Consultancy for regional policy brief in Southeast Asia’s seafood

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Consultancy for regional policy brief in Southeast Asia’s seafood

1. Background:

Oxfam is a global movement of people who are fighting inequality to end poverty and injustice. Across regions, from the local to the global, we work with people to bring change that lasts. Our work is grounded in the commitment to the universality of human rights. Driven by diversity and founding our asks in evidence and experience, we take sides against poverty and injustice everywhere. Feminist approaches guide all our analysis, action and interaction.

The Asia-Pacific, is the region where global fish stocks are concentrated, making it a strategic location for fisheries and its associated industries.[1] Oxfam in Asia would like to synergize the existing fishery/seafood works in Thailand, within the region, beginning with key seafood producing countries, Vietnam, and Indonesia. The briefing paper would provide a better understanding on the national/regional contexts as well as landscapes on worker rights in seafood/fishing industries based on existing literatures and reports to provide analysis on the key common challenges and policy gaps in the region. Oxfam works with national CSOs to establish a common labor framework and common recommendations across the region which will further strengthen their efforts to ensure decent work and lives for all those working in the seafood industry – especially workers on shipping vessels and women working in processing factories.

1. Objectives of the study:

This study is being commissioned with four main objectives:

1. To provide contextual analysis of the national/regional trends of worker rights in seafood/fishing supply chains in Thailand and Vietnam.
2. To identify key systemic challenges in Southeast Asia’s seafood/fishing industries from Thailand and Vietnam.
3. To have the synthesis of the policy gaps and opportunities for engagement in seafood/fishing supply chains in Southeast Asia.
4. To formulate policy recommendations particularly Thailand and Vietnam.

[1] Industry Outlook 2019-2021: Processed Seafood, https://www.krungsri.com/en/research/industry/industry-outlook/Food-Beverage/Processed-Seafood/IO/io-frocessed-seafood-20-th

1. Project Deliverables & Management:

A policy brief will cover:

1. Brief contextual analysis of the national trends of worker rights in seafood/fishing supply chains in Thailand and Vietnam.
2. Key systemic challenges and policy gaps in Southeast Asia’s seafood/fishing industries particularly Thailand and Vietnam.
3. Policy recommendations to private sector at different tiers, national governments, and ASEAN if relevant.

The report should be clear and concise with minimum length of 6 pages and maximum length of 8 pages with 0.5-1-page executive summary, excluding the annex.

The assignment is expected to start from October 2022 and end on January 2023.

[For detail deliverables and time line please refer to how to apply section below]

1. Procedures for submission

Interested candidates should submit:

• Organisation profile/consultant profiles
• Narrative proposal including methodology, timeline.
• Submit the contact details of two referees
• Financial Quotation (all-inclusive budget which includes professional fees, transportation, communications, etc.)
• Sample of previous work

1. Selection Criteria

The proposals will be evaluated through a competitive selection process. Following criteria will be followed.

• Consultant’s Profile and sample of previous work: 30 points
• Proposed proposal: 40 points
• Budget and timeline: 30 points

This consultancy is open for individual consultants/team or organisations to apply for. Previous work experience with other international non-government organization is desirable.

1. Skills and competences

Thematic knowledge:

• The consultant must have knowledge on business and human rights, fishing/ seafood supply chains and related legal frameworks.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience on issues of business and human rights.

Professionalism:

Excellent interviewing skills and demonstrated ability to independently develop research products. Conscientious and efficient in observing deadlines and achieving results.