NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION UNIT

MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE

Terms of Reference for an International Consultant to address and develop the Communications Strategy and guidelines for dissemination of information on trade development, regulations and agreements to general public

EIF Tier 1 (Phase 2) Project:
“Institutional strengthening of the IF coordination and implementation structures”
Project No. EIF-TIER 1-LAO-001-C

 

1.                  Background and Justification

In 2004, the Government of Laos (GOL) joined the Integrated Framework (IF) initiative, which was set up to provide Least Developed Countries with trade-related technical assistance, including human and institutional capacity building, for supporting trade and trade-related activities. As part of the IF process, a Diagnostic Trade Integration Study (DTIS), together with an Action Matrix was prepared and validated by the government and donors for the first time in September, 2006.  The most recent DTIS Update 2012 and the resulting Trade and Private Sector Development (TPSD) Roadmap was validated in May 15, 2012 and launched on October 10, 2012. This Roadmap lays out over 100 activities with varying level of priority, whose objective is to collectively increase growth and improve export competitiveness for the GOL.

After the validation of the DTIS, the first achievement made by the MOIC was the accessing for the IF Window II funding of US$ 1 million in September 2007 to kick-start the implementation of projects identified under the Action Matrix. The Window II support to NIU was due to end June 2010 and there was a critical need to further strengthen and sustain the institutions established with the support of Window II the NIU had requested for fund under the Enhanced Integrated Framework Tier 1 (EIF Tier 1) to fill in this need where the project proposal was formally approved in the beginning of 2010.

The intended overall objective of the EIF Tier 1 project is the integration of Lao PDR into the global trading system with a view to contributing to poverty reduction and sustainable development. The specific project purpose is to enable Lao PDR to become fully integrated and active players in, and beneficiaries of, the global trading system through mainstreaming trade. The key expected results are to assist the MOIC in:

  •          Building sufficient institutional and management capacity to formulate and implement trade-related strategies and implementation plans.
  •          Mainstreaming trade into the National Socio-Economic Development Plan (NSEDP)
  •          Coordinating the delivery of trade-related resources (funding, TA, etc.) to implement country priorities identified in the Trade and PSD Roadmap.
  •          Securing resources in support of initiatives that address the country priorities identified in the Trade and PSD Roadmap.

Since adoption of the Trade and PSD Roadmap as part of the DTIS Update process in May 2012, Lao PDR is experiencing rapid growth of both government executed as well as development partners’ executed technical assistance. Moreover, it is envisaged that implementation of the second generation of the trade and PSD programs is expected to face a number of new challenges because of the depth and breadth of the proposed program, implementation of which requires a very effective implementation structure and coordination mechanism.  .

Following the significant momentum of becoming the 158th member of WTO in February 2013, the regional economic integration agenda was significantly deepened for achieving the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by 2015 by developing a “single market and production base”.   The Government of Laos, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce in particular, has made a number of commitments at the regional and international level. However, to date, there are no communication and dissemination strategies available to ensure information on Trade Related matters reaching public appropriately and effectively.

In this regard, the MOIC intends to develop the communications strategy and guidelines for dissemination of information on trade regulations and agreements to general public.

2.                  Objectives

The objective of the assignment is to develop a comprehensive medium term communications strategy for the Trade and PSD Program. The strategy is expected to guide all communications and dissemination related activities supported by AfT programs/projects.       

3.                  Scope of Work

Working closely with communications team of the National implementation Unit under the Department of Planning and Cooperation, MoIC, the International Consultant is expected to carry out the following specific activities:

   o   Review existing strategy/activities

a.                   Review major AfT project documents to gain understanding about the nature of interventions supported by AfT programs (Implementing Agencies-IAS);;

b.                  Assess efficiency and effectiveness of existing communications/dissemination  channels, including websites, magazines, research reports, other periodical publications, workshops/seminars currently carried out by the NIU and various technical departments

c.                   Carry out stakeholder mapping and identify their expectations. Among others, key stakeholders should include key development partners, public (NIU and implementing agencies), and private sector (business membership organizations and SMEs);

d.                  Identify areas of deficiency of existing communications and dissemination activities. 

    o   Drafting a new communications strategy

a.                   It is envisaged that among others, the strategy should include objective statement; current situation analysis; identification of key stakeholders and their expectations; key messages for each of the key stakeholder groups including actions to improve visibility of development partners , effective communication means (technical workshops, bulletins, leaflets, websites and etc), work plan, and evaluating success. 

b.                  It is expected that detailed guidelines on dissemination workshops should be developed. The guidelines should include key steps for preparing a workshop; required written materials, evaluation method, qualifications of speakers and etc.;

c.                   Among others, the proposed work plan should include key activities, timeline, responsible agencies, and human and financial resources requirements.

   o   Stakeholders Consultation workshop

a.                   At least one consultation workshop need to be held to solicit feedbacks from various stakeholders before the draft strategy can be finalized.   

The estimated inputs for this assignment are for approximately 25 working days over the course of 3 months.

Task

Duration

Expected output

Review existing strategy and activities to identify areas of deficiency and expectations of key stakeholders

10 days

An assessment report

Drafting a communications strategy, work plan and guidelines

10 days

Draft strategy, work plan and necessary guidelines

Conduct a stakeholders consultation workshop

1 day

Consultation workshop

Finalization of the strategy

3 days

Final strategy, work plan and necessary guidelines

4.                  Deliverables

The International consultant will be expected to deliver the following outputs:

o   A brief inception report (not more than 5 pages) detailing activities and timelines of the assignment to be delivered within 3 days after the commencement of the assignment;

o   An assessment report to be delivered within 20 days after the inception report is submitted;

o   Draft  strategy, work plan and necessary guidelines to be delivered within 30 days after the completion of the assessment report;

o   The final strategy, work plan and necessary guidelines to be delivered within 10 days after the consultation workshop.

5.                  Data, local services, personnel, and facilities to be provided by the borrower

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce shall provide the consultant with access to documents relevant to the assignment where available and facilitate necessary meetings with key stakeholders.

6.                    Institutional arrangements

On the technical level, the selected consultant will work under the direct supervision of the national Implementation Unit (NIU) of the Department of Planning and Cooperation of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. He/she will be required to work closely with communications team and the technical team of the NIU.

Contractual arrangements will be managed by the National Implementation Unit, Department of Planning and Cooperation, Ministry of Industry and Commerce.

The consultant will also be required to work closely with the World Bank task team on trade, based in the Lao Country Office.

7.                  Key requirements

  • Advanced degree in communications or other relevant fields;
  • At least five year’s relevant work experience;
  • Proven experience in developing communications strategy for development institutions and public sector in developing countries;
  • Work experience for the ASEAN countries' governments, especially such past experience in Laos;
  • Knowledge and experience in ways of social communication typical and possible in Lao society and similar developing countries from the region;
  • Knowledge of trade and private sector development issues facing Lao PDR is an advantage;
  • Fluency in English language, including excellent writing and presentation skills.

 

Job status
closed
Open dates