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Cluster Independent Mid-term Evaluation of RMGP II and BWB and its affiliated projects - Midterm evaluation

eval_number:

3032

eval_url:

https://webapps.ilo.org/ievaldiscovery/eval/3032

location:

country:

Bangladesh

region:

Asia and the Pacific

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eval_title:

Cluster Independent Mid-term Evaluation of RMGP II and BWB and its affiliated projects - Midterm evaluation

recommendations:

date:

2021-04-22 00:00:00.0

themes:

theme:

COVID-19

category:

COVID-19

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comments:

BWB continue its COVID-19 response engagement throughout 2020 to support factories, brands but also constituents. Better Work Bangladesh’s in-person factory services are temporarily on hold, but all the services are being delivered virtually. Given the current state of the industry, and the increased visibility that COVID-19 has put on the role of buyer practices on factory compliance, we are anticipating supply chains that look very different in the future, and the industry is looking to Better Work to take a leadership role in redefining shared accountability for more resilient and equitable supply chains. To measure the impact of Better Work on workers’ lives and business, our programme has continually promoted rigorous research using our data. Since the beginning of operations, we prioritized establishing an independent impact assessment of programme activities in other Country Programmes, showing a clear link between social compliance and productivity. This unique dataset served as a basis for identifying and explaining changes observed in working conditions and business outcomes in factories participating in Better Work. Considering the state of the RMG industry and current capacity levels in factories and of constituents, we consider it premature to talk about an exit strategy. Indicators already exist reflecting the quality and agility of factory services However, more and stronger sustainability indicators can be developed to reflect BWB's contribution to the policy debate and capacity development efforts. The Learning Hub led by BWB is at the heart of the RMG cluster mandate to strengthen the capacity of ILO constituents to enforce their mandate and service their respective memberships towards greater compliance and protection of workers conditions and rights.

action_plan:

Work on a number of guidance documents to support the industry response to the COVID-19 and protect workers. Roll out a series of targeted trainings for factories, workers, brands and constituents. Engage in discussions on due diligence, transparency and shared responsibility in the supply chain; act as a convener between brands and the industry, incorporate buyer transparency into BWB strategy. Conduct impact assessment of BWB's operations to demonstrate BWB's impact on working conditions and firm performance. The exercise was delayed by COVID-19 crisis and will be conducted in 2021. Logframe adjusted to reflect progress viz. stronger collective engagement in terms of constituents capacity building

management_response:

Partially Completed

progress:

Partially achieved

admin_units:

CO-Dhaka

title:

Make BWB more visible and relevant to national level RMG stakeholders • Continue and reinforce interventions addressing Covid-19 related challenges facing industry: continue tailoring factory level advisory services to Covid-related issues • Consider taking a stronger, more public position responsible business practices (brands purchasing practices) and continue contributing to effective brand/supplier dialogue • Reinforce capacity building interventions involving ILO constituents – DIFE, Employers’ Associations, Trade Unions • Develop strategy to scale/sustain successful gender intervention strategies: GEAR, Mothers-at-Work, Sexual Harassment Prevention • Contribute to national debate on RMG sustainability using BWB experiences and data showing linkages between social compliance and productivity • Develop PMP indicators that measure progress on influencing agenda and on exit strategy

project_symbols:

BGD/19/05/MUL

url:

https://webapps.ilo.org/ievaldiscovery/recommendations/14677

information_source:

Country Office

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