ThaiNGO

Technical Services to provide training on Multi-actors Partnership (MAP) for Thailand rubber stakeholders (Training in Thai Language)

Development of a Multi-Actor Partnership in Southeast Asia to Promote Sustainable Agricultural Value Chains in the Rubber sector project (MAP project)

We are looking for a qualified consultancy firm or team to provide training and technical services under Multi-actors Partnership (MAP) skills in Thailand, as a primary tool for understanding Multi-Actor Partnerships (MAP) approaches and value to encourage/strengthen partnership development between rubber stakeholders. The tender will be divided into 2 components as follows.

Component 1: MAP development through capacity building for rubber stakeholders especially with SNR Assembly

1. MAP concepts training (in Thai Language) for approximately 30 key rubber stakeholders

2. Facilitate dialogic exchange process to effective partnership/platform development between rubber stakeholders.

Component 2: Reflection report of existing MAP in Thailand with SNR Assembly Charter/Roadmap development

3. Provide evidence-based report of rubber stakeholders’ relationships and strengthening the existing and/or future MAP platforms (SNR Assembly) in Thailand through MAP approaches training.

Start Date: 1 November 2022

End Date: 30 November 2022

Contract type: Consultancy

Background

Rubber is known as an important economic crop in Thailand. At the present, Thailand’s rubber plantation area is estimated at 23 million rai (3.68 ha), covering more than 60 provinces and supporting the livelihoods of more than 1.7 million small-scale farmers. The trend of sustainable rubber and rubberwood production caused both threats and opportunities for Thai smallholders. The “Development of a multi-actor partnership in South-East Asia to promote sustainable agricultural value chains in the rubber sector (MAP)” project has been implemented for almost 3 years. The project implementation is focusing on rubber smallholders and their farm management under Sustainable Natural Rubber (SNR) scheme. One of the project objectives is aiming to raise smallholder’s voices, and create opportunities for stakeholders in the value chain to exchange knowledge and engage as a partnership. WWF-Thailand under MAP project has worked at both sub-nation and national level to identify and engage with new stakeholders. The collaboration with diverse stakeholders lead to comprehensive solutions to address the long-standing challenges at the grassroots level of the rubber supply chain. A key aspect of the project is to facilitate, improve, exchange, and build an effective decision-making process for the promotion of SNR.  We found that there is an existing promising national platform called “The SNR Assembly” through the project implementation. The SNR Assembly (platform) consists of smallholders, government sectors, private sectors, and academia. This is a voluntary platform aimed to promote and support sustainable rubber plantation operation areas and respond to crisis situations regarding rubber farmers’ quality of life. However, we found that the platform still needs to be strengthened as a result of the SNR assembly committee meeting that we supported on 30^th August, 2022. It still lacks structure and knowledge under MAP procedure to work together in diversified stakeholder involvement and engagement. To make this SNR assembly more functional as MAP, the capacity building is needed.     

How we work: ADVOCATE FROM THE BOTTOM UP APPROACH and STRENGTHEN THE CAPACITY OF RUBBER SMALLHOLDERS to MEET INTERNATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY REQUIREMENTS: Strengthening the capacity of rubber smallholders, by equipping them with negotiating skills through education and understanding of know-how to be able to align with large buyers; adopting sustainable rubber plantation management, and supporting the formation of rubber smallholders’ platform (SNR Assembly). BUILD MULTI-SECTORAL COOPERATION APPROACH by establishing a participatory learning process to improve their capacity to build strong partnership (under MAP Tools/techniques) with the entire rubber supply chain among all stakeholders: rubber smallholders, civil society organizations, business sector, academic institutions and state agencies.

Project goal: To develop a skill and understanding for multi-actor partnership (MAP) building in Thailand for key stakeholders (e.g. SNR Assembly) to promote sustainable agricultural value chains in the rubber sector through Sustainable Natural Rubber (SNR) models for sustainable livelihoods: land and food securities.

Specific consultancy objectives:

Component 1: MAP training through capacity building for rubber stakeholders especially with SNR Assembly

Component 1: To build Multi-actor Partnership (MAP) capacity through workshop/training for rubber stakeholders with SNR Assembly working group.

1. Equip target stakeholders at the project site in Surat Thani with knowledge and skills on the principles, tools, methods, and concepts required to co-create an effective multi-actor partnership by providing training to the target group in Surat Thani province, including the existing SNR Assembly Working Group (Core Group), the Rubber Authority of Thailand (ROAT), Private sector buyers and processors, and rubber smallholders.

2. Facilitate the development of an effective partnership between target stakeholders and strengthen existing and future platforms/partnership through the practical application of the ideas imparted through training.

Component 2: To produce a Report of existing MAP in Thailand (SNR Assembly) towards their Charter/Roadmap development

1. Apply innovative approaches from the experiences and lesson learnt from Component 1 to provide an evidence-based report of effective rubber stakeholders’ relationships and strengthen existing and/or future MAP platforms (SNR Assembly) with guidance for Charter/Roadmap development.

PURPOSES

It is expected that this consultancy will initiate/strengthen a first phase of partnership building by raising awareness of the value of MAP approaches between rubber stakeholders in Surat Thani, resulting in the tangible application of MAP principles and concepts.

1. Empowered, inspired and upskilled target stakeholders to understand how to co-create effective platform/partnership and develop a roadmap for enhancing SNR.

2. Brokering the partnership that develops through MAP that finds common interests and strengthens the relationship of stakeholders.

3. Share Lessons and case studies through the MAP development process from Component 1 to inspire the application of MAP concept to develop further effective partnership/platform at other sub national or national levels.

KEY OUTPUTS

Component 1

- Training curriculum with clear objectives and learning outcomes and provide the MAP training of two-three-days in Surat Thani province.

Component 2

- A knowledge products based on Component 1 

- Report product.

Deliverable

Payment timeline

LOCATION AND DURATION

Location(s) of assignment: Surat Thani province, Thailand

Start and End Dates: 1 November 2022 – 30 November 2022 (Flexibility depends of contract signed date)

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS OF CONSULTANCY TEAM  

Essential

• At least 5 years of relevant experience in brokering complex, robust, multi-stakeholder, multi-sector partnerships
• Proven face to face workshop facilitation and training skills in intercultural contexts and extensive experience of workshop design
• Track record of designing and delivering partnership development training
• Proven experience of mentoring and coaching teams of professionals from different backgrounds and place in value chains
• Excellent spoken in Thai language with Thai written efficiency is a plus with excellent communication skills in English.

Desirable

• Accreditation from recognized institution (e.g. Partnership Brokers Association; The Partnership Initiative)
• Demonstrated experience in partnering tools including interest-based negotiation; partnership outline planning tools; partnership resource mapping
• Expert knowledge in crafting partnership agreements incorporating diverse stakeholder interests
• Capacity to delivery training face to face with user-friendly atmosphere with rubber smallholders and key stakeholders.
• Expertise in environmental / agricultural / natural resource-based issues and civil society and governance in south east Asia
• Flexible to new priorities and changing agendas, independent working, good communication skills
• Strong analytical and synthesis skills

WAYS OF WORKING

The consultancy team will be expected to work closely with their counterparts from the MAP Project, co-creating much of the material with them and then coordinating delivery.

The MAP Project also has access to an international expert in multi-sector partnering, and this expert will also be available to support the consultants in order that the deliverables benefit from knowledge gained from working on similar approaches globally and in Thailand.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applicants are invited to propose how they would deliver these ToR and to provide comments from their experience on how best to achieve the desired outputs.

In case of any enquiries, please contact: korapatj@wwf.or.th