National Consultant for Micro-business, Coaching, and real-time Review

Oxfam is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behavior at work including sexual harassment, exploitation, abuse, lack of integrity, and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting gender equality, social inclusion, and the welfare of children, young people, and adults Oxfam expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. In response to the issues arising from COVID-19 and its economic impact, Oxfam in Laos with the generous support of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), has been running the project ‘Essential Cash and Livelihoods Support to vulnerable communities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in Lao PDR’ in 100 villages, 16 districts in Vientiane Capital and four provinces (Vientiane, Oudomxay, Xayaburi and Bokeo) that were most affected by Covid-19.

The intervention conducted a baseline survey to identify those most in need and distributed Cash, food, and hygiene packages to 2,200 vulnerable households, the project completed a livelihood support package, and going to support 100 community grants and 315 business grants to 315 individual/group in May to June 2024. To ensure ownership and accountability, businesses will have to make their contribution to the initiative (amount/materials to be decided in a participatory way based on the ability of selected businesses). Capacity building on economic development and providing them an opportunity to learn and share business events with existing business networks: It is important to note that there are at least three existing business networks in Laos.

Shaping a stronger Oxfam for people living in poverty.

Department Purpose: Oxfam in Laos

Team Purpose: Gender and Inclusion Programme

Job Purpose: National Consultant Micro-business, coaching, and real-time review

Job Responsibilities

During her/his assignment, the Consultant will deliver the following outputs to the project working together with Oxfam and project partners (Lao Federation of Trade Unions (LFTU), Civil Society Organizations (CSO), and other related sectors) and collaborating with the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI) to support:

• Estimate the market size for the community and women’s economy and recommend priority geographic areas and women's business network mapping including analysis identifying the top five networks of community and women’s economy and their value propositions, and main finance resources.
• Engage with the LNCCI to develop simple training tools for new entrepreneurs, micro-businesses, and mentorship to increase skills and knowledge of CSO and business groups at the target project areas.
• Coordinate with LNCCI, LFTU, business network, and private sector aims to join/co-support economic fair, learning, sharing, and capacity-building process in Laos.
• Connect new business group members at the community level with the business, women, and youth economic networks and improve market access, inspire rural businesswomen, and encourage and empower women to be brave and take risks in their business.
• Monitoring, coaching, mentoring, and recording good practice, lessons learned, and identifying the problems and concerns of business members and providing them with coaching and mentorship.
• Develop two most significant change (MSC) videos from the best practices in Lao with English subtitles.

Team Composition

National Consultancy firm or individual with expertise in environmental sciences, particularly micro-business, Community Economic Empowerment, Economic environment, agriculture development, building a capacity of new entrepreneurship, mentorship, coaching, communication, etc. 

Experiences and well-known in gender mainstreaming linked to Women's impact on social economics and climate, proficiency skill/methodological background in developing economic empowerment tools, coaching guidelines, communication and developing story of change, market, and business management skills.

Ability to work closely with LNCCI and CSO to conduct effective training of the trainer (TOT) on mentorship, MSME, communication, and other relevant technical skills for the CSO staff LFTU staff, and new business group to ensure their applicable business plan and move forward and achieve their goals.

Expected Results

Result 1: CSO partners and community business groups have demonstrated increased knowledge of economic empowerment and promoted entrepreneurship and micro-business in rural communities.

Result 2: The community and women have access to the business network, increase their value change and market size, and strengthen community-based businesswomen.

Result 3: People in the target communities have Improved knowledge, skill, and self-confidence, especially women in community and business development.