GNB/BHO/AD-35 Date: 28/08/2025
Terms of Reference (TOR)
Hiring Consultants/Organizations/Trainers for Capacity Building of Production Worker (Female) and Sewing Training Manual Development
For: Protibeshi Fashion Limited (A business entity owned and operated by Good Neighbors Bangladesh-supported Cooperatives in Sirajganj Community Development Project area of Good Neighbors Bangladesh)
| Date of Publication | 04 September 2025 |
| Deadline of submission | 18 September 2025, at 05:00 PM |
| Submission Email |
1) Introduction and Background:
Good Neighbors Bangladesh (GNB) is a member organization of Good Neighbors International (GNI). Since 1996, GNB has been operating in Bangladesh as an international non-governmental organization dedicated to improving the lives of deprived children, their mothers, and families through education, health services, economic security, protection, community development, water and sanitation, and disaster relief initiatives. Currently, GNB serves approximately 21,000 children, along with their mothers and families, through 2 urban and 15 rural projects across 13 districts of Bangladesh.
To enhance economic resilience and promote women-led enterprises, GNB established Protibeshi Fashion Limited, a business entity owned and operated by GNB-supported cooperatives under its Social Economy Department. This initiative seeks to transform informal sewing groups in the Sirajganj Community Development Project areas into structured, ethical, and market-oriented mini garments production units or small-scale fashion businesses. The goal is to empower the underprivileged by equipping them with advanced skills and creating sustainable employment opportunities.
The project aims to help women move beyond financial dependence by strengthening their technical expertise, confidence, and entrepreneurial capacity. Beneficiaries are supported to establish sustainable sewing businesses capable of meeting both local and export market demands. Current products include traditional clothing, school uniforms, bags, umbrellas, towels, face masks, mosquito nets, and jute-based handicrafts.
The capacity-building program will specifically focus on enhancing skills for the following key product categories:
F Export-Ready Basics: T-shirts, Polo shirts, Jeans, leggings.
F Traditional Apparel: Salwar kameez, sarees, panjabis, blouses, other ethnic wear
F Eco-Friendly Products: Jute-based crafts; Jute and fabric bags (tote bags, handbags, shopping bags)
F Home Textiles: Pillow covers, bedsheets, mosquito nets, curtains.
F Uniforms & Institutional: School uniforms, school/official bags, aprons, and corporate/formal dress
However, significant skill gaps and operational limitations are hindering the enterprise’s growth and competitiveness. Production workers often lack advanced technical knowledge in modern garment design, eco-friendly product development, pattern drafting, precision cutting, high-quality stitching, and export-standard finishing. Quality control procedures are underdeveloped, limiting the ability to consistently meet international
standards. Access to ethically sourced materials and sustainable production techniques is also limited.
In addition, strong competition from established garment manufacturers and fashion houses makes it challenging for the enterprise to secure a foothold in the market. Limited exposure to modern fashion trends, inadequate understanding of export market demands, and a lack of business and marketing strategies further restrict opportunities. High raw material costs and inconsistent order volumes exacerbate financial instability.
To address these challenges, GNB seeks to hire a qualified consultant, agency, or training provider to design and deliver a comprehensive capacity-building program for production workers. This will include:
(a) Advanced training in modern, eco-friendly garment design and production.
(b) Mastery of pattern making, cutting techniques, stitching precision, and finishing.
(c) Implementation of robust quality control systems to meet local and export standards
(d) Skills for ethical sourcing of raw materials and sustainable production practices.
(e) Exposure to market-driven product development and competitive fashion trends.
(f) Practical guidance on operational efficiency, productivity, and scaling production.
The consultant will also develop a comprehensive, practical Sewing Training Manual that incorporates step-by-step technical guidance, ethical and
sustainable production principles, quality benchmarks, and visual references to ensure long-term skill retention and standardization.
2) Objectives of the Assignment: The consultancy aims to:
(a) To equip production workers with export-grade garment skills that directly enhance product quality and market competitiveness.
(b) To equip the workforce with knowledge of ethical and eco-friendly production practices, from material sourcing to waste management.
(c) To develop a practical and comprehensive Sewing Training Manual that covers modern garment design, patterning, cutting, and advanced finishing techniques.
(d) To standardize operational and quality control procedures to ensure the business can effectively compete with larger market players.
(e) To foster sustainable employment and a scalable training model for future growth.
3) Scope of Work
3.1 Skill Gaps Analysis and Training Program Design
Conduct a detailed skills gap analysis through direct observation and consultation with workers and management.
Design a competency-based, hands-on training curriculum based on the gap analysis findings.
3.2 Training Delivery: Deliver practical training sessions for a minimum of 15-20 production workers, covering:
ü Modern garment production techniques (cutting, stitching, finishing).
ü Pattern design and grading (traditional and modern methods).
ü Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Control (QC) systems for export standards.
ü Ethical sourcing of materials and sustainable/waste management practices.
ü Machine maintenance, troubleshooting, and workplace safety protocols.
3.3 Development of Sewing Training Manual: Create a Bangla, visually aided training manual. The manual must include
F Step-by-step, illustrated modules on all training topics.
F Quality benchmarks and checklists for each production stage.
F Guidelines on ethical sourcing and eco-friendly practices.
F Troubleshooting guides for common machine and production issues
F Practical exercises and assessment tools
4) Methodology & Approach
F Participatory Assessment: Engaging workers in the initial gap analysis.
F Hands-on, Practical Training: At least 80% of training time should be dedicated to practical skill development.
F Industry Benchmarking: Aligning training content with current export market and ethical industry standards(e.g., ISO, ASTM, BSCI).
F Gender and Inclusion: Ensuring the methodology and materials are accessible and effective for female participants
5) Key Deliverables
(a) An Inception Report with a detailed work plan.
(b) Delivery of the training program to a minimum of 15–20 workers.
(c) A Draft Sewing Training Manual in both Bangla (Soft and hard copy).
(d) The Final, professionally designed Sewing Training Manual (digital and print-ready) in GNB name and recommended design.
(e) A Final Completion Report summarizing outcomes, feedback, and future recommendations.
6) Duration and Work Locations
- Duration: Maximum 1 month (5 working days per week, excluding weekends) after signing the contract.
- Work Locations: Sirajganj Community Development Project, Rayganj, Sirajganj
7) Consultant Qualifications and Experience
(a) Educational Qualifications: Advanced degree in Fashion Design, Textile Engineering, Industrial Production, Vocational Education, or a related field.
(b) Preferred Qualifications:
ü Minimum 5 years of direct experience in the ready-made garment (RMG) sector, with proven expertise in production, quality control, and workforce training.
ü Demonstrable experience in developing high-quality, practical training manuals or curricula for the apparel industry.
ü Experience with ethical compliance, sustainable production (e.g., organic cotton, waste reduction), and social accountability standards.
ü Prior experience working with community-based organizations, NGOs, or social enterprises.
ü Strong facilitation and participatory training skills.
8) Budget and Payment Terms
F The financial proposal must be all-inclusive (consultancy fees, travel, accommodation, per diem, manual design & printing, VAT, etc.).
F Good Neighbors Bangladesh will ensure VAT as per government laws.
F GNB will deduct Advance Income Tax (AIT) at source as per prevailing government laws and deposit it with the National Board of Revenue (NBR).
F Payment Schedule: Payment will be provided in three installments in account payee cheque on favor of consultant/organization bank account.
ü 20% upon submission of Inception Report, Work Plan and Training starting
ü 50% upon completion of training and submission of draft manual
ü 30% upon approval of final manual and report
9) Ethical Compliance and Safeguarding
- The consultant must adhere to the highest ethical standards and GNB’s Policy
on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), Child Protection
Policy, and Code of Conduct. - All materials produced under this contract are the sole property of Good Neighbors Bangladesh. Unauthorized sharing, publication, or use is strictly prohibited.
- Any violation of ethical or safeguarding policies will result in immediate contract termination.
10) Required Documents for Submission
Applicants must submit the following documents by email to procurement@gnbangla.org by September 18, 2025 at 5:00 PM:
i. Completed Expression of Interest (EOI) Application Form
ii. Technical Proposal (including methodology, training structure, and team composition)
iii. Detailed Financial Proposal for Capacity-Building Training and Manual Development separately (inclusive of all applicable costs)
iv. Consultant or Organization Profile and CVs of Key Personnel
v. Copy of valid Trade License, TIN, VAT Registration (if applicable)
Good Neighbors Bangladesh reserves the right to accept or reject any or all submissions without providing any reason. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for further discussion.
PSEA Policy:
Good Neighbors Bangladesh maintains zero tolerance approach for all forms of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA). Stakeholders must be concerned about issues such as child rights, PSEA, and safety. If any of the stakeholders violates the PSEA policy, a child rights issue, or a safety issue, Good Neighbors Bangladesh has the right to terminate the contract immediately