TERMS OF REFERENCE A STUDY TO IDENTIFY COUNTRY ADVOCACY AND POLICY INFLUENCING PRIORITIES FOR FAIRTRADE PRODUCTS IN EGYPT

Background

Fairtrade Africa (FTA), a member of the wider Fairtrade International movement represents Fairtrade certified producers in Africa and the Middle East. We operate four regional networks: Eastern and Central Africa Network (ECAN) based in Nairobi, Kenya; West Africa Network (WAN) based in Accra, Ghana, Southern Africa Network (SAN) based in Blantyre, Malawi and the Middle East and North Africa Network (MENA).

Fairtrade Africa is owned by its members, who are African producer organizations certified against Fairtrade International Standards producing traditional export commodities such as coffee, cocoa, tea, flowers, cotton, bananas, cane sugar, wine, fresh fruits, herbs and spices and non-traditional commodities including shea butter and rooibos tea. Currently, the organization represents over 1,083,139 producers across 28 countries in Africa. Fairtrade Africa secretariat is located in Nairobi, Kenya, and has 50% ownership of the Fairtrade system.

Fairtrade Africa implements multiple approaches to deliver producer support services and advocacy interventions. One such approach is the establishment of Product or Country Networks; these are product or country-based platforms formed by Fairtrade certified producers. These networks also provide a platform for networking and experience sharing for producers across products, countries and sub-regions.

Fairtrade Africa aims to amplify the voice of its members through advocacy and increase Fairtrade influence in national, regional, continental and global policies, regulations, legislations, rules and agreements which affect our member’s ability to trade and maintain food security and stewardship of their community resources. We engage with our members to advocate for their interests and take active ownership of the global Fairtrade system.

Aim and Objectives of the Study

The main task of the study is to identify and document country and regional level advocacy and policy influencing priorities for Fairtrade products and make recommendations. Consultations will be held with producers, stakeholders and partners in Egypt whose products include Herbs and Spices, Oilseeds and Oleaginous fruits, Prepared and Preserved Fruits and Vegetables, Fresh Fruits and Nuts.

The study will generate reliable information which will form the basis for FTA engagement in advocacy and policy interventions.

Specifically, the study will:

a) Identify immediate policy advocacy priority areas for the products to guide advocacy and policy engagement for the country and product networks;

b) Identify key stakeholders and partners for the identified priority areas to collaborate with effective actions on policy influencing;

c) Determine any ongoing advocacy and policy influencing actions/conversations in relation to core products and the key players;

d) Identify an advocacy calendar including a calendar of events in relation to the products’ policy priorities to facilitate FTA and its partners to keep abreast with opportunities for policy influencing.

Methodology

This is exercise will involve:

a) Conducting a desk review to identify advocacy and policy priorities per product, partners, stakeholders etc.

b) Conducting physical consultations with producer organizations and partners on key advocacy priorities;

c) Conducting consultations with identified (from desk review and staff consultations) partners and stakeholders;

d) Prepare an analytical report on the findings and recommendations.

Timeframe

It is anticipated that the consultant will produce all of the deliverables outlined below within a timeframe of no more than 20 days’ work over one month in May 2022. The preferred start date for this assignment is 1st May 2022 with final outputs delivered on 13th June 2022.

Deliverables

a) Inception report outlining the methodology to be applied, approach, data collection, work plan and time frame.

b) Final report of no more than 30 pages consisting of contents page, abbreviations, executive summary focusing on key findings and recommendations; methodology, findings, conclusion and recommendations as well as an annexe with Policy and Advocacy Briefs on each of the products.

Consultant Profile

Fairtrade Africa seeks experienced and dedicated consultants/firms who meet the following essential criteria:

· Extensive experience in policy research, understanding of policy environment and experience in civil society organizations (CSO) in North Africa or selected countries in the region;

· Knowledge of the region’s core products;

· A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in policy analysis, advocacy, policy influencing, in the region;

· Good knowledge of the latest developments in international best practices related to advocacy and policy work;

· Excellent writing and oral communication skills in country-specific languages mainly Arabic and French where each applies, however, the final report will be in English;

· Demonstrated experience in carrying out similar assignments with supporting documentation.