Consultancy for Sustainable Finance & Cross-border Investments

Oxfam is a global movement of people who are fighting inequality to end poverty and injustice. Across regions, from the local to the global, we work with people to bring change that lasts.

OVERVIEW

Start date

13 October 2025 to 31 March 2026

How to apply:

Interested candidates are invited to submit:

Detailed proposal describing the previous work done in this area and relevant expertise

CV of the applicant and/or company profile if a consultancy group

Estimated budget for this consultancy accompanied by a cost breakdown based on deliverables or days or hours spent (per relevant individuals involved) and related fees. The consultancy fee should be mentioned in both GROSS and NET fees in US Dollars, which includes all applicable local taxes. In Cambodia, the consultancy fee is subject to 15% withholding tax for resident tax-payer or 14% withholding tax for non-resident tax-payer.

***GROSS fees = NET fees x 115% or 114%

Deadline for applying:

30 September 2025 at 23:59 GTM+7

Application to be submitted to:

Assignment location:

Remote

PURPOSE OF THIS CONTRACT

The purpose for this procurement is to onboard a short-term consultant to develop a research paper aimed at identifying the key pillars of sustainable finance and cross-border investments in the Association of Southeast Asian’s (ASEAN) critical minerals supply chains and offer recommendations to multilateral development banks (MDBs) and financial institutions (s) on embedding them into their strategic and operational frameworks. The primary role of the consultant is to build the evidence and business case highlighting human rights and environmental due diligence, incentivizing local value-addition and benefits-sharing, regulatory recommendations for the ASEAN, and strengthening transparency and accountability through disclosures.

1.

BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT

Fair Finance Asia (FFA) is a program funded by the Swedish Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand. Between 2018 and 2022, FFA implemented its Phase 1, and in 2023 began implementing its Phase 2 running until 2027. FFA is a network of over 90 civil society organizations (CSOs) in Asia working to ensure that financial institutions operating in Asia are transparent and accountable to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria in their business activities and investment decisions. FFA aspires to contribute to the reduction of inequality in Asia by creating an enabling policy environment for the integration of social and environmental considerations in the Asian financial sector and ensuring that financial institutions (FIs) advance the interests and needs of local communities toward their rights and well-being.

Currently, FFA is operational at the regional level and in 10 countries across Asia, namely – Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. FFA’s regional Executive Team (ET) is stationed in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

SCOPE OF WORK

While the economic potential of critical minerals is immense, the rapid expansion of the sector carries significant risks. The historical precedent of resource-driven development, often referred to as the "resource curse," warns of substantial macroeconomic and developmental risks, including corruption, inequality, environmental degradation, and social conflict. National-level interests could impact regional vulnerability if not embedded within a cooperative framework. Unilateral actions risk a race to the bottom dynamic, which could impede the ASEAN’s ability to leverage its collective market power to negotiate better terms from international partners and diversify and modernize its supply chains. This context highlights a vital role for MDBs and FIs as influential agents of change. MDBs, through their financing and technical assistance, and work with FIs as their intermediaries, can serve as a "governance pinch point," to enforce enhanced environmental, social, and governance (ESG) requirements that prevails over weak national laws as stronger benchmarks. By requiring compliance to international sustainability standards as a condition for investment, MDBs can potentially become agents of institutional reform that could lead to improved local community outcomes.

For detailed scope of work and deliverables, including specific expected tasks, please refer to the full Terms of Reference (link provided in Annexes)

ACTIVITIES AND DELIVERABLES

For detailed activities and deliverables, including specific expected tasks, please refer to the full Terms of Reference (link provided in Annexes)

PAYMENT SCHEDULE

No.

Steps / deliverables

Indicative Timelines

1

1st payment of 30% of contract value upon submission of inception report

End of October 2025

3

2nd payment of 50% of contract value upon completion of close-to-final draft report for sign-off

End January 2025

4

Final payment of 20% of contract value upon completing the Presentation of findings to FFA network

End of March 2026

PROFILE REQUIREMENTS

For detailed profile requirements, please refer to the full Terms of Reference (link provided in Annexes).

APPLICATION PROCESS

Submission deadline

Quotations and applications must reach Oxfam no later than 30 September 2025 at 23:59 GTM+7.

Clarifications

Any questions, remarks or requests for clarification can be sent up to 7 days before the submission deadline in writing to . Questions from anonymous inquiries will be answered to all applicants.

Administrative compliance (list of documents to be submitted)

Responses must be submitted and prepared in English and received by the deadline.

To be shortlisted for evaluation against the award criteria, the following documents must be included in the application. Please refer to the full Terms of Reference (link provided in Annexes)

Evaluation and award criteria

Incomplete applications will not be assessed; only quotations that meet the administrative criteria will be assessed.

Award decisions will be based on best value for money criteria covering both technical quality and price.

For detailed information about Evaluation Criteria, please refer to the full Terms of Reference (link provided in Annexes)

Oxfam withholds the right to conduct interviews with one or more potential consultants before an award decision is made. The purpose of the interview is to seek further clarification on the submitted quotations and learn more about the background and previous experiences of the potential consultants and their teams.

OTHER CONDITIONS

Issuance of this Terms of Reference does not constitute an award commitment on the part of Oxfam, nor does it commit Oxfam to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of a bid.

The attached Annexes are an integral part of this Request for Proposals.

Oxfam may contact bidders to confirm contacts, addresses, bid amount and to confirm that the bid was submitted for this solicitation.

Quotation validity

The quotation shall be valid for 90 days from 29 September 2025. If this is not possible, the bidder may propose a different timeframe.

If the bidder is awarded the contract, all information provided in the quotation and negotiation process is contractually binding.

False statements

Bidders must provide full, accurate and complete information as required by this solicitation and Annexes. False statements in bids constitutes grounds for immediate termination of any agreement with the consultant. Oxfam takes fraud, misstatements, falsification, manipulation, alteration of facts and/or documents very seriously, has a zero-tolerance policy to such behaviours, and may choose to take legal action in a case of misrepresented disclosures by Contractors.

Conflict of interest

Bidders must provide disclosure of any past, present or future relationships with any parties associated with the issuance, review or management of this solicitation and anticipated award. Failure to provide full and open disclosure may result in Oxfam having to re-evaluate the selection of a potential bidder.

Right to Select/ Reject

Oxfam reserves the right to select and negotiate with those firms it determines, in its sole discretion, to be qualified for competitive proposals and to terminate negotiations without incurring any liability. Oxfam also reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received without explanation.

Reserved rights

All applications and quotes become the property of Oxfam, and Oxfam reserves the right in its sole discretion to:

To disqualify any offer based on applicant’s failure to follow solicitation instructions

To waive any deviations by the applicant from the requirements of this terms of reference that, in Oxfam’s opinion, are considered immaterial defects requiring rejection or disqualification; or where such a waiver will promote increased competition

Extend the time for submission of responses after notification to all applicants

Terminate or modify the process at any time and re-issue the request for quotation to whomever Oxfam deems appropriate

Issue an award based on the initial evaluation of offers without discussion

Award only part of the activities in the solicitation or issue multiple awards based on solicitation activities

CODE OF CONDUCT

Oxfam is committed to integrity in its operations and supply chains and ensuring high ethical standards. Complying with all laws and regulations and ensuring fair competition are fundamental to this commitment. We actively promote these principles and standards, and expect all Oxfam consultants to demonstrate commitment towards them.

All consultants/applicant are required to agree and adhere to the Oxfam Consultant Code of Conduct, whereas individuals (including consultants) must sign the Oxfam Non Staff Code of Conduct[1]. These Codes of Conduct set out the specific standards and principles in the areas of human and labour rights, environmental impact and anti-corruption that consultants must follow.

REPORTING OF FRAUD & UNETHICAL BEHAVIOUR

Oxfam’s reporting and whistleblowing mechanisms are available for Consultants as well Oxfam employees, to ensure that Oxfam continues to operate under the highest ethical standards and principles.

You can use these reporting channels confidentially, anonymously, and in your own language to report any concerns involving fraud, corruption, waste, abuse or safeguarding concerns.

Online webform

Oxfam Misconduct Reporting Webform (including possibility for anonymous reporting):

Email

ANNEXES

The full Terms of Reference are available here