ToR - Third-Party Auditor for FSS Assessment — Colors of Nature Project at Pithoragarh In Uttarakhand

Terms of Reference

Third-Party Auditor for FSS Assessment — Colors of Nature Project at Pithoragarh In Uttarakhand

Commissioned by Deutsche Welthungerhilfe e.V.

1. Background

Deutsche Welthungerhilfe e. V. is one of the largest non-governmental organisations in Germany operating in the humanitarian assistance and development fields. Welthungerhilfe has been implementing the project- “Colors of Nature” since January. The project is co-funded by European Union. The project is implemented by a consortium of local partner CSOs – AVANI and Chitrika in the state of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Uttarakhand in India. All the organisations have strong grassroots experience and expertise in natural dye management. The project’s overall objective is t o contribute to strengthened capacities of local CSOs working on sustainable and ecologically responsible textiles.

Sustainability standards are a common means of verifying compliance with sustainability requirements and passing on information about the social and environmental attributes of a product along the supply chain. However, none of the established certification systems follow a holistic approach regarding the human right to food and other human rights connected to the right to food. Against this background, the Center for Development Research at the University of Bonn, WWF Germany and Welthungerhilfe have jointly developed the Food Security Standard (FSS), which is now being brought to concrete application by Welthungerhilfe and Meo Carbon Solutions. From now on, companies, sustainability standards and consumers can assess whether the human right to food of workers or farmers is guaranteed within the production of agricultural goods.

The impact of sustainability certifications is generally controversial and often strongly depends on context-dependent conditions. Therefore, the FSS contains an impact monitoring module— helping demonstrate, over time, the positive impact of measures taken following an assessment. FSS impact-oriented data collection and evaluation will be part of this assessment and is part of the training provided by the project team.

As part of the Colors of Nature Project Avani- one of the implementing partners and a non-certified producer - wants to check their current status of conformity with the FSS criteria to evaluate which gaps they have to close to get certified. For non-certified producers, the FSS developed the FOSSEM ( Fo od S ecurity Se nsitive M anagement) that provides a stepwise approach leading to full conformity with FSS criteria over time.

Avani has been working with artisans since 1997. Currently it is working with farmers and other marginal communities in developing sustainable value-chains vis a vis enterprise. The number of actual farmers who are interested to sell raw materials to produce natural dyes amounts at 300 smallholder farmers, mainly using family workforce for the crop production. The agriculture is generally rainfed and farmers grow lentils, vegetables. The farms are located in Pithoragarh district.

Welthungerhilfe is seeking to engage an independent auditor to conduct the FSS Assessment/Audit for Avani’s smallholder farmer network in Pithoragarh district, with a focus on human rights and social auditing, complemented by an additional questionnaire developed for FSS impact-reporting purposes via a digital tool. This includes one-on-one (1:1) interviews with smallholders and stakeholders to verify the overall context of the region on the ground.

Objectives

The objective is to conduct an assessment of the agricultural producer group associated with Avani against the FSS criteria including the impact assessment module (digital tool) to verify the level on conformity and enable the group manager to develop a concrete action plan for closing non-conformities there upon.

Activities

a) The auditor shall attend an online training on the Food Security Standard provided by the FSS Team, including an introduction to the specialties of FOSSEM (the stepwise approach to reach FSS conformity), as well as the digital tool for data collection developed for the FSS impact assessment.

b) Before travelling on-site, the auditor shall prepare a preliminary understanding of what the food security situation in the area (Pithoragarh district) looks like, drawing on available secondary data and context information, in order to have a better understanding of the local situation ahead of the assessment — to then be verified and refined on the ground, on-site.

c) Preparing and undertaking and on-site assessment with the FSS toolbox according to the training that was given, including baseline data collection with the complementing impact assessment tools.

d) The auditor shall participate in feedback sessions during and after the assessment, with recommendations to improve the process, and shall participate in a debriefing session with the FSS Team and Avani.

e) Preparing an assessment report in line with FSS requirements with the identified gaps and submitting all relevant documents (including interview results and relevant documentation)

Basic requirements

3.1 Timeline

Pos. 1: Participation in on-line Training

Approx. two days approx. mid of October

Pos. 2: Submitting and presenting an audit schedule that integrates the FSS

End of October2026

Pos. 3: On site FOSSEM assessment including QAT Interviews (smallholder/worker, Stakeholder) and impact assessment tools

Approx. – End of October / Beginning of November 2026 (5 days max)

4: Participation in debriefing session

End of Audit

5: Audit report

Mid November2026

3.2 Assessor/Auditor Requirements (See FSS Auditor Handbook 5.2)

The auditor conducting the FSS assessment shall fulfil the following requirements:

Mandatory participation in FSS training before the first FSS assessment is conducted.

Technical knowledge and a good understanding of the activities of the entity undergoing the FSS assessment and the social context in the area.

Good proficiency in English, Hindi, Kumauni, (depending on the FSS version being used) and working language

Personal and professional behavior within the meaning of ISO 19011 (e.g. ethical, open-minded, diplomatic, observant, culturally sensitive, etc.). Auditors shall follow the six “principles of auditing” according to ISO 19011: integrity, fair presentation, due professional care, confidentiality, independence and evidence-based approach.

Proven experience and competence in conducting interviews with different stakeholder groups.

At least two years of working experience in the relevant occupational area; in all, at least three years of working experience.

Knowledge in the handling, evaluation and plausibility assessment of data sources.

Knowledge in social accountability verification as well as experience with relevant databases and chain of custody options

1. Technical and financial offers

Applicants need to provide technical and financial offer.

The technical part of the offer should include reference to the perceived feasibility of the TOR. It should also include a brief description of the approach, design & methodology of the assignment as well Capacity statement of the team and a workplan (maximum 8 pages)

The financial part includes a proposed budget for complete assessment. It should state the fees per working day (plus the respective Taxes, if applicable), the number of working days proposed and other costs (e.g. travel costs, accommodation, per diems, visa costs). Proof of professional registration and taxation is also required (e.g. by providing the evaluator’s tax number);

CV(s) with references.

Proof and examples of relevant previous assignments, including one writing example (ideally final report) of a relevant previous assignment.

In developing the financial offer, the applicant should take into account the following:

Soft copies of relevant documents will be provided by Welthungerhilfe.

Welthungerhilfe and partner organization staff will f