2026-28 Fairtrade Strategy: Thematic Approach Consultant
Fairtrade’s 2026-2028 strategy will focus on positioning Fairtrade at the forefront of emerging trends and legislative frameworks. We are seeking a consultant to support with a review of our approach to the thematic areas we engage with (e.g. sustainable livelihoods, living income/wages, gender, climate & environment, decent work, human rights etc.)
The aim of the review is to understand:
- Trends in the sector
- Their relevance to Fairtrade
- How Fairtrade should approach and frame its work with regards to these thematic areas
- An analysis of these trends from a stakeholder and commodity lens
The consultant(s) will be required to conduct the following:
- Review and build on existing work to identify and analyze key development trends that currently shape thinking in the sector, as well as those likely to emerge over the next 5 years, including the potential implications and impact that these will have on Fairtrade and our stakeholders (partners, donors, farmers & workers, CSOs, and sustainability schemes).
- Highlight opportunities where trends could support Fairtrade’s mission. This should include opportunities around business services and income generation, as well as impact.
- Highlight areas where Fairtrade needs to evolve and respond to developments, including an analysis of where potential disruptions will come from and in what form.
- Analyze the focus and positioning of Fairtrade’s competitors in this space, especially in the theoretical framing of their thematic work (e.g. but not limited to, landscape approaches, market systems, donut economics, complex adaptive systems etc.), including an analysis of Fairtrade’s UVP in this context.
- Evaluate and analyze the funding landscape, including where commercial and donor partners will either continue to focus and/or shift focus in interest and funding over the next 5 years.
- Provide evidence-based recommendations and a clear way forward to Fairtrade on future thematic focus, approach, market positioning, business service development and delivery. The recommendations are the key output of the consultancy and will be critical in shaping the future strategy.
Please send your short proposal to florence.collenette@fairtrade.org with the subject: ‘2026-28 Fairtrade Strategy: our Thematic Approach’.
Your proposal (max 5 pages, excluding CVs) should include the following:
- Your proposed approach to the project
- Detailed costings, including day rates and costs for paid-for-data and additional activities
- How you/the team meet the criteria set out under the ‘Skills and Experience’ section above
- Relevant past consultancy experience and how that will support this project
- Please include CVs (max. 3 pages per person) of the proposed consultant/project team members
- Please outline any potential conflicts of interest within your proposal.
The deadline for proposals is 12:00 (midday, BST) 11th April 2025.
The deadline for the assignment is May 2025.
For any queries, please contact Taryn Holland, Head of Programme Partnerships on taryn.holland@fairtrade.org.uk or Rachel Wadham, Head of Evidence & Insights on rachel.wadham@fairtrade.org.uk.
2026-28 Fairtrade Strategy: the Legislative Landscape Consultant
Fairtrade’s 2026-2028 strategy will focus on positioning Fairtrade at the forefront of emerging trends and legislative frameworks. This includes ensuring that future laws and regulations support fair trade practices, sustainable supply chains, and equitable market access for producers, as well as looking at how Fairtrade certification can integrate and support legislation. By identifying legislative shifts and opportunities, we aim to advocate for policies that will further the goals of social, environmental, and economic justice in global trade.
We are seeking a consultant with deep expertise in regulatory affairs, global supply chains and sustainability policy to conduct a comprehensive review of the future legislative landscape. The review will explore the legislative trends from 2026-2028 that are likely to impact Fairtrade supply chains, identifying key opportunities for advocacy and business services and providing actionable recommendations. This will ensure that Fairtrade remains agile in navigating, integrating and influencing changing policy environments to support its mission.
The work has the following objectives:
- Identify and analyze key legislative and regulatory trends likely to emerge over the next ten years, particularly in the EU (including EUDR, EUOR, CSRD, CSDDD, FLR), the UK, and other key global markets (non-EU countries, particularly the US and Canada) that impact Fairtrade’s operations.
- Highlight opportunities where legislation could support Fairtrade’s mission, such as laws promoting sustainable sourcing, fair wages, ethical labour standards, and corporate responsibility.
- Analyse the effects of regulatory trends on business reporting requirements and data transparency, and identify the opportunities these trends present for Fairtrade.
- Assess how global trade policies (including those set by the WTO, regional trade agreements, and national governments) are evolving and how they could impact the trade landscape for Fairtrade-certified products.
- Evaluate the integration of sustainable development goals (SDGs) and other environmental regulations into national and international legislation that affects agriculture and trade.
- Identify legislative measures that support the long-term sustainability of the Fairtrade system, particularly as it pertains to securing market access, fair prices, and producer empowerment.
- Provide evidence-based recommendations to shape Fairtrade’s strategic priorities for 2026-2028, particularly in areas of policy engagement, advocacy, market access, and producer support.
Please send proposals to marie.rumsby@fairtrade.org.uk and mandy.gardner@fairtrade.org.uk with the subject: ‘2026-28 Fairtrade Strategy: the Legislative Landscape’
Your proposal should include the following sections:
- Your proposed approach to the project
- Detailed costings, including day rates and costs for paid-for-data and additional activities
- How you/the team meet the criteria set out under the ‘Skills and Experience’ section above
- Relevant past consultancy experience and how that will support this project
- Please include CVs (max. 3 pages per person) of the proposed consultant/project team members
- Please outline any potential conflicts of interest within your proposal.
The deadline for proposals is 7th April 2025
Assignment timeline: April 2025- May 2025
For any queries, please contact Marie Rumsby, Communications and Advocacy Director on marie.rumsby@fairtrade.org.uk or Mandy Gardner, Associate Director of Strategy and Planning on mandy.gardner@fairtrade.org.uk.