Request for Proposal – Drafting of a Shared Responsibility Framework (GPSNR-RFP-A02-015)

Background

The Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR) brings together companies, smallholders, academia, and civil society to transform the natural rubber supply chain into one that is sustainable, equitable, and fair.

Since its launch in 2018, GPSNR has grown into a truly global platform, now representing over half of the world’s natural rubber demand. Over the years, the platform has moved from building alignment and collaboration to establishing the systems that make collective impact possible.

2025 marks a pivotal shift in GPSNR’s journey.
This is the year in which the platform redefined what impact means, moving from engagement and small-scale contributions to systemic change through:

• the approval and launch of an industry-wide sustainability assurance system

   

• the mobilisation of funding through the Shared Investment Mechanism (SIM)

   

• and a strategic focus on scaling impact in emerging markets 

The 2025 Annual Report will tell this story of growing ambition of a platform that has moved decisively into an era of assured, financed, and delivered impact.

Scope

GPSNR is seeking a creative consultancy or production partner to develop:

1. A short-form Annual Report video (5 minutes)

    

2. An accompanying Annual Report that can be published online and downloaded as a PDF

The video and report should work together as a cohesive storytelling package, communicating GPSNR’s strategic evolution and impact to members, partners, donors, policymakers, and the wider sustainability community.

All core content, messaging, and data will be provided by the GPSNR Secretariat. The consultant will be responsible for shaping this content into compelling visual narratives across both formats.

Core tasks

Working closely with the GPSNR secretariat, the consultant will: 

• Propose 2–3 creative concepts for the overall narrative and visual direction of the Annual Report (video + PDF) for the GPSNR team to choose from 
• The consultant will be responsible for scriptwriting and storyboarding, content production, video editing and post-production, and final delivery of a complete video package suitable for digital, event, and member communications.
• Liaise with GPSNR’s Communications Manager to ensure the draft cuts are feasible. 

Terms 

• The engagement will take place for a period of six weeks, from 26 January to 9 March. Interim dates for and approvals will be mutually agreed upon after confirmation. 

Necessary Competencies:

• Proven experience producing annual reports or impact communications in video and digital formats
• Strong capabilities in visual storytelling and narrative development
• Experience working with:
  • sustainability, ESG, or multi-stakeholder initiatives
  • complex technical content and policy-related themes
• High-level design and production skills, including:
  • motion graphics and video editing
  • layout and publication design
• Ability to manage iterative feedback processes with multiple stakeholders
• Strong attention to detail and quality control

Submission Guidelines:

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

• Proposals will only be accepted from individuals or firms with experience relevant to this project.
• Submissions must include 1) a portfolio of previous work 2) a paragraph describing how the consultant would approach such a project 3) a financial proposal with a breakdown of how much each work would cost.
• Proposals must be signed by a representative that is authorised to commit to the bidder’s company.
• Proposals must be received by 19 January 2025 to be considered. Proposals should be submitted to bani.bains@gpsnr.org for consideration.
  
• To receive a copy of the draft content, applicants can email bani.bains@gpsnr.org

RFP and Project Timelines

Budget

The Platform anticipates that a total budget of no more than 4,000 Singapore Dollars (SGD) will 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 memorialised in the contract based on the submitted work plan

50% on delivery of the final report

Evaluation Factors

GPSNR will rate proposals based on the following factors:

• Responsiveness to the requirements outlined in this Request for Proposals
• Relevant past performance/experience and / or any samples of past work
• Cost, including an assessment of the total cost of ownership.
• Technical expertise/experience of the bidder and the 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.

View RFP Document here

Through a process led by the Strategy and Objectives Working Group the Platform has developed stated goals with a strong focus on developing a framework that supports and sustains responsible supply chain . Important among the information needed to undergo these developments of is a better understanding of the social risks including (but not limiting to) Human Rights and Labour Rights in the Natural Rubber value chains, globally.

Each country has its own governance and social structure which contributes to different social risks from country to country. While these risks are associated to the wider population, there are specific characteristics of social risks that are particularly associated to agricultural production. For the countries where law enforcement is weak, there is a risk that the workers are exposed to poor work conditions without any access to a fair complaint mechanism.

Although the initial focus of this project is on human rights and labour rights (including migrant workers), the consultant is expected to elaborate how human and labour rights are associated to other social risks (i.e. land acquisition, community health, safety and security, etc.) in order to recommend risk mitigation methods to the Strategy and Objectives Working Group.

The consultant is expected to develop generic risk profile at a global level, and specific risk profile at a regional level. The tentative regions for specific risks study are proposed as following:

• – Production Unit and Rubber Block Processing Unit- Southeast Asia (Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam), Africa (Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana) and Latin America (Brazil, Guatemala);
• – Tyre Manufacturing Unit – China, Southeast Asia, Europe and US.

The list of regions above is tentative and can be adjusted upon the discussion between the consultant and the Strategy and Objectives Working Group members. After the risk profiles are developed, the consultant is expected to come up with recommendations for risk mitigation strategies for each region.

The consultant will collect the information via desktop study, interviewing of GPSNR members, research institutes, social NGOs, governmental organizations, etc. A primary list of stakeholders will be provided by the Secretariat together with the Strategy and Objectives Working Group members. A complementary list will be developed by the consultant. Regular contact and updating to the Strategy and Objective Working Group together with the Secretariat will be required. It is estimated that there will be the need for a series of face to face meetings in South East Asia over the course of the project. Travel plans shall be made by the consultant

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 10th January 2020 to be considered. Proposals should be submitted to stefano.savi@gpsnr.org for consideration.
7. GPSNR anticipates shortlisting at least two individuals or firms to have more in-depth discussions with, and will make an award to one of these “down-selected” individuals or firms

Download full Request for Proposal here