TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR OXFAM in ASIA POLICY AND RESEARCH

1 SUMMARY
Research Papers		Mapping of the Shrimp Regional Business Model in Southeast Asia- Internal Research report (Value Chain Mapping Report) Emerging Good Practices in the Seafood Sector- South East Asia- External Publication (Good Practices External Report)
Launch date		Good Practices External Report- November 15^th, 2020 Value Chain Mapping Report: December 15th, 2020
Type of product		2 Research reports
Purpose Why is this being commissioned? Why now?		The Asia Regional Platform’s core Behind the Barcodes campaign since 2018/19 in the region, along with the Multi- country Asian GRAISEA programme steered by Oxfam, has focused on the seafood value chains in the ASEAN region specifically in Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam. A number of efficiencies in the regional business model for shrimp allow for the profitable transformation and movement of products to distant markets. This internal Oxfam research aims to map the first-tier, including their own subsidiaries, transaction points in regional production and trade in shrimp goods in Thailand and Vietnam, and to provide analysis of the footprint and practical/inclusive approaches to decent work in the regional shrimp sector. The external publication paper will provide an accurate picture of efficiencies negotiated within the regional business model of the major seafood companies (TUF, CP, BMI) including any out-transfers of work costs into social costs. The external publication paper will reiterate the key issues faced by the seafood workers in the region along with highlighting the positive impacts of the engagement by CSOs and the strides made by progressive seafood companies in the region. By demonstrating the need for sustainability and the viability of positive change in the seafood sector, the paper will be part of aggregated efforts for the wider regional campaign on seafood. The paper will seek to start a national and regional level discussion and action about inequalities in the seafood sector through creating space for a policy debate and mobilization around inequality in the seafood sector, and support national-level advocacy and engagement with key multinational companies in the region. The covid pandemic has brought a renewed focus on labour issues in the seafood sector and other value chains in Asia and will bring forth additional impacts from the pandemic. This product will also act as an initial framework for the ASEAN and trade engagement strand of the campaign, which is currently under consideration.
Audience List primary and other audiences Who are we trying to influence? What will be the style and tone?		Primary audience: Private Sector Companies in Seafood Sector National government and policy-makers, specifically in the countries participating in the Asia seafood Influencing work. Regional and national media Secondary audience: CSOs in the country campaigning or working on inequality, food security and other associated issues. Policymakers at key regional institutions (ASEAN), allies and partners, other potential influencers (academics, development professionals). International policy audience. Tertiary audience: General public, through social media and campaigning activities based on content from the paper.
2 TERMS OF REFERENCE
Proposition Short (c. 75 words) on the paper’s core argument and policy recommendation(s) Include specific gender/women’s rights points here if possible.	For External Publication Report: Seafood, especially shrimps, are a key sector for many South East Asian countries, especially Vietnam (2^nd largest shrimp exporter globally), Thailand (5^th largest shrimp exporter), Indonesia (4^th largest shrimp globally) with the bulk of their exports going to the United States, EU and Japan. It supports the livelihood of millions in the region, especially processing workers, vessel workers and aquaculture farmers. But the sector is facing major challenges on the human rights front which are having massive implications for value chain development, global and regional trade and livelihoods. This is especially true in countries like Thailand and highlighted extensively in the global media but also in additional countries but at varying levels in Indonesia and Vietnam. It is also increasingly unsustainable environmentally. Workers are struggling to receive a fair share of the value of the produce. Women in particular face high levels of discrimination and gender-based barriers to improving their incomes and getting fair/ equal prices. This research report will reiterate the problems in the sector referencing country specific case studies previously developed by Oxfam with some level of updating where appropriate, including the covid pandemic impacts, and will also make a strong case for the viability of the proposed recommendations by Oxfam which are currently being implemented at partial stages by major seafood processing companies in the region. The paper aims to be agenda-setting, starting a conversation about the functioning of the seafood sector at the regional and ASEAN levels and how to reshape it so that workers can achieve sustainable, fair livelihoods protecting their fundamental human rights. The paper will be framed around the following aspects: Reiterating/outlining the major issues in the sector; Share additional impacts from the covid impact at both statistical and anecdotal levels Build on the topline trade route of shrimp products from Southeast Asia and financial rationale for sustainability (from more detailed internal circulation value chain supplier mapping) Highlighting policy progresses made by companies and countries; Share positive case studies of solutions being implemented by companies; It will present further recommendations – for national government and for private sector and other actors such as regional bodies
Countries and regions List countries and regions involved, including those contributing case studies	Thailand Vietnam (GROW/ GRAISEA) Indonesia (GROW/ GRAISEA)
Gender content How does this paper/report incorporate gender justice and women’s rights into its argument?	The papers needs to build on the gendered perspective on the issues in the seafood sector, especially at various stages of the shrimp value chain and also bring in the disparity at the unpaid care level. Any recommendations will have a strong gender-based analysis as part of it.
3 PRODUCTION AND PROMOTION
Translations Translation needed into Oxfam’s core languages (English, Spanish, French)? Other languages?	English only.
Expected length Word count please, not pages Note: extra length increases costs and time in production and can reduce impact; see guide on word counts in notes.	Max 8000 – 10,000 words, including an executive summary and endnotes.
Criteria and Skills Required	8-10 Years of research/ policy level experience either in academia or non profit influencing and advocacy. Extensive experience of working on issues in Asian value chains. Knowledge of Seafood sector issues in the Asian region would be preferable.
Costs and budget Direct production costs include copy editing, translation and design (if needed) The Publishing team can estimate costs for your paper based on the information in this section.	Inclusive of all research costs and consultant’s fees.
How to apply	If this sounds like you, please go to this link: https://www.thaingo.org/jobs/files/Seafood regional mapping_good practices_TOR.pdf Application for the above position can be sent by 14 October 2020. Please send you technical and financial proposal to hr_thailand@oxfam.org.uk