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.
The Governments of Australia and New Zealand have committed up to AUD 53.3 million to fund RT4D from 2020-21 to 2027-28.
Project Summary
The RCEP Implementation Support Program (RISP), implemented by the 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 two projects are approved under RISP.
- Project 1: Inclusive Cross-Border Trade Facilitation for Women Traders and SMEs under RCEP in Lao PDR
- Project 2: Inclusive Digital Transformation under RCEP: Strengthening SME Supply Chains by Empowering Women and Persons with Disabilities in Lao PDR
Description
The Opportunity
RT4D is seeking a consultant (a firm or an individual expert) (hereafter referred to as "the Consultant") to manage and deliver two (2) separate Project Designs for both projects mentioned above. The delivery will follow standard RT4D templates and be subject to comments, amendments, and approval from the RT4D Facility Team, the Project Proponents and Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The general competencies and qualifications the Consultant should demonstrate, include (but are not limited to):
General Technical and Experience Requirements
- Demonstrated expertise in project design for donor-funded programs, including development of theories of change, results frameworks, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) systems, and full project design documentation.
- Strong experience in policy, institutional, and ecosystem analysis to inform project design, with ability to translate evidence into structured, implementation-ready design
- Proven experience in mixed-methods research and consultation processes for project design, including stakeholder mapping, interviews, focus group discussions, and synthesis of qualitative and quantitative evidence.
- Strong facilitation and stakeholder engagement skills, including engagement with government agencies, private sector actors, development partners, and civil society during project formulation.
- Demonstrated expertise in Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI), with ability to integrate inclusive design principles into research and project design
- Strong analytical, synthesis, and report writing skills, with ability to produce high-quality project design documents, policy briefs, and actionable recommendations.
- Experience working with development partners, including programs supported by the Governments of Australia and New Zealand, and understanding of their priorities in inclusive economic growth, SME development, trade, and digital transformation.
- Strong understanding of the Lao PDR development context, including SME development, trade facilitation systems, digital transformation, and inclusion of women and persons with disabilities.
- Experience engaging with Government of Lao PDR agencies, including the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MoIC) and Ministry of Finance, is highly desirable.
Project-Specific Expertise Requirements
Project 1:
- Strong expertise in trade facilitation, RCEP, and ASEAN economic integration frameworks, including customs, border management, logistics, and economic corridor systems affecting SME participation in cross-border trade.
- Experience translating trade policy and corridor analysis into structured project design frameworks, including inclusive interventions for women traders and persons with disabilities.
Project 2:
- Strong knowledge of SME digital transformation, including e-commerce adoption, digital platforms, supply chain digitisation, and digital market systems in developing country
- Experience translating SME digital readiness and inclusion analysis into structured project design frameworks and intervention logic for women-led enterprises and persons with disabilities.
Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Timeline:
Invitation Issue Date: Wednesday 10 June 2026
Last Queries Date: Wednesday 24 June 2026
Closing Date and Time: 11:59 PM (AEST) Sunday, 5 July 2026.
Please check RT4D’s website for complete ToR.
RFP - Project Designs - Lao PDR Projects on Cross-Border Trade Facilitation and Digital Transformation
