Introduction
Fairtrade Africa has implemented multiple approaches to delivering producer support services and advocacy interventions over the past decade. Drawing on this experience, Fairtrade Africa will place greater emphasis on product and country networks as a primary means of delivering support services and advocacy to maximise impact and efficiency.
The purpose of this consultancy is to develop guidelines that will be used to strengthen our country and product networks:
i. Guidelines for existing and potential partners on how to establish and maintain networks. This will help those managing and participating in networks to be successful in creating and contributing to fulfil their own specific objectives, and importantly ensure a level of accountability necessary to be credible advocates and attract 3rd party support and collaboration. This document will also include an analysis of training and support needs at various stages of network evolution, and how this can be provided (via Fairtrade Africa or 3rd parties).
ii. Internal operating guidelines for Fairtrade Africa to provide a consistent and effective approach to the establishment, maintenance and accountability of networks. This will include an analysis of key individual competencies and associated training for staff who are tasked with supporting networks.
To achieve these outcomes, the consultancy will draw out the experiences and insights associated with past and present product and country networks through extensive consultation with those involved and desk reviews of relevant documentation. This will ensure the richness of information that exists can be made accessible and useful for future day to day operations.
Milestones and Outputs of the Consultancy
Consultation and information gathering
Preliminary:
Collation and review of existing documentation at Fairtrade Africa
Establish contacts with six (6) product and country network collaborators past and present
Establish dialogue with the Latin American and Caribbean Network of Fairtrade Small Producers and Workers (CLAC), for their contribution given their similar approach.
Online interviews with network collaborators to understand and collect:
Examples of best practices and pitfalls: governance and operational management
Samples of control systems and policies adopted by networks to function effectively
Training and support need at different points of maturity, from conception to set up through to ongoing operations
Online interviews with relevant Fairtrade Africa management and support staff to establish:
Different operational approaches to facilitating networks
Key competencies and associated skills training required to provide effective support to networks
Map existing and potential future networks versus capacity
Establish common support resources available to networks
Desktop review:
Lessons and insights external to Fairtrade for consideration
Collate information into a draft operational guide(s)
Guidelines For Existing And Aspirational Networks
Conditions for success
‘How to’ guidance to establish, govern and run a network
Roles and responsibilities of the network versus Fairtrade Africa staff
Minimal accountability obligations for credibility, and how to fulfil these commitments
Sample policies and control systems as a common resource
Internal Manual For Fairtrade Africa Support Staff
Best practise and scope of work for staff facilitating networks – for a consistent approach
Capacity considerations to meet existing and future projected demand
Delivering support centrally through Fairtrade Africa versus through the network
Networking of networks
3: Consult and finalise guide(s)
Fairtrade Africa Management And Staff
Review and feedback on draft(s)
Alteration of drafts based on this feedback
Project Collaborators
Review and feedback on draft(s)
Alteration of drafts based on this feedback
Fairtrade Africa Management
Review and finalisation of documentation
Deliverables
Guidelines for existing and potential networks;
An internal manual for Fairtrade Africa support staff; and
A report that outlines the key achievements, challenges, recommendations (to FTA) as well as lessons learned.
Timelines It is proposed that the assignment begins on 1 September 2020. However, the precise dates of will be agreed on with the consultant prior to kick off.
A tentative schedule is provided in the table below.
Work stage Proposed Allocation (Days).
Review of existing documentation at FTA, planning the assignment 2
Interviews with network collaborators and collection and analysis of operational documentation 12
Online interviews FTA 5
Desktop review – including CLAC interview(s) and review of CLAC documentation 1
Developing network guidelines 2.5
Developing FTA guidelines 2.5
Consulting and refining with FTA staff and collaborators 3
Estimated Duration of Assignment 29 days
Required Qualifications
Masters’ degree in a relevant area;
Demonstrable experience in developing the organizational capacity of producer organizations or producer organization networks;
Good understanding of Fairtrade and global agricultural supply chains, especially from the producer nations perspective;
Strong command of written and spoken English, with demonstrated ability to produce well-written documents, in the clear, concise and correct language.
Interested applicants are requested to submit their proposals in electronic format by 24th August 2020 to procurement@fairtradeafrica.net no later than 17:00 EAT.These proposals should contain the following documents:
Apply via :
procurement@fairtradeafrica.net
