National Consultant - Landscape Study of IB in Lao PDR

Result of ServiceThe consultant will under the guidance of and report on technical issues to the international consultant, and under the overall guidance of and report to the Economic Affairs Officer of the Innovation, Enterprise and Investment Section, Trade, Investment and Innovation Division (TIID), ESCAP. The objective of this consultancy is to support the elaboration of the Landscape Study of Inclusive Business in Lao PDR and provide insights for the 7th ASEAN Inclusive Business Forum, in terms of Lao PDR substantive participation. Outputs / Work Assignments: Output 1: Preparations Deliverables: - the specific roles and responsibilities, based on the agreed design and implementation of the study, are agreed with the international consultant - Get acquainted with the concept of inclusive business (IB) and the specific analysis and methodology to be used in the study - Suggest and agree on the preliminary list of business and other stakeholders (including businesses associations, public institutions, development partners, impact investors) to be interviewed is agreed Delivery date: 19 April 2024 Output 2: Draft Landscape study of inclusive business in Lao PDR Deliverables: - Interviews and meetings with businesses and other stakeholders (including businesses associations, public institutions, development partners, impact investors) to gather the necessary data and information are conducted. - Relevant data and information is collected and translated when necessary - The IB assessments and profiles of 10 IB and potential IB models spanning a variety of models are available. - A workshop to share preliminary findings with national stakeholders is organised - Inputs for the draft of the Landscape study of inclusive business in Lao PDR are provided in time. - A draft set of powerpoint slides presenting the messages of the report that could be used for different public audiences is submitted and approved by ESCAP Delivery date: 31 July 2024 Output 3: Final draft Landscape study of inclusive business in Lao PDR Deliverables: - A final high-quality national IB landscape study (60 pages) is submitted and approved by ESCAP and includes all the elements of the outline of Annex 1, has undergone at least two rounds of comments by ESCAP and key national stakeholders, and the business profiles have been approved by the businesses. Delivery date: 31 October 2024 Output 4: Dissemination of the Landscape study of inclusive business in Lao PDR Deliverables: - A final set of powerpoint slides presenting the messages of the report that could be used for different public audiences is submitted and approved by ESCAP - A set of quotes from business leaders and government officials, including their permission to use them in the report and in communications related to the report is submitted to ESCAP - Ten quality pictures of business leaders, beneficiaries and government officials to be used together with the quote, and their permission to be used in connection with the report are submitted to ESCAP - The report in at least two events as determined with ESCAP Delivery date: 31 December 2024 The outputs will be delivered in electronic format, in word, excel or powerpoint as relevant. The performance of the consultant will be evaluated based on the quality of the work and the timeliness of the work delivery. Work LocationHome base Expected durationEstimated 3 work months over the period from 1/04/2024 to 30/12/2024. Duties and ResponsibilitiesBackground: Inclusive businesses models are specific innovative business models that explicitly seek to address the needs of low-income groups by “providing goods, services, and livelihoods on a commercially viable basis, either at scale or scalable, to people living at the base of the economic pyramid making them part of the value chain of companies’ core business as suppliers, distributors, retailers, or customers”. Inclusive business models in agriculture particularly seek to support smallholder farmers and create value for these groups. For this inclusive agri-business models to be inclusive and remain commercially viable, an innovative mindset and partnerships are needed, and a conducive ecosystem can be created to support such models. Given the critical importance of inclusive business for supporting social impact at scale, ASEAN member states adopted in 2017 the ASEAN Inclusive Business Framework and in 2020 adopted the Guidelines for Promoting Inclusive Businesses in ASEAN (this is the first sub-region to do so). In addition, several ASEAN countries - in particular Cambodia, Malaysia and Viet Nam - are in the process of adopting strategies to promote inclusive businesses. There are opportunities to support the implementation of such strategies, learn from these efforts, and replicate best practices in countries in Asia. Lao People's Democratic Republic has requested ESCAP to provide technical assistance and capacity building to support their national efforts to promote inclusive business. This request includes conducting a landscape study on inclusive business to provide an overview of what is happening on the ground, and to provide an evidence base for the future development of inclusive business strategies and policy measures. In addition to this, Lao PDR – as the 2024 ASEAN Chair and during meetings with the ESCAP Secretariat – requested ESCAP support to organize and substantively develop the 7th ASEAN Inclusive Business Forum. The objective of this consultancy is to support the elaboration of the Landscape Study of Inclusive Business in Lao PDR and provide insights for the 7th ASEAN Inclusive Business Forum, in terms of Lao PDR substantive participation. The responsibilities of the national consultant are to support the elaboration of the Landscape Study of Inclusive Business in Lao PDR. The work will comprise: 1. Agree with the international consultant on the specific roles and responsibilities, based on the agreed design and implementation of the study. 2. Get acquainted with the concept of inclusive business (IB) and the specific analysis and methodology to be used in the study 3. Organize and conduct selected interviews and meetings with businesses and other stakeholders (including businesses associations, public institutions, development partners, impact investors) to gather the necessary data and information. 4. Facilitate meetings and participate in up to two missions in Lao PDR: (1) initial one to gather information [tentatively early May 2024]; (2) workshop sharing preliminary insights with key stakeholders [tentatively end June 2024]; and sharing key findings during the 7th ASEAN Inclusive Business Forum [September 2024] 5. Collect data and information (including translate selected documents as necessary) for the report. 6. Identify, conduct IB assessments and prepare the profiles of 10 IB and potential IB models spanning a variety of models (different sectors, geographic areas, models). This includes: 6.1 Identify a long list of about 30 potential IB companies, screen this down to 20 companies. Interview about 15 companies. 6.2 The consultant will initially attend pilot interviews together with the international consultant and afterwards carry out independently additional interviews. A guiding questionnaire will be used for the 1.5 hours semi-structured interviews with the CEOs, COO or CFO of the companies. Based on the interviews, fill in a data questionnaire for each company. 6.3 Do IB rating of the companies interviewed–together with the international consultant, based on a methodology agreed. 6.4 Write a company profile for each interviewed company, based on a structure agreed with the international consultant. 6.5 Get clearance from the company for the final edited profile. 7. Assess the enabling environment, including: - Role of government, including existing policies, strategies and programmes supporting IB models - Role of the private sector - Financing and impact investment - Intermediary organisations (civil society organisations, industry associations, academia, others) 8. Identify opportunities to promote IB models, including by government, private sector associations and universities 9. Provide inputs, as agreed with the international consultant, for a high-quality Landscape study of inclusive business in Lao PDR , based on the outline provided in Annex 1 and following ESCAP editorial guidelines (to be provided by ESCAP) 10. Facilitate the dissemination of the study results, including by: - Preparing quotes from business leaders and government officials, including their permission to use them in the report and in communications related to the report - Taking/requesting quality pictures of business leaders, beneficiaries, and government officials to be used together with the quote, and their permission to be used in connection with the report. - Presenting preliminary findings and the report in at least two events. The consultant will under the guidance of and report on technical issues to the international consultant, and under the overall guidance of and report to the Economic Affairs Officer of the Innovation, Enterprise and Investment Section, Trade, Investment and Innovation Division (TIID), ESCAP. Qualifications/special skillsAdvanced university Degree in Economics, International development, Management, Public Policy, Innovation policy or related field. A minimum of 10 years of progressively experience in promoting social and economic development through research and analysis, policy formulation and application. Experience in the promotion of private sector development in Lao PDR desirable. LanguagesFluency in English and Laotian is required. Additional InformationNot available. No FeeTHE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.