ASEAN-AUSTRALIA-NEW ZEALAND FREE TRADE AREA (AANZFTA) ECONOMIC COOPERATION WORK PROGRAMME (ECWP)

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1 ASEAN-AUSTRALIA-NEW ZEALAND FREE TRADE AREA (AANZFTA) ECONOMIC COOPERATION WORK PROGRAMME (ECWP) Consulting Opportunity: Lead Trainer for the Sub-Regional Capacity Building Workshop on Project Design and Proposal Development for Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and the ASEAN Secretariat [AANZ-MEC ] Lodgement of Application to: Program Coordinator ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA) Support Unit External Economic Relations Division, ASEAN Economic Community Department The ASEAN Secretariat 70 A Jl. Sisingamangaraja Jakarta 12110, Indonesia ecwp@asean.org Please indicate in the subject line: Lead Trainer - Workshop on Project Design for Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and the ASEAN Secretariat Closing time and date: 1 November 2016 (Close of Business, Jakarta time) 1

2 ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA) Economic Cooperation Work Programme (ECWP) Title of Assignment: Lead Trainer for the Sub-Regional Capacity Building Workshop on Project Design and Proposal Development for Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and the ASEAN Secretariat [AANZ-MEC ] I. Project Summary 1. The ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) Economic Cooperation Support Program (AECSP) was established in 2010 and funds an Economic Cooperation Work Program (ECWP) and the AANZFTA Support Unit (ASU) based at the ASEAN Secretariat. AECSP contributes to AANZFTA Parties fully benefitting from the FTA by building capacities of countries in addressing ECWP components 1 and in actual implementation of the FTA (Refer to: 2. AANZFTA Parties develop project proposals to implement ECWP annual component implementation plans. These proposals are endorsed by the respective AANZFTA technical committees/sub-committees for AECSP funding consideration by the FTA Joint Committee. 3. The ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC) is seeking applications for a Lead Trainer to deliver a two-day workshop in Jakarta, Indonesia on project design and proposal development tailored to the needs of government representatives from Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Myanmar (CLM) and ASEC officers. 4. The total number of expected workshop participants is 37 comprised of 8 representatives each from the three CLM countries, 8 participants from ASEC, and 5 participants from the ASU. The latter will be in charge of invitations and meeting logistics. Subject to confirmation of actual dates, the workshop is to be scheduled in January 2017 (preferably the week of 30 January 2017). II. Purpose of the Assignment 5. The workshop s immediate objective is to increase the awareness and understanding of participants on international best practices in project design and proposal development, including on how to practically mainstream gender considerations in project design and implementation. 6. Participants future application of new knowledge gained from the workshop will contribute to CLM countries developing more and better quality proposals for AECSP support. In the longer-term, the increase in the number of good quality CLM-led project proposals supported by AECSP would allow CLM countries to better benefit from AANZFTA through demanddriven, effective, and more sustainable AECSP projects. 1 The components include: Rules of Origin; Sanitary and Phytosanitary; Standards, Technical Regulations and Conformity Assessment Procedures; Customs; Investment; Intellectual Property; Services; Competition Policy; and Sectoral Integration. 2

3 7. As a secondary objective, the workshop will seek to encourage a common understanding between ASEC Desk Officers, ASU, and CLM countries on standards, principles, roles and responsibilities, and processes required in developing AECSP project proposals. The workshop also aims to raise ASEC and ASU officers understanding on project design principles so they could, in the future, provide good quality advice and sustainable support to CLM and other ASEAN Member States developing AECSP project proposals. III. Project Background 8. Majority of projects and activities supported by AECSP are focused on building capacities of the CLM countries. From 2010 to date, CLM countries partly developed only 8 per cent or 5 out of the total 63 projects supported by AECSP. The varying knowledge and capacities of countries in project design and proposal development affect AECSP s ability to support demand-driven activities that genuinely address priority capacity constraints of project beneficiaries. 9. ASEC and ASU Officers provide substantial inputs to and liaise with countries or the relevant AANZFTA committee/sub-committee on project proposals to ensure that proposed AECSP activities are addressing AANZFTA priorities and are consistent with good project management principles. ASEC Desk Officers and ASU spearheaded the development of 13 approved AECSP proposals to date (21% of the total AECSP projects to date). 10. The 13 th Meeting of the Ad-Hoc Economic Cooperation Sub-Committee (EC SC) in March 2016 recommended project design capacity building support to proposals submitted by CLM countries. The FTA Joint Committee endorsed the proposal on 14 October IV. Scope of Work and Required Activities 11. The training services will require an experienced Lead Trainer for Project Design and Proposal Development who is expected to provide the following: Planning a) Desk review of relevant AECSP project management documents (Refer to Section V); and b) Develop an agenda and training materials for the two-day workshop in consultation with the ASU and the Gender Expert (Co-Trainer). Subject to agreement, the agenda could cover topics such as: Conducting a simple but evidence-based situation analysis (problem definition/ environmental scanning/initial risk analysis) Gender analysis and mainstreaming Developing an outcome framework (broader goals/end of project outcomes/ intermediate outcomes) Risk analysis and assumptions Selecting the best and most realistic strategies to achieve the outcomes Scheduling the activities and deliverables across time Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning Hands-on Session on writing a robust AECSP proposal AECSP project appraisal and approval processes Delivery c) Facilitate a two-day project design and proposal development workshop to be held in Jakarta, Indonesia, working with the Gender Expert (Co-Trainer); and d) Accomplish an Activity Summary (in consultation with the Co-Trainer) using the existing 3

4 AECSP template. Post-workshop e) Quick review and revision (if necessary) of the existing AECSP project proposal template based on inputs and recommendations from the workshop; and f) Develop a short 5 to 10-pager AECSP proposal development guideline document based on the summary of the design concepts and principles presented during the workshop. A copy of the workshop training material and revised AECSP project proposal template will be annexed to the guideline. V. Documentation and Views to be Considered 12. All outputs from this consultancy will be reported to the ASU. All reporting requirements (Refer to Section VI) will require ASU s written approval before finalization. The Lead Trainer shall work closely with ASU and the Gender Expert (Co-Trainer) in planning, drafting, or finalising the deliverables of the project. 13. Relevant project documentation to be considered to inform this consultancy include: a) AECSP Design Document (as background on the program) b) AECSP Project Management Guide c) Revised Project Management Templates (e.g. Concept Note, Proposal, Progress Report, and Completion Report) d) Sample of draft and approved AECSP Proposals from CLM countries (if required) VI. Reporting 14. Once the services have commenced, the Lead Trainer is expected to prepare the following outputs: a) Workshop Agenda: Submitted to the ASU within two weeks after the finalization of the contract between the ASEAN Secretariat and the Lead Trainer. The workshop agenda should be jointly developed with the Gender Expert (Co-Trainer). b) Training Materials: Submitted to the ASU at least one week before the actual workshop dates. The training material should incorporate inputs from the Gender Expert (Co-Trainer). c) AECSP Activity Summary Report: Submitted to the ASU five (5) working days after the workshop using existing AECSP templates. d) AECSP Proposal Development Guideline: Maximum of 10 pages (excluding annexes) a draft of which is to be submitted to the ASU five (5) working days after the workshop. The outline of the guideline should be discussed and agreed to by ASU prior to drafting. VII. Qualifications for the Lead Trainer 15. The Lead Trainer is expected to have: a) In-depth knowledge of the principles and international best practice approaches in project design and proposal development for international development programs, especially those initiated and implemented by national governments; b) Extensive experience in customizing and facilitating participatory training on basic project design and proposal development; c) Demonstrated experience in developing simple and practical guides to assist users; d) Ability to work in a team in the planning and delivery of services; e) Proven ability to deliver high quality and flexible services based on the client's needs and resources; 4

5 f) Culturally sensitive and ability to clearly communicate technical issues (including in written reports) to audiences with limited understanding and experience in project design and proposal development; g) Knowledge and experience working with government officials from the CLM countries (preferred); and h) Knowledge and experience working on issues specific to regional or multi-country programs (preferred). VIII. Timeframe and Deliverables 16. Subject to the availability of the Trainers and the participants, the 2-day workshop is to be organized anytime in January 2017 (preferably the week of 30 January 2017). The input days needed for the Lead Trainer to complete the consultancy are as follows: Activity Desk Review of Relevant Documents Workshop Planning & Preparation / Development of Training Material Facilitation of the 2-day Workshop (Jakarta, Indonesia) Drafting of AECSP Project Proposal Guideline + Finalisation based on ASU inputs TOTAL Input Days 0.5 day 2 days 2 days 1.5 days 6 days IX. Project Management Arrangements 17. The consultancy will be implemented in accordance with the ECWP Project Management Guide and Templates (June 2011) and ASEC rules and regulations, as appropriate. Financial reports will be submitted at invoicing in line with a payment schedule to be specified in the consulting agreement. X. Submission of Proposals 18. The proposal/applications, which should be a maximum of ten pages excluding annexes, will be evaluated based on its technical and financial components, which include: a) Technical Component: Brief statements (with examples, if available) on how the consultant s skills and experience can address each of the eight (8) Qualifications for the Lead Trainer (Refer to Section VII). Please also include the consultant s available dates in January 2017; b) Financial Component: Budget estimate to include the consultant s professional fees per day and other expected major costs of the consultancy (e.g. travel expenses, accommodation, materials, etc.); c) References: Names of three (3) customer references (previous clients) and their respective contact details; and d) Annex: A copy of the consultant s CV (including contact details and, if available, web links to previous work) annexed to the proposal. 5