GPSNR Working Groups Update: June 2022

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Here are all their updates from the last month:

Strategy and Objectives Working Group

For the strategy and objectives working group, the development of the assurance model will be on priority for the next few months. To this end, they have finalised the draft terms of reference for an Assurance Model taskforce, which will be presented to the Executive Committee in their next meeting. Once approved, recruitment will begin extensively. The risk subgroup is also finalizing a document to be shared with the Executive Committee for their feedback.

Smallholder Representation Working Group

The group has submitted a resolution ahead of the July 22 General Assembly to restructure smallholder membership within GPSNR to enhance active participation. You can take a look at it in the GA Booklet here. In the next few months, they will begin planning smallholder workshops in Malaysia while also working on the smallholder policy equivalent. In case you missed it, they have also published an RFP recently to pilot agroforestry workshops for smallholders. Find it here. Preparations for a workshop for smallholders in Malaysia have also begun, which would be held in Q3 of 2022.

Policy Toolbox Working Group

In the last month, the group has finalised two major resolutions presented to the July General Assembly – one on the implementation guidance and the other on the disclosure requirements for year one reporting. Take a look here. Additionally, they have also finalised the guidance and templates for reporting for manufacturers and end users. If you are an end user or manufacturer who has not yet received the guidance and/or the templates, please write to the secretariat at info@gpsnr.org. 

For the next couple of months, the working group will be busy with finalising the operational guidance for the compliance panel and will continue conversations on the transparent reporting roadmap for years 2 and 3.

Capacity Building Working Group

After the kick-off of the GAPs coaching project in Indonesia with SNV and Koltiva, the group is  busy in the development of GPSNR’s knowledge sharing platform, which includes smallholder interviews, compiling and assessing responses of member surveys and holding focus group discussions. At the same time, they are working on advancing Capacity Building plans for Indonesia, Thailand and Côte d’Ivoire. 

They have also published two key RFPs for capacity building projects in Indonesia: one on disease fighting and the other on the provision of certified planting materials.

Shared Responsibility Working Group

The Shared Responsibility working group has prepared the Shared Responsibility framework resolution ahead of the GA, which you can read here. 

More To Explore
Members

Embracing our Shared Responsibility: GPSNR’s newest Working Group (Members Version)

Before the second General Assembly on 23 September 2020, the GPSNR Executive Committee had approved the creation of a Shared Responsibility Working Group that would be tasked to define the principles of shared responsibility for GPSNR.

The term ‘shared responsibility’ is relatively new to the sustainability scene, and as such, there is currently no commonly accepted definition for it. In general, shared responsibility is a value-driven concept which recognizes that supply chains are structurally imbalanced in terms of value and benefit, risk, burden of compliance, climate change impacts, power of negotiation, and access to information and resources. A shared responsibility approach strives for value, benefits, risks and improvement investments to be equitably distributed across all actors within the supply chain.​

In order to establish the foundational work that would enable the creation of the Shared Responsibility Working Group, the Executive Committee formed a Task Force comprising several of its members. Over a series of weekly calls, the Task Force has developed a Terms of Reference (ToR) and a set of Guiding Principles to inform the work of the new Shared Responsibility Working Group.

It is envisioned that the Shared Responsibility Working Group will draw from the Guiding Principles for Shared Responsibility (currently being developed by the Executive Committee’s Shared Responsibility Task Force), as well as the GPSNR Equity Definition and the studies launched by the Equity Working Group, to develop an implementation framework for the platform with respect to shared responsibility.

GPSNR is now looking for members interested in joining the Shared Responsibility Working Group, to register with the Secretariat. If you are interested to join the SR WG, please email Aidan (aidan@gpsnr.org) to indicate your interest. The deadline for expressing interest is Wednesday 24th February, after which the WG will nominate co-chairs and kickoff as soon as possible.

The Shared Responsibility Working Group Terms of Reference can be found here.

Shared-Responsibility-WG-TORDownload

GPSNR Staff February 16, 2021

GPSNR Shared Investment Mechanism 2027 – In-Kind Contribution (IKC) Application Opens

The GPSNR Shared Investment Mechanism (SIM) is now accepting applications for 2027 IKC.

The SIM is a joint funding framework through which GPSNR Ordinary Members (currently mandatory for Manufacturer Members) collectively support sustainability and capacity-building initiatives across the natural rubber value chain.

Under the Shared Investment Framework, Manufacturer Member organisations may submit eligible projects for consideration under the SIM. Applications will be evaluated against the SIM Funding Principles, Open Market Criteria, and the overall quality of the proposal.  If the project is approved, the actual eligible expenses incurred for that project may be recognised as an IKC and applied towards the organisation’s SIM contribution. 

Who can Apply?
IKC applications are open to GPSNR Manufacturer Members only. While project proposals may be prepared with support from project implementers or other third-party organisations involved in project delivery, the application must be submitted by the GPSNR Manufacturer Member, who remains responsible for the accuracy and completeness of the submission.

If any other GPSNR Ordinary Members wish to submit an IKC application, please contact the Secretariat before preparing your application.

Assessment Process
All IKC applications will undergo a technical evaluation conducted by the Project Management Working Group evaluation panel. Applications recommended by the PMWG will then be submitted to the Shared Investment Panel (SIP) for final endorsement. Following endorsement, applicants may commence implementation for new projects or continue implementation for existing projects.

Application Resources
Before preparing your application, please ensure that you have reviewed the following documents:

Your application should clearly demonstrate how the project aligns with the SIM Funding Principles and satisfies the Open Market Criteria.

Applicants must use the prescribed templates and follow all submission guidance. Proposals that do not comply with the required templates or application requirements will not be considered.

Submission Timeline

Call for Applications Open 10 August 2026
Applicant Webinar 18 August 2026, 3.00-4.00PM SGT
Submission Deadline 15 September 2026, 11.59PM SGT

All required application documents must be submitted by the deadline above. Late or incomplete submissions will not be accepted.

Submission Instructions

Step 1: Review the application guidance.
Please read the FAQ – In-Kind Contributions_V2 FAQ document before preparing your submission.

Step 2: Complete the required templates.
Applicants must use the prescribed templates and complete all required sections as instructed. Please do not alter the format, structure, or formulas within the templates. Proposals that do not comply with these requirements will be rejected.

  1. SIM2027 In-Kind Contribution Project Application Template_V3.docx
  2. SIM2027 In-Kind Contribution Project Budget Template_V2

Step 3: Submit your application via email.
Email the completed proposal and budget template to cheewei@gpsnr.org and amanda@gpsnr.org using the following subject line: [SIM2027 IKC Proposal Submission] – [Project Name]
Please ensure that all key points of contact for the project within your organisation are copied (CC’d) on the submission email.

Applicant Webinar

Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend the SIM 2027 IKC Applicant Webinar, which will be held on 18 August 2026, 3:00–4:00 PM (SGT).

The webinar is designed to help applicants prepare the strongest possible submission. During the session, the Secretariat will:

  • provide an overview of the application process;
  • explain the proposal and budget templates;
  • walk through the assessment criteria;
  • answer questions during a live Q&A session.

Whether you are a first-time applicant or have previously submitted a proposal, attendance is highly recommended to ensure your application fully addresses the evaluation criteria and meets the submission requirements.

Sign up here by 17 August, 12.00PM SGT.

Contact Us

If you have any questions regarding the application process, please contact cheewei@gpsnr.org and amanda@gpsnr.org

GPSNR Secretariat August 10, 2026
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