REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS: TRAINING OF FAIRTRADE STAFF ON WORKER’S RIGHTS AND SOCIAL DIALOGUE

1. ABOUT FAIRTRADE AFRICA

Fairtrade Africa (FTA) is the umbrella network organization representing Fairtrade-certified Producer Organizations in Africa and the Middle East. It has four (4) regional networks – Eastern & Central Africa; Southern Africa; West Africa; and the Middle East & North Africa. Established in 2005, FTA is a member of Fairtrade International and currently represents 1,354,294 farmers and workers in 660 producer organizations spread across 28 countries in Africa and the Middle East by providing services to them that contribute to the improvement of their livelihoods.

2. BACKGROUND

Across the globe, representatives of governments, employers, and workers navigate institutional arrangements and legal frameworks to create strong collective bargaining systems that expand peace and social justice.

Fairtrade recognizes the importance of Workers’ rights and Social Dialogue as a means of achieving social justice and empowerment for workers in the Hired Labour sector. This is central to the Fairtrade standards, which are based on the conventions and recommendations of the International Labour Organization (ILO). The Fairtrade Standard for Hired Labour sets out the requirements for plantations and any large farms that employ regular workers and includes rules on health and safety while also establishing employment conditions for topics like wages, leave time, social security, and contracts. The Fairtrade Standards for Hired Labour also requires employers to recognize the right of their workers to participate in a union, to represent their member’s interests. We believe this will lead to sustaining decent working conditions as prescribed in the ILO Declaration of Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and other ILO Conventions recognized within the Labour conditions chapter of the Fairtrade Standards.

FTA in serving its mandate promotes this attainment of social justice and strengthens the voice of workers. This is delivered through regular technical support, collaboration with relevant trade unions, and capacity-building forums targeting workers and employers in understanding their rights and having effective engagement processes.

Through this assignment, FTA seeks to enhance the understanding, knowledge and skills of staff in the subject of workers’ rights and social dialogue. The staff targeted work with Fairtrade Certified Hired Labour Producers from Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia.

3. OVERALL OBJECTIVE

The key objectives and expected results from this assignment will be:

• To build an understanding of the history and concept of global workers’ and social movement and the institutional structure of the International Labour Organization (ILO) as the key player in setting International Labour Standards.
• To enhance the capacity of staff to effectively engage trade unions, participate in the economic debate about labour standards and competitiveness, and understand the concepts behind the fundamental rights of Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining.
• To enhance knowledge about different approaches to realizing decent work in the labour sector and an overview of instruments and initiatives beyond the ILO.
• To enhance the capacity of staff to apply this knowledge to practical cases in strengthening the voice of workers and protecting workers within the FT Standards, in respective country contexts.
• 4. SCOPE OF WORK AND DELIVERABLES
• Develop a customized training programme on Workers’ Rights and Social Dialogue for Fairtrade Staff. The training to be delivered in 2 Phases (The training to be split into 2 workshops to be delivered in Q3 and Q4 of 2022 respectively. Dates to be discussed with the successful consultant).
• Deliver training to at least 15 Fairtrade staff (Fairtrade will cover costs for mobilizing FT staff to participate in the training).
• Provide case studies and practical exercises as part of the training approach to enrich the learning process.
• Provide a training report and certificates to attendees at the end of the training programme.
• 5. CONSULTANCY REQUIREMENTS

The Consultant should have at minimum a relevant University Degree. In addition, the Consultant should possess the following qualifications:

• • Have a global view on workers’ rights and social dialogue. The desired candidate should be able to articulate social and human rights issues in the context of workers in the Hired Labour sector. – Knowledge and relevant academic qualifications in the subject matter. Accreditation by ILO will be an added advantage. – Demonstrable experience in carrying out similar training assignments preferably for the Hired Labour set up. – Application of practical oriented and adult learning approaches to the training will be desirable. – Demonstrable understanding of the Fairtrade Standards context, and the regional labour movement will be desirable. – Good interpersonal skills demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural, multiethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.