Closing date: 19 Jun 2016
International Consultant for Developing Advocacy Briefing Paper on Business and Human Rights
TERMS OF REFERENCE
Background
Democracy Reporting International (DRI) is a non-partisan, independent, not-for-profit organisation registered in Berlin. DRI promotes political participation of citizens, accountability of state bodies and the development of democratic institutions world-wide.
With support from the German Federal Foreign Office, DRI’s Pakistan office is currently implementing a project entitled “Supporting Advocacy for Human Rights in Pakistan”. The project aims to build domestic constituencies and political will for democratic and human rights reforms using the specific incentive of the European Union’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+). Through the project, DRI works to build broad awareness about this incentive scheme, and specifically its human rights and governance conditions.
The Assignment
The maintenance of GSP+ requires that Pakistan comply with 27 international treaties that include seven core human rights treaties and eight labour rights treaties. While the state authorities carry primary responsibility for ensuring compliance requirements, other stakeholders, such as the business community and civil society, must also play a large role. In this context, the role of the business community in promoting human rights both inside and outside of their business requires special attention. To this end, the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has endorsed the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). UN Member States were subsequently called upon to promote UNGPs as part of their national policies through the development of National Action Plans on Business and Human Rights. The European Union and Council of Europe also called for the incorporation of business and human rights into the local context. The UNGPs both marked an important step in the development of standards of responsibility and accountability for corporate actors as well as introduced the concept of legally binding human rights standards to which corporations must commit.
Knowledge of the UNGPs as well as linkages between business and human rights as binding commitments of member states is still limited in Pakistan. In order to enhance awareness of these principles and their ramifications, and to further awareness about GSP+ and its associated conditions amongst stakeholders in general and the business community specifically, DRI is searching for a consultant to develop a briefing paper on business and human rights.
Objectives and usage of the paper
The paper is intended to highlight 1) international standards on the roles and responsibilities of the private sector in the protection and promotion of human rights, 2) their nexus with GSP+ in general and with GSP+ in Pakistan in particular, 3) key human rights issues for the Pakistan business sector and 4) recommendations for the business community and state authorities in Pakistan about their respective roles to promote and protect human rights in businesses as per the highlighted issues.
The paper will primarily be used for raising awareness of the business community about their role in the protection and promotion of human rights in their respective spheres, with the aim that the business sector acts in a more informed and proactive way in this regard.
Target audience of the paper
Business community including corporations, small and medium-sized enterprises, chambers of commerce, including the women’s chamber of commerce, associations of the different industries (such as All Pakistan Textile Mills Association), labour and trade unions, civil society organisations dealing with human and labour rights, elected officials and law-makers, political parties.
Beyond informing, the paper should also be a resource for all these groups to advocate with the relevant state authorities such as the Ministry of Human Rights, the Ministry of Law and Justice, and the federal and provincial parliaments for the regulation of the business sector as per the UNGPs. While DRI will publish the paper and share it with state actors, all the above groups are encouraged to use it with a view to leveraging their interests to the benefit of the reform process.
Objective and deliverables of the assignment
DRI requires the short-term services of an international consultant to develop a briefing paper in coordination with – and under the management of – DRI’s Team Leader and project staff in Pakistan.
The consultant will deliver a briefing paper of approximately 10 pages, reflecting the content agreed upon with DRI. The paper will discuss the space for businesses to play a role in protecting and ensuring human rights within their spheres of work in light of international standards, providing specific recommendations for the Pakistani business community and state authorities. The paper should include a comparative analysis based on international best practices of how various types of businesses/industries, e.g. textile and/or agricultural, have played a role in enhancing compliance with human rights treaties, including former or current successful GSP+ beneficiary countries.
In particular, the consultant will:
· Research and review the obligations under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the European Union’s Corporate Social Responsibility policy framework, the GSP+ conditions, constitutional provisions and corporate social responsibility practices.
· Conduct a desk review and analysis of existing qualitative and quantitative information regarding business and human rights, linking the information and data to the UN guiding principles and human rights conventions, and elaborating the nexus to the GSP+ scheme.
· Examine and identify the state’s role and responsibility in ensuring that business enterprises operate in accordance with human rights standards, also with a view to GSP+.
· Examine opportunities for alignment and cooperation between business and human rights interests as well as for connecting corporate responsibility with respect for human rights.
· Conduct primary research with stakeholders via questionnaires and/or interviews.
· Write and finalise the briefing paper, providing succinct analysis and findings as well as recommendations based on the research and analysis.
Days & Duration:
· The consultant is expected to work 18 days between July and August 2016, 12 home-based and 6 in-country.
· 2 days planning, 12 days drafting and 4 days for review.
Duty station
· The assignment will require home-based desk work. However, the consultant will be required to travel to Pakistan to conduct interviews with stakeholders across the country and/or present the paper.
Qualifications:
- University degree in human rights, law, social sciences or humanities;
- At least 10 years of professional experience in human rights, international law or relevant field;
- Professional work experience on issues related to business and human rights is essential;
- Familiarity with human rights, corporate social responsibility, labour rights and the legal system in Pakistan;
- Familiarity with international human rights law, norms and mechanisms;
- Familiarity with GSP+ is an asset;
- Excellent English language skills;
- Excellent report writing and research skills;
- Proven analytical skills and ability to conceptualise policy formulations for the subject area;
- Ability and willingness to travel to Pakistan and within Pakistan.
The consultant contracted to undertake this assignment will be fully responsible for the timely and quality delivery of all outputs outlined in these Terms of Reference.
Timeline:
Expected date for expert to start assignment: 1 July 2016
Due date for expert to submit completed work plan: 8 July 2016
Due date for expert to submit first draft: 22 July 2016
Due date for DRI to return first round of feedback: 29 July 2016
Due date for expert to submit edits: 05 August 2016
Due date for executive team to provide feedback: 12 August 2016
Due date for final draft: 19 August 2016
Outline of Paper:
Executive Summary
Introduction
Background
Body of Text
1) International standards on the roles and responsibilities of the private sector in the protection and promotion of human rights,
2) Key human rights issues for the Pakistan business sector
3) Recommendations for the business community and state authorities about their respective roles to promote and protect human rights in businesses as per the highlighted issues.
Recommendations
1) Recommendations for business community
2) Recommendations for state authorities
Conclusion (if applicable)
Closing date for applications: 19 June 2016
How to apply:
For interested applicants, please send your application (cover letter and CV) to asia@democracy-reporting.org with “Expert on Business and Human Rights” as the subject heading and supporting documents in the following format: SURNAME_FIRSTNAME_DOCUMENTNAME.
Early applications are encouraged as candidates may be invited to interview before the deadline. Recruitment may close before the deadline if an applicant is found. Only successful candidates will be contacted for an interview. The award of the contract is contingent on funding for this project.