Consultant for Empowering Women and People with Disabilities through ODOP Development in Laos

About RT4D

The Regional Trade for Development (RT4D) initiative is funded by both the Governments of Australia and New Zealand. It assists ASEAN Member States (AMS) in meeting their commitments and realising the advantages offered by the Agreement establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area, or AANZFTA, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP.

Through the AANZFTA Implementation Support Program (AISP) and the RCEP Implementation Support Program (RISP), RT4D provides tailored support to enhance the capabilities of ASEAN Member States by strengthening skills, building networks, facilitating policy options and ensuring that trade benefits everyone, including Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), women and people with disabilities.

The Governments of Australia and New Zealand have committed up to AUD 53.3 million to fund RT4D from 2020-21 to 2027-28.

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Project Summary

The RCEP Implementation Support Program (RISP), implemented RT4D Facility, aims to support AMS to realise the full benefits of RCEP through the provision of capacity-building support and access to technical expertise. 

The following project is approved under RISP.

• Project Name: Empowering Women and People with Disabilities through ODOP Development, Packaging Design, and E-Commerce in Lao PDR.
• Project Objective: The project aims to advance inclusive economic development in Lao PDR by strengthening the One District One Product (ODOP) framework and integrating e-commerce as a pathway for market expansion. Building on previous RT4D-supported initiatives, it focuses on empowering women entrepreneurs and persons with disabilities (PWD) to overcome barriers in product development, packaging design, certification, and digital trade. Through targeted training, institutional strengthening, and policy alignment, the initiative seeks to enhance market competitiveness, expand economic participation, and ensure the benefits of trade reach marginalized groups
  • Strengthen institutional capacity of the Institute for Industry and Energy (IIE) to lead, coordinate, and sustain inclusive ODOP development, aligned with national strategies and RCEP commitments.
  • Enhance participation of women and persons with disabilities (PWDs) in ODOP production, packaging design, and e-commerce by addressing structural barriers and providing targeted training and resources.
  •  Improve market access and competitiveness of ODOP products by equipping producers and MSMEs with practical skills in certification, product development, packaging, and digital trade.
  • Foster multi-stakeholder collaboration among government, private sector, women’s associations, and disabled persons’ organizations to create an enabling environment for inclusive and sustainable economic development.
  • Promote knowledge-sharing and visibility of inclusive ODOP practices through publications, multimedia, policy dialogues, and public awareness events, ensuring replication and scalability beyond the project.

The Opportunity

RT4D is seeking a consultancy firm/ consortium partner (hereafter referred to as "the Consultant") to manage and deliver both technical and event organisation services for the abovementioned project. The delivery will follow standard RT4D templates and be subject to comments, amendments, and approval from the RT4D Facility Team, the Project Proponent and Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

Terms of Reference

Financial Proposal Template

General competencies and qualifications the Consultant should demonstrate, include (but are not limited to):

• Team members with Master’s degree (or higher) in Development Studies, Inclusive Business, Economics, Industrial/Graphic Design, Marketing, International Trade, or a closely related field; a relevant bachelor’s degree with substantial experience will also be considered.
• Demonstrated experience integrating gender equality, disability, and social inclusion (GEDSI) in trade, entrepreneurship, or MSME development programs, preferably in Lao PDR or the Mekong region.
• Proven track record in strengthening One District One Product (ODOP) or similar community-based value chains, including product certification, market analysis, and capacity building for MSMEs.
• Advanced expertise in product development and design, including concept creation, material selection, prototyping, and adaptation of traditional Lao products for modern markets.
• Strong skills in packaging design, with the ability to develop innovative, market-ready, and eco-friendly packaging solutions that meet domestic and export standards while reflecting local culture and heritage.
• Demonstrated capability in brand strategy and product positioning, helping producers tell compelling product stories and build a distinctive market identity.
• Hands-on experience establishing and managing online sales channels (e.g., Facebook Marketplace, TikTok Shop, regional platforms), including logistics, payment systems, and cross-border trade in Southeast Asia.
• Proven project management and coordination skills, including work-planning, budgeting, team leadership, stakeholder engagement, and timely delivery of multi-province, donor-funded projects.
• Strong research capacity, including the ability to develop research tools, conduct literature reviews, carry out provincial outreach and field studies, and consolidate findings into analytical reports and policy recommendations.
• Experience revising or developing training curricula, delivering inclusive workshops in both Lao and English, and providing post-workshop monitoring, evaluation, and reporting to measure learning outcomes and impact.
• Demonstrated ability to design and implement monitoring and evaluation frameworks, conduct baseline and endline assessments, and produce evidence-based progress and completion reports aligned with donor requirements.
• Deep understanding of Lao PDR’s trade policies, SME regulations, ODOP framework, RCEP commitments, and provincial governance structures.
• Established working relationships with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC), Institute for Industry and Energy (IIE), women’s associations, and disabled persons’ organizations.
• Ability to cultivate and maintain relationships with private sector actors, national e-market platforms, media outlets, and development partners to ensure sustainability and scalability.
• Strong facilitation and adult-learning expertise, with the ability to design accessible training materials in Lao and English and adapt content for participants with diverse literacy levels and disabilities.
• Fluency in Lao and English (written and spoken) is essential; knowledge of ethnic minority languages is an asset.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Apply before 11:59 PM (AEST), 28 November 2025

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