Consultancy to Develop Country Strategy

1.     Background
Oxfam has been working in Lao PDR since the early 1980s, partnering with communities, civil society organisations, mass organisations, and government stakeholders to promote social and economic justice in Lao PDR. The current Oxfam in Laos (OiL) Country Strategy (2022–2024) focuses on promoting and protecting the rights of marginalised groups, with particular emphasis on gender justice, inclusion, citizen participation, partnerships, and transformational change.

As Laos continues to experience rapid socio-economic change, climate impacts, fiscal pressures, and evolving civic space, Oxfam in Laos seeks to develop a new Country Strategy for the period 2026–2030. The new strategy will build on lessons learned from previous strategies, align with Oxfam’s Global Strategy 2030 and Oxfam in Asia Regional Strategy Framework, and respond to emerging national, regional, and global challenges and opportunities.

Oxfam in Laos, intends to hire a consultant (or consultancy team) to facilitate the development of a participatory, evidence-based, and forward-looking Country Strategy 2026–2030.
2.     Purpose of the Consultancy
The purpose of this consultancy is to support Oxfam in Laos to design a clear, strategic, and actionable Country Strategy for 2026–2030 that: Builds on the achievements, learning, and gaps of the 2022–2024 strategy and subsequent programming; Responds to the evolving political, economic, social, environmental, and civic context in Laos; Aligns with Oxfam’s feminist approach, rights-based programming, partnership principles, and global and regional strategic frameworks; Provides strategic direction to guide programme choices, partnerships, influencing, resource mobilisation, and organisational development for the next five years.
3.     Scope of Work
The consultant will be responsible for leading and facilitating the full strategy development process, including but not limited to the following tasks:
3.1 Desk Review
Review key documents, including:

• Oxfam in Laos Country Strategy 2022–2024 and relevant reviews or evaluations;
• Oxfam CLV Cluster Strategy 2022-2024
• Oxfam Global Strategy 2030 and Oxfam in Asia Regional Strategy Framework;
• Relevant national policies and plans (e.g. NSEDP of Laos, sectoral strategies);
• Relevant donor strategies, political economy analyses, and context studies;
• Key programme documents, learning papers, and research produced by Oxfam and partners.

3.2 Context and Strategic Analysis

• Conduct an updated political, economic, social, gender, and environmental analysis for Laos, and strategic analysis linked to Asia and the Global;
• Review and analyse OiL’s experience and achievements in the area of humanitarian, COVID-19 impact response, ASEAN engagement, livelihood development, civic space/social protection, system change, key side of changes, sign of change;
• Analyse trends related to inequality, gender justice, economic justice, climate change, civic space, labour and migration, private sector and market systems, digitalisation, and social protection;
• Identify risks, opportunities, donor’s strategy and strategic entry points for Oxfam’s engagement from 2026–2030.

3.3 Stakeholder Consultation

• Design and facilitate inclusive and participatory consultations with key stakeholders, including:
  • Oxfam in Laos staff and management;
  • Partner organisations (CSOs, Government), networks, and alliances, private sector;
  • Representatives of marginalised groups (women, youth, ethnic groups, people with disabilities, informal workers, LGBTQIA+ communities, etc.
  • Selected donors and external stakeholders, as appropriate.
  • CLV director, Executing Affiliate (EA)-ONL and Partnership Affiliate (PA)-OBE, OAU, OHK, etc., Asia/OI Director.
• Ensure consultations apply feminist, participatory, and power-aware approaches.

3.4 Strategy Design

• Facilitate internal strategy reflection and co-creation workshops with Oxfam in Laos;
• Define the strategic vision, goal, and theory/pathways of change for 2026–2030;
• Identify strategic priorities, thematic focus areas, and cross-cutting approaches;
• Clarify Oxfam’s roles (e.g. programme implementer, convenor, influencer, partner, knowledge broker);
• Articulate partnership approaches, influencing strategies, and learning and adaptation mechanisms;
• Propose high-level results framework, strategic outcomes, and indicative indicators.

3.5 Drafting and Finalisation

• Produce a first draft of the Oxfam in Laos Country Strategy 2026–2030;
• Facilitate validation and feedback sessions with Oxfam in Laos and key stakeholders;
• Revise and finalise the strategy document based on consolidated feedback.

4.     Key Deliverables
The consultant is expected to deliver the following outputs:

• Inception report, including methodology, workplan, and consultation plan;
• Situation Analysis & Consultation synthesis
• Draft Oxfam in Laos Country Strategy 2026–2030;
• Final Oxfam in Laos Country Strategy 2026–2030 (ready for publication).

5.     Timeline and Level of Effort
The consultancy is expected to take place between the end of February and April 2026, with an estimated duration of 15-20 working days.

Feasibility and resourcing note: Given the timeframe (end-February to April 2026) and the expectation to complete desk review, updated context/strategic analysis, stakeholder consultations, co-creation workshops, and drafting/validation of the Country Strategy, Oxfam and the consultant will adopt a tightly scoped and prioritized approach. Oxfam will support by pre-arranging consultations, providing access to existing analyses and programme learning, and ensuring consolidated feedback within agreed turnaround times.

Indicative timeline:

• February 2026: Contracting, inception phase.
• February–March 2026: Desk review, Context analysis, and stakeholder consultations.
• March 2026: Strategy design workshops and drafting,
• April: Validation, revision, and finalisation of the strategy.

6.     Management and Reporting
The consultant will report to the Country Director of Oxfam in Laos (or a designated focal point). Oxfam in Laos will provide access to relevant documents, facilitate introductions to staff and partners, and support logistics for consultations where possible.
7.     Required Qualifications and Experience
The consultant or consultancy team should have:

• Proven experience in developing country strategies or organisational strategies for international NGOs or development organisations;
• Strong understanding of rights-based approaches, feminist principles, and social justice programming;
• Demonstrated experience in political economy and context analysis in Southeast Asia, preferably Laos;
• Strong facilitation skills and experience with participatory and inclusive consultation processes.
• Excellent analytical and writing skills in English (knowledge of Lao language is an asset);
• Ability to work independently and deliver high-quality outputs within tight timelines.

8.     Payment Schedule
Payment will be linked to satisfactory completion of agreed deliverables, tentatively:

• 20% upon approval of the desk review work report.
• 30% upon submission of the situation analysis and consultation report.
• 30% upon approval of the draft strategy document.
• 20% upon approval of the final strategy document.

9.     How to Apply
Interested consultants or firms are invited to submit:

• A technical proposal outlining understanding of the TOR,
• A proposed methodology, and workplan;
• A financial proposal with a clear cost breakdown;
• CV(s) of the consultant(s) highlighting relevant experience;
• Samples of strategy work completed.

Applications should be submitted to Oxfam in Laos with the designated link : https://jobs.oxfamnovib.nl/job-invite/14270/ by the deadline specified in the call for proposals, and closing date: 12th February 2026 @ 23:59 GMT/BST/EAT

Please note:

The selected consultant is required to familiarize themselves thoroughly with the project Description of the Action as it is the foundational project document against which progress will be measured.
10.  Our commitment to safeguarding
Oxfam is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behavior at work, including sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse, lack of integrity, and financial misconduct, and is committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, and adults. Oxfam expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

Note: All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and may be subject to appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. Oxfam International Secretariat also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.  In line with this Scheme, if a job applicant has been employed by another member of the scheme, we will request information from that organization about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.