Consultant for project coordination and finance management of the BMZ-funded Project “Enabling Compliance of Fair Trade Supply Chains with New EU Regulations (EUDR, EUCSDDD)” (2026-2027)

Fairtrade Germany is looking for a consultant to coordinate a BMZ-funded project on Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence with multiple components, partners and implementation countries from January 2026 to December 2027 with 65% of a full-time position.

CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND

Fairtrade is a global movement that aims to empower smallholder farmers and workers in global supply chains. Fairtrade gives consumers the power to make fairer choices by opting for fair and sustainable products that empower its makers. Our mission is to connect producers and consumers, promote fairer trading conditions and empower producers to combat poverty, strengthen their position and take more control over their lives. Fairtrade’s vision is a world in which all producers can enjoy secure and sustainable livelihoods, fulfil their potential and decide on their future.

Despite recent re-workings of German and European regulations, Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence affect Fair Trade Companies in Europe as well as producer groups in the Global South, who are increasingly scrutinized for potential compliance risks as well as having to implement new documentation procedures, answer a diverse range of questionnaires by commercial partners, and being expected to implement new processes to mitigate and/or remediate risks without necessarily being supported financially for the associated costs. Especially economically marginalized small-holder cooperatives, which are the main target group of fair trade, are increasingly questioning how they will be able to comply with the new requirements by buyers and fear being pushed out of the market.

Therefore, in 2023, Forum Fairer Handel and Fairtrade Germany have started the joint initiative “Enabling Compliance of Fair Trade Supply Chains with New EU Regulations (EUDR, EUCSDDD)”, financed by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. The project aims to enable compliance of a larger number of supply chain partners in European Fair Trade supply chains with new regulations. The overall aim of the project is to support small-holder farmers in making their production sustainable and align it with the EUCSDDD, EUDR and other EU regulations without incurring significant additional costs, therefore mitigating against the risk of being pushed out of the market.

Objectives of the project intervention:

Component 1: Higher capacity of German Fair Trade Companies, Fair Trade standard organizations and certifiers to understand the implications of the new regulations and support supply chain partners to comply.

Component 2: Higher awareness, understanding, and capacity of a broader number of producer organisations and their members in Africa, Asia, and Latin America via enhanced capacity building within and by the Fairtrade Producer Networks.

Component 3: Exemplary pilot measures financed through a public-private-partnership (PPP) matching fund (“HREDD Support Fund”) managed by Fairtrade to enable compliance with the new regulations in specific supply chains.

Component 4: Input to policy discussions and political agendas (e.g., on HREDD, living income/wages, traceability) and further development of due diligence and environmental legislation in Germany/Europe with a focus on optimizing positive impact and minimizing negative effects on small-holder producers in the Global South, as well as contribution to public awareness raising in Germany.

The project started in December 2023 and is implemented until December 2027.

ASSIGNMENT FOR THE CONSULTANT

The goals of this consultancy are:

• To coordinate on behalf of Fairtrade Deutschland e.V. – Fairtrade Germany with GIZ implementing partners (Fairtrade Producer Networks in Asia, Africa and Latin America and Forum Fairer Handel e.V.) and applicant consortia under the HREDD Support Fund and assure a smooth collaboration and implementation of the overall project in coordination with Fairtrade Germany staff
•  to coordinate the HREDD Support Fund’s Working Group and Steering Committee and monitor implementation of funded projects
• to function as point of contact for the project incl. applicant consortia under component 3
• to monitor and coordinate the management of project finances incl. fund projects under component 3
• to prepare GIZ financial and narrative reports

SPECIFIC TASKS

• Coordination with implementing partners (Fairtrade Producer Networks and Forum Fairer Handel via Email and online Jour Fixe meetings
• Coordination and feedback with Fairtrade Germany on project issues and progress
• Monitoring of implementation of all 4 components
• Budget tracking and financial monitoring, initiation and tracking of payments
• Review of project reports from implementing partners and feedback loops with partners (narrative and financial reports)
• Ensuring GIZ funding guidelines and procurement guidelines are adhered to
• Preparation of reports to GIZ (narrative and financial)
• Ensure proper management and storage of project documentation
• Preparation of communication materials of the project (in collaboration with Fairtrade Germany communications team)
• Lead, coordinate and participate in the HREDD Support Fund Working Group and its activities, partake in assessment of project proposals.
• Communication, support and coordination with consortia partners of approved projects, including kick-off meetings in English, Spanish, French, accompaniment of contract processes, ongoing support and monitoring, review and feedback of financial and narrative reports.
• Present the Fund in stakeholder dialogue events 

REQUIREMENTS

The project will be awarded to a consultant meeting the following criteria:

• Very good language skills (written and spoken) in: German, English, Spanish and French
• Experience in institutional donor funded project management in multi-cultural settings (portfolio management, budget management, stakeholder management, adhering to donor requirements and guidelines) 
• Demonstrable experience in GIZ/BMZ funded projects with a volume of more than 1 Mio. EUR.
• Sensibility in working with different implementing partners and stakeholders from different cultural backgrounds and ability to work constructively with relevant stakeholders in order to solve problems and ensure successful project implementation
• Good understanding of fair trade principles, key tools and approaches, and Fairtrade structures and system
• Very good communication skills (written and spoken)
• Ability to present information concisely and clearly
• Ability to work autonomously, adhere to timelines and to deliver the agreed services
• Ability to manage intercultural communication situations
• Ability to manage multiple work streams simultaneously
• Availability for possible travel to HREDD Support Fund projects or activities implemented by Fairtrade Producer Networks (all project regions: Asia, Africa, Latin America)
• Use own equipment and space. No electronic devices or working space will be provided.

TIMELINES

The service framework contract covers 24 months with working days from Monday to Friday and a 65% FTE (25 hours per week) over the period from January 2026 to end of December 2027, with provision for the timeline to extend to the end of January 2028 based on final project reporting progress. 

WORKING LANGUAGE

The working language for this assignment is German for all kinds of communication with Fairtrade Germany, FFH and GIZ. For communication with implementing partners and project consortia it is English, Spanish and French.

CONTACTS

Contact person for working arrangements, deliverables and timelines is Bettina von Reden, Head of International Projects Unit at Fairtrade Deutschland e.V. b.vonreden@fairtrade-deutschland.de.

Contact person for terms and conditions of the service agreement is Susanne Heidelmayer, Fairtrade Germany Assistant to the Board, s.heidelmayer@fairtrade-deutschland.de.

PROCESS

The contract is awarded on the basis of an open tender. Please hand in the following documents:

• A cover letter outlining your expertise, profile, and prior experience
• CV
• A simple budget, based on 25 hours/week for 24 months and fee per month including a mandatory 19% VAT payable in Germany.
• Recommendations if available

Commissioning party of this consultancy is Fairtrade Deutschland e.V. based in Cologne, Germany. The application documents for this consultancy should be sent before 07.12.2025 23:59h Central European Time to Susanne Heidelmayer, Fairtrade Germany Assistant to the Board, s.heidelmayer@fairtrade-deutschland.de.