Result of Service

The contractor will be based in the ESCAP offices in Bangkok and work under the supervision of the Economic Affairs Officers of the Innovation, Enterprise and Investment Section, Trade, Investment and Innovation Division (TIID). Outputs / Work Assignments: Output 1: Support the development of the Landscape Study of Inclusive business in Lao PDR and the workshop for promoting IB in Lao PDR Deliverables: – National and international consultants are onboard, briefed and supported in their work – Elaboration of the national landscape study receives is fully supported – Missions and workshop are timely organised – Stakeholders are briefed and kept informed – Presentation of findings is supported Delivery date: On going, 15 April – 15 December 2024 Output 2: Support the organisation of the ASEAN Inclusive Business Forum Deliverables: – Preparatory missions are timely organized – Coordination with stakeholders is swift – Invitations are timely managed – List of invitees (speakers/ participants) prepared and updated – The Forum Agenda is updated continuously – The necessary logistics arrangements are made in time – Travel of participants financed by ESCAP is organised – Event services financed by ESCAP are procured as needed – The Forum is duly supported Delivery date: On going, 15 April – 15 December 2024 Output 3: Support the development of the Model Inclusive Business Accreditation System for ASEAN Deliverables: – Draft document updated based on comments received – ASEAN member States briefed as needed – Document editing and formatting (finalized in time). Delivery date: On going, 15 April – 15 December 2024 Output 4: Support the engagement of stakeholders in Lao PDR, ASEAN and China Deliverables: – Relevant stakeholders identified and contacted – Stakeholders are kept informed, – Agreed actions are followed up – List of contacts is updated Delivery date: On going, 15 April – 15 December 2024 Output 5: Support the administration of the project Deliverables: – finance, communications, travel, logistics, human resources administration, and M&E activities related to these activities are duly managed – All relevant activities (in terms of assisting on draft ToRs, M&E, who is consulted, research & analysis, and recommendations) include a gender dimension. Delivery date: On going, 15 April – 15 December 2024 Output 6: Support the monitoring and evaluation the project Deliverables: – Regular expenditure reports, – Monitoring and evaluation plan, – Regular implementation progress reports, – One feedback survey per activity – One feedback report per activity – Draft reports for donor and ESCAP as per M&E plan – Sound recordkeeping Delivery date: On going, 15 April – 15 December 2024 Output 7: Support the outreach and public communications Deliverables: – A communication plan for the work in Lao PDR and for ASEAN is available – Communications materials (blogs, press releases, content for social media, etc) are developed – The communication plan is swiftly implemented Delivery date: On going, 15 April – 15 December 2024 Output 8: Support other activities related to the promotion of inclusive business models Deliverables: – Support to other activities is provided upon request. Delivery date: On going, 15 April – 15 December 2024 The performance of the contractor will be evaluated based on the quality of the work and the timeliness of the work delivery.

Work Location

Bangkok

Expected duration

15 April – 15 December 2024

Duties and Responsibilities

Background: 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 PDR 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. Duties and responsibilities: The Government of China as approved a project, that among others, supports the above activities. The purpose of this contract is to support the management of the China project activities related to inclusive business (that is, activities 1.1.1, 1.1.2. 1.2.1, 1.2.2). The responsibilities of the contractor are to support the implementation of project activities (1.1.1, 1.1.2. 1.2.1, 1.2.2), including the Lao Inclusive Business Landscape Study, the organization of a workshop in Lao PDR to promote inclusive business, supporting the organization of the Inclusive Business Forum in Lao PDR, and supporting the delivery of the Model Inclusive Business Accreditation System for ASEAN. This means supporting the full lifecycle of activities, including: 1. Support the development of the Landscape Study of Inclusive business in Lao PDR and the workshop for promoting IB in Lao PDR working with the national and the international consultant. This may include, among others, supporting (e.g. drafting ToRs and identifying potential consultants); supporting the design of the Methodology of the study; supporting the elaboration of the national Landscape; assisting the organization of missions and workshop, and the provision of advisory services. This may include providing the necessary briefings and introductions, collecting and sharing the necessary information, and producing meeting summaries, and support drafting of the study and incorporating comments received, finalizing slides presenting the message of the study, and supporting presentation of the report at the national workshop and at the ASEAN Inclusive Business forum (as relevant). 2. Support the organisation of the ASEAN Inclusive Business Forum, in coordination with the host country and the ASEAN Secretariat. This will involve, among others, supporting the organization of preparatory missions, coordinating stakeholders, invitations (as relevant), list of invitees (speakers and participants), agenda, logistical notes, assisting travel of participants financed by ESCAP, the procurement of necessary services, as well as substantive preparations for, and facilitation during the Forum). 3. Support the development of the Model Inclusive Business Accreditation System for ASEAN, in coordination with the host the ASEAN Secretariat. This will involve, among others, supporting the introduction of comments received to the first draft, supporting briefings to ASEAN member States in this area, following up closely the process and finalizing the documentation (editing and formatting). 4. Support the engagement of stakeholders in Lao PDR, ASEAN and China for supporting the work in Lao PDR and the ASEAN Inclusive Business Forum. This will include identifying and contacting relevant stakeholders, keeping stakeholders informed, following up on agreed actions, maintaining the list of contacts updated. 5. Support the administration of the project including coordinating on finance, communications, travel, logistics, human resources administration, and M&E activities; helping ensure all activities (in terms of ToRs, M&E, who is consulted, research & analysis, and recommendations) include a gender dimension. 6. Support the monitoring and evaluation the project. This includes preparing regular expenditure reports; preparing a monitoring and evaluation plan; preparing regular updates on progress made in the implementation of the activities; preparing activity feedback surveys, collecting and processing responses; and preparing reports to comply with donor agency and ESCAP requirements. It also includes ensuring sound recordkeeping and filing practices, including contact database, reports, project documentation, official correspondence, etc. 7. Support the outreach and public communications, including through developing a communication plan for the work in Lao PDR and for ASEAN, communications materials (blogs, press releases, content for social media, etc) and implement the communication plan. 8. Support other activities related to the promotion of inclusive business models, as necessary. The contractor will work under the supervision of the Economic Affairs Officer of the Innovation, Enterprise and Investment Section, Trade, Investment and Innovation Division (TIID).

Qualifications/special skills

University Degree in Business administration, Technology Policy, Public Policy, Science, Technology Management or related field. A minimum of three years of experience in project management and in promoting private sector development or innovation. Desirable criteria: – Experience in the promotion of inclusive businesses, social enterprises or impact investment is desirable. – Experience working with Governments in South East Asia is desirable. – Experience in drafting policy reports is desirable. – Experience working in the UN is desirable.

Languages

Fluency in English is required.

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE 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.