Rural Education and Economic Development Society (REEDS-PK) is a non-profit humanitarian registered organization with Government of Pakistan based in Rahim Yar Khan (Southern Punjab) working for education and sustainable development.  

Rural Community Development Society (RCDS) is a registered is a non-profit organization striving to uplift vulnerable, poor and marginalized communities through participatory development approaches across the Punjab Province, in collaboration with national and international partners in thematic areas including Human and Institutional Development, Social Mobilization, Livelihood & Employment and Physical Infrastructure development.

Both organizations are currently implementing the project titled “Capacity-building for Socially Diligent Agribusinesses (CSDA)” funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented with the support of Helvetas Intercooperation gGmbH.

Under the CSDA project:

• RCDS is implementing project activities in Districts Lahore, Sheikhupura, and Gujranwala.
• REEDS-PK is implementing project activities in Districts Faisalabad, Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan.

For effective and harmonized implementation of the project, RCDS and REEDS-PK have developed joint Terms of Reference (ToRs) for consultancy services required under the CSDA project.

Accordingly, REEDS-PK, in coordination with RCDS, invites sealed proposals from qualified individuals/firms for the consultancy services as outlined in the attached Terms of Reference for the above-mentioned districts.

Terms of Reference (TORs):

Consultant/Firm for Capacity Building, Monitoring Strengthening, and Legal Reform Support on Human Rights for “Capacity-Building for Socially Diligent Agribusinesses (CSDA)” Project

Background:

Since 2014, Pakistan’s trade relations with the EU (European Union) have significantly increased owing much to the preferential trade treatment it receives under the EU’s Generalized System of Preferences (GSP-Plus). The EU stands as Pakistan’s largest export destination ahead of major economies such as that of the US and China, representing over approximately 23 percent of Pakistan’s overall exports in 2023, primarily consisting of textile and agriculture exports. However, the preferential trade access to Pakistani exports is contingent upon compliance with international conventions on human and labor rights, environmental protection and good governance.

Moreover, the EU has introduced legislation regarding human and labour rights due diligence, namely the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the Forced Labour Regulation and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) require EU businesses importing from Pakistan to ensure due diligence regarding labour and human rights within their respective supply chains.

While the GSP-Plus primarily focuses on state machinery to comply with international conventions, the recent EU legislation introduces binding obligations on businesses to conduct supply chain due diligence, ensure fair labour practices, and prevent forced labour. The CSRD and CSDDD strengthen transparency by requiring corporate reporting on human rights due diligence and sustainability efforts, while the EU Forced Labour Regulation enforces direct bans on goods linked to forced labor. Collectively, these legislations reinforce each other, ensuring that companies not only meet regulatory requirements but also embed ethical and sustainable practices into global supply chains.

In this regard, the CSDA project works for improving compliance on labour standards and business-related human rights in Pakistan’s agriculture sector and agro-industry.

The focus of the project is on supporting Pakistan’s rice and cotton value chains, enhancing responsible business conduct in safeguarding human and labour rights in accordance with Pakistan’s domestic legal framework and international commitments such as under the GSP Plus and in line with EU sustainability reporting and due diligence legislation.

These legislative requirements place growing responsibility on businesses, employers, and value chain actors to understand, internalize, and operationalize labour rights, human rights due diligence, and sustainability standards. At the same time, workers, farmers, and consumers require accessible information to understand their rights, responsibilities, and the broader social and economic value of responsible business practices.

In this regard, this assignment aims to strengthen the capacity of civil society organizations (CSOs), media actors, and human rights monitors to effectively monitor, document, and respond to human rights violations. The assignment also seeks to enhance access to legal redress mechanisms and contribute to judicial and policy reforms through structured legal guidance and advocacy resources.

Objective:

To enhance the capacity of relevant stakeholders to monitor, document, analyze, and respond to human rights violations, while strengthening access to legal remedies and contributing to evidence-based advocacy for judicial and labour rights reforms.

Scope of Work:

The assignment may include travel to one/some of the projects target districts namely Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Faisalabad, Sheikhupura, and Gujranwala. The duty station for the assignment will be Lahore.

The consultant/firm will be responsible for planning, and delivering the following work packages and corresponding activities:

Work Package 1: Capacity Building of CSOs and Media on Monitoring and Reporting Violations

To strengthen the technical capacity of CSOs and media actors in monitoring human rights violations, conducting responsible documentation, reporting to appropriate forums, and using constructive profiling approaches to improve access to redress mechanisms.

1. Develop a one-day training curriculum and training materials tailored to CSOs and media actors and focused on:

• Monitoring frameworks and documentation standards
• Ethical reporting and constructive profiling
• Referral pathways and appropriate reporting forums (judicial, quasi-judicial, administrative, and international mechanisms)
• Strategies to improve access to redress
• Interactive case-based exercises during the trainings.

1. Conduct four (4) one-day in-person trainings.
2. Provide a single post-training consolidated summary report (3-4 pages).

Work Package 2: Training of Human Rights Monitors on Case Tracking and Causal Analysis

To strengthen the analytical and case-tracking capacities of human rights monitors, including CSOs, employers, relevant government representatives, and labour associations.

1. Develop a specialized one-day training curriculum focused on:

• Case tracking methodologies
• Evidence documentation standards
• Causal analysis techniques (identifying structural, institutional, and policy-level drivers)
• Stakeholder mapping (CSOs, companies, government bodies, labour associations)
• Provide practical tools/templates for tracking and analysis.

1. Conduct six (6) one-day trainings.
2. Provide a single post-training consolidated summary report (3-4 pages).

 Work Package 3: Legal Guidance, and Judicial Reform Advocacy Materials

To provide structured legal guidance for human rights violation cases and generate evidence-based recommendations for judicial and labour rights reforms.

Development of Legal Resource Material

• One (1)comprehensive legal guidance report (10 pages) outlining:
  • Available legal remedies
  • Procedural pathways
  • Jurisdictional considerations
  • Navigating gaps in enforcement
  • Five (5) concise advocacy brochures (2 pages each) focused on:
    • Worker legal rights
    • Access to justice mechanisms
    • Complaint filing procedures
    • Institutional referral mechanisms
    • Policy reform priorities

1. Develop One (1) concise judicial reform recommendation brief (3-5 pages) identifying procedural, legislative, or institutional gaps affecting effective access to justice in labour rights cases.

 Deliverables:

 The consultant / firm will be expected to deliver the following, and are subject to approval

• WP1 Deliverable 1: Training curriculum, materials, and tools for CSO/media trainings.
• WP1 Deliverable 2: Submission of consolidated training summary report against the completion of four (4) one-day trainings.
• WP2 Deliverable 1: Case-tracking tools, analytical templates, and training materials.
• WP2 Deliverable 2: Submission of consolidated training summary report against the completion of six (6) one-day trainings.
• WP3 Deliverable 1: One (1) legal guidance report (10 page).
• WP3 Deliverable 2: Five (5) advocacy brochures (2 pages each).
• WP3 Deliverable 3: One (1) Judicial reform recommendation brief (3-5 pages).

Timeline:

The overall engagement will span a period of 24 months (which would begin as per the signing of this contract). Media activities will be phased and scheduled in coordination with the project team, national media calendars, and stakeholder availability.

Payment Schedule:

 Advance Payment (20 percent): An advance payment will be made upon contract signing.

• Interim and Final Payments (80 percent): Payments will be released upon satisfactory completion and verification of deliverables for each work package as follows.
  • 25 percent on completion of work package 1.
  • 25 percent on completion of work package 2.
  • 30 percent on completion of work package 3.
    • Invoices shall be submitted based on actual completed and approved deliverables.
    • The detailed payment tranches and percentages will be finalized in the contract and aligned with the approved work plan and deliverables.
    • The consultant will share time sheets as part of the invoice for the payments.

Qualification of the firm:

• Demonstrate at least 5 years of experience in human rights law, labour law, international human rights standards and/or access to justice initiatives.
• Have proven experience conducting capacity-building and legal awareness activities.
• Demonstrate expertise in legal research, policy analysis, and judicial reform advocacy.
• Provide qualified legal professionals (advocates/researchers) for implementation.

Level of Effort Matrix:

Total Effort: 52 days

Interested firms shall submit:

• Technical proposal that demonstrates the Consultant firms understanding of the assignment and the proposed approach to delivering the required services.

-        It should include a concise statement of understanding of the assignment and its objectives; (ii) a detailed methodology outlining the proposed approach, tools, and processes to be employed in carrying out the assignment; and (iii) a comprehensive work plan, including key activities, deliverables, and milestones. The Technical Proposal should reflect logical sequencing of tasks and allocation of responsibilities between proposed experts.

• Financial proposal with detailed cost breakdown per work package.

-        All travel and related expenses incurred in connection with the performance of the Services under this assignment shall be the sole responsibility of the Consultant. Such costs shall be deemed to be included in the Consultant’s financial proposal and contract price.

• Firm profile and CVs of experts.
  • At least two relevant work samples.
  • Last date of submission is 25^th March 2026.