The Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung is an internationally active, left-wing, non-profit organisation for political education and affiliated to the German party "Die Linke". Since 1990, the organisation has been dedicated to the study of social, political and economic processes and developments worldwide. We work in the context of the growing manifold crises of our current political and economic system. In cooperation with other progressive organisations from all parts of the world, we work for democratic and social participation, empowerment of disadvantaged groups and alternative economic and social development. Through our international activities, we aim to provide political education through scientific analysis, public programs and joint projects with our partner organisations. To accompany and coordinate these different projects, the organisatons maintains regional and country offices 27 locations worldwide. We work for a fairer world based on international solidarity.

The Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung Southern Africa, Johannesburg Office in cooperation with the Heinrich Böll Stiftung and TMG want to commission a study to map the profitability along the supply chain of an agricultural product (to be selected) in the context of the ongoing food price shocks. The study should also come up with potential political interventions regulate food prices more effectively and therewith to avoid food price shocks in the future.

The assignment will be awarded as a work and service contract.

Context of the study

Food systems worldwide are imploding under the weight of rising food prices caused by the war in Ukraine, the COVID19 pandemic and other structural flaws and their effects on trade, commodity prices, and financial markets. Countries across the globe and in the Global South in particular, are feeling the reverberating effects of these developments through three main channels, namely higher food prices due to higher commodity prices and speculation, import dependency in the context of opaque private grain stockpiling and inadequate public food reserves, and rising fertilizer prices against the backdrop of a fossil-fuel based model of agriculture. Especially marginalized and poor people are negatively affected by these impacts – in some circumstances, more people go hungry, in other cases, people can’t afford health care anymore in order to feed their families and in some context people are forced to consume a very simple and unhealthy diet.

At the same time, powerful actors benefit from these developments and generate massive profits. Often times it is not clear where along the supply chains and to which degree and by whom these profits are made. A profound analysis is required to identify potential tools how to skim these crisis gains.

The weaknesses and fragility of the dominant food systems were laid bare during COVID19 and carrying on business as usual is not an option as growing poverty and hunger levels threaten the stability of the corporations and public institutions that operate and govern these failing food systems. New and progressive policy interventions are required to cushion current and future food price shocks.

Aims of the study:

• Map profitability of an agricultural product (to be selected) along the entire supply chain in the context of the current food price shocks;
• analyze the institutional setting of major supply chain stages for this agricultural product;
• propose adequate policy responses that are aimed to better regulate food prices.

Tasks of the contractor

The contractor is responsible for the conception and implementation of the study in terms of organisation and content. In detail, this includes:

• Conception and structure of the study in coordination with the responsible persons of the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung in Johannesburg and the other two civil society partners;
• preparation of the study in English on the basis of literature research and other suitable methodologies in the scope of circa 8,000 words plus appendix, including recommendations for political decision-makers worldwide.

Application

The application should include a CV and a cover letter stating the applicant's suitability for the advertised position. In addition, we expect a concept (max. two pages), which should include ideas for the methodology to be applied, the structure and content of the study as well as a rough timetable.

Please consider the following information for your offer: Conducting the study in English, incl. summary and incorporation of feedback stating daily rates and total price.

Payment

Payment is made in instalments linked to the delivery of intermediate products. These will be agreed between the client and the contractor after the work and service contract has been awarded.

Please send applications by e-mail by 15 February 2023 to: jan.urhahn@rosalux.org

If you have any questions regarding the call for applications, please contact: jan.urhahn@rosalux.org

Receipt of documents will not be acknowledged. The decision will be made on the basis of the submitted application according to the following weighting of the evaluation criteria: concept: 20% / experience in study preparation: 20% / reputation and reach of the author: 10% / price: 50%.

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Preliminary timeline

Public invitation to tender until: 15.02.2023

Award of contract by: 20.02.2023

Abstract and detailed concept by: 31.05.2023

Completion of the first draft of the study by: 10.10.2023

Completion of the study by: 15.12.2023

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The timeline specified may deviate slightly from the time frame specified in the work contract by mutual agreement.

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Image: Getty Images.

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