DATA COLLECTION FOR COST OF SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION FAIRTRADE COFFEE PRODUCERS IN EAST AFRICA

BACKGROUND

The cost of sustainable production (COSP) is the cost of producing a product sustainably and in a socially, economically and environmentally responsible way that conforms with Fairtrade Standards. The Fairtrade International Standards Unit assumes that the COSP reflects sustainability. In 2022, based on the COSP data from the Fairtrade system, Fairtrade updated the data and estimated the current values of coffee prices by applying a set of indicators and/or referencing to secondary data in the respective regions. This process did not involve field data collection. Owing to the changes and dynamics of coffee production within the countries of origin, as well as the market regulations, Fairtrade is now seeking to collect data for the cost of sustainable coffee production. This initiative is driven by the need to understand the economic realities faced by coffee producers Africa, considering the changes in the regulations and the economic realities across the globe. The data will provide insights into production costs, challenges, and opportunities, thereby helping to align support mechanisms with the needs of producers. The findings of this project should allow Fairtrade to draw preliminary COSP results and inform the entire process of revising the Fairtrade Minimum Price and Premium.

OBJECTIVE/PURPOSE

The objective of this assignment is to carry out a comprehensive data collection exercise on the cost of sustainable coffee production in Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Uganda. The data collected will be used to support Fairtrade initiatives and inform policies that promote sustainable coffee farming practices in the region.

The primary objectives of this consultancy are:

 To gather and analyze data on the costs associated with sustainable coffee production.

 To compare the costs of sustainable practices with conventional methods.

 To identify key factors influencing the cost structure.

 To provide recommendations for cost reduction and efficiency improvements in sustainable coffee production.

SCOPE OF WORK

The consultant(s) will be responsible for the following tasks

 Data Collection Planning- Coordinate with FTA and confirm the proposed timeline for data collection and the selected producer organizations, the contact person at the producer organization. The planned timeline is the 2 weeks of September through the 1 st week of October 2024.

 In consultation with the producer organization contact person, agree on the data collection dates and ensure the participating/ selected members are informed and available for the group session.

 Data Collection – Implement the data collection process in the selected producer organizations using the provided data collection tools, ensuring compliance with the agreed-upon methodology and timeline.  Data Screening/ Cleaning- After data collection, validate and clean the data to ensure its accuracy and reliability.

 Collaboration with FTA- Work with FTA staff to verify the accuracy of the data and ensure it meets the required standards.

 Specific data collection materials and training will be conducted to the successful consultant.

TASKS/DELIVERABLES

Overall tasks:

The consultant(s) will deliver the following

 Inception meeting- Liaise and confirm with the selected coffee producer organizations to plan and coordinate the data collection from the producer organization and the selected producer members.

 Data collection- Carry out data collection on Cost of Sustainable Production for coffee producer organizations (3 small scale Producer Organizations in each region/country) as shall be advised by Fairtrade Africa.

 Report- Presenting preliminary findings and progress updates including data analysis, comparisons, key factors, recommendations, and conclusions.

 To harmonize the methodology across three regions, the regional consultants will be invited to join a global meeting and present a proposal on the methodology to be used.

 Document the methodology used and validation process.

 The consultant is responsible for answering questions related to COSP data throughout the COSP study project

Key deliverables:

 Description of the data collection process, including applied methodology, source of data, indicators, list of participants in the process, etc.

 Narrative report of the results, the report should follow the format provided.

 Final database with the raw data collected, reviewed and adopted. The raw data should be returned in the provided format.

 Final presentation to Fairtrade on the process summarizing the key findings and recommendations for stakeholders.

Data Collection Methodology:

The proposed method of data collection is a member group session with one single excel questionnaire to represent that group of farmers for the selected producer organization and one questionnaire for the costs of producer organization.

Timeline:

This is a short-term consultancy, taking place between the 2nd week of September 2024 to 1st week of October 2024 in the selected coffee producer organizations premises. A single day (1 day) is proposed in each producer organization on data collection. Please note: All deliverables should be provided in English, except only for the raw data, where necessary.

QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS

The consultant(s) should possess the following qualifications and experience

 Good knowledge of coffee production in the country of origin and ability to assess and collect accurate and dependable data on cost of sustainable production for coffee.

 Proven experience in agricultural research, particularly related to coffee production and coffee supply chain.

 Demonstrated expertise in sustainable agriculture practices, data collection, and analysis with appropriate tools.

 Understanding of the concept of cost of sustainable production in context of Fairtrade as well as market regulations affecting production and sourcing of coffee.

 Affinity with the context and challenges of sustainable development in the coffee sector.

 Strong analytical, report writing, and presentation skills.

 Ability to converse in English and local language is highly encouraged.