GPSNR Secretariat

Sri Trang Agro-Industry joins GPSNR

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Sri Trang Agro-Industry joins 23 other rubber producers, processors and traders at GPSNR to make the industry-wide transition to sustainable natural rubber 

We are pleased to welcome Sri Trang Agro-Industry as the newest member of GPSNR’s growing community.

The Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR) proudly announces the addition of Sri Trang Agro-Industry Public Company Limited (STA) as its newest member in the Producers, Processors and Traders category. STA, a leading fully integrated natural rubber company established in 1987, brings with it a solid commitment to the industry’s transition towards the sustainable and equitable production of natural rubber at scale. With large-scale rubber plantations covering almost 7,000 hectares across 19 provinces of Thailand, STA plays a significant role in the global natural rubber market. The company’s membership in GPSNR underscores its dedication to fostering a more sustainable and responsible natural rubber industry.

“We are thrilled to welcome Sri Trang Agro-Industry Public Company Limited to GPSNR,” said Stefano Savi, Platform Director of GPSNR. “Given the company’s scale and outreach, we look forward to their insights and contributions to important industry-wide processes on sustainable and equitable production currently underway at GPSNR, like our assurance model and shared investment mechanism.”

Nattee Thiraputhbhokin, Chief Marketing Officer of STA, stated, “Joining GPSNR reflects our unwavering commitment to advancing sustainable practices in the natural rubber industry. In addition, to the ever-evolving world of rubber production, STA emerged as a trailblazer with its groundbreaking Sri Trang Ecosystem. This digitalized, transparent, and sustainable framework showcased STA’s unwavering commitment to advancing sustainability in the natural rubber industry. With traceability ingrained in every step, from rubber tree cultivation to the delivery of traceable products, the ecosystem sets a new standard for better accountability. Joined by other industry leaders under the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR), STA aims to forge a more sustainable and equitable future for all stakeholders, inspiring a transformation that resonated far beyond their business borders.”

STA joins over 290 GPSNR members composed of tire makers, natural rubber producers, processors, traders, civil society members, and end-users in driving positive change and shaping the future of the natural rubber sector.

About GPSNR: 
GPSNR is an international membership-driven platform set up to define sustainability for the natural rubber value chain. It brings together various stakeholders to a common ground based on fairness, equity and environmental sustainability. More on sustainablenaturalrubber.org

For more information, please contact:
Abby Ng
Membership Outreach and Communications Associate 
Email: abigail@gpsnr.org

Empowering Smallholder Farmers: The Path to Deforestation-Free Rubber Supply Chains to Meet the EUDR

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On Wednesday, 19 April 2023, the European Union approved the upcoming Deforestation-Free Regulation (EUDR) to prevent companies from placing products linked to deforestation onto the EU market. As part of the wider vision of the EU Green Deal, it will demand companies who import rubber or rubber-based products (e.g., tires) to verify that their supply chain is deforestation-free. It’s a push towards an era of environmental accountability, yet it also sparks debates about the path forward for the rubber industry.

The EUDR requires companies to have traceability to the farm level, including geo-location data and proof of land legality. According to the regulation, every plot below 4 hectares requires at least a GPS point coordinate, while plots above 4 hectares must have a polygon.

Fulfilling these traceability requirements is no small feat. There is concern from the industry that smallholder farmers may be unintentionally excluded from global sustainable supply chains. Ensuring smallholder farmer inclusion requires a holistic sustainability approach.  There is no doubt that the rubber industry has begun moving towards sustainable rubber sourcing through combined industry efforts like the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR). However, the reality is that most imported rubber to the EU currently does not meet the regulatory requirements as the industry lacks traceability to the farm level. As 85% of the global natural rubber supply is supplied by approximately 6 million smallholder farmers, the implications of this regulation could be far-reaching and severe, particularly for these smallholder farmers.

However, there is a lot of hope.

Firstly, even though it might seem challenging, traceability to the farm level is doable – even for the rubber industry. This has been demonstrated in a GPSNR-funded farmer training and coaching project primarily focused on supporting smallholders to apply Good Agriculture Practices (GAP). Koltiva, the company I am working for and who was selected to be the implementing partner for this project, has mapped more than 4,000 farmers and their farms to help them to prepare for the EUDR in less than a year.

Secondly, we believe that traceability to the farm is scalable. In our work with clients in 51 countries, we were able to map almost 1 million smallholder farmers through our KoltiTrace platform. Platforms such as KoltiTrace allow companies to map and verify their supply chain, including transaction traceability from Seed to Tire and deforestation-free analysis.

Finally, EUDR could have a long-term positive impact on smallholder farmers. Currently, many rubber farmers do not have proper land titles. Due to the EUDR geolocation requirements, many smallholders will, for the first time, have access to a map of their own plantation, allowing them to legalize their land.

And it doesn’t stop there. Smallholders have largely been invisible in global supply chains. Traditional development programs have tried to engage them, but they have not reached the expected results. Many smallholders still have no access to knowledge, no access to capital,  and soon will also be excluded from the carbon economy.

I believe that it’s possible to bridge these gaps. Traceability to farm level and digitalizing the first mile of agricultural value chains can lay the foundation for holistic sustainability interventions. Enabled by technology and data, the sector can equip farmers with critical knowledge, improve their access to finance, actively support farmers to apply low-carbon practices and enable them to reap the benefits of the growing carbon economy.

While traceability cannot be achieved overnight, the rubber industry is in a unique position. At GPSNR, the major industry players are sitting at one table. Through combined efforts and data-sharing agreements of shared supplier data, the rubber industry can become a leading example of how to meet the EUDR.


About the Author:
Luca Fischer is Koltiva’s Program Manager, leading Koltiva’s boots-on-the-ground implementation projects in the rubber sector globally. He bridges the gap between the client, product, and field teams.

Luca has over five years of work experience in sustainable sourcing, smallholder livelihood, and climate-smart agriculture development. He graduated with an M.Sc. in Sustainable Resource Management from the Technical University of Munich, Germany.

About Koltiva (click here for more information)
Established in 2013, Koltiva is a leading agritech company for enterprises to make their global supply chains traceable, inclusive, and climate-smart. Backed by Koltiva’s human-centered technology with boots-on-the-ground professional service, Koltiva supports some of the largest multinational companies by digitizing and verifying global supply chains, focusing on enhancing traceability, inclusiveness, and sustainability. Koltiva combines triple-tech (AgriTech, FinTech, and ClimaTech) to improve producers’ outcomes and profitability while building more sustainable supply chains.

Natural Rubber and the European Union Deforestation Regulation: Perspectives from a young sustainability advocate working on natural rubber

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Earlier this year, I joined the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR) to work with smallholder farmers, civil societies, manufacturers, processors and end users on capacity building for those at the bottom of the natural rubber (NR) supply chain. The primary goal was to equip them with the necessary skills for sustainability reform, with the ultimate goal of cultivating better quality raw materials and fostering greater economic mobility. This journey provided me with valuable insights, enabling me to learn from industry professionals and gain an understanding of sustainability issues from diverse perspectives. In this short article, I would like to share some of my key takeaways from being exposed to GPSNR’s initiatives for a sustainable NR industry and interacting with those from other commodities on similar journeys.

To begin, the adoption of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is widely celebrated as a significant step in combating climate change and demonstrates the EU’s commitment to ensuring a sustainable supply chain. However, my interactions with smallholder members of GPSNR shed light on the concerns raised about the shifting of compliance costs to producers. One smallholder member I work with has often highlighted the challenge of balancing the cost of implementing sustainable practices against revenues. They expressed their desire for tangible benefits, such as receiving premium prices for their products, if they were expected to adopt sustainable farming methods. To truly ensure a sustainable supply chain, it is important for governments and industry players to support and assist the vulnerable groups along the supply chain in overcoming the financial barriers they face. This will help ensure that the burden of compliance costs is not disproportionately placed on their shoulders.


Attending the Partnerships for Forests (P4F) Forum 2023 in London. P4F’s invaluable support has played a pivotal role in empowering GPSNR’s smallholders and fostering sustainable engagement.

Additionally, while initiatives to combat deforestation remain crucial, we must not overlook the importance of addressing social issues and the potential economic consequences of such regulations. At the Amsterdam Declaration Partnerships in May 2023, I had the opportunity to hear a minister from a producing country emphasize the importance of consuming nations recognizing the economic and social consequences. Failing to consider economic and social consequences can have far-reaching effects such as increased poverty levels and inequality. Therefore, a holistic approach that balances all three pillars of sustainability is necessary to safeguard the well-being and livelihoods of those affected while protecting the environment.

Lastly, drawing from my experience during the National Initiatives Strategy meeting, an initiative to enhance social, environmental, and economic welfare on a global scale, it became clear that national initiatives have certain limitations when it comes to supporting multiple commodities simultaneously. Therefore, these initiatives need to prioritize specific commodities in order to ensure practicality and effectiveness. During the meeting, it was collectively acknowledged that national initiatives do not need to take the lead in every solution, but rather offer support to industry and government-led initiatives while fostering effective collaboration to avoid duplication in allocation of resources. This also highlights the significance of industry-led solutions, which can complement the work of national initiatives. Industry players’ proactive measures can help anticipate and mitigate potential risks in the supply chain more effectively, promote sustainable practices, and contribute to the overall goal of combating climate change and complying with EUDR.

As I reflect on my experience with GPSNR, it is evident that sustainability in the NR supply chain has been a longstanding commitment even prior to the introduction of the EUDR. Various initiatives have been taken to promote sustainable practices within the NR industry, including the approval of reporting requirements and the adoption of the GPSNR policy framework. These initiatives aim to encourage GPSNR members to align their practices with GPSNR Policy Framework and thus, establish strong sustainability commitments across the NR supply chain.

This year marks a significant transition for GPSNR as we move from commitment to implementation, focusing on four key fronts. Firstly, our efforts are dedicated to finalizing the GPSNR assurance model, an encompassing framework that establishes sustainability guidelines and standards for the entire supply chain. Additionally, GPSNR is also actively working on implementing the shared responsibility mechanism, wherein the manufacturers collaborate to share the costs of capacity building, fostering an equitable and sustainable NR industry.

Furthermore, GPSNR is expanding its capacity building initiatives in essential areas such as Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), agroforestry, and disease management. These efforts aim to empower local communities in key NR producing regions, particularly in Thailand and Indonesia. GPSNR also implemented a smallholders-inclusive strategy, whereby smallholders members can participate in the decision-making processes, become part of the Executive Committee of GPSNR, and have the voting rights at the General Assembly. This ensures that the voices and perspectives of smallholders are taken into account in the development and execution of sustainable natural rubber initiatives.

Lastly, GPSNR is actively striving to fine-tune decisions that support a smoother implementation of the EUDR, which include shared due diligence systems, joint deforestation analysis tools, and common traceability tools, all funded by manufacturers. These measures will enhance transparency and accountability within the NR supply chain.

Members of the Smallholder Representations and Capacity Building Working Group, which include smallholder members from Thailand and Indonesia,  come together in Singapore, bringing their invaluable perspectives to GPSNR workshops in June 2023.

In conclusion, my journey with GPSNR as a passionate sustainability advocate has underscored the significance of collaboration in forging a sustainable NR industry. As we navigate the path forward, it is crucial to address the challenges ahead while maintaining a delicate equilibrium between environmental, social, and economic considerations. The initiatives undertaken by GPSNR, including capacity building, smallholder inclusion, and strategic decisions to support EUDR implementation, reflect a steadfast commitment to sustainability. Together, we can make a positive impact on the global NR supply chain and create a sustainable future.

GPSNR Working Groups Update: June 2023

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Strategy and Objectives Working Group: 

The Traceability pilot field trials for the Risk Subgroup, led by consortiums Agridence and Koltiva, are now in full swing. Agridence provided a midpoint update during the June Hybrid meetings, highlighting their progress thus far.

Looking ahead, the Risk Subgroup is actively strategizing the next steps for ASI’s deliverable on the Risk Assessment Framework. This includes conducting internal piloting and aligning the tool with GPSNR commissioned studies to identify any potential gaps.

In an effort to standardize country levels within the tool, the Risk Subgroup will be issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) to engage consultants who can contribute their expertise. Furthermore, the Risk Subgroup is in the preliminary stages of discussions with the Basel Institution, exploring a potential collaboration to address corruption risks in the supply chain. 

The Assurance Model Task force will convene to receive updates on the alignment of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and the due diligence system, ensuring that progress is being made and objectives are being met. In order to create an Assurance Manual under the Members Progress Model, an RFP will be crafted and sent to consultants. This step aims to gather the necessary input and expertise to develop a comprehensive manual.

 

Smallholders Representation and Capacity Building (SCB) Working Group: 

The Smallholders Policy-Equivalent (SPE) Taskforce has successfully presented the final recommendations to the SCB WG, marking a significant milestone in their work. They are actively working towards obtaining endorsement from the SCB WG for their final recommendations as outlined in the report.

The HCSA-HCVN Field Trials have reached an important stage, with the preliminary final report being submitted for review and assessment. The HCSA-HCVN will soon submit the final report, marking the completion of this endeavor.

In an effort to promote knowledge sharing, the digital Knowledge Sharing Platform (KSP) Taskforce organised a meeting on 24th May 2023 for SCB WG members. The objective was to facilitate a better understanding of the KSP, and the service provider has already begun developing new features for the platform.

The Indonesia National Subgroup has taken the initiative to prepare quarterly progress reports for the GAP Coaching and Disease Fighting projects, providing updates to the SCB WG.

Meanwhile, the Thailand National Subgroup is currently in the process of evaluating proposals received for the Thailand GAP Coaching project. The deadline for proposal submissions is 30th June 2023.

The Agroforestry-Income Diversification Taskforce is working to finalize the schedule of workshops planned for 2023-2024.

Lastly, the SCB WG will continue to oversee all ongoing projects.

 

Policy Toolbox Working Group: 

In order to enhance the reporting process, input has been collected from members through a survey and stakeholder-specific meetings as part of the Year 1 Reporting Review process. The feedback received will play a crucial role in informing revisions to the Reporting Matrix and disclosure requirements for Years 2 and 3, as outlined in the Transparent Reporting Roadmap (TRR). Furthermore, discussions are underway to reach an agreement on the TRR for Year 2 reporting, with the Working Group currently finalizing updates received from the OEMs. To reflect the proposed changes to the reporting matrix, the Reporting Guidance will be updated accordingly, providing clear and comprehensive guidelines for reporting.

The Working Group has carefully selected consultant Petra Westerlaan to propose a quantitative orientation for the reporting matrix. This includes conducting a crosswalk analysis with other established reporting frameworks such as CDP Forest, GRI, and ZSL-SPOTT. The integration of quantification will not only facilitate data aggregation but also simplify the evaluation of annual progress. The consultant’s proposed revisions to the reporting framework will be evaluated and decided upon, and recommendations will be made to improve the reporting process and timelines.

In parallel, the Compliance Panel Terms of Reference (TOR) and operational guidance are being finalized based on the Assurance Model, ensuring a robust framework for ensuring compliance and accountability.

 

Shared Responsibility Working Group: 

During the face-to-face meeting, the Governance and Guiding principles were presented, highlighting their importance in shaping the future direction of GPSNR. Manufacturers are now required to seek internal approval regarding the Governance Framework and subsequently provide a final version for approval to the GPSNR Executive Committee (EC) and General Assembly.

The SR WG is actively engaged in defining an inclusive shared investment framework, encompassing various forms of contribution such as in-kind support, financial contributions, and external funding. The outcomes of discussions at the Manufacturers category level will play a crucial role in shaping this framework.

Collaborating with the Secretariat and other WGs, the SR WG is committed to revamping discussions on data sharing and value transfer, recognizing their significance in achieving our objectives. These discussions will seek to optimize the sharing of data and the value derived from it.

To provide clarity and transparency, the WG aims to define the value and benefits associated with each category within GPSNR, ensuring that all stakeholders are aware of the advantages and opportunities available.

Furthermore, the WG, in collaboration with the Capacity Building WG, is working on developing a protocol to filter and evaluate proposals based on the Equity definition and the stakeholders identified by the EC. This process will ensure fair and comprehensive evaluation of proposals.

Lastly, an open co-chair position is available, and volunteers are welcomed to contribute their expertise and leadership to drive the WG forward. If you are interested in taking on this role, please step forward and join us in this important endeavor.

By establishing effective governance, inclusive investment frameworks, and clear protocols, we are working towards a sustainable and equitable future for the natural rubber industry. Your participation and engagement are vital to our collective success.

GPSNR Working Groups Update: May 2023

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Strategy and Objectives Working Group: The consortium of Agridence and Koltiva have initiated field trials for the Risk Subgroup Traceability Pilot. The Risk Subgroup is also planning the next steps for the deliverable from ASI regarding the Risk Assessment Framework, including internal piloting and cross-walking with GPSNR commissioned studies to identify any gaps. 

Additionally, the Risk Subgroup and Basel Institution are in preliminary discussions for a potential collaboration to investigate corruption risk in the supply chain. The Assurance Model Task force will convene to receive updates on KPI alignments, the due diligence system, and the progress model of its members.

Smallholders Representation and Capacity Building (SCB) Working Group: The SCB WG has formally endorsed the Terms of Reference (TORs) on April 27, and the Smallholders Policy-Equivalent (SPE) Taskforce is currently working towards securing the SCB WG’s endorsement for the final recommendations presented in their report.

The Thailand National Subgroup recently announced a tender for GAP Coaching on May 4, with a proposal submission deadline of June 30, 2023. Meanwhile, the Agroforestry-Income Diversification Taskforce is working on finalising the workshop schedule for the years 2023-2024. Lastly, the SCB WG will continue to oversee all projects taking place in Indonesia and Thailand.

 Policy Toolbox Working Group: The working group has chosen consultant Petra Westerlaan to propose a quantitative approach for the reporting matrix, including a crosswalk with other reporting frameworks (CDP Forest, GRI, and ZSL-SPOTT), aiming to facilitate data aggregation and simplify the evaluation of annual progress. They will evaluate and decide on the consultant’s proposed revisions to the reporting framework, and make recommendations to improve the reporting process and timelines.

The Policy Toolbox WG has to agree on the TRR, update Reporting Guidance to reflect the proposed changes, and finalize the Compliance Panel TOR and operational guidance based on the Assurance Model. The WG is currently conducting meetings that will continue during the in-person meetings. 

Shared Responsibility Working Group: The face-to-face meeting included a presentation on governance and guiding principles, and manufacturers to submit a revised document. The WG is currently awaiting the outcomes of discussions on shared investment principles at the manufacturers’ category level before proceeding with their work. Once the proposal from the manufacturers is available, the WG will revamp the discussions on data sharing and value transfer.

GPSNR Working Groups Update: April 2023

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Strategy and Objectives Working Group

The working group includes both the Risk subgroup and the Assurance Model task force and is currently working on some exciting stuff!

The Risk subgroup has been busy, with consortiums Agridence and Koltiva having kick started their pilot field trials on the traceability tools. They are actively pursuing the next steps for the deliverable from ASI on the Risk Assessment Framework. This includes conducting internal piloting and cross-walking the tool with GPSNR commissioned studies to identify gaps. Lastly, second in an ongoing series, the Traceability Tools Webinar will be occurring on 26th April and you may register for it here. 

The Assurance Model taskforce will be meeting to discuss updates on KPI alignments, due diligence system and the members progress model. 

Smallholders Representation and Capacity Building (SCB) Working Group

The SCB Working Group has proposed a new structure with three co-chairs and this has been officially endorsed. The next Working Group meeting will take place on 27th April, where they plan to formally endorse the Terms of Reference. 

Updates on the Income Diversification and Rubber Agroforestry taskforce, the strategy for 2023-2024 has been endorsed, and the taskforce will continue their work on planning the schedule and sequence of workshops and finalising the contractual plan. 

On the Digital Knowledge Sharing Platform front, Koltiva will work together with the taskforce to start developing the app and its features. In upcoming news, the Thailand Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) subgroup will publish the tender soon. 

 Policy Toolbox Working Group

Input has been collected on the reporting process from members through the Year 1 Reporting Review Survey. As part of this review, stakeholder- specific meetings will be conducted to collect more feedback on the reporting process. Based on the Year 1 Reporting Review results, any changes will be assessed to the reporting framework and its details (i.e., Process, Extensions, Questions), and disclosure requirements will need to be agreed on for reporting Years 2 and 3 (Transporting Reporting Roadmap- TRR). Future actions will require the reporting guidance for Year 2 to be improved according to changes proposed to the reporting matrix.

An RFP for consultants has recently been published to look into proposing a quantitative orientation for the reporting matrix and do a crosswalk with other reporting frameworks (CDP Forest, GRI and ZSL-SPOTT). On news of the Assurance Model front, what follows would be to finalise Compliance Panel Terms of Reference and operational guidance based on the Assurance Model.  

Shared Responsibility Working Group

During the physical meeting in January- February, the Governance and Guiding Principles were presented, Manufacturers will provide a revised document of said principles by April. 

Next phases for the Working Group are pending the outcomes of discussions on shared investment principles, which are currently happening on the Manufacturers category level. The Working Group will revamp data sharing and value transfer discussions once the proposal from the Manufacturers is available.

GPSNR Working Groups Update: March 2023

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The strategy and objectives working group

Both the sub working groups under the umbrella of the Strategy and Objectives WG are occupied with some critical milestones. The Risk Subgroup has received the final draft for the risk assessment framework by ASI, and will be working on piloting the framework and the next steps. The Risk Subgroup would also be looking at guidance on traceability enhancement based on pilot field trials and other data from members, and they have started a series of traceability tools webinar sessions with tool providers and member companies and planning on the second session. The next webinar is on 26th April, and you can register for it here. 

On the other hand, the Assurance Model taskforce is streamlining the category specific KPIs along with the members journey/assurance model blueprint that was finalised during the latest hybrid meetings. You can find more context in the minutes here or reach out for questions on info@gpsnr.org.

The smallholder representation working group: 

Along with the work on the smallholder policy equivalent for which the WG has already sent out an all-member survey and initiating the HCSA-HCVN NR Smallholder Toolkit Field Trials, they are preparing for the decided merger with the capacity building working group. More details on how this will play out can be found here. 

The policy toolbox working group: 

The group is working on a tender to Crosswalk RR framework with CDP Forest and GRI Reporting, while aligning with the Assurance Model taskforce on the KPI on due diligence. 

The smallholders representation & capacity building working group: 

As a newly merged working group, they continue to perform the duties of the two old working groups, including overseeing the on-ground projects in Indonesia and Thailand. At the same time, they are focussing on finalising their new TOR and agroforestry/income diversification strategies. Members who wish to continue in the SCB WG and any National Subgroup or Task Force should write to the Secretariat, indicating their organisation, name, email and the national subgroup or taskforce they are interested in participating in.

The shared responsibility working group: 

As per the decisions taken on the next steps during the hybrid meetings in January-February, the group is working with the Tiremaker category on streamlining a proposal on shared investment while also completing the deliverables on the other pillars. They are also aligning with the Assurance Model taskforce on how the KPIs will integrate into the Shared Investment mechanism. They have completed 40% of the progress they committed to on all three pillars during the in-person meetings so far.

Request For Proposal – GPSNR-RFP-A02-031-Proposing a Quantitative Orientation for GPSNR’s Reporting Matrix

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Introduction & Background

 

The Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR) is an international, multi-stakeholder, voluntary membership initiative seeking to lead improvements in the socioeconomic and environmental performance of the natural rubber value chain. Members of the platform include rubber products manufacturers, natural rubber producers and processors,  end users, smallholders and NGOs.

In 2021, GPSNR members approved Reporting Requirements that would allow member companies to report on their progress implementing their commitments under the Policy Framework. With the approval of the Reporting Requirements, ordinary member companies now report annually on the questions included in the Reporting Matrix, which is organized by member category. Many of the questions in the matrix require qualitative responses.  While qualitative information is helpful to understand a company’s progress in implementing its policy, it makes data analysis either to evaluate its progress year to year or to assess progress within a particular stakeholder category difficult.

GPSNR Policy Toolbox Working Group is seeking a consultant to review the GPSNR Reporting Matrix and revise the questions to generate quantitative responses wherever possible.  The consultant should review the following GPSNR documents to inform these proposed revisions: draft GPSNR Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), GPSNR risk assessment guidance documents, feedback from member survey on Year 1 reporting. The consultant should also do a crosswalk with other credible reporting frameworks commonly used by members (e.g., Global Reporting Initiative – GRI, CDP Forest and ZSL SPOTT) to inform proposed changes.

Objectives and Scope of Work

 

  1. Review GPSNR’s Reporting Matrix to  identify questions that currently generate qualitative responses that could generate quantitative responses and propose revisions (this may not be feasible in all cases).
  2. Do a crosswalk of the draft category specific KPIs to determine if they can replace any questions with qualitative responses in the reporting matrix.
  3. Do a crosswalk of the Reporting Matrix questions with GRI, CDP Forest and ZSL-SPOTT reporting questionnaires to identify gaps between the GPSNR Reporting Matrix and the identified reporting schemes and propose equivalent questions from the identified reporting schemes to be integrated into the Reporting Matrix.
  4. Review the recommendations for clarifying reporting questions and responses in the Reporting Matrix that were made by the consortium of consultants that prepared the GPSNR Reporting Guidance (Proforest, Are We There Yet, and Hevea Connect), and propose revisions to reporting questions/responses accordingly.

The consultant can also reference other GPSNR work, such as the risk assessment matrix and the draft Due Diligence Manual.

 

Expected Deliverables

GPSNR expects the consultant to:

Review and revise questions in the GPSNR Reporting Matrix that require a qualitative/narrative response that could be modified to generate a quantitative response. To support the process, the consultants should do the following:

  1. Crosswalk the GPSNR Reporting matrix with reporting frameworks such as GRI, CDP Forest, and ZSL-SPOTT
  2. Use feedback from members’ survey and report from consultants that prepared the reporting guidance to revise reporting questions/responses that have been flagged as unclear and in need of rewording.
  3. Reference the below-listed GPSNR work and determine if any of the work could be used in place of the existing questions in the Reporting Matrix to obtain quantitative responses.
    1. Draft stakeholder category KPIs document
    2. Draft risk assessment guidance framework
    3. Draft due diligence guidance document

Proposal Format and Contents

The proposal should include the following:

1. A workplan that outlines the key activities towards the deliverables outlined in Expected Deliverables above

2. The timeline and key stages of operations based on Project Timeline below

3. Budget, including detailed breakdown of expected manpower, logistics, and costs based on Budget below

4. Description of past work and technical expertise that is relevant to this RFP

A list of project team members with their roles in the project and associated qualifications.

 

Submission Guidelines & Requirements

 

The following submission guidelines & requirements apply to this Request for Proposal:

  1. Proposals will only be accepted from individuals or firms with experience relevant to this project.
  2. Examples of previous relevant work should be provided as well.
  3. A technical proposal must be provided that is not more than 4 pages. This technical proposal must provide an overview of the proposed solution as well as resumes of all key personnel performing the work. In addition, the technical proposal should provide a proposed schedule and milestones, as applicable.
  4. A price proposal must be provided that is not more than 1 pages. This price proposal should indicate the overall fixed price for the project as well as hourly rates and an estimated total number of days.
  5. Proposals must be signed by a representative that is authorized to commit bidder’s company.
  6. Proposals must be received prior to the 14 Apr 2023 to be considered. Proposals should be submitted to savi@gpsnr.org for consideration.
  7. GPSNR reserves the right to amend the scope and budget of this RFP in order to get the most suitable consultant for each topic.

 

Project Timelines

 

Proposal Publishing date

17 Mar 2023

Proposals submitted by consultant to stefano.savi@gpsnr.org

14 Apr 2023

Selection of Top Bidders / Notification to Unsuccessful Bidders

21 Apr 2023

Contract Award / Notification to Unsuccessful Bidders

28 April 2023

First consultation with Policy Toolbox Working Group

3 May  2023

Final Report + Deliverable submission  

16 June 2023

(if needed) Closing meeting with the Working Group

18 June 2023
   

 

Budget

The Platform is anticipating that a total budget of no more than $10,000 USD be allocated to this engagement with an additional amount available to support approved travel, if
necessary.

Payment terms shall be:

·        20% at the signing of the contract

·        30% at the midpoint date to be agreed upon and memorialized in the contract based on the submitted work plan.

·        50% on delivery of the final report

The allocation of the payment shall be based on the net amount after travel
expenses, if deemed necessary by both the consultant and Secretariat, are
incurred and documented.

 

 

Evaluation Factors

 GPSNR will rate proposals based on the following factors, with cost being the most important factor:

1.        Responsiveness to the requirements set forth in this Request for Proposal

2.      Relevant past performance/ experience

3.      Samples of work

4.     Cost, including an assessment of total cost of ownership.

5.      Technical expertise/experience of bidder and bidder’s staff

GPSNR reserves the right to award to the bidder that presents the best value to GPSNR as determined solely by GPSNR in its absolute discretion.eforestation Regulation consolidated text 20-12-22

 


View RFP Document here

GPSNR Working Groups Update: January-February 2023

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The strategy and objectives working group

Both the subworking groups under the umbrella of the Strategy and Objectives WG are occupied with some critical milestones. The Risk Subgroup would soon be receiving the final draft for the risk assessment framework by ASI, which it will fine-tune based on the feedback received during the meetings in Singapore and online at the end of January. They are also kickstarting the traceability field trials in Indonesia and Thailand, for which they will soon start evaluating proposals, while hosting some members webinars on different traceability tools available in the market. 

On the other hand, the Assurance Model taskforce is streamlining the category specific KPIs along with the members journey/assurance model blueprint that was finalised during the latest hybrid meetings. You can find more context in the minutes here or reach out for questions on info@gpsnr.org.

The smallholder representation working group: 

Along with the work on the smallholder policy equivalent for which the WG has already sent out an all-member survey and initiating the HCSA-HCVN NR Smallholder Toolkit Field Trials, they are preparing for the decided merger with the capacity building working group. More details on how this will play out can be found here. 

The policy toolbox working group: 

The group is working on a tender to Crosswalk RR framework with CDP Forest and GRI Reporting, while aligning with the Assurance Model taskforce on the KPI on due diligence. 

The capacity building working group: 

The group is overseeing the pilot agroforestry project in Thailand that kicked off last December, as well as ongoing GAP coaching and disease fighting projects in Indonesia. The group is also working with the newly appointed consultants at Koltiva for the pilot Knowledge Sharing Platform for smallholders. Along with working with the smallholder representation working group on the merger, they continue their tasks of overseeing existing field projects, seeking members’ funding for projects in Côte d’Ivoire and Indonesia.. 

The shared responsibility working group: 

As per the decisions taken on the next steps during the hybrid meetings in January-February, the group is working with the Tiremaker category on streamlining a proposal on shared investment while also completing the deliverables on the other pillars. They are also aligning with the Assurance Model taskforce on how the KPIs will integrate into the Shared Investment mechanism. 

Request For Proposal – GPSNR-RFP-A02-030-Risk Taskforce Traceability Pilot Field Trial – Indonesia

Tender / By

Introduction & Background

 

The Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR) is an international, multi-stakeholder, voluntary membership initiative seeking to lead improvements in the socioeconomic and environmental performance of the natural rubber value chain. Members of the platform include tire manufacturers, rubber suppliers and processors, vehicle makers and NGOs.

The Risk Subgroup of GPSNR is seeking a consultant/field team to identify, test, evaluate and report on what effort may be required for a rubber processor to map their supply shed (i.e., all the farms that they are sourcing from) in complex supply chains such as in Indonesia and Thailand. 

 

Objectives

The goal of the pilot is to investigate what effort (i.e., time, effort, cost, labour) may be required for a rubber processor to map their supply chain in complex supply chains such as Indonesia and Thailand.

The goal of this pilot is to map at least 300 small holder farmers supplying one processing mill each in Indonesia. The subgroup is open to negotiation on the total number of small holder farms mapped based on the service provider’s experience and estimation.

The service provider should work with the GPSNR Risk Subgroup and the participating processors from Indonesia and their dealers to:

  1. Keep track of time and costs of all mapping related activities throughout the study, calculate time and cost of mapping each farm, and provide them to their GPSNR Point of Contact at the end of the survey.
  2. Register and map farmers using field-based mapping or in combination with remote sensing that is crossed checked with field-based mapping samples. The service provider is welcomed to use their own method.
    1. Collect and provide the shapefiles from the mapping at the end of the project to the point of contact and the participating processor.
  3. Ask farmers to answer the RubberWay questionnaire.
  4. Ask farmers to answer the HCVRN Nature Positive Farming questionnaire.
  5. Unless automatically uploaded, submit farmers’ responses to the respective databases and the GPSNR point of contact at the end of each day for compilation.
  6. Record the effort required to convince 300 farmers per processing mill to complete all 3 tools.
    1. Number of dealers and farmers contacted to identify 300 farmers willing to participate in study.
    2. Total person hours required to identify 300 willing suppliers.
    3. Details of incidental (not staff time) expenses required to identify 300 willing farmers.
  7. Record the effort required/difficulty to convince the super dealers/suppliers to participate in the study, based on the supplier tiers & on the pilot sample goal.
    1. Skip Tier 1 farms
    2. Not more than 100 responses from Tier 2
    3. 200 responses from Tier 3 and 4 suppliers

Scope of Work

  • Field data collection has to be completed by the second month from the starting date of the project.
    • Ideally, field teams are experienced in 2 or more of the above tools (RubberWay questionnaire, HCVRN Nature Positive Farming questionnaire and field-based or remote sensing-based mapping), else training will be provided. Please indicate which tools your team is experienced in using we will provide the necessary training.
      • If remote-sensing based is preferred by the service provider, please respond with the process and note that the data has to be cross-checked with field-based samples.
    • Field teams have to be able to speak the local language at each survey location(i.e., Bahasa Indonesia).
  • GPSNR estimates the necessary activities per farm and the time required to conduct them to be as follows:
  1. Explain purpose of visit (~15 mins)
  2. Get permission for personal data collection to ensure data protection (~5mins)
  3. Map farm via mapping based on the mapping method chosen by the service provider (e.g., field-based mapping or remote sensing cross-checked with field samples) (~90mins).
    1. Mapping for farms <4 hectares:
      1. Polygon mapping or GPS mapping is up to the discretion of the service provider.
    2. Polygon mapping for farms above 4 hectares:
      1. This is based on the EU regulation (see Annex A) that a polygon would be required for farmers over 4 hectares.
      2. At least 10% (~30 of the 300 farms must be polygon mapped)
    3. Fill in RubberWay questionnaire (~30mins)
    4. Fill in HCVRN Nature Positive Farming questionnaire (~30mins – 1 hour)
    5. Verify data before departure (~10mins)
  • GPSNR assumes:
    • Total time required: ~approximately 180 mins/3 hours per farm per field assistant.
    • Farms likely to be covered per day: 2 farms.
    • Total number of field assistant days required assuming 2 farms per day: 450 days
    • Total weeks required for 1 field assistant assuming 5 work days per week: 90 weeks
    • Total weeks required for two processors assuming 10 field assistants working simultaneously in one country: 9 weeks
    • This is an estimation of the time taken, we look forward to a comparison with the final recorded timings.
  • If you have other ideas on how to achieve the above objectives, please provide details about how you would design the study

Expected Deliverables

Specifically, GPSNR expects the consultant to:

 1. Map at least 300 farmers supplying to the participating processor in Indonesia and provide the shapefiles to the processor and the GPSNR point of contact.

a.      There should at least be 10% (~30 farms out of 300 farms) that are polygon mapped, based on the requirements mentioned above and in Annex A.

 2. We would like a detailed account of the time and resources spent on 1. travelling to the farm, 2. On the farm and 3. Data analysis

a.      We would like to see a breakdown of the total time spent in each component. E.g., Total reported time spent on 1 farm + 1 analysis = 8hours, within that 2 hour (time taken to travel to farm), 0.5 hours (convincing the farmer), 0.5 hours (communicating to farmer about the tool), 20 mins (Mapping the farms), 30 mins (HCVN questionnaire), 30 mins (Rubberway questionnaire)

 3. An evaluation of the merits and limitations of each tool

a.      E.g., 3/11 farmers surveyed were more apprehensive about the mapping tool due to fear of exposing their location.

 4. A recommendation of the scalability of this pilot

a.      Can the same estimated cost/time/labour be replicated in other regions/jurisdictions within the same country?

b.     E.g., $X/farm is calculated but is not scalable due to what reason(s).

Proposal Format and Contents

The proposal should include the following:

1. A workplan that outlines the key activities towards the deliverables outlined in Expected Deliverables above

2. The timeline and key stages of operations based on Project Timeline below

3. Budget, including detailed breakdown of expected manpower, logistics, and costs based on Budget below

4. Description of past work and technical expertise that is relevant to this RFP

A list of project team members with their roles in the project and associated qualifications.

 

Submission Guidelines & Requirements

The following submission guidelines & requirements apply to this Request for Proposal:

  1. Proposals will only be accepted from individuals or firms with experience relevant to this project.
  2. Examples of previous relevant work should be provided.
  3. A technical proposal must be provided that is not more than 4 pages. This technical proposal must provide an overview of the proposed solution as well as resumes of all key personnel performing the work. In addition, the technical proposal should provide a proposed schedule and milestones, as applicable.
  4. A price proposal must be provided that is not more than 1 pages. This price proposal should indicate the overall fixed price for the project as well as hourly rates and an estimated total number of days.
  5. Proposals must be signed by a representative that is authorized to commit bidder’s company.
  6. Proposals must be received prior to the 10 March 2023 to be considered. Proposals should be submitted to stefano.savi@gpsnr.org and cheryl@gpsnr.org for consideration.
  7. GPSNR reserves the right to amend the scope and budget of this RFP in order to get the most suitable consultant for each topic.

Project Timelines

 

Proposals submitted by consultant to stefano.savi@gpsnr.org

10 March 2023

Selection of consultant /
Notification to Unsuccessful Bidders

16 March 2023

Contract Award / Notification to Unsuccessful Bidders

17 March 2023

Initial methodology presentation and Q&A with subgroup

23 March 2023

Training sessions for tools 

Late March – Early April 2023

Update session with subgroup 

April 2023

Final Draft report and conclusion of project 

July 2023
 

Budget

The Platform is anticipating that a total budget of no more than €25,000 be allocated to this engagement.

Payment terms shall be:

·        20% at the signing of the contract

·        30% at the midpoint date to be agreed upon and memorialized in the contract based on the submitted work plan.

·        50% on delivery of the final report

The allocation of the payment shall be based on the net amount after travel
expenses, if deemed necessary by both the consultant and Secretariat, are
incurred and documented.

 

Evaluation Factors

 GPSNR will rate proposals based on the following factors, with cost being the most important factor:

1.        Responsiveness to the requirements set forth in this Request for Proposal

2.      Relevant past performance/ experience

3.      Samples of work

4.     Cost, including an assessment of total cost of ownership.

5.      Technical expertise/experience of bidder and bidder’s staff

GPSNR reserves the right to award to the bidder that presents the best value to GPSNR as determined solely by GPSNR in its absolute discretion.

 

Annex

Annex A: EU Deforestation Regulation

‘geolocation’ means the geographical location of a plot of land described by means of latitude and longitude coordinates corresponding to at least one latitude and longitude point and using at least six decimal digits. For relevant commodities other than cattle, for plots of land of more than 4 hectares, the geographical location shall be provided using polygons, meaning sufficient latitude and longitude points to describe the perimeter of each plot of land.

Text obtained from Article 2: Definitions, point (29) of the Deforestation Regulation consolidated text dated 20/12/22Deforestation Regulation consolidated text 20-12-22


View RFP Document here

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