Company Profile

• To support our members to strengthen their organizations in line with Fairtrade standards.
• To improve and increase our members’ ability to access Fairtrade markets.
• To empower our members to advocate for their interests and take active ownership of the global Fairtrade system. 

• Deliver relevant valued services to Fairtrade smallholders and workers
• Build, secure, and sustain access to the market for our members.
• Advocacy.
• Build a strong, settled producer network as part of a global system 

Job Description

Formative Research, The Child Rights and Protection in Cocoa Growing Communities in Ghana Project (Cocoa sector) in the Asunafo North Municipality of Ghana

1. Introduction
Cocoa is the main stay of Ghana’s formal economy. It accounts for about 30% of the total export earnings and provides income for about six million people. Ghana also plays an important role on the international cocoa market being the second largest producer of cocoa beans in the world after Ivory Coast and representing about 20% of global production (ICCO annual reports). As in most cocoa producing countries, Ghanaian cocoa is grown by small-holder farmers. The sector employs about 2 million people who are engaged in farming, trade, transportation and processing of cocoa. In spite of the significant employment opportunities the sector provides, it is believed that it engages a significant number of child labourers who are involved in unprotected, unsupervised or hazardous work. 

The Ghana Statistical Service estimates indicate that close to 28% of children in Ghana between the ages of 5 to 14 are involved in child labour activities and for that matter are out of school. Out of this proportion, over 50% are engaged in farm labour with cocoa farms engaging about 65% of them. The Cocoa Labour Survey in Ghana commissioned by the National Programme for the Elimination of Child Labour in Cocoa estimated a quarter of the children, working in the cocoa sector are engaged in hazardous work. Enrolment records from the Municipal Education Directorate reveals an increasing decline as pupils’ transition from the primary school to the Junior High School level.

Fairtrade is not only committed to fighting the root causes of child labour and preventing the exploitation of children, but also expanding opportunities for young people to realize their full potential in their communities. In line with this global strategy, Fairtrade Africa (FTA) supports farmers through delivery of relevant and valued services through impact-based activities. To contribute to this objective as well contributing to tackling of the aforementioned problem, FTA is implementing a project on Child Right and Protection in Cocoa Growing Areas in Ghana, focusing on the 67 communities of the Asunafo North Municipal Cocoa Farmers’ Cooperative Union in the Asunafo North Municipality.

The project will focus on strengthening local and national child protection systems to protect children from violence, exploitation, abuse and neglect. The project will also look at building strong and functional community/district-based structures embarking on child labour and child protection education. The project will also advocate duty-bearer organizations/institutions to roll-out programmes and policy on child labour and child protection as well as creation of safe schools for the boys and girls who are he direct beneficiaries. 

The project is targeting SPOs, traditional leaders and other community opinion leaders, municipal assembly and its departments, other community level stakeholders. At regional and national levels, the project is targeting: Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, Parliamentary-select committee on women and children, National Child Labour Unit, other coalitions and networks. The project’s final beneficiaries are children from the ages of 0-18 from 67 cocoa growing communities in the Asunafo North Municipality including 3,000 girls and 3,200 boys. 

The 67 communities are communities with Fairtrade certified primary cooperatives (first grade cooperatives) who are also members of the Asunafo North Municipal Cooperative Cocoa Farmers’ Union (second grade cooperative).  Furthermore, the project will work closely with the Municipal Assembly (Department of Social Welfare) regional and national government bodies as well as non-governmental organizations who work towards a common goal of promoting child protection and fighting child labour. 

2. Purpose and Objectives of Research
The purpose of this formative research is to establish the prevalence of child labour and related child protection issues in the Asunafo North Municipality of Ghana. This is to help the MFA project team to understand the root causes of the issues/gaps to be addressed by the project and how effectively these can be done. Also, the research is to provide the insights needed to design effective strategies to assist in program planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

The specific objectives of the assignment are:

• Establish the prevalence of child labour and related child protection issues in the Asunafo North Municipality of Ghana;
• Describe the target audience, understand the factors which influence their behaviour, and determine the best ways to reach them;
• Identify and understand the characteristics, interests, behaviours and needs - of target populations that influence their decisions and actions with respect to child labour in cocoa growing communities

3. Scope
The formative research target population is 67 cocoa growing communities in the Asunafo North Municipality where the Asunafo North Cooperative Cocoa Farmers’ Union operates representing about 3000 girls and 3200 boys. The research team is also expected to interview various stakeholders and other actors in the cocoa value chain.

4. Methodology
The consultant is expected to propose the research approach to ensure representation of the communities, develop survey tools. The consultant is expected to develop a suitable methodology, design survey instruments, administer these instruments and conduct data analysis needed to solicit the different information needs for the formative research. The proposed methodology should satisfactorily meet the expected deliverables of the research, taking into consideration the implementation of the project in the 67 communities.

The research is expected to be completed within a period of 1 month.

5. Expected Outputs/Deliverables
The consultant will be required to produce the following outputs:

• An inception report detailing the study design and plan outlining the execution phase with clear time-frames;
• A comprehensive literature review to form the basis of the formative research;
• Set of data collection tools which will be approved by FTA before they can be used to collect data;
• Draft report
• Final report

6. Reporting Requirements
The final report is expected to be organized as follows:
1. Executive Summary
2. Introduction and Background
3. Literature review and contextual analysis
4. Methodology
5. Data Synthesis and key findings of the research including child labour prevalence in communities 
6. Conclusions and Recommendations 
7. Annexes:
a. Data set
b. The Study Team Members
c. Questionnaire, Guides/ tools
d. Terms of Reference

7. Consultancy team expertise
The project will be awarded to an individual or a recognized research institution which can propose a research team meeting the following criteria. 

• Experience of conducting impact assessments, baseline studies or other type of project/programme evaluation or research 
• Experience in conducting sensitive studies with children
• Expert knowledge of evaluation techniques and participatory research methods 
• Ability to present data concisely and clearly
• Understanding of Fairtrade principles and approaches will be an added advantage. 
• Disclosure of conflict of interest