Ghana: Kuapa Kokoo Child Labour Monitoring and Remediation System (KKCLMRS) Project

Introduction & Background: 

Overview of Fairtrade Africa (FTA): 

Established in 2005, Fairtrade Africa (FTA) is a member of Fairtrade International and the umbrella network organization representing Fairtrade-certified Producer Organizations in Africa and the Middle East. It has four (4) regional networks – Eastern & Central Africa; Southern Africa; West Africa; and the Middle East & North Africa. Fairtrade Africa currently represents 1,445,265 farmers and workers in 684 Producer Organizations spread across 29 countries in Africa and the Middle East by providing services to them that contribute to the improvement of their livelihoods.

Overview of The DONUTS Programme: 

Dignified Opportunities Nurtured Through Trade and Sustainability (DONUTS) is a four-year Development programme funded by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland (MFA-Finland) with further support from National Fairtrade Organizations (NFOs) and Commercial partners. The goal of the programme is to have Farmers and agricultural workers’ rights to sustainable livelihoods realised. The programme intends to achieve this goal by enhancing the resilience of communities to risks, strengthening democracy and inclusion of civil society organizations as well as supporting the realization of living income and decent work. In addition, DONUTS supports farmers, workers and other stakeholders to mitigate climate change and protect nature.

Overview of the KKCLMRS Project: 

This project mobilizes Ghanaian farming communities, institutions, and youth to drive down child and forced labour through targeted risk reduction, policy action, and robust remediation—working together towards the overarching goal, ‘Child and forced labour is progressively eliminated, with priority given to the worst forms of labour and the provision of alternatives for children’. This will be a result of progress towards the following results:

1. Outcome 1: Decreased Risk of Child Labour & Forced Labour - digitally supported monitoring teams—drawn from community volunteers, youth-inclusive groups, and KKFU staff—visit farms, homes, and schools to spot early warning signs of exploitation. These teams coach parents on child labour and safe work practices, formalize sharecroppers’ contracts, and implement systems to identify the children at risk and cuts opportunities for child and forced labour to take root.
2. Outcome 2: Local Authorities Implement Policies for Improved Social Protection Services - Working side-by-side with district and national government bodies, the project helps draft and adopt child-labour risk-reduction plans, referral protocols, and social protection schemes that explicitly address both child and forced labour. Trainings for local officials, budget advocacy, and community dialogues supports the embedding of child rights in the communities.
3. Outcome 3: Enhanced Remediation Efforts on Child Labour Cases - When monitoring teams identify children in exploitative work, a remediation pathway activates to address identified cases. Community child-protection committees coordinate with social services and youth employment schemes to ensure each child transitions to a safe alternative and does not relapse.

The project is implemented in 40 communities in Sankore, Goaso, Kasapin and Bibiani districts in Ghana and targets 3,848 farmers who are members of the Kuapa Kokoo Farmers’ Union, 2565 vulnerable adults and 11,500 children in these communities.

Evaluation Purpose: 

Fairtrade Africa is recruiting a consultant to conduct an end of project evaluation to:

1. Assess the project based on the OECD DAC evaluation criteria, DONUTS cross-cutting objectives and to support learning, adaptation & replication by answering the following questions:

Relevance:

• How well did the project’s design align with the priorities, needs, and aspirations of the targeted rightsholders?
• Were the selected interventions contextually and culturally appropriate?
• Were risks to human rights considered in selected interventions?

Coherence:

• How effectively was the project integrated with existing local, national or regional policies?
• To what extent did the project complement or duplicate other donor-funded initiatives within KKFU [e.g., SANKOFA 2.0 project]?
• What mechanisms were in place to ensure alignment with external actors (government, NGOs, private sector)?
• To what extent did the project support KKFU to comply with regulations and Standards that promote sustainable Cocoa production in Africa (e.g. African Regional Standard on Sustainable Cocoa/ARS 1000, UNPG).

Effectiveness:

• To what extent has the project achieved its intended objectives and targets?
• What progress has been made towards key project outcomes and indicators?
• What factors facilitated or hindered the achievement of intended results?
• How effectively were project strategies adjusted based on real-time feedback and learning?
• How flexible was the project in adapting to emerging needs and challenges during implementation?

Efficiency:

• How efficiently were financial and human resources allocated and utilized?
• Were the project’s interventions cost-effective compared to alternative approaches?
• Were there any areas where resources could have been used more effectively?
• How did project management, governance, and decision-making structures contribute to efficiency in implementation?

Impact:

• How has the project contributed to improving human rights, resilience, and well-being of beneficiaries?
• What behavioural, social, and economic changes have resulted from the interventions?
• Were there unintended positive or negative consequences arising from the project?

Sustainability:

• How likely are the project’s benefits, skills, and resources to be sustained after funding ends?
• To what extent have local actors (government, CSOs, community leaders, PO) taken ownership of interventions?
• What measures were in place to ensure accountability and transparency in project implementation? Could they be improved? If so, how?
• What strategies were put in place to ensure institutionalization and long-term sustainability?
• What are the key risks or barriers to sustaining project outcomes, and how can they be mitigated?
• Has the project established sustainable mechanisms for inclusion?

Cross – cutting objectives: Gender, youth, vulnerable persons: 

• Did the chosen approaches enhance inclusion of women, youth and vulnerable persons (e.g. persons with disabilities) affected by the project? How well? Could the approaches be improved? How?
• To what extent did the project influence gender equality, youth participation, and inclusion of vulnerable groups in cocoa growing communities?

Learning & Adaptation, Scaling Up & Replication:

• What best practices and lessons can inform future programme design and implementation?
• How can collaborative learning approaches be enhanced to support continuous improvement?
• What elements of the project have been most effective and scalable?
• What challenges need to be addressed before expanding the intervention to new areas or communities?

To carry out data collection and analysis for each indicator in the results table and determine the outcomes and impact of the project (Please refer to the results table in annex 1).

Deliverables: 

• Inception Report: This report will outline the evaluation methodology, work plan, and data collection tools.
• Draft Report and Data: This report will present the preliminary findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the evaluation together with completed Indicator performance tracking table (IPTT) for project output, outcome and impact indicators. The draft report will be presented to the project stakeholders for feedback.
• Final Report and Data: This report will incorporate feedback from project stakeholders and will be the final version of the evaluation report. A summary of the report in MS PowerPoint should also be provided.
• Dissemination Plan: This plan will outline how the evaluation findings will be shared with stakeholders.

Methodology: 

• The evaluation will use a mixed-methods approach combining quantitative and qualitative data collection methods that will support an in-depth analysis of the project in accordance with OECD DAC criteria.
• The consultant will select an appropriate sampling method to obtain a representative sample from targeted rightsholders for data collection.
• Desk Review & Comparative Analysis: analysis of project reports, baseline assessments as well as the comparison of the baseline and endline findings to assess change over time.
• Detailed information on the methods to be used will be developed by the consultant during the Inception period.

Timelines: 

The expected start date of this consultancy is 15th July 2025, and the consultant is expected to complete the assignment by or before 30th September 2025.

Ethical Considerations: 

• The evaluation will be conducted in an ethical and transparent manner, and in accordance with FTA policies (including Data protection policy, Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy, Child Protection Policy).
• The evaluation team will obtain informed consent from all participants and will ensure the confidentiality of all data collected.
• The evaluation team will adhere to the highest standards of professional conduct.

Consultant Specifications: 

Fairtrade Africa seeks an experienced, proactive and dedicated consultant to undertake this assignment. We welcome applications from interested people or groups with:

• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in carrying out evaluations using the OECD/DAC approach with a focus on agriculture development programs. Familiarity with MEL in the cocoa value chain in Ghana is desirable.
• An evaluation team of qualified evaluators with experience in child and forced labour prevention and human rights.
• Demonstrable experience with the OECD Criteria, in qualitative and quantitative research methodology, evaluation design and implementation.
• Strong analytical, communication and reporting skills.
• The consultant MUST be based in Ghana and available to undertake the assignment starting from 15th July 2025.
• Proficiency in English and the local language.

How to Apply: 

Submission Guidelines: 

Technical and Financial proposals from interested consultants or consultancy firms should include as a minimum the following elements:

• A cover letter introducing the submission.
• Complete CV of the consultant(s) outlining the relevant skills, experience and role on the assignment.
• Three references from organizations with whom similar assignments were carried out in the last three (3) years, outlining the consultant’s role, performance and the project deliverables.
• Technical proposal detailing consultants’ proposed methodology and workplan.
• Financial proposal with a detailed budget for the assignment this should include all costs and applicable taxes.
• The financial and technical proposals should be submitted as separate documents.
• Consultant(s) is encouraged to include any additional information they believe demonstrates added value for Fairtrade Africa within the scope of this assignment.
• Business license of the consulting firm.

To apply, please submit a technical and financial proposal with the above specifications to procurement@fairtradeafrica.net by 30th June 2025. Indicate in the email subject line KKCLMRS End-Term Evaluation. Bids are evaluated by assessing both technical criteria (experience, methodology, and compliance) and price competitiveness.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If Fairtrade Africa has not contacted you by July 15th, 2025, consider your proposal unsuccessful.

Fairtrade Africa reserves the right to interview and appoint applicants prior to the closing date of this consultancy.