Summary
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.
Also operating under RT4D is the Trade and Gender Equality Incubator (TGEI), an initiative funded by the Australian Government. The incubator tests ideas and methods, drawing on promising examples, that integrate gender in trade policy, technical cooperation, and development programming.
The Governments of Australia and New Zealand have committed up to AUD 53.5 million to fund RT4D from 2020-21 to 2027-28.
Project Summary
The AISP Implementation Support Program (AISP), implemented RT4D Facility, aims to support AMS to realise the full benefits of the AANZFTA through the provision of capacity-building support and access to technical expertise.
The following project is approved under AISP.
- Project Name: “Ecolabelling Training for ASEAN Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).”
- Project Objective: The primary objectives of this project are to:
- Equip ASEAN SMEs with knowledge and skills on ecolabelling standards and practices.
- Promote the production of green products that align with international market requirements.
- Enhance the competitiveness of ASEAN SMEs in the Australian and New Zealand markets.
- Foster sustainable business practices across ASEAN SMEs.
Description
The Opportunity
RT4D is seeking a consulting firm/consortium or individual consultant (hereinafter referred to as “the Consultant”) to manage and deliver the end-to-end Project Design for the abovementioned project under the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand FTA (AANZFTA) Implementation Support Program (AISP), in close collaboration with the RT4D Facility and the Project Proponent.
The Project Design will follow a standard RT4D template and be subject to comments, amendments, and approval from the RT4D Facility Team, the Project Proponent, the ASEAN Secretariat and the relevant AANZFTA Subsidiary Body.
Interested consulting firms or individuals should put forth technical support personnel that can support the RT4D Team in the completion of the project design. To ensure the above can be effectively managed and completed in alignment with this TOR, it is recommended that organisations/consultants have:
- Proven experience in designing and developing international development or trade-related project designs, including preparation of project design documents, work plans, monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) frameworks, GEDSI, Communications, and Program Management considerations outlined in the ToR.
- Demonstrated experience in designing and supporting regional SME capacity-building projects, preferably in trade, sustainability, or green transition themes, including the development of training modules, participant handbooks, implementation plans, and practical learning activities.
- Strong technical understanding of ecolabelling and sustainable production standards, including knowledge of ISO 14024 or comparable ecolabelling frameworks, environmental certification processes, and how these apply to SME development and market access in Australia, New Zealand, and ASEAN contexts
- Demonstrable experience conducting stakeholder consultations and developing program and project plans and designs that consider and incorporate the needs, priorities and concerns of diverse stakeholders , including government institutions, local authorities, indigenous peoples, local communities, women’s groups, MSMEs, and civil society organisations to inform project design and ensure inclusivity of perspectives.
- Proven ability to work with ASEAN stakeholders and regional partners, including government agencies, training institutions, and private-sector actors, with experience in facilitating consultations, coordinating multi-country inputs, and translating technical content into clear, practical guidance for SMEs.
- Experience engaging with Australia and/or New Zealand Government-funded development programs or other donor-funded initiatives, including familiarity with results-based management, compliance, and reporting frameworks is an advantage.
- Excellent written communication and project design drafting skills, with experience producing high-quality reports, concept notes, and project design documents for review and approval by multiple stakeholders.
Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Timeline:
Invitation Issue Date: Friday 26 June 2026
Last Queries Date: Friday 10 July 2026
Closing Date and Time: 11:59 PM (AEST) Monday, 20 July 2026
Please check RT4D’s website for complete ToR.
RFP - Project Designs - Ecolabelling Training for ASEAN SMEs
