STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW) FOR 2 NATIONAL CONSULTANTS

Gender-Inclusive Value Chain Analysis of Target Commodities and Services

1. Background

In rural Lao PDR, transforming early-stage, informal ventures into bankable commercial enterprises requires a precise diagnostic foundation that connects gender equity, climate adaptation, and commercial finance. Conducting a Value Chain Analysis serves as this essential diagnostic starting point, establishing the evidence base needed to de-risk target economic sectors and design effective interventions.

Local economic activities across Oudomxay, Luang Prabang, and Khammouane face severe socio-economic constraints, including weak institutional capacity, recurring climate shocks, systemic barriers that keep women-led MSMEs confined to informal, low-productivity operations, and severely restricted access to finance. By evaluating the specific links, power dynamics, and market bottlenecks within key local commodities and services, the Value Chain Analysis identifies where intervention is most needed. This ensures that technical assistance, business incubation, and credit-readiness frameworks are directly targeted to unlock growth, mitigate climate and financial risks, and create sustainable economic pathways for vulnerable households and women entrepreneurs.

1. The Objective of the Gender-Inclusive Value Chain Analysis

The overall objective of the Gender-Inclusive Value Chain Analysis is to serve as an essential diagnostic starting point to de-risk target economic sectors and build a foundation for transforming early-stage, informal ventures into bankable commercial enterprises.

Specifically, its key objectives are

• Identify High-Impact Opportunities: Identify potential local commodities or services in Oudomxay, Luang Prabang, and Khammouane that directly benefit local women and low-income households.
• Map Supply Chain Linkages: Identify the links within each target value chain and map all participating actors involved at every stage.
• Uncover Gender & Socio-Economic Bottlenecks: Identify the specific challenges and structural barriers faced by actors at each link, particularly those keeping women-led MSMEs confined to informal, low-productivity operations.
• Address Access to Finance & Climate Vulnerability: Evaluate how weak institutional capacity, recurring climate shocks, and financial exclusion constrain local economic activities.
• Target Strategic Interventions: Provide the necessary market data to accurately design technical assistance, business incubation, climate adaptation strategies, and credit-readiness frameworks that effectively unlock enterprise growth.
• Methodologies of Gender-Inclusive Value Chain Analysis

According to the design, the program is four-fold, which is detailed below:

1. On-the-Job Training. This three-day process will ensure the trainees (representatives of the key stakeholders) understand the value-chain development of potential commodities in Oudomxay and Khammouane provinces. The participants are representatives of NCAWMC, Provincial CAWMC, Lao-India Entrepreneurship Development Center, Souphanouvong University and the Young Entrepreneurs Association of Luang Prabang, and Huayxone-Huayxua Agriculture and Development Center
2. Research Inception Report. After the training, trainers (consultants) and trainees will organize a two-day workshop to agree on information gaps and data collection tools (questionnaires and focus group discussion questions) and write a research inception report
3. Team Setup and Field Work: This process will ensure research teams are ready and well-prepared for data collection and analysis. We will have four data collection teams to conduct interviews and focus group discussions. One consultant will lead the data collection in Oudomxay, and one consultant will lead data collection in Khammouane;
4. Co-Creation of Knowledge Products. This last process will ensure the final narrative research reports and databases are submitted with high quality. Two consultants will jointly write reports and policy briefs, and
5. Validation Workshop. This process ensures the quality of data validation and verification by presenting the research findings and recommendations to the leadership and management team of Action Education Laos and NCAWMC.

1. Key Task and Duration

The total duration for both training and value chain analysis will be 24 days, detailed as follows:

1. Deliverables

The following are the ultimate deliverables of the Value Chain Analysis:

1. Comprehensive Value Chain Assessment Report: A detailed analytical report will document the market structure, key linkages, supply chain dynamics, and growth potential of selected commodities and services in Oudomxay, Luang Prabang, and Khammouane. The report will include a Gender and Socio-Economic Actor Map, a Bottleneck and Barrier Diagnostic, and Climate Risk and Vulnerability Profiles.
2. Actionable Intervention Roadmap: A strategic guide to inform a design of project activities, providing concrete inputs for designing technical training, business incubation curricula, and targeted seed capital deployment.
3. Minimum Required Education & Experience

Value Chain Analysis Consultants:

• Master’s Degree in Agricultural Development, Economics, Business Management, and Administration, and/or a related field with more than ten years of experience.
• Good understanding of agricultural and rural development in particular tourism, agribusiness, and ecotourism subsectors from a private sector perspective.
• At least 5-7 years of experience working in value chain development with governmental agencies, academics, the private sector, and civil society.
• A demonstrated understanding of relevant sectors in Lao PDR. Fluency in Lao and English.
• Experience in working on projects with international donors is preferred.
• Ability to multitask with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to listen and communicate well both verbally and in writing and to work well with others.
• Application Process

Interested candidates are requested to submit the following documents:

• A cover letter outlining their qualifications and experience relevant to the assignment.
• A detailed CV.
• A technical proposal outlining their proposed approach to the study, including a proposed methodology, timeline, and budget.
• Examples of previous work related to gender-inclusive value chain analysis.

The deadline for applications is Oct 22, 2026. Applications should be submitted to dethsoulikhit.sythala@action-education.org / chindavanh.vongvilay@action-education.org.