Request for Proposals: Workshop materials on gender equality and sustainability reporting.

Transcription

1 Request for Proposals: Workshop materials on gender equality and sustainability reporting. GRI (2015)

2 About GRI GRI is an international independent organization that has pioneered corporate sustainability reporting since GRI helps businesses, governments and other organizations understand and communicate the impact of business on critical sustainability issues such as climate change, human rights, corruption and many others. With thousands of reporters in over 90 countries, GRI provides the world s most trusted and widely used standards on sustainability reporting, enabling organizations and their stakeholders to make better decisions based on information that matters. Currently, 27 countries and regions reference GRI in their policies. GRI is built upon a unique multi-stakeholder principle, which ensures the participation and expertise of diverse stakeholders in the development of its standards. GRI s mission is to empower decision-makers everywhere, through its standards and multistakeholder network, to take action towards a more sustainable economy and world. Our Vision: A future where sustainability is integral to every organization s decision-making process. Our Mission: To empower decision makers everywhere through our sustainability standards and multi-stakeholder network, to take action towards a more sustainable economy and world. Gender equality At a time when the global community is defining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the post-2015 era, the international consensus on the need to achieve gender equality seems stronger than ever before. Women s access to decent employment can lift whole households out of poverty. In the long term, societies and economies can only thrive if they make full use of women s skills and capacities. According to a recent study by UN Women 1, there have been significant achievements: more girls are enrolling in school; and more women are working, getting elected and assuming leadership positions. However, while hugely important, these changes have not yet resulted in equal outcomes for women and men. Everywhere, women continue to be denied equal pay for work of equal value and are less likely than men to receive a pension, which translates into large income inequalities throughout their lives. Globally, women s earnings are 24 per cent less than men s, and even in countries such as Germany where policies are increasingly supportive of female employment women on average earn just half as much income as men over their lifetimes. Laws that establish that women and men have equal rights provide an important basis for demanding and achieving equality in practice. But making women s rights real requires more than just legal reform. Business can play a big role in this respect. At the same time, equality can boost profits and enhance reputation. Research has shown that companies with the highest representation of women leaders financially outperform, on average, companies with the lowest. Under greater scrutiny than ever before, organizations are increasingly being encouraged by their stakeholders to measure, account for and take responsibility for their economic, environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance, including gender. Organizations that measure and publicly report on their progress towards gender equality, are better equipped to identify and replicate positive impacts that promote gender equality in the workplace, marketplace and community. 1 Progress of the World s Women : Transforming Economies, Realizing Rights, UN Women (link) Page 2 of 5

3 GRI s intervention on gender equality GRI seeks to engage with report preparers and data users on gender equality in face-to-face half-day workshops. Objective Development of materials for two separate half-day capacity building workshops on gender issues and reporting for 1) organizations that prepare sustainability reports and 2) users of sustainability data, such as civil society organizations, investors, companies, regulators and the media. Report preparers Although gender equality is being recognized globally as a priority, many organizations struggle to transform this recognition into practice and communicate about it in sustainability reports using a consistent and standardized approach. To date, there has been limited coverage of gender issues in sustainability reports. However, sustainability reporters have the opportunity to promote gender equality by reporting transparently on their organization s gender-responsive practices and performance. This integration of gender-related information can enhance public accountability to women. It can enable all interested stakeholders to gain insights into the impacts of an organization s operations, products, and services on women and men. It can also help stakeholders understand how a reporting organization respects and contributes to gender equality. The workshop should help organizations that produce sustainability reports identify new opportunities to improve their gender management practices, and get new ideas on how to improve their gender reporting practices. Data users Sustainability reports are valuable to many different groups of stakeholders, especially in developing and emerging markets where sustainability impacts are often hardest hitting and most urgent. These groups of stakeholders could benefit greatly from a better understanding of the reporting process, and of how to use data to their advantage be it for advocacy, partnerships, consumer action, investment decisions, or to help improve public information about sustainability issues. A study recently conducted by GRI and Oxfam Novib shows that sustainability reports are not being used to their full potential. This is a lost opportunity. Data has a key function in working towards these Goals, revealing areas for improvement in terms of corporate sustainability performance and transparency. Users of sustainability data civil society organizations, investors, companies, regulators and the media should be empowered to access sustainability data on gender for their work. The workshop module should demonstrate how sustainability reporting by companies can be a valuable tool and asset for the work of data-users. Project framework, requirements and timeline Background: The workshops will be delivered by GRI or partners that are knowledgeable about sustainability and reporting. The average number of workshop participants will be between 30 and 40. The workshops will take half a-day (4 hrs. including 20 minutes break) The workshop will be held with 1 or 2 workshop leaders The workshops will be held around the world, including in developing and emerging economies, and must be tailored to these global settings in terms of content. Workshop materials requirements Page 3 of 5

4 Materials must be tailored to the different interest groups (sustainability reporters and report/ data users) Materials must be suitable for a global audience, including developing and emerging countries Materials must include global best practice and case studies, including from developing countries. An introductory element must be included where participants get an introduction to sustainability reporting and the G4 guidelines Very important: The workshop must be designed in an interactive way, where participants can put the knowledge they gain into practice. Deliverables Two complete sets of tailored capacity building workshop materials Two sets of workshop one-pagers for distribution/ information Instruction manual for workshop leaders, including timeline and necessary preparations and materials Two train-the-trainer sessions for GRI staff (this can be done via a webinar or teleconferencing) Resources available The selected applicant will have access to GRI staff, the reports database and other specialized data needed to conduct the analysis, content from related global programs, and other assets as needed. Profile and attributes of the applicant(s) GRI seeks the following attributes and experience: An established network and knowledge related to gender issues that the applicant can activate for this project Demonstrated experience and knowledge in sustainability reporting Demonstrated skills in group facilitation/ seminar development for adults We are open to multi-partner consortia This RfP is open to all type of applicant(s), e.g. consultants, NGOs, CSOs and academia Time schedule RfP posted: 28 August 2015 Expression of interest due by: 9 September 2015 (simple stating the organization s name and interest). Proposals due by: 21 September 2015 Consultant selected by: 30 September 2015 Delivery of modules: 4 December 2015 Budget GRI welcomes proposals for development of the two modules. All costs should be indicated and included in the respondents proposed budget. We trust that the project framework, requirements and timeline are sufficiently described for interested respondents to provide a detailed budget. Depending on the team constellation and experience, we estimate the total number of working days to be between 10 and 15. Benefits This project is a great opportunity for applicants that wish to engage with GRI Upon completion of the materials GRI will issue a newsletter announcement and social media campaign, giving recognition to the development partner There is a possibility to be involved in the roll-out of the workshops, activating your network Page 4 of 5

5 Evaluation and selection of applications All proposals will be evaluated based on the below scheme. The outcome of this evaluation will be taken into consideration in our selection process. Proposals should be no longer than 4 pages of a Word document or pdf. Proposal components Maximum points that can be awarded 1. General information 1.1 Name of the organization, number of employees and location of No points rewarded offices 1.2 Vision and mission of the organization No points rewarded 1.3 Name, position and relevant work experience of project 10 members 1.4 Detailed description of the network that will be activated for this 5 project, including names of organizations 2. Demonstrated experience and knowledge 2.1 of related to gender issues of sustainability reporting of group facilitation/ seminar development developing and emerging economies 5 3. Description of the workshop modules design 3.1 vision for the two workshop modules method of learning, including interactive components agenda and outline of the two different workshop modules Project outline & activities, milestones and timeline from start of the project in October to delivery in early December Budget 10 Maximum points 100 Response Expressions of interest are due by 9 September and full proposals by 21 September 2015, both via GRI Knowledge Unit Mariam Al-Bouawad al-bouawad@globalreporting.org Page 5 of 5