Code Compliance Reviewers (Expression of interest)
ISEAL Independent Evaluation Mechanism:
Call for Expressions of Interest – Expert Reviewers
Background
The ISEAL Alliance develops Codes of Good Practice for the effective operation of voluntary standards systems. ISEAL members comply with these Codes as a membership requirement. ISEAL has committed to improve the credibility and independence of our process to assess our members’ compliance with these Codes through the development of an Independent Evaluation Mechanism (IEM). This will ensure greater acceptance of claims of Code compliance as well as avoid any potential conflicts of interest in deciding on Full Member status.
The Code compliance process involves completion of a self-assessment by the applicant, review and support by the ISEAL Secretariat and a further review and final decision by an independent panel of two technical experts. This call for expressions of interest is for individuals who are interested to serve on a contractual basis as technical experts in carrying out the reviews and decision-making on Code compliance against a set of pre-determined control points.
Description of the Work
The Independent Review Panel consists of two independent reviewers for each assessment of Code compliance. Different reviewers may be contracted to review compliance to different Codes, based on their respective expertise and experience. At this time, ISEAL is seeking expressions of interest from qualified individuals for assessment of compliance with the ISEAL Standard-Setting Code.
For each review, technical experts will be responsible for the following:
- Reviewing the self-assessment forms and conclusions of the technical review provided by the ISEAL Secretariat;
- Assessing operational compliance with indicators on critical control points identified for each ISEAL Code. These checks will often focus on documents that are not in the public domain, and/or on verification of the adequacy of key activities; and
- Making the decision on an organisation’s compliance with the ISEAL Code in question.
Qualifications
Essential qualifications for expert reviewers include:
- Experience with auditing techniques, in particular desk reviews
- Understanding the components and dynamics of standards systems
- Familiarity with ISEAL and with the Standard-Setting Code, with related technical experience.
Remuneration
For the Standard-Setting Code, each review will consist of approximately one day of work for each expert reviewer and will be remunerated at a rate of Eur800 per reviewer.
Process
For each assessment of Code compliance, reviewers will be chosen in turn from the list of qualified reviewers so that there is a random assignment of reviewers to assessments. All organisations being reviewed will be notified of the proposed reviewers and have the right to object to any reviewer for cause.
Reviewers will be contracted and paid by the ISEAL Secretariat, which collects fees for IEM review from the organisation being reviewed. The Secretariat and reviewers will be bound by the terms of a contract such that:
- Reviewers receive initial orientation from the ISEAL Secretariat; such training will be offered at no charge to reviewers, who will not charge ISEAL for their time involved in the training.
- Reviewers receive periodic feedback from the Secretariat as to their performance, limited to terms such that reviewers may act as independent contractors (as opposed to salaried employees of ISEAL).
- No reviewer will conduct more than three consecutive reviews of any organisation for any one Code, without a different reviewer then being contracted for review of the Code in question.
About ISEAL
The ISEAL Alliance is an international non-profit organisation that codifies best practice for the design and implementation of social and environmental standards systems. ISEAL shapes the context in which voluntary standards systems operate by defining what good practice looks like for the sector as well as through influencing how external stakeholders think about and engage with credible voluntary standards systems. ISEAL Alliance members are leading organisations in social and environmental standard-setting and certification, and are committed to compliance with ISEAL Credibility Tools.
To Apply
Expressions of interest will be accepted on an ongoing basis but an initial list of reviewers will be determined based on expressions of interest received by 11 March, 2011. Interested candidates should submit the following information:
- A summary of their experience and knowledge of standards systems; and
- Recommendations of suitability from at least two parties who are involved in related activities.
Applicants should declare all potential conflicts of interest.
All information exchanged during a review will be confidential, unless otherwise indicated, and the contractor will be expected to sign a confidentiality agreement with the applicant at the outset of each review.
Expressions of interest can be submitted by email to Patrick Mallet, ISEAL Credibility Director at patrick@isealalliance.org .
ISEAL reserves the right not to accept any expression of interest submitted.
Call for Expressions of Interest – Expert Reviewers
Background
The ISEAL Alliance develops Codes of Good Practice for the effective operation of voluntary standards systems. ISEAL members comply with these Codes as a membership requirement. ISEAL has committed to improve the credibility and independence of our process to assess our members’ compliance with these Codes through the development of an Independent Evaluation Mechanism (IEM). This will ensure greater acceptance of claims of Code compliance as well as avoid any potential conflicts of interest in deciding on Full Member status.
The Code compliance process involves completion of a self-assessment by the applicant, review and support by the ISEAL Secretariat and a further review and final decision by an independent panel of two technical experts. This call for expressions of interest is for individuals who are interested to serve on a contractual basis as technical experts in carrying out the reviews and decision-making on Code compliance against a set of pre-determined control points.
Description of the Work
The Independent Review Panel consists of two independent reviewers for each assessment of Code compliance. Different reviewers may be contracted to review compliance to different Codes, based on their respective expertise and experience. At this time, ISEAL is seeking expressions of interest from qualified individuals for assessment of compliance with the ISEAL Standard-Setting Code.
For each review, technical experts will be responsible for the following:
- Reviewing the self-assessment forms and conclusions of the technical review provided by the ISEAL Secretariat;
- Assessing operational compliance with indicators on critical control points identified for each ISEAL Code. These checks will often focus on documents that are not in the public domain, and/or on verification of the adequacy of key activities; and
- Making the decision on an organisation’s compliance with the ISEAL Code in question.
Qualifications
Essential qualifications for expert reviewers include:
- Experience with auditing techniques, in particular desk reviews
- Understanding the components and dynamics of standards systems
- Familiarity with ISEAL and with the Standard-Setting Code, with related technical experience.
Remuneration
For the Standard-Setting Code, each review will consist of approximately one day of work for each expert reviewer and will be remunerated at a rate of Eur800 per reviewer.
Process
For each assessment of Code compliance, reviewers will be chosen in turn from the list of qualified reviewers so that there is a random assignment of reviewers to assessments. All organisations being reviewed will be notified of the proposed reviewers and have the right to object to any reviewer for cause.
Reviewers will be contracted and paid by the ISEAL Secretariat, which collects fees for IEM review from the organisation being reviewed. The Secretariat and reviewers will be bound by the terms of a contract such that:
- Reviewers receive initial orientation from the ISEAL Secretariat; such training will be offered at no charge to reviewers, who will not charge ISEAL for their time involved in the training.
- Reviewers receive periodic feedback from the Secretariat as to their performance, limited to terms such that reviewers may act as independent contractors (as opposed to salaried employees of ISEAL).
- No reviewer will conduct more than three consecutive reviews of any organisation for any one Code, without a different reviewer then being contracted for review of the Code in question.
About ISEAL
The ISEAL Alliance is an international non-profit organisation that codifies best practice for the design and implementation of social and environmental standards systems. ISEAL shapes the context in which voluntary standards systems operate by defining what good practice looks like for the sector as well as through influencing how external stakeholders think about and engage with credible voluntary standards systems. ISEAL Alliance members are leading organisations in social and environmental standard-setting and certification, and are committed to compliance with ISEAL Credibility Tools.
To Apply
Expressions of interest will be accepted on an ongoing basis but an initial list of reviewers will be determined based on expressions of interest received by 11 March, 2011. Interested candidates should submit the following information:
- A summary of their experience and knowledge of standards systems; and
- Recommendations of suitability from at least two parties who are involved in related activities.
Applicants should declare all potential conflicts of interest.
All information exchanged during a review will be confidential, unless otherwise indicated, and the contractor will be expected to sign a confidentiality agreement with the applicant at the outset of each review.
Expressions of interest can be submitted by email to Patrick Mallet, ISEAL Credibility Director at patrick@isealalliance.org .
ISEAL reserves the right not to accept any expression of interest submitted.
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