TERMS OF REFERENCE

BACKGROUND

Mondiaal FNV is the international solidarity and support organisation affiliated with FNV, the largest Dutch trade union federation. We believe everybody has the right to decent work - working conditions without discrimination and violence, a living wage and social protection, a safe and healthy workplace.

Decent Work Due Dilligence Bangladesh project started in March 2025 and is led by Mondiaal FNV in partnership with Bangladesh Labour Foundation and WageIndicator Foundation, cofunded by the European Union. The overall objective of the project is that human rights and decent work conditions in Bangladesh in the ready-made garment, leather (goods) and footwear sectors are respected by companies and protected by the government. The project aims to support trade unions in Bangladesh to advance decent work, sustainability, and human rights due diligence (HRDD). Data will be collected through unique tools, strengthening gender responsive, evidence-based advocacy with and towards a variety of stakeholders to improve working conditions. These efforts will enhance the eligibility of Bangladesh under the EU GSP+ trade agreement negotiation process. The third party will work closely with the consortium partners, local trade unions, employers’ association and other key stakeholder to build and bridge know-how, support and advise on social dialogue and advocacy messages and follow-up on policy recommendations and industry commitments for decent working conditions.

PURPOSE

Mondiaal FNV aims to cooperate with a third party in Bangladesh to contribute to some of the project result areas. The main objective for the collaboration with a third party is to strengthen the capacity of the national and sectoral trade unions on evidence-based lobby and advocacy. As a result the national and sectoral trade unions will be strengthened to use the Decent Work Due Diligence findings as input for their social dialogue with factory management and the employers’ associations for improvement of the working conditions, and to strengthen labour policy and enforcement by the Government of Bangladesh.

MAIN ACTIVITIES

• Support Mondiaal FNV in the development of a trade union capacity strengthening programme.
• Together with Mondiaal FNV develop a lobby and advocacy strategy for the project.
• Co-facilitate an evidence-based and gender-responsive advocacy capacity development workshop for the national and sectoral trade unions in the RMG, leather and footwear industry.
• Prepare and conduct in close collaboration with the project partners annual dissemination workshops of the Decent Work Due Diligence findings with key stakeholders in 2026, 2027 and 2028.
• Dissemination and sharing of findings and draft recommendations for EBA compliance and GSP+ eligibility.

CO-RESPONSIBILITY

Mondiaal FNV and the consortium partners will provide necessary support to and collaborate closely with the third party (organisation) to implement the relevant activities and achieve the project results. We will provide an initial briefing of the project and mutually work out a detailed workplan for the first year with a timeline and deliverables. Providing assistance in the field for stakeholder consultation during the implementation of the project. Ensure timely disbursement of payments in accordance with the agreed schedule outlined in the contract between Mondiaal FNV and the third party.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

In our assessment of the different applications we will look into several aspects we expect a third party to have in order to be eligible:

• thorough understanding of and trusted organization by the trade union federations and national centres. In-depth understanding the Bangladesh Labour Act and labour rules and familiar with social dialogue and policy procedures
• experienced in lobby and advocacy and having a good understanding of industrial relations
• to have a thorough institutional knowledge and expertise of labour issues and political systems, have experience in social dialogue and policy advocacy in Bangladesh
• a reputation for being a credible, impartial, and knowledgeable civil society organization
• a sound financial and administrative system in place
• expertise and experience in capacity-building initiatives to ensure that it can provide evidence-based support to advance the interests of workers in line with international labour standards

The maximum amount of financial support under this call for proposal is 60.000 Euro. N.b. The third party is not expected to actually budget for the dissemination workshops of the decent work due diligence findings with the different sectoral trade union federations and national centres, the employers’ associations and other key stakeholders. However, the third party is expected to regularly facilitate and host smaller preparatory meetings in its office with the consortium partners and/or trade unions. The main involvement of a third party is expected after the data collection and analysis of the decent work due diligence survey. This means the main allocation of time and expertise is expected in the period between March-September (2026,2027,2028).

APPLICATION PROCESS:

The proposal should be divided into two sections i.e. technical and financial. The technical proposal should include the organization’s understanding about the assignment, expertise of the organization, incl. a brief CV of the main experts to be allocated to the project and description of its expertise and ideas to be considered for the project. The proposal should specify who will be the focal point for the project and towards Mondiaal FNV. The technical proposal should not exceed 5 pages. The financial proposal should include an itemized budget that clearly describes the different costs items and staff costs. While VAT can be shown in the budget, tax will not be considered a separate line item.

Interested organizations should submit their expression of interest along with their technical and financial proposal to mondiaal@fnv.nl. Please write “Decent work due diligence Bangladesh – third party interest” in the subject line. The proposals should be submitted by 31 August 2025 COB. We are only able to consider timely and electronic submissions. Only complete applications will be considered, out of which only shortlisted organizations will be contacted and invited for a presentation/technical discussion at the end of September in Dhaka.