Terms of Reference

Human Rights Due Diligence Consultant

Period: November 1-December 15, 2026

Level of effort: 15 days

Location: Remote

Group: Human Rights

1. Background and Purpose

Winrock International's Human Rights team works across fair labor and human trafficking, child safety and well-being, and women’s empowerment. This work includes engagement with private companies to identify and mitigate risks and promote fair labor practices in their supply chains. The consultancy will translate this expertise into practical business service tools for human rights due diligence (HRDD), responsible sourcing, and risk management, while considering integration with Winrock’s other ESG service offerings in ecosystems, natural resource management, climate and energy, and sustainable and resilient agriculture.

The assignment has two objectives:

• Business engagement and practical services: translating current Winrock Human Rights approaches into consolidated yet adaptable HRDD, risk assessment, grievance, and remedy tools;
• Integrated Winrock offerings: recommend differentiated joint services, including resilient agriculture in contexts of climate migration and displacement, integrated environmental and human rights assessments, responsible supply chains, and just-transition approaches.

2. Scope of Work

Task 1. Inception and asset review

Confirm priority sectors, geographies, audiences, existing relationships, success criteria, and workplan with the Human Rights team. Review relevant Winrock strategies, tools, capability materials, project examples, and lessons; conduct internal and (if approved) external consultations. Prepare an inception note with methodology, schedule, and an inventory of tools and communications assets.

Task 2. Practical HRDD toolkit

Assess existing Human Rights team and cross-Winrock tools and case examples for business relevance, readiness, evidence strength, ownership/licensing, and adaptation needs. Develop an editable, adaptable toolkit that includes:

• HRDD tools like human rights risk screening, grievance reporting, and value-chain and stakeholder mapping;
• integrated human rights and environmental risk/impact assessment framework;
• Operational-level grievance mechanism diagnostic;
• remedy and corrective-action template;
• supplier engagement diagnostic; and monitoring indicators;
• Short user guidance covering intended use, evidence needs, limitations, safeguarding, confidentiality, retaliation risks, and when specialist or legal advice is needed.

Task 4. Tool packaging and communications

Develop a packaging plan that groups tools into client-facing service packages and specifies the client problem, intended user, components, customization, delivery format, staffing, limitations, and next step for completion or piloting. Identify additional tools or templates to develop, revise, simplify, digitize, or test. Prepare a one-pager describing the suite of HRDD and broader Winrock ESG tools that can be used for outreach. Presentation of final package of tools to Winrock team. Refinement of deliverables based on feedback from the team, as needed.

Task 3. Business outreach and funding cultivation

Identify priority business audiences and entry points, including sustainability/human rights, sourcing and procurement, legal/compliance, enterprise risk, operations, supplier development, community relations, and human resources where Winrock HRDD tools can be deployed. Prepare a prioritized prospect shortlist and editable pipeline tracker showing rationale, likely need, proposed offer, Winrock entry point, relationship status, next action, owner, and timing. Facilitate at least 5 qualified introductions to private sector companies for which Winrock could be a strategic service delivery partner. An introduction counts when the consultant secures consent and makes a direct email or meeting connection between a prospect and an identified Winrock representative. Maintain an introduction and follow-up log.

3. Deliverables and Schedule

Deliverable

• Minimum contents
• LOE

1. Inception note

• Method, consultations, asset inventory, selection criteria, workplan
• 2 days

2. HRDD toolkit and packaging plan

• Editable tools, user guidance, asset readiness review, packaging and development plan
• 10 days

4. Communication sheet on package of service offerings

• One pager on HRDD tools and broader Winrock ESG offerings
• 1 days

5. Introductions, validation, and training

• At least 5 qualified introductions and follow-up log; two working sessions; training package
• 2 days

4. Qualifications

The consultant should have:

• At least 10 years of relevant experience in business and human rights, responsible business conduct, HRDD, grievance mechanisms, remedy, responsible sourcing, or social performance; an advanced relevant degree or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrated experience translating international standards into practical corporate tools and implementation, engaging business functions, cultivating partnerships, and securing qualified introductions.
• Experience with private companies in relevant sectors such as agriculture/food, extractives/critical minerals, energy/infrastructure, forestry/natural resources, manufacturing, or migration-intensive supply chains, including integration of human rights with environmental, climate, land, livelihood, or ecosystem issues.
• Strong facilitation, analysis, writing, presentation, and English-language skills; experience with affected workers, communities, civil society, or local implementation partners preferred.

Winrock is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal treatment for all people. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, age, disability or any other basis protected by law.

At Winrock we have a clear mission: Empower the disadvantaged, increase economic opportunity and sustain natural resources through unwavering dedication to accountability, equity, innovation, integrity and transformation.