Request for Proposals Consultancy (m/f)

Description

• Better Cotton is focused on affecting change: reducing the environmental impact of cotton production and improving the livelihoods of cotton farmers through the production of Better Cotton. To achieve this change, Better Cotton coordinates a capacity building programme, delivered through experienced field-level partners, referred to as Better Cotton Programme Partners (PPs). These IPs help farmers to adopt practices consistent with the Better Cotton Standard System (BCSS)
• The credibility of the BCSS therefore relies, in part, on Better Cotton’s ability to select and work with competent IPs. Better Cotton developed its current PP Endorsement process, and the corresponding PP Agreement in 2013, to support a phase of rapid growth. As Better Cotton has continued to expand and develop, the Endorsement Process and PP Agreement no longer meet Better Cotton’s needs in terms of Due Diligence, governance and transparency of information
• Consequently, Better Cotton recognized the need to increase the rigour of the PP Endorsement process, introducing a new ‘enhanced’ Due Diligence framework and a more robust PP Agreement. In 2021, an initial pilot of the new Due Diligence process was completed. The new Due Diligence process aims to reduce partnership risks for Better Cotton and also supports PPs by implementing a remediation plan to enable them to comply with Better Cotton’s requirements, strengthen their organisation and ensure a long-term partnership
• Start date: 20/ 10 /2022
• End date: 31/ 12 /2022

What is Due Diligence for Better Cotton

• Due Diligence is an on-going, proactive, and reactive process through which PPs can identify, prevent, mitigate, and account for how they address actual and potential adverse impacts as an integral part of decision-making and risk management systems
• The purpose of the Due Diligence process is to help Better Cotton to ensure that the PPs we work with, or fund, have adequate governance structures, policies, and operational systems in place. It can also help organisations ensure they observe both international and domestic law and build towards the requirements of corporate Due Diligence
• Better Cotton’s due diligence covers six/seven areas: ethics, governance, HR, environment and operations, financial stability and governance, and where applicable - downstream local partners
• The due diligence is structured around:
• Assessing the organization and its undertakings to identify the factual circumstances (reality) under which the business is operating
• Identifying and assessing any actual or potential risks by evaluating the factual circumstances against recognized standards
• Preventing or mitigating the identified risks by adopting and implementing a corrective risk action plan

Objective

• The objective of the consultancy is to conduct the Due Diligence process in Mozambique with three (3) existing PPs, in accordance with Better Cotton’s guidelines
• Through direct relationships with the PPs, the consultant will be responsible for undertaking the entire Due Diligence process with the support of Better Cotton’s teams

Duties

Tasks & Methodology

• A Better Cotton team member located in Mozambique will closely follow and support the consultant in the Due Diligence management and coordinate the PP relationship. Other team members will also support. The Better
• Cotton team will therefore include, but is not limited to:
• Senior Managers, Programmes, based in London
• Senior Programme Coordinator, based in Geneva
• Better Cotton country representative
• Better Cotton will provide all Due Diligence materials to the consultant who will follow the procedure and guidelines and use the template:
• The Due Diligence Handbook (See Annex 1)
• The template for the kick-off session with PPs
• The Due Diligence questionnaire for PPs = 35 questions + sub-questions + attachments
• The Due Diligence analysis framework
• The template for the Final Report
• The template for the Financial Health Check
• The consultant will be required to follow these main steps to conduct the Due Diligence:
• In coordination with the Better Cotton team: prepare the mission, create a roadmap, identify Better Cotton and PP contacts and define roles, prepare the kick-off meeting, prepare the shared folders
• Lead the kick-off meeting with PPs
• Support the PP in completing the Due Diligence questionnaire: Hold bi-weekly meetings (x3), review answers and analyse submitted documents, provide feedback and requirements for more detail or accurate answers from IPs, prepare corrective risk action plan
• Lead the financial health check with the Better Cotton tool
• In coordination with Better Cotton team, validate the PP’s responses and provide a risk score with the Better Cotton tool
• Complete the final Due Diligence report
• Conduct a final meeting with the PP to review the Due Diligence results and agree to the corrective risk action plan

Due Diligence Deliverables

• Kick off meeting presentation for each PPs
• The due diligence analysis framework reviewed and updated on an ongoing basis
• The Financial Health Check report
• The Final Report, including a risk action plan for each PP

Requisites

• Demonstrable experience writing, deploying, reviewing, or implementing Due Diligence frameworks in the development or corporate sector
• Demonstrable experience in analyzing financial information
• Experience working with international organisations
• Field level experience in Mozambique
• Strong financial expertise
• Strong analytical and communication skills, especially in the following areas: ethics, governance, HR, environment and operations, financial stability and governance
• Excellent reporting and presentation skills
• Fluency in spoken and written Portuguese
• Good understanding and reading/writing in English

Notes

• Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted
• To proceed with these tasks, an estimated timeframe to conduct one Due Diligence is proposed
• Please note that no travel is expected for this assignment. Proposals will be evaluated based on quality and clarity of the proposed approach, relevant expertise and experience of the team member(s), alignment with the criteria set out in the ToR and overall value for money
• 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

How to Apply

1. Documentation

• Individual consultants and consulting companies can apply to this Call for proposal.
• Interested applicants are asked to send, in English, the following:
• Relevant staff CVs
• A detailed financial offer
• A list of references
• A short narrative proposal composed of:
• A timeline for delivery
• A concise description of the approach that will be used including your Due Diligence understanding, approach to partner engagement, how you will convince PPs to share information and overcome partners who are reluctant to cooperate with the process. (NB. The consultant will implement Better Cotton methodology and use Better Cotton tools.) 1500 words max

2. Application

• Send your Documentation to tender@bettercotton.org with the Subject line “Application RFP Partner Due Diligence Roll out – RFP n# 2022-07-IM-MOZDUEDILIGENCE”