TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR BASELINE STUDY: UNLOCKING THE POWER OF MALE AND FEMALE WORKERS IN FAIRTRADE FLOWERS SUPPLY CHAIN PROJECT NOVEMBER, 2021

Fairtrade Africa (FTA) is currently seeking qualified evaluator(s) to undertake a baseline study for 5 Fairtrade Certified Flower Producer beneficiaries of the Unlocking the Power of Male and Female Workers in Fairtrade Flowers Supply Chain Project, funded by NORAD to conduct a baseline study and determine the current status and gaps of the project stakeholders in reference to the Project objectives, thus providing a benchmark for project progress monitoring and evaluation.

1. INTRODUCTION

Fairtrade Africa (FTA) is the umbrella organization representing Fairtrade certified producers in Africa and the Middle East. Fairtrade Africa is a member of Fairtrade International, the umbrella organization for Fairtrade worldwide. FTA works within the Fairtrade system to support over 1.1 million farmers and workers in over 500 producer organizations spread over 33 countries. The support to producers is aimed at enabling them to maintain their Fairtrade certification which enables them to access better prices, decent working conditions and fairer terms of trade. Fairtrade Africa interventions are guided by the Fairtrade Theory of Change which is a generic theory that visually expresses how Fairtrade´s interventions ultimately lead to the three Fairtrade Goals: Make Trade Fair, Improving Sustainable Livelihoods and Empowerment of workers. **

2. PROJECT context and backgRound

The overall program aims to create benefits for marginalised smallholders and workers in developing countries by building the Fairtrade market in Norway and addressing concrete sustainable issues. This project is linked to the second objective. This project designs a programme to improve women’s empowerment in Fairtrade certified flower farms in Kenya.

Men dominating management positions, Gender disparity in Kenya’s Flower Farms creates a gender imbalance, ranging from health and safety concerns to representation and voice, wages, and gender norms around what constitutes ‘women’s work’.

Sexual harassment is common, with women most affected, yet widely unacknowledged. Women make up the majority of workers in this sector. This is why the sector needs to adopt women economic empowerment strategies, gender-sensitive policies and systems that effectively address issues affecting women.

Fairtrade has made crucial contributions to the development and the improvement of the Kenyan flower sector, through the Fairtrade standards. In 2017 we conducted a needs assessment study on flower farms in East Africa. It determined that there were specific gender-related disparities on the flower farms, connected to low awareness of gender-based issues. We want to adapt women empowering projects carried out in Ethiopia to Kenya. Over a three-year project we will:

1. Launch the School of leadership in Kenya where levels of women’s participation in hired labour producer organization is limited due to heightened burden of care and work, and due to limiting organizational norms and practices.

2. Facilitate Coaching and Role Modelling through replication of training, identification and selection of mentees and mentors for the Fairtrade Women’s School of Leadership.

3. Implement a model workplace sexual harassment policy that provides structures and space for addressing and redressing sexual harassment in the workplace, through inclusive and participatory approaches.

The aim of the programme is to improve women’s socio-economic empowerment in Fairtrade certified flower farms in Kenya. It is envisioned that this project aims to:

1. Improved Women representation and influence in management structures and worker committees in Fairtrade Certified Farms.

2. Enhance the Financial Literacy levels and Economic status of Female Workers in Flower Farms.

3. Protection of women against and reduced cases of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Sexual Harassment in Flower Farms.

3. BASELINE PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES

Purpose: A baseline study will be completed at the start of the project with stakeholders to measure the status of all indicators and to understand the starting point of key elements of the work against which later progress will be measured. This will enable project indicators at output and outcome levels to be measured and tracked.**

Objectives of the baseline study include but not limited to:
**

1. Determine the status of all the project indicators and objectives;

2. Assess the current status and gaps of the project stakeholders;

3. Inform the monitoring benchmarks and aid in evaluating the project implementation against the project logical framework.

4. STUDY APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY

The baseline study should adopt a mixed-method approach, integrating quantitative and qualitative methods to ensure triangulation of data. It is expected that the consultant(s) team will combine household surveys with in-depth interviews and focus-group discussions. In undertaking the study, the consultant(s) will review relevant project documents and any other relevant statistics. Fairtrade Africa shall share key information sources and documents with the winning bidder. A suitable proposed methodology and approach shall be considered for the assignment.

5. SCOPE

The study will be conducted across six flower farms targeted by the project in Mt. Kenya and Naivasha regions.

6. OUTPUTS/DELIVERABLES

The following deliverables are expected from the evaluator(s) in due process of the assignment:

a) Inception Report: The consultant(s) shall submit an inception report after signing of the agreement detailing suitable data collection methodology and sampling strategy, data collection tools and work plan.

b) Baseline Report: A detailed baseline study report will be shared with FTA for feedback.

c) Validation Meeting: Upon submission of the baseline report, consultant(s) will be responsible for presenting the most significant findings to the project team and key stakeholders through a meeting that shall be mobilized and organized by FTA to get feedback on critical areas. Thereafter, the consultant(s) shall submit a final baseline report in both hard copy and electronic along with all data (CSV, Excel, SPSS compatible formats) transcripts of the qualitative data, quantitative data and photographs.

d) Final Baseline Study Report: This should be no more than 30 pages excluding the annexes. It should consist of the resulting framework detailing the baseline values.

7. Consultancy expertise / Qualifications

The proposed evaluator(s) should have a vast knowledge of the baseline study processes and vast experience in agricultural value with a bias in the flower value chain.

The specific qualifications are:

· An advanced degree in any of the following or related disciplines: Social Sciences, Monitoring and Evaluation, Agriculture economics, Agribusiness and other relevant courses.

· Demonstrated experience working in a flower value chain will have an added advantage.

· Strong understanding of the flower value chain and producer organization contexts;

· Demonstrable experience in conducting project baseline studies using varied data collection methods and approaches.

· Must have extensive expertise and experience in project planning, project design, applying the logical framework, project implementation and monitoring;

· Excellent report writing and presentation skills;

· Demonstrable understanding of gender concepts and principles;

· Experience/ understanding of Fairtrade principles and standards shall be an added advantage.

8. STUDY MANAGEMENT AND COORDINATION

The consultant(s) will be working closely with the Project Manager, Gender Coordinator, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) officer to provide FTA internal guidance and key linkage between the project actors, partners and sharing of relevant project documents/information.

9. WORK PLAN AND TIMELINES

The study is expected to take place from 22^nd November to 17^th December 2021 for a duration of 20 working days maximum.