional systems—to better understand the collective impacts of these elements. The research is guided by foundational questions, including:
How do different components of the food system influence one another, and what are cascading effects?
Which policy and program interventions work best in specific contexts?
How can interventions be adjusted or combined to optimize their impact on the food system, community health and the economy?
By addressing these research questions, the Tipping Points Program has awarded $11.1 million across 5 executed projects to generate data-driven insights that inform future food system strategies. Of those awarded funds, FFAR has provided $5.6M in funding with $5.5M in partner match funding from 42 co-funders spanning academic institutions, community organizations, non-profits and more.
Download the full RFP and review all requirements.
Proposal submission deadline: March 31, 2025
Link to job posting: https://foundationfar.org/grants-funding/opportunities/contracted-work-tipping-points-program-evaluation/