Consultancy Assignment for Regional Mapping on Human Rights Due Diligence

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Regional Mapping on Human rights due diligence/human rights impact assessment in Asia

1. Background:

Oxfam is a global movement of people who are fighting inequality to end poverty and injustice. Across regions, from the local to the global, we work with people to bring change that lasts. Our work is grounded in the commitment to the universality of human rights. Driven by diversity and founding our asks in evidence and experience, we take sides against poverty and injustice everywhere. Feminist approaches guide all our analysis, action and interaction.

In the recent years, there has been a significant push to make the practice of human rights due diligence (HRDD) mandatory for businesses in some regions and countries. We have started to see increasing numbers of companies engaging in Human Rights Due Diligence/Human Rights Impact Assessment (HRDD/HRIA) process due to the rising global trends and changing legal systems toward HRDD/IA. With the regional HRDD/IA mapping, we would like Oxfam and partners in Asia to be well-equipped and involved in the earlier part to make meaningful change and influence the process. The knowledge we hope to gain from the mapping will enable us to be more equipped when engaging in the HRDD/IA discussion and exploration with private sector, especially Asian companies, and other key stakeholders. By engaging companies on HRDD/IA, we hope to enhance effective and meaningful assessment that would identify areas of risks in concerned supply chains enabling timely and practical solutions. An effective process would benefit workers and smallholders in the supply chains as well as the businesses.

2. Objectives of the study:

This study is being commissioned with four main objectives:

1. To gain a better understanding on Asian companies associating with HRDD/IA.
2. To obtain the basis for understanding opportunities and risks in engaging with companies enabling an effective engagement with the private sector to promote meaningful HRDD/IA processes.
3. To fill the gap in understanding the cost/benefit angle of private companies in conducting HRDD/IA in food supply chains.
4. To obtain information on engagement between Asian companies and CSOs in promoting business and human rights (if any)

3. Project Deliverables & Management:

A research paper will cover:

1- List of Asian companies associating with HRDD/IA, identifying the level of association (i.e. shown interest, involve, made commitment, implementation), including their rationale and experiences/learnings from HRDD/IA (implementation examples, challenges and opportunities).

2- List of relevant national and regional legal and policy framework and their implication on HRDD/IA in Asia (focusing on Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam), including selected potential mandatory HRDD of importing markets and voluntary guideline and standards.

3 – Business cases for Asian companies to adopt and implement meaningful HRDD/IA by analyzing cost and benefit, taking into account both existing and potential legal and policy framework in home countries and export markets.

The report should be clear and concise with maximum length of 30 pages excluding the annex.

4. Procedures for submission

Interested candidates should submit:

• Organisation profile/consultant profiles
• Narrative proposal including methodology, timeline.
• Submit the contact details of two referees
• Financial Quotation (all-inclusive budget which includes professional fees, transportation, communications, etc.)
• Sample of previous work

5. Selection Criteria

The proposals will be evaluated through a competitive selection process. Following criteria will be followed.

• Consultant’s Profile and sample of previous work: 30 points
• Proposed proposal and draft methodology (e.g., desktop research, company interview, sample size): 40 points
• Budget and timeline: 30 points

This consultancy is open for individual consultants/team or organisations to apply for. Previous work experience with other international non-government organization is desirable.

6. Skills and competences

Thematic knowledge:

The consultant must have knowledge on Human rights due diligence and related legal frameworks, business and human rights

Demonstrated knowledge and experience of working research on business and human rights

Professionalism:

Excellent interviewing skills and demonstrated ability to independently develop research products. Conscientious and efficient in observing deadlines and achieving results.