Exploring the way forward on Core Environmental Standards

Tender description

Research Need The UK, like many countries, is setting out new policies to raise the environmental standards of food and farming in response to the climate and nature crisis. These are global issues which need global solutions, especially as food can be traded between countries which have different regulations and different policy frameworks. This research is commissioned to explore potential priority areas for core environmental standards for the UK, and, for some selected examples, to assess the options and pros and cons of various ways of designing them. The core environmental standards are intended to i) reflect the issues the UK's environmental farming policies are seeking to address at home and which could be undermined without coherent and aligned trade policy, and ii) address the UK wider consumption footprint and how demand for imported foods can contribute to the transition to sustainable agriculture overseas. The budget should allow for: • 10-15 interviews with senior WWF UK and network experts in additional to external stakeholders consulted • 4 x meetings with a cross organisational advisory group for the research made up of trade, food, and farming experts • Monthly meetings with the WWF working group on the project • Fortnightly update and check in calls with WWF project manager Proposals should include: • Approach for completion of the project • Relevant experience (and case studies of similar previous work if applicable) • CVs of consultants who will participate in the project • A precise budget broken down by key tasks, including consultant daily rates • The estimated number of person-days required • A timeline for delivery • Completed Sustainable Procurement Questionnaire The application should be no longer than 8 sides, plus CVs of participating consultants attached in an appendix. Proposals will be assessed according to the following criteria: • Understanding and insights on the brief and value added • Project team expertise of food and farming standards and metrics, including voluntary, both national and international • Project team knowledge of trade rules, particularly in relation to food and environment • Robustness of proposed approach to analysis and research • Integration of stakeholder engagement and approach to supporting impact Given the range of expertise required proposals from joint team or consortiums are welcome. Please email proposals to Angela Francis (afrancis@wwf.org.uk), with Anna Sands (asands@wwf.org.uk), Claire Young (cyoung@wwf.org.uk), Tim Lowe (tlowe@wwf.org.uk) and Sara Muller (smuller@wwf.org.uk) in cc, before 12 noon on 06/09/2021. Interviews, if required, will be held on 8th or 9th September. Please include details of when your team would be available to interview in your proposal. WWF will aim to contact the successful bidder on 10/09/2021.