Consultancy for research to inform sustainable markets and participatory product profiling

Fairtrade NAPP invites proposals for Consultancy for research to inform sustainable markets and participatory product profiling. Applications close on 02 October 2026. Fairtrade NAPP is the Network of Asia and Pacific Producers within the Fairtrade system; the full Terms of Reference, including scope, deliverables and how to submit, are published as the attached document.

TERMS OF REFERENCE CONSULTANCY FOR RESEARCH TO INFORM SUSTAINABLE MARKETS AND PARTICIPATORY PRODUCT PROFILING Project: Transitioning towards Green Resilience: Building Sustainable and Inclusive Agricultural Communities. Budget line: 5.2.1 Deadline for Application: October 2nd, 2026 Rationale Smallholder farmers in Indonesia remain the backbone of the national agricultural sec- tor, yet they currently face a dual crisis of economic marginalisation and environmental vulnerability. Many farmers operate within fragmented value chains that limits their ac- cess to market, causing them to experience information asymmetry and leaving them unable to capture the value of their labour or effectively influence policy. This structural challenge is being heightened by the intensifying impacts of climate change, such as unpredictable rainfall patterns, increased pest prevalence, and soil degradation, all of which directly threaten productivity and livelihoods for crops like coffee, cocoa, coco- nut sugar, arenga sugar, rice and vegetables. On the other hand, there is a cultural shift observed among urban consumers globally, where consumers and institutional buyers are increasingly prioritising environmental integrity and sustainability in their purchasing decision making. This growing consciousness is driving a demand for products that are not only high-quality but also ethically produced and traceable, creating a unique op- portunity to integrate these values into the daily lives of consumers and the core opera- tions of businesses. The project Transitioning Towards Green Resilience: Building Inclusive and Sustainable Agricultural Communities, funded under the EU CSO Thematic Programme, recognises that sustainable agricultural development requires both environmental and economic empowerment. The rationale for this intervention lies in the necessity to bridge the widening gap between these evolving market demands and the realities of field-level production. By empowering cooperatives and farmer organisations (FOs) with rigorous market intelligence and participatory research, this project provides the evidence base required to transform smallholders from passive producers into proactive market participants. Within this framework, a consultancy is being solicited to conduct market research on sustainable products in five major cities in Indonesia (Jakarta, Denpasar, Bandung, Surabaya, and Makassar), and to develop and implement tools for participatory product profiling in collaboration with the implementing partners: Fairtrade International, and its member organisation Fairtrade Network of Asia Pacific Producers (NAPP), and Bina Desa. The consultancy will contribute to the project’s Outcome 2 by translating market research and product profiling findings into recommendations for practical market engagement, stakeholder dialogue and awareness-raising activities. This will include recommendations for consumer awareness activities, engagement with relevant government stakeholders, multi-stakeholder dialogue and forums, and business-to- business (B2B) engagement with potential institutional and commercial buyers. These activities will contribute to the development and implementation of a South-to-South market pilot connecting selected Indonesian producer organisations with potential domestic and regional market opportunities. Objectives of the Consultancy • To analyse the current Indonesian market landscape for coffee, cocoa, coconut sugar, arenga sugar, rice, and vegetables. • To understand perceptions of sustainable products among consumers, institu- tional buyers, and manufacturing companies. • To examine the existing support ecosystem and determine its alignment with market demands. • To develop a participatory product profiling methodology that enables farmers to map their production against identified market trends and facilitate the participa- tory product profiling workshops with designated cooperatives in Central and East Java and farmer organisations in West and South Sulawesi. • To identify market linkages between selected producer organisations and poten- tial institutional, commercial and consumer markets based on identified product and market opportunities Overview of Consultancy’s Responsibilities The consultancy is expected to take place over a period of up to eight (8) months (from October 2026 to May 2027), to cover the following planned activities: Market Research on Sustainable Products (Output 1): • Conduct research in 5 prominent cities: Jakarta, Denpasar (Bali), Bandung, Sura- baya, and Makassar by mapping the existing market landscape for coffee, cacao, coconut sugar, and arenga sugar, rice and vegetables. • Understand the perception of consumers in targeted cities regarding to sustaina- ble agriculture products and the sustainability in agriculture itself. • Assess consumer trends (identifying what motivates sustainability-friendly pur- chases and the barriers (price, accessibility) that prevent action), institutional and prominent retail shops/stores procurement requirements (such as hotels and supermarkets to understand their procurement standards and specific re- quirements for sustainable agricultural goods), and company ingredient specifi- cations for the identified commodities (evaluate the perspectives of companies utilising these commodities as ingredients to determine their commitment to sustainable sourcing and traceability). • Analyse the current ecosystem (government support, certifications, incentives) and identify alignment gaps. Examine existing support structures—such as gov- ernment extension services, cooperative incentives, and existing certification programs (e.g., Fairtrade, organic)—to see if they match the needs identified by buyers and consumers. • Assess market-readiness and market-entry requirements for selected producer organisations and products by comparing identified buyer requirements with available production, quality, volume, certification, traceabili