TENDER DOCUMENTS FOR ISLAMIC RELIEF’S CONSULTANCY ON IRW’S CARBON FOOTPRINT (BIRMINGHAM)

TENDER DOCUMENTS FOR ISLAMIC RELIEF’S CONSULTANCY ON IRW’S CARBON FOOTPRINT (BIRMINGHAM), OCTOBER 2012

BACKGROUND

Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) is an international relief and development agency working towards a caring world where the basic requirements of people in need are fulfilled. IRW responds to disasters and emergencies and works with local communities to reduce poverty by promoting sustainable economic and social development.

IRW is an independent non-political, non-governmental organisation (NGO) supported by hundreds of thousands of individual donors as well as institutions including UN agencies and the European Commission (EC). Based in Birmingham, UK, IRW has partner offices in over 30 countries that co-ordinate, fundraise for and implement its emergency and development programmes.

At the international level, IRW has consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council, and is a signatory to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Code of Conduct. IRW is committed to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) through raising awareness of the issues that affect poor communities and through its work on the ground. Islamic Relief are one of only 13 charities that have fulfilled the criteria and have become members of the Disasters Emergency Committee (www.dec.org.uk).

Islamic Relief Worldwide endeavours to work closely with local communities, focussing on capacity-building and empowerment to help them achieve development without dependency.

Please see our website for more information www.islamic-relief.com

25TH ANNIVERSARY

To commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the organisation, a gala dinner was held in London with HRH Prince Charles as the guest of honour – please see the link below for more details.http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/speechesandarticles/a_speech_by_hrh_the_...

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Many organisations have official Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policies and budgets from which they will make charitable donations. As a registered charity and a member of the DEC, we would be ideal candidates to receive any charitable donations should you wish to incorporate them into any proposal that could also be considered.

INTRODUCTION

The scientific evidence is overwhelming: climate change is happening, it is largely caused by human activities, it presents very serious global risks for people around the world and it demands an urgent global response. The direct and indirect impacts of climate change are of central concern to Islamic Relief’s objectives and targets, in terms both of humanitarian and development actions.

Climate change is fast pushing communities, particularly the most poor and marginalized, beyond their capacity to respond. Across the world, staple subsistence crops are approaching their outer viable temperature ranges; erratic rainfall patterns and changing seasons are upsetting agricultural cycles and leaving many struggling to feed their families; and rising sea levels are causing the inundation of crops and the contamination of water supplies with salt water. Islamic Relief programmes are increasingly dealing with the effects of drought and climate change and tackling the need for communities to adjust to environmental change.

CONTEXT

Islamic Relief recognizes that climate change is global in its causes and consequences therefore we all have a role to play to mitigate and adapt to the phenomenon. IRW wants to develop a comprehensive policy on climate change that aims to articulate what the organisation believes the key issues are and what should be done about them; to help our network advocate appropriate action to political forums and external audiences; and to provide guidance for IR on the role that the wider family, and each constituent organisation in the network can play in effectively tackling climate change. As part of this effort, we intend to look inwards to seriously address our own carbon footprint.

PURPOSE OF THIS ASSIGNMENT

The overall objective of this consultancy is to help Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) develop and deliver on a plan that leads to a significant reduction of the carbon footprint of its operations and suggest ways to offset any unavoidable emissions, preferably through its own projects.

SPECIFIC TASKS

The specific tasks envisaged in this assignment include, but are not limited to:

• Estimating IRW’s carbon footprint- This includes direct emissions from sites or facilities owned or controlled by IRW, indirect emissions from purchase of electricity and other indirect emissions such as transport, waste, paper and other resource use. • Developing an emission reduction plan for the organisation- This includes avoiding unnecessary emissions, reducing emissions through energy efficiency or behaviour change and switching to lower emissions fuel, energy or product sources. • Developing a monitoring framework for IRW’s emission reduction plan. • Recommending possible ways for IRW to offset unavoidable emissions preferably through incorporating carbon offsets into its own projects and programmes. • Develop a communication plan that helps engage IRW staff, vendors and suppliers to think about ways in which they can reduce their own carbon footprint.

TIMESCALES

The maximum number of billable days for this assignment is 60 days. Target date for assignment completion: 15th February 2013. Deadline for receiving applications is 1 pm (UK time), 15th November 2012. Expected date of commencement is 30th November 2012.

DELIVERABLES

The under-listed papers, in draft, for review and feedback by the Policy Team to be submitted by 1st February 2013 followed by final reports to be presented to IR and submitted by 15th February 2013. The deliverables could be presented as separate documents or combined as sections of one or more documents, whichever is the more logical arrangement.

The deliverables expected from the consultant are:

• Estimates of IRW’s carbon footprint. • A proposed emission reduction plan for the organisation. • A proposed monitoring framework. • Recommendations on carbon offset. • A communications plan. Proposals should include: • Methodology • Timeframe • Policies and procedures • Costs

How to apply: 

CONSULTANCY CONTRACT

The exact duration of the contract is to be proposed by the applicant/bidder and may be reviewed for a possible extension thereafter, the selected candidate will be based at a location that is yet to be confirmed. The consultant will report directly to ‘Policy & Strategy Manager’. Working hours and holiday entitlement to be negotiated with the assessment panel.

A contract is to be signed and a copy is available upon request. It is up to the applicants to read it thoroughly and familiarise themselves with the terms contained within. The invoice is to be submitted at the end of the month and will be paid on net payment terms 14 days.

The applicant will need to provide all equipment required to undertake the necessary tasks and this must include a suitable laptop and a phone.

All potential applicants must fill in the table beneath in Appendix 2 to help collate key data pertaining to this tender. The applicant must be clear about other expenses being claimed in relation to this consultancy this must be specified clearly.

A copy of the terms of reference is available upon request as is the consultancy contract. The successful applicant will be required to sign two copies of the consultancy contract and retain a copy for his/her perusal and the second copy to be submitted (must be signed) to Islamic Relief Worldwide within 48 hours of receipt.

For this consultancy all applicants are required to submit a CV or fill in an IRW job application form which is available upon request.

Requirements

This is an assignment that requires a consultant with a pedigree of work on climate change. They should have the expertise, integrity and high standards of carbon management services and preferably an experience of and expertise in the charitable sector.

TENDERING DATES AND CONTACT DETAILS

All tenders are required to be submitted before 1pm on Thursday 15th November 2012 pursuant to the attached guidelines for submitting a quotation and be returned to tendering@irworldwide.org . For any issues relating to the tender or its contents please email directly to tendering@irworldwide.org.

APPENDIX 2

Please fill in the table below it is essential all sections be completed and where relevant additional expenses be specified in detail.

Cost evaluation of consultancy on carbon footprint for IRW UK (Birmingham), October 2012

Applicants name Company name
No of proposed hours per week
No. of proposed days
Preferred days
Earliest available start date
Non preferred days
Hourly rate Total per week
VAT inclusive (Total)
Other expenses (please specify)
Other expenses (please specify)
Other expenses (please specify)
Preferred payment terms (IRW UK terms are normally 14 days).
Total cost for consultancy (for one month)
Total cost for consultancy (for proposed period)

Note

The applicant is expected to pay full taxes in his/her native country (s), native country is referred to here as the country of residence.