GEDSI Consultant for Asbestos Campaign

To develop a Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion Action Plan for DFAT-funded project

Background:

This Request for Quotation (RFQ) is for:

• the development of a high level GEDSI Action Plan for APHEDA’s Asbestos, Not Here, Not Anywhere/ asbestos transition to safer alternatives campaign in the Asia Pacific,
• the development of a GEDSI template for Civil-Society Organisation (CSO) and Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) partners working on an asbestos awareness and advocacy project in Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and Fiji, and
• support for up to 7 project partners to develop and implement their individualised GEDSI Action Plan (based on the GEDSI Action Plan template to be developed by the consultant).

CSO and NGO partners in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) funded Supporting the Asbestos Transition to Safer Alternatives and Technical Cooperation on Asbestos-Related Disease in Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) Countries project (the Project) are required to develop GEDSI Action Plans which respond to the context and specific interactions in their operating environment which increase risk and burdens for various groups.

The GEDSI Action Plans should:

• promote women’s leadership and inclusive decision-making
• promote disability organisation inclusion in ban networks
• promote voice of victims of Asbestos-Related Diseases (ARDs) in key activities
• develop specific indicators on gender and disability
• develop inclusive recruitment strategies for trainers, facilitators and advisory groups, including:
  • use of inclusive language in all terms of reference and job ads and clearly state that people from underrepresented backgrounds are encouraged to apply
  • share opportunities through women’s networks, Disabled People’s Organisation (DPOs), community organisations, and union networks (not just formal channels)
  • encourage applications from people who have diverse experience and not just formal qualifications
• develop clear strategies for outreach, consultations and engaging with informal workers’ networks and underrepresented communities, including:
  • promote partnerships with local CSOs, unions, women’s organisations, and DPOs who already engage with informal workers
  • use local languages and plain languages (or visual/infographic materials) for surveys, invitations etc.
  • use of radio and verbal or audio-based outreach in communities with low literacy levels
• develop strategies for implementing accessibility measures, including:
  • pre-event surveys and accessibility assessments and booking venues near public transport
  • ensuring meeting materials are accessible
  • supporting participants from rural or remote areas to participate in activities
  • tracking and reporting on accessibility measures in post-event evaluations and monitoring, evaluation and learning tools.

• include mechanisms for data disaggregation by sex, age, and disability as a minimum (and where safe and appropriate, gender identity) for all project activities, monitoring, and reporting.

The GEDSI high level Action Plan and template should be based on a country-specific GEDSI analysis and utilise the DFAT’s GEDSI analysis good practice note here:  https://www.dfat.gov.au/sites/default/files/gender-equality-disability-social-inclusion-analysis-good-practice-note.pdf.

This foundational analysis should serve as the basis for the templates and associated action plans, which should specifically address groups at heightened risk of exclusion and exposure, including migrant workers, ethnic minority poor households, and people with low incomes who are more likely to live near contaminated sites or use asbestos roofing.

The individual GEDSI Action Plans should be developed alongside and integrated into the project plans and MEL frameworks of project partners.

The requirement:

This engagement will consist of the following tasks:

• the development of a high level GEDSI Action Plan for APHEDA’s Asbestos, Not Here, Not Anywhere/ asbestos transition to safer alternatives campaign in the Asia Pacific,
• the development of a GEDSI Action Plan template for Civil-Society Organisation (CSO) and Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) partners working on an asbestos awareness and advocacy project in Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and Fiji, and
• support for up to 7 project partners to develop and implement their individualised GEDSI Action Plan (based on the GEDSI Action Plan template to be developed by the consultant).

Deliverables:

Deliverables required are:

• Project plan (after inception meeting)
• Inception report (after inception meeting)
• Draft High level GEDSI Action Plan and template
• Final High level GEDSI Action Plan and template (incorporating feedback from APHEDA)
• Remote workshop/one-on-one support for up to 7 project partners to use Action Plan template to develop an individualised GEDSI Action Plan.

Methodology:

The analysis should be developed through inclusive consultation with project partners, women, men and people living with a disability within the targeted countries and as possible Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) and asbestos victims support groups in the region.

The Response must outline an appropriate methodology for the required services, ensuring adherence to the DFAT’s GEDSI analysis good practice note and including the following elements:

1. Intersectional and inclusive analysis: The analysis must take an intersectional approach considering people’s multiple identities (including gender, age, disability, income, migration status, and ethnicity) to assess how these shape differing experiences of exclusion and vulnerability to ARDs.
2. Data requirements: The analysis must draw on both primary and secondary data. If secondary data is used, it should be less than three years old and specific to the country, target location, sector, and investment.
3. Participatory methods: The methodology must detail the use of participatory methods and specific strategies for engaging ‘hard-to-reach’ groups, and involve local partners, including Organisations of People with Disabilities (OPDs) and Women’s Rights Organisations (WROs), to elicit their priorities and suggestions.
4. Do No Harm Approach: The methodology must adhere to a ‘do no harm’ approach to data collection, storage, and usage, specifically considering and minimising potential risks and harm to participants, such as the potential backlash against activists due to the strong pro-asbestos lobby.

The Response must also propose a detailed timeframe and a cost quote.

Timeline

• Submission of offers                                                     By 14 November
• Selection of consultant(s)                                             By 21 November
• Draft High level GEDSI Action Plan and template        By 19 December

• Final High level GEDSI Action Plan and template        By February 2026

• Submission of final report                                             By March 2026

Maximum available budget: $15,000

Logistics

APHEDA will facilitate the consultant(s) to work with up to 7 project partners, in particular with regards to organisation of meetings and interviews and providing translation. It is expected that engagement with project partners will be undertaken remotely/online.

Preparation of Response:

In providing a response to the Requirement, the Potential Supplier must address each of the following criteria:

1. demonstrated ability and experience in project delivery
   1. organisational ability, experience and track record of effectively and successfully managing and delivering projects of similar size, scope and complexity
2. demonstrated understanding of the required services.
   1. understanding the required services and relevant issues, context and policy of interest.
   2. suitability of proposed methodology in meeting the requirements of the RFQ (e.g. research type, subject matter, cohort, sensitivities, etc.)
3. demonstrated capacity to deliver the required services
   1. resourcing to be allocated as part of the services, including backup staff and ability to deliver within the given timeframe, including contingencies
4. technical skills and knowledge to successfully deliver the required services
   1. individual proposed project team members’ demonstrated knowledge, experience and qualifications in relation to economic impact assessments, especially in the health and environment sectors
   2. understanding of asbestos awareness and advocacy activities, including groups at high-risk of exposure (e.g., informal workers, migrant workers, people with low incomes), the legal and regulatory environment, and relevant institutions and stakeholders
   3. methodology demonstrates ability to provide the services in a manner that is technically sound, rigorous, practical, ethical (do no harm) and appropriate to the cohort/subject matter
   4. demonstrated ability to collect and analyse data from various sources, including the capacity to apply intersectional analysis.
5. strong stakeholder engagement capability
   1. ability to understand, negotiate and operate within a range of contexts – political, social, cultural, geographical and personal
   2. ability to successfully identify and effectively engage with a broad range of stakeholders to deliver the required services
   3. ability to work with a broad range of stakeholders to support them to develop and implement a GEDSI Action Plan
6. ability to deliver clear and high-quality reports
   1. report is well structured, information is presented clearly, comprehensively, accurately and can be understood by technical and non-technical audiences.

How to Apply: –

Please send your application to Adam Kaminski at [email protected]

Applications should include:

• CV of the consultant
• A proposed approach and workplan (no more than 2 pages), incorporating:
• Proposed methodology
• Activity plan and timeline
• Budget (clearly indicating number of days)