Baseline Study of the Lasting Laos Proje

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Baseline Study of the Lasting Laos Project

July 2025

1.      About Plan International Laos
Working in over 50 developing countries globally, Plan International strives for a just world that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. Plan International has been working in Laos since 2007, and is delivering programs in 10 provinces in Laos, including Bokeo, Oudomxay, Luang Prabang, Vientiane and Salavan Provinces. We support children and youth to access their rights through our Public Health, Education, Livelihoods, Adolescent and Youth Economic Empowerment programmes. In all contexts, together with partners, we strive for lasting impact in norms, attitudes and behaviors, social and economic safety nets, and policy frameworks. Our work includes community-based action, partner strengthening, and policy advocacy, all focused on gender transformative programming. Visit www.plan-international.org and www.lastinglaos.com for more information.
2.      Project Background
Plan International Laos (Plan), in cooperation with the project partners, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MoIC) and the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI), is currently implementing the Lasting Laos Project (2025-2028), funded by the European Union (EU) under the SWITCH-Asia programme. The project is co-funded and coordinated by Plan International Germany.

The overall objective of the Lasting Laos Project is to contribute to Laos 9th Five-Year National Socio-Economic Development Plan, National Green Growth Strategy, Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) Roadmap and the EU’s New Green Deal by supporting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and young entrepreneurs (YEs) in the Lao tourism value chain to adopt and promote SCP, circular economy and decent work practices. The project builds upon and scales-up key aspects of a previously EU funded project, SUSTOUR Laos Project (2020-2024). Specific actions continued into the Lasting Laos project include: Lasting Laos sustainability certification programme; developing green products and services; tackling single-use plastic (SUP) waste; and access to finance for MSMEs and young entrepreneurs (YEs) in the tourism value chain.

Focusing upon key tourist destinations and urban centres with the highest concentration of MSMEs (Vientiane Capital, Luang Prabang Province, Vientiane Province), while expanding and scaling-up to one additional province (Champasak Province), the project contributes to the tourism value chain in its growth, ensuring MSMEs are sustainable, non-polluting and contributing to the sustainable livelihoods of Lao women, men and children. Plan and its partners will achieve this by promoting and standardizing sustainability certifications and bringing MSMEs in a variety of tourism related sectors into the green transition of the economy. The Lasting Laos certification provides tailored support for MSMEs, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to transform their businesses towards circular economy, decent work and SCP practices while creating spaces and opportunities for YEs to innovate in these areas. The project creates a foundation for replication and scale-up across other sectors of the Laos economy and ultimately aims to cultivate a movement for environmentally and socially conscious entrepreneurship and investment in the Lao tourism value chain.

The project objectives are as follows:

• Overall Objective: To contribute to Laos 9th Five-Year National Socio-Economic Development Plan, National Green Growth Strategy, Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) Roadmap and the EU’s New Green Deal by supporting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and young entrepreneurs (YEs) in the Lao tourism value chain to adopt and promote SCP, circular economy and decent work practices.
  • Specific Objective 1: MSMEs throughout the Lao tourism supply chain adopt SCP, circular economy and decent work practices through the Lasting Laos sustainability certification programme supported by an enabling policy environment.
  • Specific Objective 2: MSMEs and YEs are provided with technical support to access green financing instruments (GFIs) in order to produce and adopt and promote green products, services and solutions that demonstrate circular economy, low carbon and SCP practices for the Lao tourism value chain.

Ultimately, the project seeks to address relevant needs and constraints of the following target groups and final beneficiaries:

Target Group / Beneficiary
#
Description / Selection Criteria

MSMEs (50% are women-owned)
200
Micro, small and medium sized enterprises in the tourism value chain

YEs (ages 18-35) (50% are women)
100
Entrepreneurial young adults ages 18-35 innovating and producing green products / services.

GoL (MoIC)
N/A
Public sector responsible for governing related industries and MSMEs.

Financial service providers and investors
10
Local financial service providers including banks and MFIs. Local and regional investors.

Employees of MSMEs
2000
National staff in wage employment of target MSMEs.

Young Adults (ages 16-24)
1000
Youth ages 16-24 (high school, TVET, and university students)

Women
50% of above
Female staff of MSMEs, YEs and youth.

3.      Objectives of the Baseline Study
Plan is currently seeking a company or consultant(s) to design and implement a baseline study that will assess the current situation at the beginning of the project “Lasting Laos – Supporting Young Entrepreneurs and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises in the Lao Tourism Value Chain to Adopt and Promote Sustainable Consumption and Production, Circular Economy and Decent Work Practices” (2025 – 2028).

The main objective of this baseline is to collect data on relevant project indicators to assess the current status (benchmark) as a reference point for future indicator assessment, providing the foundation for further monitoring and evaluation (M&E) for the project. The company or consultant(s) will determine the current baseline values for relevant indicators at the overall objective, outcome and output levels of the project (for more details see project log-frame in Annex 1). The baseline should identify and map the target groups, beneficiaries and other stakeholders that may be involved in the project (e.g., government actors, development agencies, civil society organizations, etc.).  The company or consultant(s) will work closely with Plan project and programme staff to establish monitoring processes and tools that will be used throughout implementation of the project. The company or consultant(s) will be responsible for all data collection (both qualitative and quantitative).
4.      Scope of the Baseline Study
The baseline study will be conducted in the 4 target areas including 11 districts: Vientiane Capital (Chanthabury, Sissatanak, Sikhottabong, and Saysettha Districts) Vientiane Province (Vang Vieng District), Luang Prabang Province (Luang Prabang and Chompet Districts) and Champasak Province (Pakse, Meaung Champasak, Paksong and Khong Districts). The company or consultant(s) will work closely and be in regular communication with Plan Laos, Plan Germany and project partners (LNCCI, MoIC) throughout the duration of the baseline study. The company or consultant(s) is responsible to oversee data the collection (e.g., surveys, interviews, etc.), including providing their own enumerators and supervising the data collection process. The project team will support to facilitate data collection (e.g. obtain necessary government approvals) and provide feedback on the baseline study design, data collection tools, analysis and draft reports provided by the company or consultant(s).

The key tasks that the company or consultant(s) will be responsible for include:

• Literature/document review of relevant documents (e.g., project proposal, logframe), including similar studies conducted under the SUSTOUR Laos project (e.g., baseline study, final evaluation) and other relevant research/publications (e.g., government strategies);
• Develop and test the baseline study methodology, including the data collection methods, tools and sampling;
• Work closely with Plan to develop methods and tools for M&E to be used during project implementation (e.g., Kobo Toolbox, Open Data Kit, Power BI, DevResults, TolaData, etc.).;
• Identify and map the stakeholders and beneficiaries involved in the project (with input from Plan);
• Design data collection instruments for key target groups/beneficiaries;
• Outline the baseline study design in a succinct inception report;
• Data collection, including travel to and within the 4 project target areas;
• Review and analyze quantitative and qualitative data using standard data analysis software;
• Consolidate, clean and deliver all baseline study data in a specific format (e.g. Excel, SPSS);
• Draft the baseline study report;
• Facilitate 2 workshops to present the data collection methods, key findings of the baseline study and recommendations for future M&E to the project team and partners;
• Incorporate feedback, Finalize and translate (into Lao) the baseline report based on feedback from Plan and project partners.

5.      Methodology
The company or consultant(s) will develop a detailed methodology for data collection (mixed methods – quantitative and qualitative), data management analysis and data protection in their proposal. This methodology should be in direct response to the outcome level project indicators included in Annex 1. This methodology will be described in greater detail in the inception report which is to be provided by the company or consultant(s) before the beginning of data collection. Any method proposed must be in-line with Plan’s MERL standards, namely that it is ethical and considers the needs and wellbeing of any respondents involved. The methodology proposed by the consultant should build upon the suggested methods summarized below.

Sampling selection

The consultant will identify the methodology and selection to representative for all project locations or 11 districts: Vientiane Capital (Chanthabury, Sissatanak, Sikhottabong, and Saysettha Districts) Vientiane Province (Vang Vieng District), Luang Prabang Province (Luang Prabang and Chompet Districts) and Champasak Province (Pakse, Meaung Champasak, Paksong and Khong Districts.

The selected MSMEs and YEs will be representative of the target areas and different age groups, gender or cluster with various MSMEs in tourism-related sectors, including owners, operators, and staff, representing of businesses i.e., hospitality, travel services, transportation, food & beverage, handicraft/souvenir, retail, cultural/historical.

Quantitative Methods

Surveys, including (but not limited to):

• A survey of Lao MSMEs in tourism-related sectors, including owners, operators, and staff, representing a variety of businesses (i.e., hospitality, travel services, transportation, food & beverage, handicraft/souvenir, retail, cultural/historical) in all target areas;
• A survey of youth entrepreneurs involved in the tourism value chain;
• A survey of young adults, focusing on high school and college students.

Desk research, including (but not limited to):

• Relevant government publications (e.g. Statistical Report on Tourism, Destination Management Plans, National Tourism Strategy, 9th Five-Year National Socio-Economic Development Plan, etc.);
• Other relevant publications/sources (e.g. National Green Growth Strategy, SCP roadmap, etc.);
• Relevant local, regional and international financing programmes, particularly green financing instruments, available to Lao MSMEs and YEs.

Qualitative Methods

Interviews with stakeholders and beneficiaries, including (but not limited to):

• Relevant Lao government ministries and departments (e.g. Ministry and Departments of Industry and Commerce, Ministry and Departments of Culture and Tourism);
• Local partners and tourism associations (e.g. LNCCI and its provincial chambers, hotel and restaurant associations, travel agent associations, handicraft associations, etc.);
• MSMEs in the tourism supply chain representing a variety of businesses (e.g. hotels, travel agents, tour operators, handicraft, cultural excursions, food & beverage, transportation);
• Financial service providers and local/regional investors, including development banks;
• Development agencies, non-governmental organizations and civil society organizations involved in relevant initiatives.

Desk Research, using similar sources listed in the quantitative section above but used for qualitative context.
6.      Data Protection and Quality Assurance
The prospective company/consultant(s) are expected to provide an overview of their quality assurance and data protection plans in compliance with Plan International’s Data Protection Policy, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and relevant national regulations. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools for any component of this evaluation will not be accepted. The company/consultant(s)shall also explain how confidentiality and anonymity of participants will be guaranteed.
7.      Ethics, Child Protection and Safeguarding
Plan International is committed to ensuring that the rights of those participating in data collection and/or analysis are respected and protected, in accordance with Plan’s Framework for Ethical MERL (see Annex 2) and our Global Policy on Safeguarding Children and Young People and our Global Policy on Preventing Sexual Harassment, Exploitation and Abuse. All applicants should include details in their proposal on how they will ensure ethics and child protection in the data collection process. Specifically, the company or consultant(s) shall explain how appropriate, safe, non-discriminatory participation of all stakeholders will be ensured and how special attention will be paid to the needs of children and other vulnerable groups.

The baseline study must consider gender and disability inclusion, child protection, safeguarding and ethical standards in their data collection and analysis plans.  This includes informed consent, length of surveys and other tools, methods taking a ‘do no harm’ approach, capturing the voices of the most marginalized, not raising expectation during the survey, gender and inclusion considerations for interviewer/interviewee.
8.      Key Deliverables
The key deliverables expected from the company or consultant(s) during the baseline study are outlined below:

1. An inception report based on literature review, including (but not limited to):
   • The baseline methodology, data collection tools, sampling and data collection plan, consent forms
   • Methods for data analysis
   • Data protection and quality assurance plan
   • Justification of the methods and techniques to be used (including relevant underlying values and assumptions/theories) with a justification of the selections made;
   • Explanation of how gender and disability inclusion, child protection, safeguarding and ethical standards will be followed during the data collection;
   • Stakeholder and beneficiary mapping (input will be provided by the project);
2. Test the data collection tools and make any necessary changes;
3. Facilitate a half-day workshop with Plan, MoIC and LNCCI to review and discuss the inception report, data collection methods, sampling, etc.;
4. Implement all quantitative and qualitative data collection (including travel to target areas);
5. Analyse the collected quantitative and qualitative data using standard data analysis software;
6. Draft the baseline report (25 pages maximum, excluding annexes) including (but not limited to):
   • Executive summary;
   • Updated results framework with final results of all indicators;
   • Analysis of baseline data, including charts, tables and graphs;
   • Completed consent forms (including for children and their caregivers and adults);
   • Cleaned data (including data files (e.g. Excel, SPSS), transcripts of qualitative data, syntax/ code books etc.);
   • Final sampling methodology (including unit of sampling and sampling frame) and size;
   • Methods and tools for M&E to be used throughout project implementation;
   • Final data collection tools.
7. Develop a brief PowerPoint presentation (approx. 10-15 slides) that summarizes the key findings of the baseline;
8. Present the key findings in a half-day workshop with Plan, MoIC and LNCCI;
9. Deliver the final report based on feedback from Plan (due within 1 week upon receiving feedback from Plan).*

*These deliverables must also be submitted in Lao language (all surveys and interview questionnaires as well as the final version of the baseline report).
9.      Timeframe
The consultancy shall take place for a period of 35 working days between August 7th – October 31st, 2025.

Tasks

Working Days

Review project documents and conduct desk research.
2

Draft the inception report (incl. development of data collection methodology, analysis plan, tools (surveys, questionnaires, etc.)). Surveys and questionnaires must also be submitted in Lao language.
3

Test the data collection tools and make any corrective changes.
1

Facilitate the inception report presentation and consultation workshop with Plan and LNCCI (incl. preparation).
1

Implement data collection (incl. desktop studies, interviews and surveys) in Vientiane Capital and Vientiane, Luang Prabang and Champasak Provinces (incl. travel days).
14

Draft the baseline study report.
7

Develop and refine methods and tools for ongoing project M&E
3

Facilitate the baseline study presentation workshop with Plan, LNCCI and ECEAT (incl. preparation).
1

Finalize and translate the report and M&E tools/processes based on feedback from Plan (2 versions of the baseline report are submitted in Lao and English language).
3

Total Number of Working Days:
 35

Note: Additional days can be added only if deemed necessary by the project.

10.  Qualifications of the Company or Consultant(s)

• At least a Master’s degree in international development, tourism development or related field;
• At least 5 years’ experience in project design, monitoring and evaluation;
• Demonstrated experience in conducting baseline or other monitoring studies of development projects (previous experience in conducting baseline studies for EU-funded grant projects is an advantage);
• Previous work experience related to tourism development, SCP, circular economy, private sector development, and/or green financing;
• Knowledge and expertise in participatory, qualitative and quantitative data collection methodology, tools and analysis;
• High level of research and analytical skills;
• Proven experience in implementing and supervising data collection;
• Proven experience in data collection with children and young people;
• Proficiency in quantitative and qualitative data analysis using standard data analysis software (SPSS, STATA, NVivo etc.);
• Demonstrated understanding of gender, ethical, social inclusion and safeguarding considerations relevant to the scope of work;
• Previous work experience in Laos or another South-East Asian country is a significant advantage;
• Excellent English and Lao language abilities (spoken and written);
• The company or consultant(s) must be legally permitted to operate in Lao PDR. It is the responsibility of the company and consultant(s) to ensure that any non-Lao personnel have valid working visas and permits.

Child Protection: Plan does not tolerate child abuse. All Plan staff and consultants are selected and employed in line with the conditions of Plan’s Child Protection Policy. These include appropriate reference and background checks.
11.  Application Process
Plan invites interested applicants to submit a detailed proposal with the following components:

1. A technical proposal, including a proposed methodology and approach for the consultancy, including an indicative work plan and timeframe (maximum of 2 pages);
2. A financial proposal, including an indicative budget with a daily rate including any travel costs (the budget must also be inclusive of any taxes including VAT);
3. The consultant(s) CV (If a consulting firm or company, a company profile with: a company name, registered office address, physical address, telephone numbers, date of registration, registration number, copy of registration certificate, names of directors/proprietors and name of contact person).