TITLE: TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR PROVIDING HEALTH & SAFETY AND SOCIAL COMPLIANCE SUPPORT SERVICES IN TEXTILE AND APPAREL MANUFACTURING FACILITIES ACROSS EAST AFRICA. 

ISSUE DATE: 10TH SEPTEMBER 2021 

DUE DATE: 29TH SEPTEMBER 2021

1. MSINGI EAST AFRICA

Established in 2016, Msingi is an independent, multi-decade organization that is building East Africa's industries of the future. Msingi is taking a new approach to drive economic transformation and prosperity in East Africa. Msingi has identified Textile and Apparel as one of the high potential Industries/sectors in East Africa to support its growth through direct investment, technical assistance, and transaction facilitation at the company level in addition to providing wider support to the sector on areas such as policy, regulation, technology transfer, research, human capacity, and skills development and providing support to key institutions. Currently, Msingi focuses on two industries, aquaculture, and Textile and Apparel. This RFP is in relation to the Textile and Apparel program The Textile and Apparel program works towards the creation of a resilient, inclusive, environmentally, and socially sound Textile and Apparel industry in East Africa. To this end, the program focuses on six key pillars of intervention. The key elements include government support, investment facilitation support, technical support to firms, support industry apex bodies, data, standards and convening, and innovation and sustainability. This RFP is in relation to the third component, technical support to firms where the focus is supporting manufacturers to enhance their capacity and access to markets where required. Msingi seeks to acquire the services of a consultant to help manufacturers adhere to international health, safety, and compliance standards through targeted interventions at a firm level.

2. SCOPE OF WORK AND RATIONALE

The Textile and Apparel industry consists of units engaged in spinning, weaving, dyeing, printing, finishing, and several other processes that are required to convert fiber into a finished fabric or garment. These processes of production create the need for factories to observe safety, health, and compliance aspects for workers, their surroundings (communities) and the environment in general. In the international and export markets, buyers and consumers give due attention to these issues making it essential that factories adopt safe and appropriate working conditions for workers and embrace environmentally sustainable production practices. Manufacturers targeting the international market are hence required to adhere to certain levels of health, safety, and compliance standards to even be considered for initial sourcing discussions. In recent times, compliance has emerged as a number one priority for major international buyers and a necessary condition for entry into the international value chain. Msingi is keen to support manufacturers to adhere to national and international standards in this regard. Msingi is looking to procure the services of an internationally experienced service provider/ consultant to provide support services to Textile and Apparel manufacturers to help to improve their compliance to international safety, health, and security standards. The support may not necessarily be linked to specific compliance certification schemes. In instances where the manufacturers are keen or in the process of applying to specific certifications, the support shall be geared to specific safety and security elements accordingly,

3. PURPOSE OF THE RFP 
4. To assess Health & Safety, Social Compliance and Security of selected manufactures in the Textile and Apparel industry across east Africa which are partnering with Msingi East Africa fi. 
5. To provide technical assistance to manufacturers to implement the necessary measures based on a clear set of action plan and agreed KPIs 

4. SPECIFIC DELIVERABLES OF THE ASSIGNMENT

i.Undertake scoping and gap assessment exercises on selected manufacturing facilities which are identified by Msingi last Africa pertaining to their current health, safety, and compliance practices 

ii.Develop a detailed report on the actions that need to be taken to ensure that manufacturers adhere to internationally recommended and accept best practices of health, safety, and compliance 

iii.Lead alignment and validation sessions with the leadership/owners of the manufacturers to agree on clear next steps and KPIs 

1. In conjunction with the Manufacturer support to develop and or update Standard Operating Procedures (SOPS) and manuals for safety, health and compliance as required from the initial gap assessment.
2. Rollout and ensure implementation of recommendations based on the report and action plan developed under number (1)
3. Participate in the recruitment of personnel as part of the implementation of the recommendations, where applicable Train/coach dedicated personnel hired/assigned to undertake the role on a permanent basis by the manufacturer to ensure recommendations are taken up sustainably where applicable 

vii. If the assignment is related to/ leads to specific certification of the manufacturer, the service provider is expected to undertake pre audit support Coaching services to ensure the facility is certified

5. GUIDELINES FOR APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION

Application guideline

1. Applicants should submit their company profile or CV indicating their prior experience and engagements clearly

 ii Companies applying for the RFP should list out specific personnel handling the assignment along with their CVS 

Ill. Financial proposals should be in the form of daily rates for the services to be provided. Msingi shall bear the cost of any potential travel, accommodation, and associated expenses.

1. Number of days needed each of the deliverables under # 4 shall be discussed and agreed up on a rolling basis and for each company as context and details of engagement might vary.

Questions and Submission

For any questions or clarifications regarding this expression of interest, please direct them to the Industry Manager - Textiles and Apparel Abreham Gizaw whose email is: abreham.gizaw@msingi.com  copying TextilesandApparel@msingi.com , by Friday 17th September 2021. Questions by phone will not be accepted. Application should be submitted electronically to Abreham Gizaw at Msingi East Africa, abreham.gizaw@msingi.com  copying Textiles and Apparel@msingi.com , by 29 September 2021