Labour Monitoring and Remediation Pilot Full-Time

We are seeking a consultant(s) or organisation to support Better Cotton in the design and pilot of a Labour Monitoring and Remediation system in Nampula and Niassa, Mozambique.

Description

Better Cotton is the world’s largest cotton sustainability programme. Our mission: to help cotton communities survive and thrive, while protecting and restoring the environment. In difficult times, we are meeting the challenge head on. Through our network of field-level partners we have provided training on more sustainable farming practices to more than 2.9 million cotton farmers in 16 countries around the globe. More than a fifth of the world’s cotton is now grown under the Better Cotton Standard and our membership network includes more than 2,500 members.

More information about Better Cotton can be found on our website: www.bettercotton.org.

The scope of this consultancy includes the following – subject to final adjustments that will be decided in agreement with the selected consultant(s) or organisation:

• Engagement with Better Cotton and its Programme Partners to build a clear understanding of the purpose and objectives of this pilot project, as well as key expectations.
• Lead and design in-person, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) in Nampula and Niassa, with the objectives to:
  • Co-design a locally owned and context-relevant labour monitoring and remediation approach with Programme Partners, including relevant field staff (PU managers; field facilitators) and participatory engagement from farming communities, with adequate representation of women’s and youth’s perspectives. The discussions should also include other local/ community/ government stakeholders, as mapped and relevant.
  • Agree on relevant roles and responsibilities in operationalising the system, including with respect to data collection and monitoring of farm labour; grievance handling; remediation and support to address the issues identified.
  • Agree on relevant interventions to support remediation or mitigation of prevalent issues, and how they will be actioned, including those most affected by the identified risks and those who can be part of their resolution.
• Document the co-designed approach, including by outlining the responsibilities agreed to and assigned, as well as the remediation protocols. Translate this approach into accessible (visual) training and communication materials for communities and field staff involved in the pilot.
• Deliver in-person training and share developed materials with relevant Programme Partner staff and community members on the approach.
• Support baseline data collection, as per agreed approach – with particular emphasis on understanding who is working (labour profiles: gender; age; type of worker etc.); on what tasks; and under what conditions.
• Support analysis of baseline data collected to inform prioritised interventions on mitigation and remediation activities.
• Support actioning of mitigation and remediation activities, as prioritised.
• Document results and learnings from piloted LMR approach, including successes and challenges – with recommendations for improvement. Share and discuss these with Better Cotton and its Programme Partners.
• Drawing on pilot learnings and needs expressed by Better Cotton and its Programme Partners, support the development of locally adapted guidance materials on the set-up of an effective LMR system in Mozambique, including step-wise actions/activities to be undertaken; good practices, recommendations and lessons learnt (do’s and don’ts); as well as concrete examples. Support also the pre-season training sessions organized by Better Cotton’s Mozambique staff, with specific reference to the LMR roll-out process.

Required Skills & Knowledge

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• At least 8 years of experience in rural development, including with a focus on child labour; gender or other areas of relevance to this assignment.
• At least a Bachelor’s university degree in development studies or related subject.
• Prior experience designing and conducting training workshops and Focus Group Discussions, including with rural communities.
• Prior experience in designing quantitative and qualitative survey tools and supporting data collection and analysis, including in rural communities.
• Prior experience designing and supporting the roll-out of targeted development interventions or projects.
• Demonstrated understanding of the key challenges facing rural communities in Mozambique.
• Fluency in English, Portuguese, and other local languages of relevance, e.g., Makua etc.
• Passionate about social impact with strong analytical and communication skills.

Optional/Desired

• Prior experience engaging with private sector stakeholders, e.g., in project implementation Good understanding of the stakeholder landscape in Nampula and Niassa.

Application Requirements

Proposals responding to this Request for Proposals should be a maximum of 5 pages (excluding CVs), and include the following:

• Overview of relevant experience.
• Proposed methodology and timelines.
• Detailed and transparent budget, in EUROS.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

Better Cotton is committed to good practice and transparency in the management of natural, human and financial resources. All applications will be reviewed under the principles and subject to Better Cotton’s policies on equal opportunity, non-discrimination, anti-bribery & corruption and conflict of interest. Better Cotton is also committed to working with individual(s) and organisation(s) committed to human rights and sustainability.

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

Technical Evaluation Criteria

• Relevant professional experience of the proposed consultant(s) or organisation.
• Availability and time to dedicate to this engaging assignment.
• Demonstrated understanding of this RFP.
• Feasibility of the proposed activity plan and timeline.
• Quality and relevance of the proposal.

Financial Evaluation Criteria

• Quality and clarity of budget provided.
• Alignment of the budget to the activities outlined in the proposal.
• Value for money