Consultant to Train MEL Staffs to produce case stories and press release

Company Description

Background

SNV Netherlands Development Organization's first involvement in the Lao Improved Cook Stove (ICS) sector dates to 2006/2007 when STEA-TRI, with financial support from WISION (Wuppertal University), started a stove program in Paek District, Xieng Khouang province. In 2012, EU SWITCH-Asia, through 'Promoting Sustainable Consumption and Production,' awarded the proposal for the Improved Cookstove Action in Lao PDR for February 2013 –January 2017. SNV provided technical assistance to this project managed by Oxfam and implemented by Association for Rural Mobilisation and Improvement (ARMI), a local NGO. Since then, SNV has supported various initiatives to increase access to affordable and user-friendly cooking technologies in Laos. With support from Energising Development (EnDev), SNV started implementing preliminary Result Based Financing (RBF) scheme in April 2017 to address systemic barriers that prevented producers from innovating, expanding, and diversifying ICS production. The project saw the commercial introduction of the new design of an advanced cookstove model in Laos that had a substantial firewood saving capacity compared to all other locally available improved cookstoves.Similarly SNV has been implementing another ICS project funded by C-QuestCapital from 2022. These projects focus on to optimize the local production (quality assurances, testing, research, and development) and marketing of existing Tier-2 stove models by expanding production and distribution into new provinces in Northern Laos and thus providing national coverage.

SNV has been through a long journey in ICS sector in Laos and gained huge experience in this sector. The knowledge and experiences gained by SNV could be an asset for other stakeholders working in this sector. The success stories of various actors engaged in different segments of supply, demand and enabling environment of ICS sector can be lesson learned, inspiration and catalyst for others. There has been less effort made to collect such stories in the past. To address this gap, we aim to hire an expert who can train our team as well as work together with them to produce the case stories covering the different segments of ICS sector.

Rationale

As the project continues to scale up outreach and increasingly access to many parts of the country, the importance of evaluating the program through such studies has been realized. Despite efforts made to produce such studies in the past, there have been very few cases produced in the past and those studies only included the producers which is just one part of the supply chain segment of ICS sector. There is a need to study the success of retailers, micro-entrepreneurs who run businesses with productive use of energy, impact at households level due to  time saving, fuel saving and reduced indoor smoke. There has been demand from MEL team to build their capacity to develop such stories. Considering the need of such knowledge products and demand for training from staffs, we plan to hire a consultant who can train our team (including partners) and develop a few sets of case stories and press release together with our team by visiting the different places.

Job Description

Objective and Scope of the Assignment 

The overall objective of the assignment is to train SNV MEL staffs (2) including partners’ MEL staffs (max 4) via on-the-job training to build their skill on producing case stories and press release. MEL staffs will travel to field together with the consultant, collect the information and produce case stories working together in a team. Various actors form ICS business segments (supply, demand and enabling environment) will be interviewed to produce the different case stories. Consultant will also support MEL team on writing the press release and editing the contents of project factsheet. 

Methodology  

• Consultant(s) can develop the necessary tools and format which are used for on-the-job training as well as collecting the information to produce case stories and press release.  
• Consultant together with MEL team shall visit stakeholders in different segment of ICS market: Supply, demand and enabling environment. At least one case story to be developed for each segment of ICS actor.  
• Consultant together with MEL team shall visit two provinces: Champassak/Savannakhet and Vientiane capital. Consultant shall work with MEL team for the preparatory works. The details of ICS producers are provided in Annex-1. 

Deliverables 

The deliverable of this assignment comprises of: 

• Simple guideline to guide MEL staffs to produce case stories and press release 
• At least 10 sets of case stories to be developed together with MEL team representing ICS producers, distributors, retailers, users, and promotors from two provinces: Champasak/savanakhet and Vientiane Capital.  
• Supporting MEL team to prepare an article for the purpose of publication in one of national newspaper 
• Review/edit the contents for EnDev project factsheet. This factsheet will cover the highlights achievement made by EnDev project.  

Timeframe 

The assignment should be completed before 15th May 2023. The total duration of the assignment should not exceed 7 working days in total (including travel days).  

Consultant shall provide the estimated input days in their proposal in following breakdown

1. Preparatory Works 
2. Field Visit 
3. Desk Work (Post field visit) 

Note: Field Visit: 3 days in Champassak/Savannakhet and 1 day in Vientiane capital. Consultant shall closely work with MEL team to build their capacity 

Budget 

The consultant should provide the daily rate, other cost (if any) and total cost for the assignment.  SNV will cover the cost for Travel Cost, Food and Accommodation for field visit.

Support  

SNV will provide the relevant documents which provides the overview of the ICS sector and its actors. information about producers, retailers, distributors, users and promotors will be shared. Once the people are identified for meeting by consultant, SNV will mobile its partner (ARMI) to coordinate at field and set the time for meeting. SNV and ARMI key staffs will travel together with consultant in field.   

Qualifications

The selection of the consultant / firm will be determined based on previous work experience and skills of the proposed consultant, and an interview. The proposed consultant should have following qualifications and competencies:

• University degree in relevant field
• 3 years relevant professional work experience
• Proven track record of successful execution of similar works, good presentation/ facilitation skills and excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and oral and ability to interact with individuals at all levels

Additional Information

Interested consultant / firm should submit the letter of interest (LoI) highlighting their understanding of the assignment by clicking on the "I'm interested" button before March 27, 2023. The LoI should also include following: 

• Total Cost for the assignment (with cost breakdown of consultant's daily rate and other expense (if any))
• A recent CV of consultant highlighting similar assignments carried out in the past. 

Detail ToR and other information of the assignment can be requested by writing to  with subject line “ToR - Training MEL”.