DEVELOPMENT OF A POLICY ADVOCACY AND COMMUNICATION STRATEGY FOR FAIRTRADE AFRICA.

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Fairtrade Africa (FTA) seeks a consultant/firm to provide technical support towards the development of policy advocacy and communication strategy. The strategy will provide direction for engagement in policy and legislative processes at global, continental, regional and national levels with a key focus on Fairtrade core products in Africa. These Terms of Reference (ToRs) therefore provide information on the overall objectives of the consultancy assignment, the general methodology, tools, and approaches, expected outputs/deliverables, and the required qualification and experiences of the consultant to develop the strategy.

2.0 BACKGROUND

Fairtrade Africa, a member of the wider Fairtrade International movement represents Fairtrade certified producers in Africa and the Middle East. We operate four regional networks: Eastern and Central Africa Network (ECAN) with the main office in Nairobi, Kenya; West Africa Network (WAN) with the main office in Accra, Ghana, Southern Africa Network (SAN) with the main office in Blantyre, Malawi and the Middle East and North Africa Network (MENA). Fairtrade Africa secretariat is located in Nairobi, Kenya

Fairtrade Africa is owned by its members, who are African producer organizations certified against Fairtrade International Standards producing traditional export commodities such as coffee, cocoa, tea, flowers, cotton, bananas, cane sugar, wine, fresh fruits, herbs and spices, and non-traditional commodities including shea butter and rooibos tea. Currently, the organization represents over 1,180,000 producers across 33 countries in Africa and has 50% ownership of the Fairtrade system. Our mandate is guided by the current Strategic Plan 2021-2025 with four inter-related key pillars outlined below:

· Product and Market Development: implement a commercial model to grow demand for Fairtrade products in the South and existing North markets, while improving producers’ ability to access markets with a diverse base of quality and value-added products;

· Policy and Advocacy: engage in producer-driven policy advocacy work to amplify the producers’ ability to increase Fairtrade’s influence at national, regional, and continental levels on trade, while advancing decent livelihoods;

· Sustainable Farming Systems: use a disruptive support services model to strengthen sustainable farming systems and climate resilience;

· Transformed and Strengthened Producer Organizations: deliver transformative services to strengthen producer organizations to be inclusive, resilient independent, and sustainable organizations.

3.0 CONTEXT

With more than 600 Fairtrade Certified Producer Organizations (POs) spread across the four regional networks, Fairtrade Africa producer support staff deliver capacity-building services to POs to ensure continued compliance with Fairtrade standards requirements and understanding of Fairtrade thematic topics. Fairtrade Africa has invested in a number of policy and advocacy interventions to amplify the voice of its members to increase its influence in national, regional, continental and global policies, regulations, legislations, rules, and agreements which affect our member’s ability to trade, maintain food security and attain decent livelihoods. We engage with our members to advocate for their interests and take active ownership of the global Fairtrade system. However, this has taken place in the absence of a documented policy advocacy strategy. To deliver effective producer support, influence change in business practices across the value chains, and build Fairtrade Africa’s visibility and credibility, our stakeholders need to have the necessary training needed to meet the PO’s specific advocacy needs. It is against the above background therefore that, Fairtrade Africa is seeking to engage a Policy and Advocacy Specialist to support it in the development of a Policy Advocacy and Communication Strategy that will guide its work and improve its impact in as far as policy and advocacy engagement is concerned.

4.0 OBJECTIVE

Fairtrade Africa seeks to engage a consultant or firm to develop a Policy Advocacy and Communication Strategy from 2022 to 2025 with the following objectives:

I Consolidate Fairtrade Africa’s policies, programmes, and partnerships together into a clear strategy document that will direct our public advocacy over this strategic period. The strategy will define key advocacy focus areas, issues and bottlenecks, audience and stakeholder analysis, messages, channels, key advocacy milestones, and performance indicators. This strategy will aim to bring policy advocacy priorities to the attention of policymakers and the general public.

II The specialist will thereafter conduct training for FTA staff on lobbying, policy analysis, and advocacy aimed at raising their capacity to expand spaces for negotiation between empowered producers and accountable duty bearers through multi-stakeholder platforms focused on Fairtrade core products in Africa.

5.0 SCOPE OF WORK

The consultant will be responsible for the development of a Policy Advocacy and Communication Strategy for FTA and the facilitation of the training programme for selected FTA staff in the four regional networks. A phased approach is recommended for this work, to enable the Consultant to address different components at different stages. A validation workshop will allow Fairtrade Africa to assess the work, methodologies, and recommendations. Because of the current restrictions on travel and gatherings, the consultancy will be conducted virtually.

6.0 KEY DELIVERABLES

The consultant will deliver on the following:

· Inception report: Outlining detailed activities with proposed methodology and timelines for the delivery of the scope of work. The inception report should also include the outline for the advocacy strategy.

· A thorough assessment of Fairtrade Africa’s advocacy and policy engagement priorities, needs, and gaps in implementing evidence-based advocacy/policy engagements.

· A coherent strategy for addressing the identified gaps for the regional networks complete with relevant tools for documentation of all advocacy/policy work.

· Zero draft advocacy and communication strategy outlining clear objectives, target activities, allies, deliverables, and indicators, as well as an implementation plan for feedback and comments.

· PPT on draft 1 of advocacy strategy to be presented at the validation workshop.

· Submission of draft 2 advocacy and communication strategy (having incorporated inputs made during the validation meeting) for final feedback and comment, response.

· A final clean copy of the three-year comprehensive advocacy strategy document (e-copy and hard copy) in English, including a 3-year implementation plan.

· Report of the advocacy strategy validation Workshop

· Training needs assessment report, module, and training plan, and training workshop report and action plan.

7.0 TIMELINE

The timelines for the consultancy will be defined and agreed upon with the selected consultant upon delivery of an inception report and successful contracting between the two parties. However, Fairtrade Africa envisages that the consultancy should be completed in two months upon contract signing. This consultancy will be conducted between August and October 2021.

8.0 CONSULTANT PROFILE

The ideal consultant will have:

· Relevant academic background (postgraduate qualification as a minimum) in policy and advocacy, international relations development studies; social sciences or humanities, and/or any other relevant social sciences degree.

· Minimum of 15 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in policy development/formation and advocacy.

· Minimum of 15 years of relevant experience in providing training to non-governmental and development organizations.

· Knowledge and experience in policy analysis, lobbying, and advocacy.

· Good knowledge of the latest developments in international best practices related to advocacy.

· Excellent writing and oral communication skills in English and French.

· Demonstrated experience in carrying out similar assignments concerning policy lobbying and advocacy to CSOs and networks at different levels; planning and strategy development for advocacy engagements.

· Strong analytical, facilitation, and communication skills;

· Ability to work efficiently and deliver on the key deliverables within agreed timelines and deadlines.