Company Profile

Established in 2005, Fairtrade Africa is the umbrella organization representing Fairtrade certified producers in Africa and is a member of Fairtrade International (FI). FTA aims to effectively represent producers within the International Fairtrade system and to contribute to the livelihood improvement of African and Middle Eastern producers by increasing access to markets. Established in 2005, FTA directs policy and strategic development of the organization, including its Secretariat in Nairobi and the four (4) regional offices. FTA works within the Fairtrade system to support over 1,055,000 farmers and workers in over 520 producer organizations spread over 33 countries to access better prices, decent working conditions, and fairer terms of trade

Fairtrade Africa is owned by its members, who are African producer organizations certified against international Fairtrade Standards producing traditional export commodities such as coffee, cocoa, tea, cut flowers, cane sugar, wine, cotton, bananas, mango, pineapples and non-traditional commodities including shea butter, rooibos tea, vegetables and fresh and dry fruits. Fairtrade Africa is made up of both Small Producer Organizations (SPOs) and Hired Labour Organizations (HLO). In HLOs, the focus is on supporting companies that employ hired labour to supply better working conditions for their workers while in SPOs the focus is on members who are smallholders who run their farms mainly using their own and their family labour.

Fairtrade Africa’s interventions are guided by the Fairtrade Theory of Change which visually expresses how these ultimately lead to global Fairtrade Goals. You can read more about FTA at www.fairtradeafrica.net

Job Description

• Conduct a Gap Analysis on the implementation of Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence (HREDD) in two Fairtrade certified cocoa producer organizations.
• Provide technical support to two (2) cocoa producer organizations to conduct a rightsholder led human rights and environmental (HRE) risk assessment of their operations. The Risk report will form the basis of dialogue between the main stakeholders in the supply chain on mitigation measures needed to resolve identified HRE issues.

• In depth analysis and findings on the structural gaps influencing the implementation of HREDD at organizational and sector levels.
• Recommendations on the actions needed to bridge identified gaps.
• Information on feasible synergies and opportunities on HREDD compliance with other interventions in Ghana.
• Details on the cost of compliance with HREDD requirements in each of the two cocoa producer organizations

HREDD risk Assessment
The consultant will provide technical support and capacity building to enable the two cocoa producer organizations to better understand and implement the HRE risk assessment processes. An implementation team will be set up in the two cocoa POs to implement the HRE risk assessment with the support of the consultant. The consultant will work closely with this team and the FTA HREDD Advisor to complete this assignment. The consultant is expected to use a methodology developed by Fairtrade to build the capacity of the project teams and guide other important processes for the HRE risk assessment.

• The HREDD risk assessment component of this assignment is intended to deliver the following an action plan to mitigate the identified salient HRE risks in the two certified cocoa SPOs.
• A HRE Risk report which shall be the basis for cocoa supply chain dialogue on HREDD.

SCOPE OF WORK AND DELIVERABLES

• Plan and undertake literature review of available information on HRE issues in cocoa supply chain in Ghana.
• Train the HREDD team in the two (2) certified cocoa producer organizations on risk assessment methodology(ies) and provide a training report.
• Train and provide support to the project teams in the 2 selected producer organizations to;
  • Develop data collection tools, identify the research sample and conduct secondary and primary data Collection as per the objectives of the assignment
  • Undertake analysis of HREDD data / information, document, disseminate and implement recommendations
  • Conduct validation of the findings with stakeholders
• Triangulate the findings and provide the key findings and recommendations
• Fill out results framework template provided by Fairtrade with the information from primary data at SPO level
• Final risk assessment report?

Final gap analysis report

SCHEDULE
The assignment is expected to be completed within [6 weeks] from the date of contract signing. A detailed timeline will be agreed upon with the selected consultant.

Required Skills or Experience

The Consultant should have a minimum of a master’s degree in relevant discipline. In addition, the Consultant should possess the following qualifications:

• The consultant should have a minimum of 5 years’ demonstrable experience in carrying out similar assignments, preferably in the cocoa sector.
• Demonstrable understanding of the Fairtrade system and cocoa producer organizations.
• Demonstrable understanding of existing regulations, UNGP on Business and Human Rights, CSDDD and EUDR as it relates to the cocoa sector.
• Demonstrated ability to design and implement a practical research methodology.
• Demonstrated ability to use qualitative technique(s) where applicable in the study.
• Good interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of diverse backgrounds.
• Professional and demonstrable experience in working with Fairtrade certified cocoa producer organizations will be an added advantage.