Oxfam employs more than six thousand people in 90 countries who share a commitment to work together to end poverty and suffering. It is committed to ensure diversity and gender equality within the organization and welcomes applications from women, person with disability and under-represented groups. Oxfam does not discriminate against applicants or employees based on their HIV/AIDS status. The organization has been working in Bangladesh since the War of Independence and has established a permanent country office in 1972. Since then it has responded to all major emergencies in the country. Oxfam’s current program focuses on Economic Justice & Resilience, Gender and Women’s Leadership and Humanitarian Capacity Building and Response.

A simple, inescapable truth underlines everything we do at Oxfam. There’s enough wealth in this world to go around. It’s not unfortunate that people live in poverty. It’s unjustifiable. It’s not their problem. It’s ours too. And with the right support, we can stop poverty and suffering in their tracks. More than 8,000 people already commit their time and talents to our humanitarian and long-term development projects. Now we’re looking for yours.

Oxfam in Bangladesh is looking for a qualified Consultant or a Consultancy Firm to “Conduct in-depth research to identify the impact of sourcing practices of selected clothing companies”. We are inviting for proposal from interested consultancy firm/individual to undertake this assignment.

Background:

Oxfam Australia has been undertaking human-rights based influencing work on labour rights, with a focus on the women who make our clothes, for more than two decades. Oxfam Australia has been encouraging the Australian fashion industry to show leadership on safety in supply chains by joining the Bangladesh Fire & Building Safety Accord, as well as moving towards more transparent supply chains by publishing the names and locations of their supplier factories around the world. Leading Australian brands have shown great willingness to take the bold steps necessary in each of these areas.

In October 2017, Oxfam Australia launched ‘What She Makes’, campaign to tackle poverty and inequality in the garment sector. This is aligned with the broader Oxfam International ‘Even It Up’ campaign, a component of which is ‘Decent Work’, which includes the payment of a living wage through company supply chains. Supply chain development of garment companies can have a positive and negative impact on people and the environment depending on how it is managed. The root cause many of the worst working conditions lies in the failure of the companies to ensure a truly responsible and ethical supply chain. Buying practices, such as pressure to keep prices low, inaccurate forecasting, late orders, short lead times and last-minute changes put manufacturers under intense pressure and lead directly to poor working conditions and low pay for workers.
 Oxfam Australia and Oxfam Bangladesh are likely to conduct research on overall concerns related to sourcing practices of selected clothing brands and its impact on business and workers. This research will be a part of our campaign for iconic brands to commit to paying living wages in the global garment supply chains.

OBJECTIVE

To conduct in-depth research to identify the impact of sourcing practices of selected brands leading to poor wages and working conditions for the women making clothes in production countries.
As a result, following scope of works are defined.

• Develop research methodology and research tools in consultation with Oxfam Australia and Oxfam in Bangladesh;
• Schedule and conduct the interviews with selected factory management from 42 factories (Merchandiser, supervisors, managers, owners) to conduct brand specific assessment of sourcing practices. This will be conducted based on a qualitative and quantitative questionnaires. Number of interview/s per factory will depend on who is being interviewed and if the persons being interviewed are able to provide necessary information to complete the research;
• Schedule and conduct ten qualitative interviews including industry experts and women union leaders, activities, representatives of civil society, owner associations, NGOs, academics to reflect their view on sourcing practices and its impact on workers and working conditions;
• Identify different sourcing channels and evaluate the strength and weakness of each sourcing channels and its impact on working conditions;
• Identify connection and impact between specific purchasing practices (aggressive price negotiation, inaccurate forecasting, late orders, short lead time, and last-minute changes etc.) and the knock-on effects for suppliers and consequently workers’ health, wages and wellbeing.
• Rank different sourcing practices as an obstacle to business success.  This will be presented in a graph to show among different sourcing practices, which one/s are more problematic than others from a factory management perspective. This will be followed by an analysis of its impact on workers;
• Link between different sourcing practices and supervisors stress. This will be presented in a graph to show among different sourcing practices which one/s are more stressful for supervisors to manage. This will be followed by an analysis of its impact on workers;
• Relate modern slavery with sourcing practices. Under the Australian Modern Slavery Act 2018 (MSA) companies (turnover more than AUD100m) have the obligation to monitor their supply chain for forced/bonded labour and submit a report how they are stamping out modern slavery from their supply chain. 
• Collect three case studies from factories/workers/union leaders on sourcing practices and its impact on business and workers.
• Collect one positive case study on changing sourcing practices;
• Coordinate with Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) 
• Support to collect contents (photos and videos), Oxfam will engage photographer and video graphed separately, research partner will support to get consent and schedule the content gathering for the report.
• Organise one validation and dissemination workshop. Workshop will be arranged in Bangladesh subject to agreement of owners association. National stakeholders, policy makers, experts, academia, CSOs on RMG sectors will be invited in the workshop. Findings and policy recommendations will be discussed in the workshop.     

Please refer to the detailed ToR (Click here) for this assignment.

Proposal submission Instruction:

The individual/firm must submit the following documents along with Technical & Financial Proposal: The financial proposal should include 15% VAT ONLY. Oxfam will deduct Income Tax and VAT as per government rules and policy at source from the agreed consultancy amount for national consultant and firms.

For Individual Consultant

• Maximum 2 pages’ profile highlighting related assignment completed with client name, contract person and mobile number along with detailed CV;
• TIN certificate and any other relevant document (if necessary).

For Consultancy Firm

• Maximum 2 pages’ Firm profile highlighting related assignment completed with client name, contract person and mobile number;
• Lead Consultant’s (who will lead the assignment) Maximum 2 pages CV highlighting related assignment completed, role in of the completed assignment;
• Other Team members’ (who will involve in the assignment) one paragraph short CV highlighting related assignment completed and role;
• Firm’s Certificate, TIN and VAT registration.

Please mention the assignment title “Conduct in-depth research to identify the impact of sourcing practices of selected clothing companies” in the subject line during application via below mentioned email submit following two separate pdf files -

• Financial proposal
• Technical proposal should include Cover page, Table of content, understand of the assignment (pls. don’t copy & paste), experience in handling similar assignments, a work-plan, methodology, Certificate, TIN and VAT registration to hrbd@oxfam.org.uk

Proposal submission deadline: 25 September 2019

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We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organisation and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

Note:All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and may be subject to appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks.