Calling for Participation and Nomination of Smallholder Standing Committee Members

In July 2017, the RSPO BoG endorsed the RSPO Smallholder Strategy. The Strategy outlined the goal and objectives that need to be realized in order to bring meaningful transformation to smallholders’ livelihoods and inclusion into the RSPO system. A strategic framework was prepared for RSPO, including the Secretariat, and its members, to implement and support interventions that will ultimately lead to attaining the objectives and goal.

A fundamental requirement in ensuring effective implementation of the Strategy is to strengthen the governance structure of RSPO with particular reference to smallholders. To this effect, an augmented governance structure with clear roles and responsibilities was proposed and endorsed by the RSPO BoG.

One of the two key objectives of the augmented structure is to establish the Smallholder Standing Committee. The SH Standing Committee will provide a more comprehensive representation of smallholder interests with allocation of responsibilities to deliver the strategy held within one single body.

The mandate of the SH Standing Committee (SHSC) is:

• The Committee will oversee the execution of the RSPO Smallholder Strategy, and the Secretariat to lead the implementation of the planned activities
• To make decision throughout the implementation of the Strategy and to ensure that the Guiding Principles are respected in the decision making;
• To form a (or more) Working Group or Task Force responsible for delivering a specific output of the Strategy. These sub-groups will report back to the SHSC, where appropriate and the Standing Committee will evaluate and decide on the working groups recommendations; and
• To monitor the overall budget for the SH Strategy implementation.
• Reporting to the BoG on matters concerning smallholders

The following composition is proposed for the SHSC and strives for a balanced representation from stakeholder groups and global/regional presence,

Following best practices, independent experts and other key stakeholders may be invited to provide input.

Members are expected to meet the following criteria:

• Willing and able to provide their advice and expertise to the RSPO in general;
• Willing and able to actively participate and/or co-organise activities that are organized regarding the implementation of SH Strategy
• Possess knowledge of at least the following topics:
  • The limitation and opportunities that smallholders are having at ground level within and outside the RSPO system;
  • The palm oil supply chain especially RSPO credits, and main barriers to sustainable production by smallholders at each step;
  • Added value and costs of RSPO certification, and main barriers for smallholders to certification;
  • High Conservation Value, High Carbon Stock, GHG, Free Prior and Informed Consent, and Social and Environmental Impact Assessment;
  • Transparency and traceability in the palm oil supply chain.

• Experience on working with smallholders or smallholder organizations is desirable

We wish to invite interested individuals representing the above-mentioned categories to join the Standing Committee. The Terms of Reference(ToR) of the Smallholder Standing Committee is available for download below.

The call for participation and/or nomination closes 5pm (GMT+8), 15 November, 2018. Kindly contact Julia Majail ([email protected]) or Ashwin Selvaraj ([email protected]) if you would like to participate or submit a nomination, or if you require further information.