CONSULTANCY SERVICES TO DEVELOP INCLUSIVE GENDER AND SEXUAL HARRASEMENT POLICIES

BACKGROUND

Fairtrade Africa (FTA) is a member-based organization, representing 633 Fairtrade certified producer organizations, comprising of 1.18 million farmers and workers across 28 countries in Africa. We operate four regional networks: Eastern and Central Africa Network (FTA-ECAN) based in Nairobi, Kenya; West Africa Network (FTA-WAN) based in Accra, Ghana; Southern Africa Network (FTA-SAN) based in Cape Town, South Africa, and the Middle East and North Africa region (FTA-MENA). The Fairtrade Africa secretariat is in Nairobi, Kenya.

Fairtrade is an alternative approach to conventional trade based on a partnership between producers and traders, businesses and consumers. Fairtrade’s vision is “A world in which producers can enjoy secure and sustainable livelihoods, fulfill their potential and decide on their future.”
Smallholder farmers generally face many challenges however, women smallholders face multiple constraints beyond those faced by men smallholder farmers. Women tend to be invisible to policymakers because they are not seen as ‘productive’ farmers. They often are expected to provide unpaid farm work and bear a disproportionate burden of care and reproductive roles within the family and community. They are deprived of access to markets, key assets, and inputs, and are frequently excluded from decision-making. Fairtrade seeks to remove/reduce this gender gap, enabling women to state their claim and succeed on their own terms.
Fairtrade Standards are designed to prevent gender inequality, increase female participation and empower more women and girls to access the benefits of Fairtrade. The Standard requirements on producer organisations include: ▪ No discrimination based on gender or marital status; ▪ Zero tolerance of behavior that is sexually intimidating, abusive, or exploitative; ▪ No testing for pregnancy when recruiting workers; ▪ Programmes to support disadvantaged and minority groups, such as women; and ▪ Developing a gender policy and a sexual harassment policy.
Fairtrade Africa (FTA) has been working beyond the Standards to increase women’s role in Fairtrade producer Organisations (POs) and to ensure they receive equal benefits. In the period between 2016 and 2020, FTA has implemented various interventions such as; ▪ Women School of Leadership (WSOL) to enable to equip women with leadership, business, negotiation, and finance skills among others. Many of these women have gone on to take leadership and committee positions within their cooperatives and communities; ▪ Producer organisations have been conducting gender analyses of their organisations and piloting new gender equality programmes, gender committees, and policies;

• The Growing Women in Coffee Project encouraged the transfer of coffee bushes to women coffee farmers, enabling them to earn an independent income for the first time.

We are seeing incremental improvement, but there is much more work to do to bring about true gender equality. Research has shown that various gender dynamics influence/ determine different aspects of our lives. The scope of these policies is meant to cover gender incidences within FTA as an organisation, and to be triggered by gender incidences from producer organisations.

Objective

The general objective of this assignment is for the consulting firm or individual(s) to design and develop a robust inclusive gender policy and an enhanced sexual harassment policy within FTA. Scope and focus of the assignment It is expected that the designing of the two policies will cover various issues, including but not limited to behaviour, conduct, attitude, practice, recruitment, work environment, accessibility, equality, diversification, affirmative action, and performance management Specific Activities Gender policy
a) Identify relevant policies, legislation, regulations, procedures, structures and analyse them in regards to gender equity, women empowerment, and gender incidences within FTA, and as triggered by gender incidences from producer organisations. b) Identify and review literature (e.g., Fairtrade Strategy, Fairtrade Standards studies, and existing policy documents in Fairtrade Africa, Fairtrade International, similar organizations, etc.) and secondary data sources on policy, legislation, and regulations, and leverage on these sources where relevant. c) Design and develop a robust inclusive gender policy that captures best practices and industry standards, for FTA.
d) Conduct an internal review and validation workshop with FTA resource persons.

Sexual Harassment Policy

a) Identify relevant policies, legislation, and regulations on sexual harassment and analyse them in regard to work environment within FTA and as triggered by gender incidences from producer organisations;

b) Identify and review the literature and secondary data sources on sexual harassment (e.g. Fairtrade Strategy and Fairtrade Standards, existing policies) and leveraging these sources were relevant in the design of the policy;

c) Design an enhanced sexual harassment policy that captures best practices and industry standards, for FTA.
d) Conduct an internal review and validation workshop with FTA resource persons.

Expected Deliverables

The consulting firm or individual(s) is expected to critically analyse the context of FTA, in the countries where we are located.

Specifically, the consultancy will be required to perform the following tasks:

a) Develop an inception report that details an appropriate and robust methodology that will be implemented to complete the assignment with a detailed work plan;
b) A draft gender policy document;
c) A draft sexual harassment policy document;
d) Review and validation of the policies with FTA resource persons.
e) Present these policies to the board subcommittee for review, feedback, and approval
f) A consultancy report of the assignment that summarises all activities conducted and which defines all data obtained and references used in the assignment.
g) Final approved policy documents i.e. an Inclusive Gender Policy and Sexual Harassment Policy.

Gender Expert’s Profile
This study requires a senior gender expert with experience in gender policy development and with an understanding of monitoring, evaluation, and learning.

Qualifications and Skills

▪ Postgraduate university degree or equivalent with relevant work experience in development studies, social development, gender studies, public policy, monitoring evaluation, and learning or equivalent;

▪ Strong writing and communication skills;

▪ Understanding the Fairtrade System will be an added advantage.

▪ Demonstrated experience in programmes related to sectors such as policy, education, agriculture, climate change, women empowerment, health, environment among others;

▪ The expert must have oral and written fluency in English with French being an added advantage;

▪ Experience working with international development organizations desirable.

▪ Proven ability to work under pressure with tight deadlines, and to deliver promptly within cost and quality standards. ▪ Computer literacy (minimum MS Word, Excel).

Starting Period

The expected duration for the assignment is for 8 weeks. Any extension of the period has to be agreed upon, without adding extra cost unless otherwise discussed and agreed upon.