National Consultant: Advisor on Environmental, Social and Governance Due Diligence System (ESG)

Result of Service

Output 1 (by 30 July 2026) Conduct and implement the recommendations of the ESG readiness assessments: • ESG readiness assessment report • Corrective measures for SEs resulting from ESG due diligence exercise, Output 2 by (30 August 2026) Develop profiling of the beneficiary enterprises report that includes: • Profiles of the beneficiary partners. • Mapping of social enterprise(s) and their related suppliers according to ESG requirements. • Support with the engagement of the community groups working on all orders. Output 3 (by 30 Sept. 2026) Collect baseline on socio-economic and environmental compliance of all community groups involved in the project in Kenya: • Socio-economic baseline assessment report • Order Output assessment • Report on environment assessment Timeline: All above tasks need to be completed by 30 Sept. 2026

Work Location

EFI Project Office in Nairobi (Kenya)

Expected duration

01.07.26 - 30.09.26

Duties and Responsibilities

The Ethical Fashion Initiative (EFI) of the International Trade Centre (ITC) connects micro-entrepreneurs from the developing world to international and regional value chains. The Programme builds technical and managerial capacities of the communities and creates sustainable business linkages through social enterprises that run production and trade hubs. The four key stakeholder groups of this model are, consumers, buyers and businesses in the lifestyle sector, social enterprise running centralized production hubs and artisan micro-entrepreneurs grouped in legal entities. The project called Designing the Future; a Green and Inclusive Fashion Ecosystem for Kenya is funded by the Agency of the Italian Development Cooperation (AICS). The initiative seeks to increase competitiveness and participation of micro and small artisanal and design businesses from Kenya in the international, regional, national value chain of the fashion and lifestyle industry. It targets 2,500 direct beneficiaries, 65% of whom women and youth, from marginalized communities of artisans, micro-producers and design entrepreneurs. It also focuses strongly on sustainable fashion production: promoting circular design and production, use of renewable sources of energy, use of organic or recycled materials, processes that require carbon-insetting. As part of this effort, and in collaboration with ITC’s Green and Inclusive Value Chains (GIVC), aim to implement an Environmental, Social and Governance Due Diligence System (ESG) a comprehensive framework and suite of tools that support companies across the fashion value chain in upholding principles of sustainable, fair, and just work. The ESG system enables businesses to build and manage equitable and environmentally responsible value chains by providing a strong ethical foundation and practical tools for implementation. It integrates both existing resources and ITC/EFI‑developed instruments to help all value chain actors manage production in a responsible and transparent manner. Covering each component of ethical trade, the ESG system emphasizes partnership, shared responsibility, and co‑creation, outlining the steps required for every actor to contribute to delivering an ethical fashion or lifestyle product. The system aligns with and supports the ITC‑developed tools such as ESG Readiness Assessment and the T4SD CS3D Supplier Preparedness Diagnostic Questionnaire. Under the direct supervision of the EFI Project coordinator, the general guidance of the Associate Programme Management Officer, and in collaboration with the EFI Team, the consultant will perform the following tasks: Description of Duties/Responsibilities • Conduct and implement the recommendations the ESG readiness assessments. • Brief, coordinate and train the local social enterprise and group leaders based on the findings of ESG. • Conduct assessments of social and environmental sustainability along the full length of EFI supply network in Kenya • Carry out relevant track and tracing mechanisms of value chains. • Draft related reports, including recommendations. • Ensure compliance with the local regulations – Workshop registration and registration with OSH and DOSH. • Conduct baselines to new organizations to the EFI network in Kenya. • Carry out regular impact assessments and compile the order-based impact assessment reports. • Provide support to the production team instituting all ESG components and analysis for each product type. Copyright Clause: The consultant must secure all necessary intellectual property rights and permissions required to perform their services and enable ITC's unrestricted dissemination of the work. Documented proof of these rights must be submitted to ITC, and the consultant must obtain prior written approval before incurring any third-party copyright or licensing fees. ITC champions workforce diversity, inclusion, and gender parity, ensuring equal consideration for all qualified individuals. All candidates, including persons with disabilities, are evaluated fairly without discrimination or prejudice of any kind.

Qualifications/special skills

• Graduate degree (MA/MSc/MBA, or other) in related humanities. • Extensive and relevant experience in impact assessment in the context of community development may be accepted in lieu of the university degree. • Experience working in development context in Kenya; • Experience in working in the artisan sector; • Experience with coordinating and leading groups is an added advantage. Skills • Interpersonal skills; • Good analytical skills; • Capacity to synthesise a large amount of information and complex data; • Pro-active and initiative-driven behaviour; • Knowledge in assessing fair labour conditions in the fashion industry; • Excellent interpersonal, presentation, written and oral communication skills.

Languages

• Advanced knowledge of English and Kiswahili • Knowledge of other local languages is an added advantage.

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.