Consulting Services for Fostering a Just Transition in the Mexican Industrial Sector

Under the framework of the bilateral technical cooperation project "Supporting a Just Transition in Mexico", GIZ intends to award a contract for consulting services to foster a just transition in the Mexican industrial sector. The assignment will provide technical advisory services to support the design and implementation of socially just decarbonisation processes in key industrial sectors, with a particular focus on industrial parks and their interaction with the energy sector. The contract is tendered through an international competitive procedure in line with GIZ rules and applicable EU public procurement regulations. In close coordination with GIZ, the contractor will support Mexican partner institutions and other stakeholders in translating just transition principles into concrete action in emissions-intensive industries. This includes promoting industrial decarbonisation, enabling the deployment of clean energy and circular economy solutions, and integrating social and gender considerations in industrial transformation processes. The assignment contributes directly to the achievement of the project's outcome and to four key result areas: strengthening governance frameworks for a just transition; improving enabling conditions for green technologies in industry and energy; advancing "just transition finance"; and piloting social and gender justice strategies at subnational level. A first core area of work is the provision of on-demand technical advice and specialised analysis on just transition in the industrial sector, including industrial parks. The contractor will support partners in assessing and designing regulatory and policy approaches to improve the business environment for low-carbon investments, and identifying opportunities where industrial decarbonisation can be aligned with energy transition planning, industrial policy, circular economy models and the use of green materials. All support is expected to systematically address social and gender dimensions, in line with the project's just transition approach. A second core area involves in-depth analytical work on mitigation potential and decarbonisation pathways for selected industrial parks and industrial clusters. This may include the development of emissions baselines and marginal abatement cost curves, scenario modelling for different technology and investment options, and the analysis of economic, social and environmental co-benefits under a just transition perspective. The contractor will work closely with GIZ and national partners to define the scope of these analyses and to translate findings into practical recommendations for policymakers, industrial park operators, companies and financial institutions. A third area of work is strategic communication and knowledge management. The contractor will support the development of narratives around just transition in the Mexican industrial sector and will produce communication and knowledge products such as policy briefs, reports, infographics, editorial and audiovisual materials. The services may also include conceptual and organisational support to events, dialogue formats and peer-learning activities, to disseminate lessons learned and good practices from pilot interventions in industrial parks and other industrial contexts. A fourth area focuses on capacity development. The contractor will design and implement training formats, workshops and other learning tools for key actors at national and subnational levels, including public institutions, industrial park operators, companies, financial institutions, academia and civil society. These activities aim to strengthen technical competencies and practical know-how on just transition, industrial decarbonisation, green and climate finance, circular economy and energy transition, with particular attention to the inclusion of women and groups in vulnerable situations. The contract is expected to run from February 2027 to August 2028. Primary target groups include key actors from the energy, industrial sectors and industrial park operators, as well as state-level economic and environmental authorities and relevant federal institutions. Secondary target groups comprise affected communities, labour representatives, civil society organisations and academic institutions. The assignment builds on and complements cooperation with national and international partners, including UNIDO, Mexican state-level associations such as AMSDE and ANAAE, and the Mexican Association of Private Industrial Parks (AMPIP). To deliver these services, the contractor is expected to provide a multidisciplinary expert team. This includes a team leader with strong experience in industrial decarbonisation and just transition, as well as experts in energy, industrial technologies and eco-industrial park developments, green and climate finance, social and gender impact analysis, strategic communication and capacity development. A pool of additional short-term specialists with national and international experience should be available to cover specific thematic and methodological needs. Bidders are expected to demonstrate substantial experience in climate change mitigation, industrial and energy transitions, and collaboration with public and private stakeholders, and previous work with international cooperation, preferably in Mexico or Latin America. The services will be delivered through a combination of on-demand support and the implementation of result-oriented activities and milestones agreed with GIZ. The assignment includes robust project and knowledge management, results-based monitoring and regular reporting, and must comply with GIZ requirements on data protection, information security, gender equality and environmental and climate safeguards.