We are seeking participants for our data workers' rights peer-learning network (PLN). In the PLN people will learn from each other and other data experts, to compare knowledge and insights to establish best practices for improving conditions for workers and addressing data challenges.
Summary of key information
- Aim: The purpose of this peer-learning network is to bring together organisations that use data to strengthen workers’ rights and advocate for a future where data is used to benefit everyone. Participants will receive funding to participate in the network. They will be offered opportunities to participate in knowledge-sharing and networking events. These will connect them with peers and experts in order to more effectively address the challenges they face through a better understanding of relevant data topics
- Audience: Organisations from around the world, that have an impact locally, and collect, maintain and share data on behalf of others, to strengthen workers’ rights and advocate for the fair use of data
- Duration: Nine months
- Value of award (excluding VAT): We expect to make up to seven awards of 39,769 (USD) each
Timeline
- Questions to the ODI by: 28 July 2023
- ODI response by: 4 August 2023
- Submit proposal by: 11 August 2023
- Tender decision by: 29 August 2023
- Call with selected participants: week of 4 September 2023
- Contracts awarded: 18 September 2023
- Peer-learning network start date: week of 2 October 2023
- Final peer-learning network event: end of June 2024
- Tender reference: DIPP020
- Contact: [email protected]
Background
The Open Data Institute (ODI) and Humanity United are joining forces to launch a new peer-learning network. The network will strengthen organisations working with data in the labour rights and supply chain sectors and enable them to work together to build a more open and integrated data ecosystem to improve conditions for workers.
Data is central to the labour rights and supply chain space, enabling decision making, increasing impact and driving social, economic and political change. Despite this, our previous research has shown that building an open and integrated data ecosystem for the labour rights and supply chain space remains challenging; data availability is often difficult.
Data access and sharing across different organisations, devices, platforms and jurisdictions is hard. Our research has shown that many organisations are navigating similar challenges - such as data availability, better standards for sharing data, demonstrating trustworthiness to workers, and finding a business model to ensure data access sustainability.
Now, in partnership with Humanity United, the ODI will run a dedicated peer-learning network for organisations from around the world that use data to strengthen workers' rights and advocate for a future where data works for everyone. The network offers the opportunity to learn from one another and improve your capacity to collect, maintain and share data effectively and sustainably. You will also be encouraged to share your learnings beyond the peer-learning network, as a requirement of your participation, so that other organisations working in the labour rights and supply chain space can benefit from your experience.
What do we mean by ‘peer-learning network’?
Peer-learning networks encourage knowledge sharing and the creation of new knowledge among individuals or groups from related disciplines at a similar level of maturity or that are pursuing associated themes.
The ODI’s work on peer networks generally aims to develop leadership and knowledge sharing to support publishing and sharing data principles.
Examples of organisations which have previously participated in peer-learning network cohorts can be found in the links below:
- The six data collaborations chosen for our first peer-learning network
- The seven data collaborations chosen for our second peer-learning network
- The six organisation chosen for our climate resilience peer-learning network
What are the key goals of the peer-learning network?
The peer-learning network is designed to convene organisations that collect, use and share data in the labour rights and supply chain sectors to enable them to learn from one another to improve conditions for workers. To achieve this, the peer-learning network will:
- Equip organisations that collect, use and share data in the labour rights and supply chain sectors with the guidance, tools and money they need
- Connect organisations that collect, use and share data in the labour rights and supply chain sectors and support them in exchanging knowledge, learnings and best practices
- Inspire the labour rights and supply chain sectors to develop new approaches to collecting, maintaining and sharing data
How will the network be organised?
The programme content will be designed around the specific needs of the selected participants. Activities will include::
- Opportunities to showcase and discuss your work with peers and subject experts
- Roundtable discussions and workshops – sessions related to pressing issues and challenges for participating organisations
- Networking and publicity - exchanges with peers, access to ODI and external experts, promotional opportunities via the ODI platforms and free access to the ODI Summit 2023
- Resource development - development of resources to share insights, experiences and learnings with a wider data community
- Public wrap-up event - the opportunity to present and discuss your work at a public event
The core structure of the programme will pivot up to eight main events (roughly one per month), and some additional smaller events, including networking and opportunities for 1:1 meetings. In these meetings, individual organisations can access specific support and guidance from ODI and sector experts throughout the funding period of September 2023 - June 2024.
We will also encourage and facilitate knowledge-sharing and collaboration between participants through online tools, such as mailing lists, group chats, and other knowledge-sharing opportunities.
Who are we looking to support?
We are interested in organisations from around the world that use data to strengthen workers’ rights and advocate for a future where data is used to benefit everyone.
We are looking to support organisations that aim to improve community and knowledge sharing across the informal labour market, including workers rights organisations and those working with supply chain data to improve working conditions. We are also interested in hearing from organisations that are active in improving working conditions for the platform economy.
Unions, civil rights organisations, workers rights organisations, advocacy organisations supporting workers in informal settings, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), community led or grassroots initiatives, may all be suitable to participate and are encouraged to apply. This is not an exhaustive list however, so if you feel your organisation is suitable, and would benefit, you should also consider applying.
This could include organisations that:
- have an impact locally and address a clear societal challenge
- can benefit from ODI and Humanity United contributions, such as through access to funding, or guidance and technical expertise
- are interested in experimenting with new ways for collecting, sharing and/or using data more effectively to improve workers rights
- ensure collection, use and access to data is transparent, fair and legal (organisations working within constraints related to privacy or commercial sensitivity are encouraged to apply)
We would like to encourage applications from diverse organisations, from different geographic locations, as well as organisations committed to addressing challenges faced by disadvantaged or underrepresented communities through their work.
What are the participation requirements?
You are expected to attend and actively contribute to all events over the funding period between September 2023 to June 2024. You are also expected to be available for a needs assessment interview before the beginning of the network. This will help us to design a responsive programme based on your specific needs.
You should expect to dedicate time to:
- attend and/or contribute up to seven half-day knowledge-sharing events - including workshops, co-working sessions and roundtables
- present your work at one public event and multiple times internally
- participate in networking and 1:1 meetings opportunities as they arise over the funding period between September 2023 and June 2024
- publish at least two public output about the peer-learning network via your own publication channels
- contribute to the ODI’s own publications and events
- participate in the evaluation of impact of the network
Deliverables
You are expected to:
- attend and actively participate in all virtual workshops and roundtables during the funding period
- attend and actively participate in any other peer-learning network event offered
- publish at least two public outputs about your experience of taking part in the peer-learning network and share it with your community
- attend and present at the final public peer-learning event
- contribute to the development of any related ODI and Humanity United outputs, such as case studies, blog posts, press releases and evaluation reports
The ODI and Humanity United will provide:
- funding to the level agreed in the contract
- additional advice and support as agreed with individual participants
- opportunities for peer networking and knowledge sharing amongst the funded participants
How can the funding be used?
Funding must be used to compensate for time spent engaging with the network, including participation in events, development of presentations and publication of your own writing and co-working with other participants. This may include travel to a conference or in person workshop.
Terms of payment
Payment of the agreed contract price will be made in USD and be paid out at two milestones:
- 50% at the start of the network (October 2023)
- 50% will be paid upon completion of the work, including satisfactory responses to all feedback from the ODI (July 2024)
How to apply
Interested parties should submit a proposal of no more than 3 pages in English to [email protected], which includes:
- An overview of the organisation, including goals, priorities, and key project work relating to the challenge you are addressing
- A description of your organisation’s support and training needs (challenges and gaps in your work that you hope to fill through peer learning)
- A description of what you hope to bring to the peer-learning network (skills, knowledge or experience)
- A description of the team who will be involved, including biographies and relevant experience, and contact details, as well as an indication of support for this work by a named, senior-level champion from your organisation
If you have any questions, please contact [email protected], quoting the tender reference DIPP020. The ODI reserves the right to both make anonymised questions and answers public, or share them with other organisations having stated their interest.
Decision criteria
All proposals will be assessed as described in the ODI’s public procurement policy. In addition, for this procurement successful applications will be assessed against the following criteria:
- Alignment with the goals of the network
- A clear and well-articulated proposal, outlining what your organisation is about, how the peer-learning network could help you address existing data challenges, and the skills and experiences that you are able to bring to the network
- A clearly articulated intended impact from your engagement with the network.
- Demonstrated commitment to publishing outputs and working openly
Based on the applications that receive, we will also consider the likely cohesion of the group of participants and the overlaps in areas of learning and skills in our decision.
We aim to ensure that the peer-learning network reflects both Humanity United and the ODI’s diversity, equity and inclusion commitments, and is representative of the wide range of global stakeholders involved in addressing labour rights data challenges, so we will consider this as part of our selection criteria.
Questions
Is a for-profit organisation eligible to apply for the peer-learning network?
You are eligible to apply for the peer-learning network as a for-profit organisation as long as you commit to sharing your insights and learnings from the peer-learning network openly with your network and peers.
Our organisation does not produce open data, are we still eligible to apply for the network?
Even if your organisation does not publish open data, you are eligible to apply for the peer-learning network, as long as you commit to sharing your insights and learnings openly from the peer-learning network with your network and peers.
Are we eligible to apply for the peer-learning network as an organisation that is working with public procurement bodies to drive improved workers’ rights in their global supply chains?
As an organisation which works to drive improved workers’ rights, you are eligible to apply.
Are we eligible to apply for the peer-learning as an emerging data organisation?
You are eligible to apply, as long as you feel that your organisation meets the brief outlined in the open-call documentation. We would encourage you to provide a clear overview of your current data challenges and vision for your organisation, if you decide to submit an application.
Should we include information about partner organisations in the application?
You should include information about partner organisations if they play a vital role in delivering on your mission, particularly if you plan to include them in the peer-learning network activities.
Should we include information about the team who facilitate our work in the application?
Yes, please include a description of the team who will be involved, including biographies and relevant experience, and contact details, as well as an indication of support for this work by a named, senior-level champion from your organisation.
Can we apply as an individual organisation or do we need to apply as a consortium?
Both are encouraged. You can either apply as an individual organisation or as a consortium.
Are there any specific application guidelines and templates?
The application should not be longer than 3 pages and should include the following:
- An overview of your organisation, including goals, priorities, and key project work relating to the challenge you are addressing.
- A description of your organisation’s support and training needs (data challenges and gaps in your work that you hope to fill through peer-learning)
- A description of what you hope to bring to the peer-learning network (skills, knowledge or experience). Here we are interested in understanding more about the skills and knowledge of your team.
- A description of the team who will be involved, including biographies and relevant experience, and contact details, as well as an indication of support for this work by a named, senior-level champion from your organisation
Do we need to include a budget in our application?
No, you do not need to include a budget.
What type of technical support will the ODI provide for organisations?
The peer-learning network will be tailored to the specific needs of the selected participants. We encourage you to outline in the application if you require any specific technical support.
Will we be required to publish our contribution in mainstream media outlets or can we use our own publication platforms too?
You are free to choose the media outlet that best suits your needs. This could be your own communication channels, such as your website or mainstream media. What is important is that you share your insights and learnings with your audience, in an openly accessible way.
Can we use the funding to support other work in addition to covering our participation in the peer-learning network, such as to organise discussions or workshops with our local partners?
The funding should primarily be used to enable your participation in the network. However, if you feel that you can increase your impact on the ground by running workshops or discussion groups with local partners, and if you can do that without compromising on your commitment and participation to the network, then you are free to use some of the funds for it. Please include a reference as to how you would approach this in your application.
Should the same people attend all of the sessions or can participants rotate who attends?
You are welcome to rotate attendees to the sessions, although you may want to have one person attend regularly for consistency's sake.
Are travel costs included in the grant to organisations?
The total value of the grant to each organisation is 39,769 (USD). Travel costs would be included in this total. We won't make any decisions about travel without the support of the chosen participants and we are not factoring ability to travel into the selection criteria.
How would the sessions work for different time zones?
We are hoping to host sessions at times that work for a range of regions, but are also conscious of not forcing people to attend sessions at times which are significantly outside of their regular working hours. We are willing to work flexibly to accommodate this, but won't be able to commit to specific timings until we have an understanding of who has applied.
What kind of organisations do you expect to be applying for this grant?
In the open call documentation, we've mentioned some of the types of organisations that we would expect to benefit from participation:
"Unions, civil rights organisations, workers rights organisations, advocacy organisations supporting workers in informal settings, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), community led or grassroots initiatives, may all be suitable to participate and are encouraged to apply."
This is not an exhaustive list however, so if you feel your organisation is suitable, and would benefit, you should also consider applying.