Demystifying the Systemic Risks of Inequality for the Asian Financial Secto at OxfamNovibP

, , -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

18 Dec, 25

Salary

22000.0

Posted On

19 Sep, 25

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Research, Consultancy, Financial Analysis, Risk Assessment, Policy Development, Social Justice, Data Analysis, Reporting, Stakeholder Engagement, Communication, Project Management, Economic Analysis, Inequality Assessment, ESG Criteria, Financial Disclosures, Community Engagement

Industry

Civic and Social Organizations

Description

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 1 November 2025 to 31 December 2025 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: 3 October 2025 at 23:59 GTM+7 Application to be submitted to: https://jobs.oxfamnovib.nl/job-invite/14131/ Assignment location: Remote PURPOSE OF THIS CONTRACT The purpose for this procurement is to onboard a short-term consultant to develop a white paper aimed at demystifying the systemic risks of inequality for the Asian financial sector by building the evidence of its material risk for financial institutions and investors, and to provide practical guidance for measuring, reporting, and mitigating these risks. The overall objective also includes developing recommendations towards the development of inequality-related financial disclosures. 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 June 2026. 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 Inequality presents a clear and growing financial materiality for financial institutions and investors globally. It's not only about social justice, it presents a clear systemic risk that can directly impact a company's financial performance, stability, and long-term value. Inequality's financial risks can manifest in several ways. Through credit and default risk which can lead to stagnant or declining incomes for lower- and middle-income households. This can push these groups to take on more debt to maintain their standard of living, increasing the risk of loan defaults. This directly impacts the asset quality of banks and other lenders, as seen in the lead-up to the 2008 financial crisis. Reduced economic growth can impede productivity and result to limited access to education and healthcare for a large portion of the population. Weaker economies translate to a less stable market and lower returns for investors. Inequality can also be a significant driver of political populism and social unrest leading to political and social instability. This can lead to unpredictable changes in regulation, higher taxes on corporations, or even civil strife, all of which pose direct threats to a company's operations and asset values. Financial institutions perceived as contributing to or profiting from inequality can also face significant reputational damage including consumer boycotts, loss of talent, and reduced client trust, all of which can harm their bottom line. Finally, unjust labor practices, such as low wages or poor working conditions, can lead to strikes, high employee turnover, and reduced productivity and overall supply chain risks. These issues can disrupt a company's operations, incur costs and damaging its brand. This research, therefore, aims to build the evidence on why inequality is a material risk for Asian FIs and to provide practical guidance for measuring, reporting, and mitigating these risks. The overall objective also includes providing recommendations towards the development of inequality-related financial disclosures in line with the ongoing work of the Taskforce for Inequality and Social-related financial Disclosures (TISFD). For detailed scope of work and deliverables, including specific expected tasks, please refer to the full Terms of Reference (link provided in Annexes) 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 Mid- October 2025 2 2nd payment of 50% of contract value upon submission of close-to-final draft report for sign-off End of November 2025 3 Final payment of 20% of contract value upon completing the Presentation of findings to FFA network End of December 2025 ***The ceiling for the financial proposal is USD 22,000 which should include all expected costs and taxes at the consultant’s side but exclusive/net of the Cambodian withholding tax mentioned above. 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 3 October 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 Shreya Kaushik, Research and Strategic Reporting Advisor for Fair Finance Asia at shreya.kaushik@oxfam.org. 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 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. 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 the 3 October 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 as 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): https://oxfam.clue-webforms.co.uk/webform/misconduct/ Email integrity@oxfamnovib.nl ANNEXESThe full Terms of Reference are available here

Responsibilities

The consultant will develop a white paper to demystify the systemic risks of inequality for the Asian financial sector, focusing on evidence of material risk for financial institutions and investors. Additionally, the consultant will provide practical guidance for measuring, reporting, and mitigating these risks, along with recommendations for inequality-related financial disclosures.