Consultant for Strengthening and Formalizing Myanmar Sustainable Natural Rubber Platform

Background

We are WWF, one of the world’s leading nature conservation organizations. We have been working for nearly 60 years and have offices in 100 countries, and started the program in Myanmar in 2014. We believe together we can protect Myanmar’s globally important forests and rivers. Together we will ensure a future for Myanmar’s precious wildlife. We believe everyone has a role to play in forging a sustainable future for Myanmar – from civil society to banks, to private companies, and the government. Together we can empower people and make Myanmar, and our planet, a better place for everyone. Together, we will change the course of history. Find out more at www.wwf.org.mm.

In Myanmar, as in the rest of South East Asia, rubber plantations have been a major focus of attention on the agricultural sector. On the one hand side, the increased demand for natural rubber has raised the price of the commodity making it an attractive industrial crop that can be used to improve farmers’ income and livelihoods. On the other hand, the current political situation of the country has become a challenge to the sector. Coordination among stakeholders has become increasingly difficult, and premium markets are not eager in investing in Myanmar due to the lack of accountability that the sector can display regarding environmental, social, and governance standards. For these reasons reason, the sector is currently losing important market opportunities while opting for practices that distance them even more from the premium markets. However, WWF Myanmar believes that by improving the capacity of the sector to organize and create inclusive coordination environments, they will be able to thrive and improve the livelihoods of all the rural families linked with the sector.

Looking forward to the creation of a space where different rubber sector stakeholders can discuss key challenges and opportunities faced by the sector, WWF Myanmar welcomes the efforts created by the private sector during the Sustainable Natural Rubber Private Sector Conference (SNRPSC) and is willing to provide the necessary technical assistance so that, the Sustainable Natural Rubber Society that emerges as a consequence of the conference is built under inclusion principles where the voice of different stakeholders from the private sector, local communities, and interested bodies such as NGOs, CSOs, and INGOs can be heard, and via positive networking, synergies emerge among the different stakeholders in pro of the progress of the Sustainable Rubber sector. Nevertheless, to ensure transparency and objectivity, WWF Myanmar aims to provide this support via independent consultancies that ensure a fair representation of stakeholders and ESG themes.

Objectives of the consultancy

The main objective of the consultancy is to support the private sector initiative of the Sustainable Natural Rubber Private Sector Conference (SNRPSC) to develop an organizational strategy and all the relevant documentation for the formalization of a Sustainable Natural Rubber Society in Myanmar and the creation of a platform that enables different stakeholders (Communities, NGOs, CSOs, and INGOs) to engage in the discussions regarding the challenges and opportunities that the sector faces. In the beginning, the society, and its corresponding platform, are expected to focus on knowledge sharing of good practices and helping the supply chain to co-determine with international stakeholders, the requirements that the rubber sector needs to comply with in order to access premium markets and be recognized as having the most updated best practices and the relevant certificates that prove that the supply chain in Myanmar complies with high-quality ESG standards. Moreover, it is expected that, as society evolves, it can involve supporting its members with capacity-building programs, marketing outreach, and increasing the bargaining power of the Myanmar sector in international markets.

To support the previous principles, the current consultancy has three core objectives to be implemented during the third quarter of 2022.

1. Create a series of workshops with the members of the private sector that were predetermined in the SNRPSC to define the organizational strategy of the Sustainable Natural Rubber Society.

2. Discuss with multiple stakeholders the way to integrate the voice of communities, NGOs, CSOs, and INGOs in the activities and decisions of the society.

3. Develop a roadmap that can guide the society to transit from a space of knowledge sharing, into a key player in the sustainable natural rubber sector of Myanmar and make it the reference point for any important discussion related to SNR and premium markets in the country.

Major Responsibilities:

Provide for the formalization of a Sustainable Natural Rubber Society and its transit to Multi-actor Platform (MAP) for Sustainable Nature Rubber in Myanmar.

Specific responsibilities

1. Support the formalization process of the Sustainable Natural Rubber Society (including organizational strategy, governance body, and relevant legal and process protocols, among other necessary paperwork for the society to be independent).

2. Develop workshops to discuss with relevant stakeholders the current and future best practices for the society, guaranteeing inclusivity principles as well as organizational best practices.

3. Design a roadmap that allows the society to transit into a Multi-actor Platform (MAP) for Sustainable Nature Rubber in Myanmar that is a reference of SNR in Myanmar.

All activities are expected to be finalized by October 1, 2022.

Output and Deliverables

1. Facilitate the creation of the organizational strategy of the Myanmar Sustainable Natural Rubber Society

• Training with the society members and other relevant stakeholders for the discussion and formulation of the relevant strategy and paperwork needed for the formation and formalization of the society.
• The relevant paperwork needed for the formation and formalization in Myanmar

2. Facilitate the creation of a roadmap to transform the Myanmar Sustainable Natural Rubber Society into a country reference for SNR.

• Training with the society members and other relevant stakeholders for the discussion and formulation of the relevant strategy and paperwork needed for the formation and formalization of the society.
• A detailed roadmap report on the steps that the society needs to take (with defined dates and estimated resources), to achieve the status of SNR reference in the country.

3. Facilitate the creation of a roadmap to transform the Myanmar Sustainable Natural Rubber Society into a multi-actor platform that incorporates the voice of communities, CSOs, NGOs, and INGOs.

• Training with the society members and other relevant stakeholders for the discussion and formulation of the relevant strategy and paperwork needed for the formation and formalization of the society. At least two days of the training need to have the active participation of communities, CSOs, NGOs, and INGOs.
• A detailed roadmap report on the steps that the society needs to take (with defined dates and estimated resources), to achieve the integration of other voices (communities, CSOs, NGOs, and INGOs) in the society.

Days are subject to modification during the interview process and, once selected, the consultant is expected to provide a Gantt diagram with the exact dates and activities to be annexed as part of the contract.

Requirements

1. Education and Experience

• Master’s degree and bachelor title in agriculture related studies with at least 5 years of experience in the implementation of sustainable development training or market development projects (different combinations of education degrees can be considered based on their field experience).
• Strong applied work on rubber market sector in Myanmar or places with similar conditions.
• Previous experience working in Myanmar is strongly desired.
• Knowledge of Myanmar language and dialects is a valuable asset.

1. Knowledge, Skill and Competencies

• Proven understanding on rubber sector, business management and market development
• Awareness of the socio-political and economic context of the country.

1. Ability and Personality

• Promoting team synergy in a multi-cultural work environment.
• Demonstrating initiative and ability to identify innovative approaches.