Call for tender: research and advocacy project about women, work, and environmental injustice in Egypt’s perfume economy

Issued by: Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung (RLS), North Africa Office
Date: 09/02/2026
Submission Deadline: 20^th of February 2026

Background

Egypt’s aromatic-oil sector serves as a striking example of “toxic exchange” between the Global North and South. While Egypt exports high-value jasmine and geranium essences to European luxury fragrance houses, it imports hazardous pesticides and economic precarity.

In hubs like Shubra Balloula (Nile Delta) and Tansa (Upper Egypt), thousands of women and children provide the labour necessary to sustain global luxury supply chains. These workers face extreme health risks from pesticide exposure and lack basic labour protections or fair wages. The wealth generated by these exports is concentrated abroad, while the environmental and physical “toxicity” remains local.

The Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung (RLS) North Africa seeks to partner with a qualified research and advocacy team to document these realities and link them to global policy debates on corporate accountability and environmental justice.

Object of the tender

The RLS North Africa Office is seeking a qualified research team, Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), or consultancy to implement a one-year research-action and advocacy project. The project will investigate the systemic inequalities within the perfume supply chain, focusing on gendered labor and toxic pesticide circulation.

General Objectives

• Document the labour conditions, income levels, and health risks (specifically pesticide exposure) of women in the jasmine and geranium sectors.
• Analyse the “toxic circularity” of the trade—the export of raw materials versus the import of hazardous chemical residues.
• Advocate for the inclusion of women agricultural workers in Egypt’s formal labour and social protection frameworks.
• Connect local findings with European policy debates regarding mandatory supply-chain due diligence and stricter pesticide export regulations.
• Produce high-impact advocacy tools, including a policy brief and a multimedia campaign.

Target Groups    

The series aims to reach a broad audience, including:

• Women workers and local communities in the Nile Delta and Upper Egypt.
• Egyptian labour rights organizations and feminist initiatives.
• European civil society allies and EU policymakers focused on trade and “green” transitions.
• General public and consumers of global luxury fragrance brands.

Scope of Work and Deliverables

The study must include, but is not limited to, the following main phases:

1. Literature review, trade data analysis, and partnership consolidation.
2. Field Research with participatory fieldwork in Shubra Balloula and Tansa (interviews, audio/photo documentation, and health mapping).
3. Collaborative workshops with women workers to draft advocacy campaign messages and policy recommendations.
4. Launch of outputs strategy with a social media campaign, and a public advocacy event.

Proposal, Award and Tender submission

Required Qualifications:

• Proven experience in feminist research, environmental justice, or global supply chain analysis.
• Strong network within Egyptian civil society and/or European advocacy circles.
• Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality multimedia content (podcasts, storytelling).
• Fluency in Arabic and English; French is an asset for European advocacy.

Submission Requirements:

• A methodological note detailing the research-action approach and advocacy strategy.
• A budget proposal.
• A portfolio of previous relevant projects (reports, campaigns, or podcasts).
• CVs of the project coordinator and lead researchers.

Deadline for Submission: February 20, 2026.

Languages: Applications can be submitted in English, French, or Arabic.

Send to: Procurement.NorthAfrica@rosalux.org with the subject: Tender: Perfume Economy Project.

Note:

*Incomplete applications will be ignored.

*Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further discussion.

Languages

Research outputs and advocacy materials must be produced in Arabic and English. Selected policy documents should be bilingual (Arabic, English).

Publishers

The Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung (RLS) and the implementing partner will co-brand the outputs. RLS reserves the right to utilize project materials across its global digital platforms and events.

Timeline and deliverables

Contact

For inquiries: Procurement.NorthAfrica@rosalux.org with the subject: Questions: Perfume Economy Project.