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.

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Oxfam in Bangladesh is looking for a qualified Consultant or a Consultancy Firm for “Scenario analysis of energy demands of the apparels sector in bangladesh and cost benefit analysis of organized renewable energy-based sector vs. disorganized dirty energy-based sector.” We are inviting for proposal from interested consultancy firm / individual to undertake this assignment.

Background:

Bangladesh is one of the most climate-vulnerable countries historically. But what is less discussed is that it is also a fast-growing economy with a high aspiration for industrial development and becoming a fully export-oriented economy. The perspective plan 2021-41 that works as a framework for the development investments of the government clearly shows an aspiration to achieve 65,000 MWs capacity of energy to support this industrialization process. The country relates this ambition with the vision to create 'ease of business for foreign investors and also acknowledges the potential climate impact of this and the need to have a better contribution of renewable energy in the energy mix. Unfortunately, the contribution of renewables in the country remains only at 3% now.

In the 'Nationally Determined Contribution - NDC' published in August 2021, the government has already declared that they plan to continue this scenario till 2030. Oxfam's 2020 report - 'Confronting Carbon Inequality' highlighted that the richest 1% of the global population are responsible for 15% of the cumulative carbon emission while the richest 10% are responsible for 52%. This analysis was reached based on the carbon footprint that comes with consumption rather than production. Europe is one of the key regions with high liability and among the top 6 categories, clothing is one.

Apart from the labor rights and wage disparity concerns, fashion industries have a carbon inequality issue to deal with going forward. In Bangladesh as well, apparel/ready-made garments (RMGs) is the key export industry (2nd largest exporter of RMG globally) that accounts for the 'vision' of high industrial growth - unfortunately based on 'dirty energy' apparently. But this is still possible because of an invisible 'emissions trading'. While the major share of benefits from this industry is being enjoyed by the consumer countries, the carbon is being accounted for in Bangladesh. As of 2021, Bangladesh is one of the highest recipients of finance for coal-based power plants (10,540 MW).

However, the good thing is, that the government is willing to promote renewable energies (and it is doing it for many sectors already). But there is no specific plan with commitments for the industries, especially the RMGs. RMGs are not spatially organized much, leading to dependence on the national grid (which is 97% dirty energy). On the brighter side of things, several actions by Accord Alliance and other stakeholders (including some environmental and workers’ rights champions within the RMG owners) may be shaping an opinion is building up to ask for the enabling conditions for the RMG to better perform environmentally and socially.

Oxfam has a historic relationship with Bangladesh where climate justice is a key area of Oxfam’s work in Bangladesh. Besides climate change adaptation, Oxfam is continuously supporting for implementation of the country's NDC plan where the energy sector has a key focus. Currently, Oxfam is implementing a project for creating a civic space for multi-stakeholder dialogue on just transition in Bangladesh’s Apparels Industries which aimed to tackle the climate inequality which is growing within Bangladesh and to ensure just transition in the industrial sector of Bangladesh, so that the country does not become a center of 'invisible emissions trading' or 'emissions haven' for others while the global fight for climate justice and efforts for just transition is going on.

Objective:

The overall objective of this assignment is to explore the prospect of renewable energy transition in the apparel sector in Bangladesh and assess the possible policy requirements for making this transition smooth and commercially viable. The specific objectives of this assignment are as follows:

• Stakeholder mapping related to the production and supply chain of the apparel sector, involved in the marketing and regulatory activities in this regard.
• To assess the energy demand of the apparel sector in Bangladesh and potential renewable sources for the expected energy transition from fossil fuel to renewable
• To assess the cost-benefit of energy transition in the apparel sector and required policy arrangements for making this transformation.
• Identify the potential renewable sources for expected transition and policy incentives for the targeted industries in this regard

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 policies 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, Trade License.

Please mention the assignment title “Scenario analysis of energy demands”in the subject line and send the application to hrbd@oxfam.org.uk.

Submit two separate PDF files with following names:

• Financial proposal
• Technical proposal

The Technical proposal should include following parts

• Cover page
• Table of content
• Understanding of the assignment (pls. don’t copy & paste)
• Experience in handling similar assignments, a work-plan, methodology
• Certificate: TIN and VAT registration, Trade License

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 07 JULY 2022

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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.