A Request for Concept Paper for Research Consultancy Services:

the Study of Issues in Thailand's Chicken Supply Chain

 

1. BACKGROUND

Oxfam in Thailand has worked in recent years to address inequalities, fight for poverty, and raise awareness on food security in the society. However, an absence of broad-sed public understanding and support has inhibited the realization of such changes. Crucially, there remains an absence of real incentives for agribusinesses that involve in Thai food supply chains to move towards policies and practices that would benefit the environment and reduce inequality. Meanwhile, Thailand is experiencing an increase in domestic demand for sustainable food and ethical sourcing, and consumers increasingly concerned about health and food safety. However, there are rooms to improve such conditions, including environmental degradation and rural inequalities linked to food supply chains. Furthermore, smallholders face their hindrances, including the lack of knowledge and capacity regarding sustainable practices at the farm level even though they have supplied their products to the large agribusinesses. Nevertheless, the encouragement of sustainable consumption and production patterns also depends on agribusinesses.

In response to such problems, Oxfam aims to build a multi-stakeholder platform (MSP) with participation from large agribusinesses, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), government agencies, and consumers to facilitate discussion on shifting to sustainable food sector practices. However, these platforms still lack information on the ground and input from key factors such as agribusinesses, government agencies and CSOs whose inclusion is necessary for ethical and sustainable sourcing to be sustained and institutionalized in both the private sector and government policies. Also, Oxfam will adopt an integrated approach to address deficits in both consumption and production of sustainable and ethically sourced food products in the chicken supply chain by working to stimulate both demand and supply in a complementary and mutually re-enforceable way.

In order to move towards the institutionalization of ecologically sustainable and socially responsible policies and practices, Oxfam would like to understand systematic issues in the supply chain to facilitating stakeholders in developing voluntary guidelines for ethical and sustainable policies and practices to address such issues. In the end, the shared voluntary guideline will focus on common problems and limitations of the chicken supply chain and provide policy recommendations on the required steps necessary to achieve sustainable and ethical the supply chain.

So, Oxfam will engage a consultant or a consultant team to study the issues in the chicken supply chain in Thailand and provide Oxfam recommendations and suggestions for the possibility of the initiative MSP for the chicken supply chain in Thailand to setting a standard through voluntary guidelines.

 

2. OBJECTIVES

Oxfam is looking for a consultant or a consultant team to contribute to the study as follows:

2.1 To provide a multi-stakeholder analysis and mapping out of actors in Thailand's chicken supply and to identify their needs and capacity to access relevant data and information associated with these issues. The mapping will also identify the gaps between current practices and the required sustainability standards for the chicken supply chain in Thailand.

2.2 To identify the systematic issues in the chicken supply chain in Thailand, including but not limited to the following topics:

                2.2.1 Labour: To identify the labour issues in the chicken supply chain in Thailand, including the obstacles of migrant workers and female workers who are working or used to work in chicken farms.

                2.2.2 Environment: To identify environmental issues in the chicken supply chain in Thailand, including gas emission, water management, and the impacts of chicken farming on the environment.

                2.2.3 Animal Welfare: To identify the issues regarding Animal Welfare, including but not limited to companies’ policies and practices, the awareness of chicken producers on Animal Welfare principle.

                2.2.4 Food safety: To identify the usages of hormones and antibiotics in the broiler industry, especially the usage of antibiotics in chicken feed.

                2.2.5 Smallholders: To identify inequality between smallholders and large companies, including the obstacles of farmers when they have entered into a contract farming agreement.

2.3 To provide recommendations and suggestions in order to address issues in 2.2 and the possibility of the initiative MSP for Thailand's chicken supply chain to address such issues.

 

3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 The literature review: The literature review should consider the following to be reviewed as related to the chicken supply chain in Thailand, including but not limited to Research reports done by government, civil- society, non-government and international organizations, the latest survey data and issues on the chicken supply chain from different media sources, or any written documents that support the researcher to identify such issues under 2.

3.2 The in-depth interview: There must be interviews with relevant people, including but not limited to chicken farmer-owners, migrant workers in chicken farms, government officials, trade associations. The interview should be conducted at least two cases per issue.

 

4. SCOPE OF WORK AND EXPECTED OUTPUTS/DELIVERABLES

The scope of work and expected outputs/deliverables will be the following:

4.1 Mapping of stakeholders in Thailand's chicken supply chain, including but not limited to private companies, non-governmental organizations, labour unions, trade associations, and relevant government agencies or supervisory bodies at the national level;

4.2 The notes and/or findings from the in-depth interview and literature review under 2.2

4.3 The draft report on recommendations to address such issues and the possibility to establish the MSP for the chicken supply chain in Thailand, including the suggested plan to facilitate stakeholders to initiative MSP.

4.4 The final report on Thailand's chicken supply chain that will contain information at least the followings: Executive Summary of the research findings (Purpose of the research, methodology used, findings, recommendations), Background, Key findings (Actors in the supply chain, The current situation, The systematic issues), and Recommendations.

 

 

5. TIMEFRAME

The time frame of the assignment shall be during the period between 20^th July and 26^th October 2020.

 

6. IMPLEMENTATION PLAN (Subject to be changed with Oxfam's agreement)

No	Activities	Expected Output	Date
1	Provide a multi-stakeholder analysis and mapping out of actors in Thailand's chicken supply chain and to identify their needs and capacity to access relevant data and information associated with these issues. The mapping will also identify the gaps between current practices and the required sustainability standards for the chicken supply chain in Thailand	Mapping of stakeholders in Thailand's chicken supply chain, including but limited to private companies, non-governmental organizations, labour unions, trade associations, and relevant government agencies or supervisory bodies at the national level	20th July -1st   August 2020
2	2.1 Labour: Identify the labour issues in the chicken supply chain in Thailand, including the obstacles of migrant workers and female workers who are working or used to work in chicken farms. 2.2 Environment: Identify environmental issues in the chicken supply chain in Thailand, including gas emission, water management, and the impacts of chicken farming on the environment. 2.3 Animal Welfare: Identify the issues regarding Animal Welfare such as companies’ policies and practices, 2.4 Food safety: Identify the usages of hormones and antibiotics in the broiler industry, especially the usage of antibiotics in chicken feed. 2.5 Smallholders: Identify inequality between smallholders and large companies, including the obstacles of farmers when they have entered into a contract farming agreement.	The notes and/or findings from the in-depth interview and the literature review.	2nd August – 11th October 2020
3	Provide recommendations and suggestions in order to address issues in 2 and the possibility of the initiative MSP for Thailand's chicken supply chain to address such issues.	The draft report on recommendations to address such issues and the possibility to establish the MSP for the chicken supply chain in Thailand, including the suggested plan to facilitate stakeholders to initiative MSP.	20th October 2020
4	Present findings and the report to Oxfam (the final report is required in English)	The report on Thailand's chicken supply chain that will contain information at least the following: Executive Summary of the research findings (Purpose of the research, methodology used, findings, recommendations), Background, Key findings (Actors in the supply chain, The current situation, The systematic issues), Recommendations and Annexes to address, prevent, or mitigate such issues.	26th October 2020

 

6. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Knowledge and understanding of civil society dynamics in Thailand
• Have proven experience working as part of a research team; experience of collaborations with National researchers / International researchers/ International research projects is an advantage
• Good understanding of the landscape of the chicken supply chain in Thailand
• Solid understanding of key players/stakeholders of Thailand's chicken supply chain 
• Solid understanding with all aspects of sustainable and ethical consumptions and supply chains in Thailand
• Familiarity with relevant government policies and structures
• Experience of working in a multicultural environment and NGOs
• Experience in organizing workshops, seminars is an advantage
• Knowledge of Multi Stakeholders Platform (MSP) is an advantage
• Excellent writing in English

7. SELECTION AND EVALUATION CRITERIA

The selection and evaluation will be done to achieve the needs and objectives of this study. The total score is 100 points which is broken down as below:

1. The quality of the concept paper/proposal: 50 points
2. Relevant experience: 40 points
   1. Having research experience in the chicken supply chain: 20 points
   2. Having research experience in sustainability area :10 points
   3. Experience in organizing workshops or seminars: 5 points
   4. Experience in facilitating/working with multistakeholders : 5 points
3. Financial proposal: 10 points

8. FEES AND EXPENSES

• The fee includes a professional fee, travel, and other all expenses required to carry out the tasks mentioned in SCOPE OF WORK AND EXPECTED OUTPUTS. Please be advised that the agreed fee is already subject to 7% VAT and that Oxfam deducts 3% withholding tax on the fee.
• Payments of the agreed fees shall be in 3 installments as below
  • 1^st installment to be made 30% of the agreed fee a week after finishing the activity No.1;
  • 2^nd installment to be made 30% of the agreed fee a week after finishing the activity No.2 and No.3; and
  • 3^rd installment to be made 40% of the agreed fee a week after finishing the activity No.4
• The agreed fee includes an amount in respect of general overheads, which would reasonably be expected to occur in the provision of consultancy. These include, without limitation, telephone calls, stationery, photocopying, and printing.

9. POINT OF CONTACT

Any a consultant or a consultant team who is interested in working with Oxfam, please provide us a 5-10 pages concept paper, along with Resume/CV, the proposed services fee, VAT registration document and tax documents to Panupan Sompong at PSompong@oxfam.org.uk (Private Sector Engagement Officer - Chicken Supply Chain).

 All the applicant are requested to submit thier proposal to hr_thailand@oxfam.org.uk by 08 July 2020.

 

 

Contact : 02-2481003/ hr_thailand@oxfam.org.uk

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ที่ปรึกษา / Consultant