Consultant Of Research Analysis To Identify Policy Gaps

Fair Trade Group Nepal

Terms of Reference (ToR) for Research Analysis to identify policy gaps

1. Introduction

Fair Trade Group (FTG) Nepal (https://www.fairtradegroupnepal.org/) is a country network of Fair Trading organizations working with the aim to uplift the socio-economic status of underprivileged and marginalized producers in Nepal. More than 10,000 underprivileged producers directly benefit while approximately 45,000 people indirectly benefit through income generating programs focused on handicraft/agro-food/non timber forest products and other activities of FTG Nepal and its member organizations.

Fair Trade has proved to be a sustainable business model that helps reduce poverty of millions of farmers and producers in least developed countries. Fair Trade contributes in sustainable development with better working conditions, providing inclusive business approaches securing the rights of the marginalized producers and farmers and contributing in reduction of environmental degradation by means of sustainable production and consumption practices. Fair Trade contributes to some of the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 set by the UN General Assembly namely Goal 1, 2, 5, 8, 12 and 17.

2. Background

FTG Nepal has been advocating and lobbying with concerned ministries, government stakeholders, private sectors for over a decade now, yet significant changes has not been made in terms of integration of Fair Trade in national policies and plans. At local level, understanding of Fair Trade is negligible among the duty bearers such as local government stakeholders, private sector and amongst the right holders. Limited network of Fair Trade Group Nepal has impacted the growth of Fair Trade concept at wider scale. Fair Trade network is very much limited to central level among its member organization, certain federal government agencies and certain long term donors like Oxfam, NOREC, CECI, IM Swedish Development Partner. Concept of Fair Trade needs to be promoted throughout not only at federal level but also at provincial and local level to bring transformative change.

FTG Nepal with support from IM Swedish Development Partner is implementing Enhancing Livelihood Resilience through Fair Trade Project from March 2019. The overall goal of this 5 year project is to contribute to poverty reduction through Fair Trade approaches. The project will work with women, youth from marginalized communities in Gorkha, Kapilvastu, Nawalpur and Dang and cater to the business development needs of the producer groups to set their Fair Trade enterprises thereby contributing towards sustainable livelihood. In this connection, the project will also work towards ensuring adoption of Fair Trade friendly, youth and women friendly provisions in the policies at federal, provincial and local level.

3. Major objective:

Major objective of this assignment is to conduct analytical research to identify policy level issues and gaps at local, provincial and federal level to integrate Fair Trade, women and youth friendly policies in the existing policies and plans, like Women Entrepreneurship Development Grant Guidelines 2069; Skill Development Policy, 2064 and other related guidelines i.e. Bank deprived Sector policy, soft loan policy, small cottage industrial policy, Market related policy, Fair trade related policy, skill training policy, Government budget etc. The specific objectives are:

• Preparation of the study report with Advocacy strategy for FTG Nepal. Advocacy Strategy should include detailed Advocacy Action Plan.
• Formulation of policy brief for advocacy of Fair Trade, women and youth friendly policies at local, provincial and federal level;
• Provide clear concept, confidence and common understanding among staffs and members of FTG Nepal, project partners on advocacy-related issues and tools through an orientation workshop.

4. Scope of the work and methodology

• Mapping out the enterprise and fair trade related policies of the Nepal government at Local, provincial, and federal level
• Conducting desk review of mapped out laws, policies, guidelines, plan and programs etc
• Meeting with FTG Nepal member organizations to identify the policy issues related to fair trading practices.
• Meeting with partners and relevant stakeholders;
• Visiting the federal, provincial and local government and provincial government and organize stakeholders meeting.
• Preparation of report, and policy brief
• Printing of policy brief

The selected consultant will work in closely with FTG Nepal to refine the methodology and develop a detailed work plan.

Tentative work plan:

The whole process should include the following phases:

• Phase 1: Work plan development from the consultant and finalization.
• Phase 2: Mapping and conducting desk review of the relevant policies etc
• Phase 3 : Field visit to intervention districts to meet stakeholders at federal, provincial and local level
• Phase 4: Sharing of the draft report to FTGN and project partners
• Phase 5: Finalization and submission of the report
• Phase 6: Sharing the design of policy brief
• Phase 7: Finalization of the policy brief design
• Phase 8: Printing and delivery of the policy briefs

5. Expected Outputs (Deliverables)

• A hard and electronic copy of report and policy brief
• Sharing the preliminary findings
• report
• Draft Report and
• Final report
• Printing of policy brief ( booklet)

6. Inputs from FTG Nepal

• Strategic guidance
• Budget to carry out the assignment like consultancy fee, travel related cost like transportation, food, accommodation, communication etc
• Relevant organizational documents

7. Proposal from Consultant

Should complete and submit the following documents with her/his proposal. The proposal should include the laws, policies, guidelines, plan, programs, budget to be analysed.

1. A brief technical proposal duly completed and signed by the Consultant; to FTG Nepal. The technical proposal should include methodology, work and process plan and an updated CV of the proposed Consultant.
2. Financial proposal

Tentative budget heading

iii. C.V. highlighting the Consultant’s experience in the specific field of the services. The Consultant should also provide all relevant information; documents and references, which give evidence of his/her qualifications to carry out the task.

The Consultant whose proposal is accepted shall provide, if so requested by the Contracting Authority, copies of academic qualifications and employers’ certificates or references proving her/his education, professional experience.

8. Qualification and Skills required:

One consultant will be hired for this assignment by end of July 2019. The consultant should have at least 10 years of professional experience in conducting policy review in areas of youth, gender, human rights, trade and enterprises. The consultant should have extensive conceptual and practical knowledge of government operating and strategic principle with demonstrated ability of analytical report writing.

9. Duties and Taxes

The consultant shall pay all tariffs, duties, other taxes or charges levied by the Government of Nepal at any stage during the execution of the work.

10. Acceptance of Proposal

All rights are reserved with FTG Nepal either to approve or disapprove any proposal without giving any reasons whatsoever. If needed, the consultant will be asked for modifications and Presentations of the proposal before approval. 

11. Documents to be submitted by the consultants/consulting firms:

a) A copy of company registration (if applicable).

b) A copy of VAT/TAX clearance certificate.

c) Signed CVs of the professional/s.

d) Technical and financial proposals.

e) Flow-chart and timeline of activities (to be included in the technical proposal).

f) Statements and documents, if any, acknowledging the individual and /or company’s capability for carrying out similar job successfully.

g) Any other relevant documents.

12. Time

The duration of the consultancy will be a total of 40 days including fieldwork. Assignment will tentatively begin from August 1, 2019. Consultant will submit the initial draft of the report by 21st August 2019 and the final report by the 28th August 2019. The prints of the policy brief will be delivered by 9th September 2019.

13. Deliverable and payment distribution:

Payments of total budget will be processed in three instalments upon delivery of the following product along with the invoice as below:

• 30% after the finalization of detailed timeline, work plan and draft outline;
• 30% after the submission of the final report and policy brief final design
• 40% after the delivery of the policy brief prints.

14. Confidentiality

During the performance of the assignment or at any time after expiry or termination of the agreement, the Consultant shall not disclose to any person or otherwise make use of any confidential information which she/he has obtained or may obtain in the course of the task relating to FTGN, the respondents or otherwise.

Note:

Due to technical problem in the earlier posted Email address interested candidates from marginalized communities with expertise in the field are requested to submit/ re-submit the application along with proposal and supporting documents to ftgn1996@gmail.com by 30th July 2019.

We regret for the inconvenience caused.