GPSNR Working Groups Update: March 2021

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Strategy and Objectives Working Group

The S&O Working Group has received inputs to the platform Theory of Change from the Smallholders Representation, Capacity Building, and Traceability and Transparency Working Groups. A task team from the S&O Working Group will now work to synthesize these different contributions into a single document. This compiled Theory of Change template will then be developed into the platform Theory of Change through a workshop which will involve representatives from all the working groups.

The Equity Sub-Working Group completed a summary of the Living Income studies that the platform commissioned in 2021 and presented the summary through a webinar. The Equity Sub-Working Group will now work to develop recommendations on how GPSNR can address priority risks and boost equity in the value chain.

‘Policy Toolbox’ Working Group

The Policy Toolbox Working Group has selected a combined consultant team of Proforest and Are We There Yet to lead the development of the Implementation Guidance for GPSNR. The development is expected to be a consultative process that concludes with a set of draft guidance that will be ready by July 2021.

To facilitate consultation on the Implementation Guidance, the Working Group will set up category-specific focus groups that members are encouraged to join. The focus groups will meet twice to review the draft guidance and provide feedback and inputs to improve the document. Each focus group is only expected to meet twice and members are only required to spend a few hours before each meeting reviewing the draft documents. The focus groups will be set up in the following manner:

Focus Group 1
Growers
Traders of Raw Materials

Focus Group 2
Processors
Traders of Processed material

Focus Group 3
Tire makers and other manufacturers

Focus Group 4
End users (incl. car makers and other downstream stakeholders).

In line with the assessment of policy documents against the policy framework, the Secretariat has collated company policy documents that were submitted and will proceed to review the policy documents submitted for review. The Secretariat has received responses from all 29 ordinary member companies that were required to submit documents and will spend the next month assessing the submissions.

‘Capacity Building’ Working Group

The Capacity Building Working Group has created three separate task forces that will work on working group tasks. The first task force will focus on developing mechanisms to measure impacts of capacity building activities, the second task force will develop a strategy to attract and recognize GPSNR members’ funding of capacity building activities, and the final task force will develop systems to ensure that the national sub-groups tasked with implementing capacity building activities in each country remain aligned with the broader working group. In addition to the Good Agricultural Practices Task Force, the Working Group now has four Task Forces that will work to deliver on their tasks in the coming months.

‘Traceability and Transparency’ Working Group

The Traceability and Transparency Working Group will continue to meet in its sub-groups to develop recommendations on minimum benchmarks for traceability tools and data sharing in the platform. With the submission of the Working Group’s input to the Theory of Change, the Working Group is pleased to announce that its first sub-group has completed the assigned tasking and will no longer meet.

Smallholder Representation Working Group

The Smallholder Representation Working Group has now onboarded smallholders from Indonesia and Vietnam into the Working Group. The Working Group has also divided into two groups within the working group. The first sub-working group will work to develop a strategy to onboard smallholders from countries that are not represented in GPSNR yet. The second group will work to deepen engagement with smallholders who are already members of the platform and also develop strategies to improve representation among minority groups in countries that are already represented in GPSNR

More To Explore

Impacts and Assurance Associate (Smallholder Representation and Shared Investment Mechanism)

 

Position Impacts and Assurance Associate (Smallholder Representation and Shared Investment Mechanism)
Department Impacts and Assurance
Reporting To Impacts and Assurance Manager
Employment Type Full Time
Work Arrangements Flexible
Effective Date ASAP
Location Southeast Asia

PURPOSE OF POSITION

The Impacts and Assurance Associate will be responsible for supporting smallholder engagement and representation and managing GPSNR’s Shared Investment Mechanism projects and processes. This role will also contribute to other organisational workstreams such as communications, admin support, and finance.

ABOUT GPSNR

Founded in 2019, the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber is an international, multistakeholder, voluntary membership organisation, with a mission to lead improvements in the socioeconomic and environmental performance of the natural rubber value chain. GPSNR currently has 300+ members which represents over 60% of global natural rubber volume.

At GPSNR, we value diversity in experiences and backgrounds. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and our employees are people with different strengths, experiences and backgrounds, who share a passion for improving sustainability and equity practices in supply chains. Diversity for us not only includes race and gender identity, but also nationality, age, disability status, parenthood, sexual orientation, religion and many other parts of one’s identity. All of our employee’s points of view are key to our success, and inclusion is everyone’s responsibility.

ABOUT YOU

You are driven by a passion to generate meaningful change in the tropical commodity sector, particularly through enhancing the livelihoods and capabilities of smallholder farmers. Your main responsibilities include support the operational processes of the Shared Investment Mechanism, overseeing the implementation and monitoring of SIM projects, and facilitating smallholder participation in the platform, ensuring they are actively engaged and well informed about ongoing initiatives. You communicate clearly across cultures, work well independently, and can manage competing priorities in a fast-paced, international environment. You bring both operational rigour and the interpersonal warmth needed to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Support the management of GPSNR Shared Investment Mechanism process, including overseeing open calls for SIM projects, evaluation cycles, fund tracking, and coordination with working groups, governance bodies, and finance. Ensure templates, documentation, and guidance materials are maintained and accessible.
  • Support the management of full project lifecycle for SIM funded projects, from agreement negotiation through implementation monitoring to reporting and close out. This includes managing contracts and payments, reviewing progress reports, identifying and mitigating/escalating risks, and ensuring alignment with deliverables, timelines, budgets, and GPSNR requirements.
  • Plan and conduct field visits to verify GPSNR project implementation, engage with project stakeholders, and prepare field reports with findings and recommendations.
  • Support smallholder engagement activities, including coordination of interpretation and translation, meeting logistics, stakeholder communications, maintenance of smallholder records and onboarding processes, and manage the Rubber Wiki platform.
  • Support the communications team in activities related to smallholder engagement and SIM projects, including developing relevant communication content.
  • Contribute to broader organisational workstreams, including administrative support, meeting coordination, and cross team collaboration.
  • Perform additional duties as assigned.

REQUIRED COMPETENCES & QUALIFICATIONS

  • Ability to manage a broad range of responsibilities, including administration and finance, while handling multiple priorities effectively.
  • Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and processes across different geographies and stakeholder groups.
  • Excellent organisational and administrative skills with strong attention to detail and accuracy.
  • Self-disciplined and proactive, with good judgment in identifying and escalating risks and the ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
  • Clear and effective communication skills to ensure efficient and effective information exchange.
  • High level of emotional intelligence and sensitivity when engaging with stakeholders from diverse backgrounds, including team members, smallholder farmers, corporate representatives, civil society, and government partners.
  • Strong problem solving ability and adaptability to changing conditions and competing priorities.
  • Initiative in developing strategies, procedures, and documentation templates to support platform operations.
  • High level of emotional intelligence and team citizenship.
  • Willingness to travel to project sites in natural rubber producing countries, including Southeast Asia and West Africa.

ADVANTAGEOUS COMPETENCES & QUALIFICATIONS

  • Prior experience in project management in the sustainability, agriculture, or development sector.
  • Experience in stakeholder coordination, fund administration, or governance processes in an international or multistakeholder environment.
  • Familiarity with natural rubber supply chains, smallholder livelihoods, or tropical commodity sectors.
  • Familiarity with digital platforms for knowledge sharing or community engagement.

Please send your application to cheewei@gpsnr.org with the email subject: [IA Associate (SH&SIM) – Your Name]

GPSNR Secretariat April 29, 2026
News

Strategy and Objectives Working Group Update – October 2019

Strategy 1 – A team led by Liza Murphy with the support of Proforest has been selected to lead the work on the Assurance Models study, which is expected to be finalised in January 2020 for review by the working group before Executive Committee approval, prior to the General Assembly in March. The working group is now fully staffed with members volunteers looking into identifying co-chairs for the group.

Strategy 2 – After the first working group call, the Capacity Building working group will start working on identifying the priority countries and capacity gaps needed, a work expected to be completed in the months of October – November.  Following that, the action plan will be developed and consulted before being submitted to the Executive Committee in March 2020.  

Strategy 3 – Enhancing Transparency and Traceability working group composition is currently being finalized to ensure balance amongst the different categories of ordinary members with the expectation to kick-off the first call in November. 

All three working groups will be reporting directly to the Executive Committee while keeping regular contact with the Strategy & Objectives working Group to ensure the consistency of work. The Strategy & Objectives working group remains active to review the desired state to include the identified impact metrics, finalise the theory of change, and look at the financial model for GPSNR in coordination with the Strategy 1 – Policy Toolbox working group.

All minutes of the working groups will be available in the members section of the GPSNR website www.gpsnr.org

GPSNR Staff October 21, 2019
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