Consultancy for Regional Landscape Assessment for Environment, Social and Governance in Manufacturing/Supply Chains in Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam

Request for Proposal

Regional Landscape Assessment for Environment, Social and Governance in manufacturing/supply chains in Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam

About ISC

The Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC) is an international non-governmental agency working to unleash the power of people to transform their communities in the face of climate change. ISC’s mission is to help communities, cities, and industry around the world address environmental, economic, and social challenges to build a better future shaped and shared by all.

Background

Aiming to strengthen the lower Mekong region as a competitive and environmentally sustainable manufacturing hub, the Mekong Sustainability Manufacturing Alliance (The Alliance) program is a newly awarded 3-year USAID-funded Alliance, led by ISC, driving private-sector adoption of improved environmental and social safeguards by factories in the food processing, electronics and textiles sectors. 

The program aims to strengthen the regional manufacturing ecosystem to advance the adoption of environmental, social and governance practices in the region. Focused on Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia, the program will catalyze regional synergies, advance integration and drive linkages across the three countries to strengthen the entire Mekong region as a competitive and sustainable manufacturing hub.

Scope of Work

ISC is seeking a Consultant (individual or organization) to conduct a regional landscape assessment of the environmental, social and governance landscape in three countries – Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam. The Consultant must be able to quickly understand the context and needs of the program to surface opportunities that have the potential to advance regional integration across supply chains in the three countries to improve environmental, social and governance practices in the manufacturing sector in the region. 

As part of the regional landscape assessment, the Consultant will specifically:

• Analyze existing regional organizations, programs, and initiatives that are increasing manufacturing sector competitiveness and improving environmental, social and governance performance across Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam. This will serve as a critical input to surface opportunities for regional initiatives that will advance manufacturers’ adoption of environmental, social and governance best practices. Gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) should be a cross-cutting theme across the study.
  
  • Such initiatives could include opportunities to increase cross-border sourcing of raw materials; regional environmental, social and/or governance targets accompanied by incentives and awards; regional policy recommendations; and regional environmental, social and/or governance convenings, etc.
  • The landscape assessment should outline what initiatives exist, including training programs for manufacturers, their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and limitations.
  • The assessment should cover as many environmental, social and/or governance sub-components as possible (e.g., climate change, sustainability, diversity, gender and social inclusion, human rights, consumer protection, employee relations, etc.). 
• Suggest opportunities for new partnerships that could launch such initiatives, including partnership opportunities for launching training programs and technical assistance with factories.
• Analyze relevant financing and other resources that can support the execution of the initiatives. 
• Identify data requirements and conduct stakeholder consultations and secondary research to gather necessary information.
• Present research in an organized and useful format, such as excel matrices, PowerPoint slides, etc.
• Record and present all data and information sources.

Qualifications

The Consultant must have: 

• Strong research and analytical skills; experience conducting primary and secondary data gathering;
• International development program experience conducting landscape and/or market assessments; preference for experience with regional programs or factory/industry experience in Asia, preferably Thailand, Vietnam Cambodia.
• Demonstrated knowledge of social compliance, environmental sustainability and/or governance performance standards.
• Demonstrated knowledge of regional manufacturing and industry associations.
• Excellent spoken and written English is required; Thai and/or Vietnamese preferred. 
• A Master’s degree in business, finance, economics, environmental sustainability, or a related discipline appropriate to the role. 
• Minimum of five years relevant experience successfully addressing environmental sustainability, social compliance and governance in the private sector in the region.
• Work experience in the lower Mekong region
• Self-starter, detail-oriented, thorough and well organized with ability to produce high quality deliverables under challenging deadlines.
• Well-developed interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills working with a small team.
• Commitment to ISC’s mission and values.

Submission Requirements

Interested consultants must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services, along with cost information, by submitting a proposal via email to [email protected], with RFP – Regional Assessment, MSMA Consultant in the subject line. Deadline of submission is 17 June 2021.

The proposal should include the following information:

• Name and contact details
• Narrative piece, that outlines the vision for the work along with suggested methodology, workplan
• and/or other technical inputs for the assignment. Also, include the geography and sector focus. (maximum 5 pages)
• Description of qualifications in a CV (maximum 3 pages)
• Three references who can speak to consultant’s successful completion of similar work, with contact details (email and telephone)
• Cost information. The consultant should submit a detailed cost proposal in USD. This should include the estimated number of days required to complete the assignment along with all fees including professional fee, travel and lodging expenses and any relevant taxes.