ThaiNGO

Location: Thailand

Contract Type: Consultancy Contract

Application Deadline: 30 September 2018

Please refer to TOR for your reference: http://th.thaingo.org/files/ToR_research consultant sugar sustainability issues.pdf

INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH

This research is part of Oxfam’s Behind the Brands program. In February 2013, Oxfam launched the Behind the Brands campaign to challenge the ‘Big 10’ food and beverage companies on their social and environmental policies and practices, and to amplify the voices of key stakeholders such as farmers, communities, consumers and investors, calling on them to take action. By the end of the three-year campaign, the companies had made significant new commitments to improve social and environmental standards in their vast supply chains.

Oxfam is now focused on implementation of those company commitments: getting companies to ensure that their suppliers actually change their practices in line with the commitments made, and accelerating the transformation towards a more sustainable food system by adopting new business models in their supply chains. Implementation of these commitments will ensure that more of the power and value reaches the farmers and workers who produce the ingredients for the food we eat.

As Thailand is the world’s second largest exporter of sugar, Oxfam in Thailand is focusing Behind the Brands implementation efforts on sustainability in the country’s sugar supply chain. To prepare for next steps in programming and influencing work, more research is needed on key stakeholders and challenges within that supply chain.

JOB PURPOSE:

The main objective of the assignment is to explore and prioritize challenges, risks and opportunities associated with sustainability in the sugar supply chain, with a focus on the northeastern and another region (either central or west) of Thailand.  Three Behind the Brands thematic areas are central (in order of priority): climate change, gender, and land.  In addition to the identification of key issues and regions, this assignment includes mapping of key players in Thai sugar industries and key CSO players.

The study should focus on the relationship between farmers and millers, including intermediaries and hired labor, e.g. cane cutters, both women and men.  Key questions include but not limit to:

• To what extent are large buyers pushing standardization costs on to millers?
• What actions are millers taking with respect to 1) the sustainability of the sugar sector, especially given persistent droughts and decreasing land availability, and 2) future investments in the sector, to both maintain sugar production, diversify i.e. into the ethanol industry and cross border investment and potential impacts on farmers and labors. This requires both a review of existing literature and documentation, and targeted interviews with the top 4-5 Thai millers, that together account for about 60% of sugar production.
• How is value captured in the sugar supply chain? In other words, how do millers share benefits with farmers? How effective is government regulation (quota system, fair distribution of income between millers and farmers) in protecting smallholders, hired formal and informal workers, and ensuring sustainable growth of the sector? How does the reducing government’s subsidy scheme as a result of WTO negotiation start to impact small farmers, labours and millers?  
• What is the experience of smallholder farmers, formal and informal workers in the sector, and how are changes in the sector affecting their livelihoods? What challenges and opportunities do they face? Gender issues are of particular interest: what is the experience of women farmers and mobile cane cutters? This requires both a review of existing literature and documentation, and targeted interviews or focus group interviews with small farmers and cut labours both Thai and migrant workers.
• Climate change risks and mitigation strategies: what impact is drought expected to have on the industry, and how can those risks be mitigated for both farmers and millers?
• Who and how are CSOs and NGOs working in the sugar supply chain? What are their objectives and areas of strengths? How do they engage with the private sector? 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:  * Timeline can be more flexible upon agreement with Oxfam.

• Carry out a desk review of existing literature and documentation on sugar supply chain sustainability.
• Prepare an inception report by 20 October 2018; discuss initial findings from literature review with Oxfam counterparts.
• Design and formulate the research methodology, including interview protocols for private sector actors and CSOs, and focus group protocols for farmers and workers. By 30 October.
• Conduct a pilot on the designed questionnaires before implementation of the final plan. Plan and carry out fieldwork, in consultation with Oxfam counterparts. By 30 November.
• Map the value enhancement along the sugar supply chain, identify the constraints, challenges and trends along the supply chain - aligned with the objective of the assignment. By 15 December.
• Prepare a draft report of findings; make a presentation to Oxfam counterparts. By 18 December.
• Revise and prepare final report of findings, in accordance with required template with 20 hard copies and 1 word document file. By 15 January 2019.
• Bi-weekly reporting on the progress of the work through regular meetings or calls.
• To abide by Oxfam policies for research, engaging with communities, and protecting data.

SKILLS AND COMPENTENCE:

Applicants should have demonstrated expertise in supply chain sustainability and agricultural commodities; varied experience in relevant methodologies; and a history of undertaking similar research consultancies. 

HOW TO APPLY:  Send your technical and financial bids to NQuamman@oxfam.org.uk 

Submissions should include separate technical (understanding and agreement on scope of work, past work experience on the subject, methodology) and financial proposals.  Budget: within 300,000 baht (VAT and field travel costs included)

Your e-mail should have the subject line Research - Sustainability in Sugar Supply Chain

Oxfam is committed to equal opportunities and diversity. We welcome and encourage applications from women, minority and underrepresented groups.

Oxfam is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will do everything possible to ensure that only those that are suitable to work within our values are recruited to work for us.