Technical Consultant, Project “Enhancing Gender Responsive Trade in the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Lao PDR”

Request for Proposal – Regional Trade for Development Program

Technical Consultant, Project “Enhancing Gender Responsive Trade in the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Lao PDR”

About RT4D

The Regional Trade for Development (RT4D) Facility supports ASEAN Member States to maximise benefits from the upgraded ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement. Under the operation of the RT4D, the Trade and Gender Equality Incubator (TGEI), with funding support from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), tests ideas and methods, drawing on promising practice to advance gender equality within trade-related policies, technical cooperation, and development programming.

Project Summary

TGEI is funding the project ‘Enhancing Gender Responsive Trade in the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Lao PDR’. The project aims to achieve:

1. Increased MOIC staff knowledge of FTA Provisions and their potential impact on diverse groups of economic actors.

2. Increased MOIC Capacity to negotiate and/or implement FTAs to maximise benefits for diverse groups of economic actors.

3. Increased learning on Gender Equality and Trade.

The project is pending its implementation from October 2024 until now.

The Opportunity

TGEI is seeking an individual consultant or a consultancy firm/organisation (the Consultant) to update the project design for the implementation period of November 2025 to April 2027 in close collaboration with the RT4D Facility and the Project Proponent. The final updated design will be subject to comments, amendments, and the approval from the RT4D Facility Team, the Project Proponent and Funding Partner—Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

The Consultant will facilitate consultation with relevant stakeholders to redefine project outcomes which are realistic and feasible to be achieved within the time frame for implementation of 18 months. Then the consultation will update the current project design which should demonstrate sound analysis, strong contextual understanding and consultation with key stakeholders, including the Project Proponent and the RT4D Facility.

The Consultant will be responsible for a coherent set of deliverables centred around updating the project design:

• Deliverable 1: Work plan for updating the project design
• Deliverable 2: Stakeholder consultation
• Deliverable 3: Draft an updated project design
• Deliverable 4: Finalise the updated project design and submit it for approval

Interested individual consultants or consultancy firms should provide a technical proposal detailing their capabilities in supporting the scope of services outlined in the ToR.

To ensure the above can be effectively managed and completed in alignment with this TOR, below are the requirements for the consultant:

• Skilled and experienced expert with the technical expertise, bandwidth, and capabilities to support the TGEI to deliver all outputs in alignment with the remit and timelines set within this Scope of Services.
• Demonstrated technical and subject matter expertise in the design and implementation of GEDSI and trade projects.
• Demonstrated experience in developing program and project designs that consider and incorporate the needs, priorities and concerns of government stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience in facilitating and delivering online and on-site consultations that effectively engage diverse government audience.
• Experience in working and engaging with government agencies in Lao context is a distinct advantage.
• Proven excellent proposal writing skills, with ability to incorporate comprehensive feedback at multiple stages.

For a complete Terms of Reference, please visit  RT4D Website  or click on the link here. Password is TetraTech2025. 

How to Apply

Interested bidders should submit Technical and Financial proposals in alignment with requirements outlines in Section XII of the full TOR.

Please visit RT4D Website  for more information on how to apply or click the "apply for job" button.

Apply before 11:59 PM (AEST) Monday, 5 May 2024.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.