Company Profile
International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) (www.cocoainitiative.org) is a multi-stakeholder organization, uniting the forces of civil society, certifiers, the cocoa and chocolate industry, and international institutions, and working with governments to address child and forced labour in the cocoa sector.
ICI has developed a Child Labour Monitoring and Remediation System (CLMRS) that allows industry partners to manage responsibly the risk of child labour in their cocoa supply chain. In line with the Ghana Child Labor Monitoring System (GCLMS), the system is based on the presence of Community Facilitators (CF) within cocoa-growing communities who raise awareness on the issue of child labour; identify cases and implement remediation activities. (www.cocoainitiative.org)
Established in 2002, the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) is a leading organisation promoting child protection in cocoa-growing communities. ICI works with the cocoa industry, civil society and national governments in cocoa-producing countries to ensure a better future for children and contribute to the elimination of child labour.
Job Description
Terms of Reference: Feasibility study for the development of grievance mechanism for the cocoa sector in Ghana
November 2024
Project Overview
In response to the ongoing need for robust mechanisms to respect human and children’s rights along the cocoa value chain, preventing and remediating potential abuses and violations of children and adult rights, ICI seeks to commission a feasibility study in cocoa supply chain of Ghana on child-friendly grievance mechanism. The study’s goal is to identify the necessary criteria for successfully implementing government and private sector grievance mechanism in Ghana's cocoa sector
The grievance mechanism feasibility study will be conducted in growing regions of Ghana. The grievance mechanism should focus on feasibility, and under which conditions the system could work and how and under which conditions it could be child-friendly. The study should start by looking at existing examples in other countries of a child-friendly grievance mechanism in the cocoa and other agricultural sectors, other sectors could be included. The child-friendly grievance mechanism will be aligned with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and it should meet the following requirements:
- Provide equal access and address the needs of individual in cocoa-growing communities: The mechanism should be easily accessible to all men and women as well as children in cocoa growing communities of Ghana, ensuring equitable access for whose rights have been violated
- Record and manage all relevant complaints: It should be capable of recording complaints related to rights violations of children and adult in cocoa growing communities
- The child-friendly grievance mechanism should be able to recommend a system/mechanism (committee or other) where the complaints should be received and addressed, both at community as well as at district level
- The study should look at the possibility to have a private sector mechanism and/or a government base mechanism
- Simplify the reporting process: Once a grievance is reported, the mechanism should ensure it is forwarded to the appropriate agency(ies) or companies involved, without requiring multiple reports. Where the grievance is of criminal in nature, the mechanism must ensure it is referred to appropriate authorities within the district without delay
- Independent management: The mechanism should be managed by an independent organization or institution for instance Social Welfare Department to ensure impartiality.
- Ensure effective follow-up: Adequate follow-up measures must be generated, implemented, and tracked to address grievances effectively.
Timeframe
The feasibility study is scheduled to be conducted from December 2024 to May 2025. The timeline is structured as follows:
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Activity
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Deadline
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Deadline for applications
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December 11, 2024
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Selection of consultants
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End December 18, 2024
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Contract’s signature
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By mid-January 2025
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Revision and Extension of Stakeholder Analysis
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January 2025
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Interviews with Relevant Stakeholders
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February 2025
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Implementation of Local Workshops
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April 2025
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Finalization of Draft Report and Feedback
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May 2025
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Submission of report
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June 2025
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Publication of Final Report
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June 2025
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ICI is seeking a consultant with experience conducting similar feasibility studies in cocoa regions of Ghana. The selected consultant or organization will be responsible for delivering the following services:
- Feasibility Study:
- Develop a preliminary concept for implementing a child friendly grievance mechanism. This should focus on the cocoa sector including other sectors within the cocoa regions
- Conduct a desk review of child rights risks in the specified districts within the cocoa sector.
Perform an actor analysis and provide recommendations for the appropriate actors to be involved in implementing the child friendly grievance mechanism. ICI Social protection mapping study report will be available for the selected consultant to study to guide the analysis and the recommendation (Report ICI Mapping Study_FINAL_19.04.2022.docx -https://socialprotection-map.cocoainitiative.org/)
- Establish a set of criteria necessary for the successful implementation of a child friendly grievance mechanism.
- Identify potential risks to the implementation and propose strategies to mitigate these risks.
- Develop a step-by-step approach for finalizing the concept, including a proposal for institutionalizing the child-friendly grievance mechanism, including reporting mechanisms, and defining responsibility for the follow-up of case management of received grievances
- Develop a budget for the implementation of the proposed child friendly grievance mechanism and identify potential funding sources.
- Workshops and Interviews: Conduct workshops and interviews with stakeholders, ensuring a participatory approach, including children, parents, child labour committee members. At least four local workshops must be conducted in the specified districts, involving local actors such as cooperatives, traders, unions and service providers. Participants should be selected in collaboration with ICI and other local partners.
Calendar: The consultancy is planned to start in December 2024 and to be completed in June 2025
Deliverables
The consultant is expected to provide the following deliverables:
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Activity/Task
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Timeline
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1
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Inception Report
Outlining the study’s approach, methodology, and timeline.
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31st January 2025 - at most 7 days after signing the contract.
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2
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Draft Report
A comprehensive analysis including the preliminary concept, risk assessment, and recommendations.
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10th May 2025
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3
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Final Report (including executive summary)
Incorporating feedback from ICI and stakeholders. The executive summary should include a concise overview of the findings and recommendations
The final report should include practical suggestions for implementing the grievance mechanism
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On/before 10th June 2025
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4
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PowerPoint Presentation
Summarizing the findings for various audiences.
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17th June 2025
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Required Skills or Experience
Team Composition and Qualifications
Qualifications of the Team Leader (national consultant)
- Post-tertiary university qualification in Human Rights, International Relations, Agriculture, or related fields.
- Business language proficiency in English and Ghanaian Language (preferably “TWI”).
- 5+ years of professional experience in agricultural supply chains, human/child rights, or similar.
- 5+ years of experience in agricultural value chain management with a focus on human rights due diligence, including 2 years in the cocoa sector.
- 5 years of experience in development/Cooperation project, projects in West Africa including experience in English- speaking West Africa.
- Proven experience conducting national interviews and reviewing grievance mechanisms
Team members (Maximum 3-members, national consultants)
Qualifications of team members:
- A university qualification (Masters) in Agriculture, International Relations, Human Rights, or related fields.
- Fluent in English and Ghanaian Language (preferrable TWI)
- Expertise with at least 5 years of experience in agricultural supply chains focusing on human rights.
- Expertise with at least 3 years of professional experience in the cocoa supply chain.
- Expertise with at least 5 years working in Ghana.
- Expertise with at least 5 years of experience conducting national interviews and reviewing grievance mechanisms.
How To Apply
Interested consultants should send a technical and financial proposal, describing their relevant experience and capacity to undertake the assignment. The proposed budget and technical proposal must be submitted by email with the email subject: Child-Friendly grievance mechanism feasibility study” to:
recruitment-gha@cocoainitiative.org by December 4, 2024
For additional technical questions: p.gyamfi@cocoainitiative.org
Please compile your offer as a single document (ideally pdf).
The offer must include:
- Information on prior experience and how the contractor meets the requirements above, including at least one example of a previous assignment on human rights and agricultural supply chains. (2 pages, max.)
- Technical and financial offer, including the total amount offered in Ghanaian Cedi. Note that the budget should detail all staff and material costs, including travel expenses and other fees. (5 pages, max.)
- CVs of the team leader and other key team members (Maximum 3 + the Team Lead)
- Contact details of three referees.
By submitting your application, you consent to us processing your data for the purpose of evaluating your application for this consulting position. We will keep your application data confidential and only use it for recruitment purposes. Once the consulting position is closed, your application will be deleted.
Please note that only those candidates who match the above requirements and who have been selected for interview will be contacted.
ICI Core Values
All ICI staff members and partners are expected to adhere, respect and always promote at any time ICI Core Values: HUMANITY, INTEGRITY, NEUTRALITY, PARTNERSHIP, INNOVATION. Please refer to the ICI website for more details (https://www.cocoainitiative.org/about-us/our-organisation/our-values)
Child safeguarding
ICI has zero-tolerance for all forms of child neglect, abuse (sexual, physical, emotional, and psychological) and exploitation (sexual and commercial). ICI commits to put the best interest of the child first, and at the centre of its work, irrespective of a child’s ability, ethnicity, faith, gender, sexuality, and culture. By applying at ICI, you automatically agree to the above term and uphold the principles described herein.
Equal opportunity and non-discrimination
ICI is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunities and non-discrimination for all employees and employment/consulting applicants and to providing employees with a fair work environment free of discrimination.
Disclaimer
ICI and preferred recruitment partners will NEVER ask candidates for fees for any purpose during the recruitment process. No recruitment fee, no hiring fee, no security deposit, no software or equipment charges are charged to candidates applying to ICI.
Note
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