category_internship_stage
Strengthening Topack's supply chain through gender/inclusivity lenses.
This call for an intern is to support Topack in understanding its recycled plastic supply chain, with a focus on (female) waste pickers. Through this comprehension, Topack intends to contribute to a strengthened supply chain and better relationship with their suppliers.
Practical information
- Starting date: June or September
- Duration: a 5 months assignment
- Location: this internship will be supported and hosted by the offices of Resilience in Wageningen, the Netherlands, and in Maputo, Mozambique.
Background
Topack operates as plastic converter in Mozambique since 1995. Since 2018, Topack included sourcing of recycled plastic in their value chain to improve the company’s sustainability. Topack ranks 18th best company according to KPMG’s 2022 ranking of the 100 biggest companies in Mozambique.
Through its recycling activities, Topack contributes to a value chain which reaches Mozambique’s poorest of the poor. Topack has a key position in Mozambique’s plastic recycling sector. The recycling sector is gaining maturity because of a push for sustainability and due to increase of value of recycled materials. For example, in Mozambique, Coca Cola aims to recycle the same amount of plastic the company puts on the market. Most of the suppliers of the recycling are so-called waste pickers. A waste picker is someone that collects waste from the landfill, streets, trashcan etc. Many waste pickers do not have any other livelihood alternatives, as collecting plastic and other recyclable materials is their only source of income.
Topack has four streams of sourcing the plastic: buying at the gate, buying from mature waste collectors, sourcing through its own trucks and a buying point at the Hulene landfill.
Scope of work
Resilience is looking for an intern that will:
- Describe waste picker ‘profiles,’ characterizing the waste pickers in each of the sourcing channels using gender/inclusivity lenses.
- Develop a database of the suppliers based on the developed profiles, informing on number of the waste pickers, as well as their characteristics.
- Conduct a SWOT analysis to recommend how Topack can strengthen their sourcing channels and relationship with the suppliers.
- Formulate a note/addendum/annex (to be decided) to Resilience’s gender mainstreaming methodology (“gender mainstreaming in agricultural projects guide”) to broaden the scope of the guide into environmental value chains.
The actual scope of the internship can be adjusted to align with the intern's interests or preferences in consultation with Resilience.
What kind of student are we looking for?
- 1-2 years of work experience in associated fields and affinity with gender related studies
- Study background in development studies, social sciences, and/or value chains
- Working experience in and/or knowledge of Sub-Saharan Africa
- Speaking Portuguese is a pro. Fluency in Spanish and willingness to learn Portuguese will be considered as a pro as well.