Research Consultant to Conduct Research on Forced Labor and TIP
in the Thai Rubber Industry
Type of Contract: Fixed price contract
Duration of Contract: January – July 2022 (part-time capacity)
Closing Date: December 13, 11.59 hrs. Bangkok time
Winrock International is currently seeking proposals from qualified firms and/or individual consultants to develop a research report on forced labor and trafficking-in-persons in the Thai rubber industry.
Background
To strategically address the barriers to combating trafficking in persons (TIP) in Thailand, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has awarded Winrock International the USAID Thailand Counter Trafficking in Persons (USAID Thailand CTIP) program, which aims to reduce TIP and better protect the rights of trafficked persons in Thailand in 2017. Winrock and its implementing partners work to reduce demands and incentives for trafficked labor, empower at-risk populations to safeguard their rights, and strengthen protection systems for survivors.
In 2021, Winrock developed a partnership with the Grace Farms Foundation Justice Initiative – a not-for-profit organization with a mission to combat human trafficking, gender-based violence, and environmental crime – to leverage Grace Farms’ connections with buyers in the United States and Winrock’s connections on the ground in Thailand to counter TIP in supply chains. The partnership has agreed to collaborate on a research study into forced labor and TIP in the rubber industry.
Thailand is the world’s largest exporter of rubber (UN Comtrade 2018), and previous analysis and research have identified high risks of forced labor in the industry (DanWatch 2013, GMAP 2017, MMN 2020). As research specific to forced labor and TIP in the Thai rubber industry remains limited, this research consultancy will contribute more detailed findings from the field.
Objectives
Winrock International is looking for a consultant and/or firm to conduct research on forced labor and TIP in the Thai rubber industry. The objectives of this research are to:
Gain more transparency on TIP and forced labor in the rubber industry; and
Identify factors contributing to the vulnerability of rubber farmers and potential measures to reduce that vulnerability.
Responsibilities
Develop a detailed research methodology, workplan, and stakeholder interview plans and questions. The consultant will be responsible for proposing the research methodology, workplan, and stakeholder interview plans and questions. At a minimum, the research should aim to answer the questions below. However, the consultant should contribute their expertise to the design of the research and may propose additional questions or research topics of interest.
What are the forced labor and TIP issues faced by workers in the rubber industry?
What are the working conditions of workers in the rubber industry (e.g., working time, wages, freedom of association, occupational health and safety)?
What are the key differences in working conditions between different geographies in Thailand (if any)?
What are the characteristics of workers in the rubber industry (e.g., age, demographic, markers of vulnerability, country and province of origin, immigration status)?
What are GESI issues in the industry?
What, if any, types of contracts or other types of documents are involved (e.g. written policies on worker rights and safety)?
Collect data through literature review and stakeholder interviews. Stakeholders should include migrant workers, and the consultant should include estimated translator costs in the workplan. Other stakeholders can include local community organizations, farm owners, representatives from CTIP organizations, and/or government authorities.
Draft and edit the research report.
Consultancy Period
The consultancy period is estimated for January to July 2022.
Deliverables
|
|
Deliverable |
Tentative Due date |
|
1 |
Submission of detailed research methodology and workplan and interview plans and questions – based on consultation with Winrock
|
Within 20 working days after signing a consultant agreement |
|
2 |
Submission of interview notes, report outline, and draft written report, and presentation of findings to Winrock team for comments and feedback |
Within 40 working days after Deliverable 1 |
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3 |
Submission of the final report which has been revised based on Winrock’s comments of the draft report |
July 2022 at the latest |
Payment and Payment Schedule
Payment will be made upon timely submission of satisfactory deliverables per agreed work plan, and approval of the contractor’s supervisor. The payment will be made in 3 tranches after all the deliverables have been met.
The payment schedule is subject to negotiation between Winrock and selected Consultant.
The proposed payment schedule for the review is as follows:
25% upon approval of research methodology, workplan, and interview plans and questions
35% upon approval of interview notes, report outline, and draft written report
40% upon approval of the submitted final report
Qualifications
The consultant should meet the following minimum requirements:
Demonstrated experience conducting human rights assessments and proposing recommendations/solutions to inform future approaches and activities for projects;
Experience working with migrant workers and/or workers in the agriculture industry in Thailand, and specific experience in rubber industry desired;
Strong research and analytical skills with a proven ability to produce concise, focused, and clear reports;
Proven ability to work independently to produce high-quality deliverables under tight deadlines;
Advanced degree in a relevant field such as social science, international development, and human rights;
Excellent interpersonal communication skills in Thai. Respectful and professional, particularly when working with diverse cultures and populations, and on sensitive topics; and
Proficiency in written English.
Proposal Submission
Interested firms and individual consultants should submit technical proposals as separate files. All documents related to this assignment should be in English and submitted in .PDF format. Proposals must be submitted electronically, with all pieces of the proposal labeled clearly. The maximum length for the proposal, both technical and cost portions together, is 15 pages (not including annexes), single spaced, Time New Roman Font 11.
The technical proposal should include the following components:
Cover page.
CV or organizational profile & institutional capacity. The applicant must present in narrative format a description of:
Company/individual profile (supplemental material can be placed in an annex);
Organizational/individual capacity to conduct the scope of work, as well as relevant experience (include 1-3 examples of English reports from similar studies/assignments in the annex);
CVs for all proposed team members (included as an annex); and
Names and contact information for three references who can provide evidence of the candidate’s experience performing similar tasks on related assignments.
Technical proposal. The applicant should describe in the technical proposal their approach and methodology for conducting the tasks listed above. A detailed workplan including activities, timeframes, staffing, and resources should be included in the technical portion of the proposal.
In the approach and methodology section, the applicant should plan for field visits and also propose an alternative (remote) plan in case domestic travel is not possible due to COVID-19 situation.
Timeline: Include an illustrative Gantt (or similar) chart that outlines activities and sub-tasks, responsible parties, and a timeline for completion and submission of deliverables.
Quotation
To Apply
Contact: Please submit your proposal and/or relevant questions to: info.th@winrock.org
Transmittal email subject must state: “Research Consultant to Conduct Research on Forced Labor and TIP in the Thai Rubber Industry for Winrock International”
Closing date for applications: 11:59 pm Bangkok time, on December 13, 2021
Contact : info.th@winrock.org
