Details
Description
1. General background
Oxfam is a global confederation of 21 organisations working together with partners and local communities in more than 90 countries to tackle inequality and injustice. Oxfam has had a long and rich presence in Lao PDR since the end of the 1980s, working on numerous initiatives covering a large number of themes and areas. These have included, among others: support to CSO capacity building, community resilience and sustainable development, social protection, gender justice, private sector engagement, and natural resource management.
Oxfam has worked at different levels, from the community to the national level. Currently, Oxfam in Laos works with approximately 30 partners, including Ministries, Mass organisations, Civil Society Organisations, Universities/research institutes, UN agencies, and the private sector. Visit https://laos.oxfam.org/ for more information.
Oxfam is looking for a consultant to conduct a Baseline study of the project on Promoting the Strengthening of Inspection and Anti-Corruption work in the Lao PDR
2. Project background
The Promoting the Strengthening of Inspection and Anti-Corruption Work in the Lao PDR (PSIA) project is co-funded by the European Union and implemented by Oxfam in partnership with the State Inspection Authority (SIA). The project aims to enhance accountability and transparency, thereby contributing to the promotion of fundamental rights, good governance, and the rule of law in the Lao PDR.
The project is guided by two specific objectives:
• Specific Objective 1: Strengthen the capacity of the State Inspection Authority to initiate and implement anti-corruption measures, and to address impunity at both national and subnational levels.
• Specific Objective 2: Increase the awareness and capacity of citizens and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to identify and report misconduct that hinders access to justice and public services.
The project is implemented across six districts within three provinces: Xathany and Xaysetha districts in Vientiane Capital; Paklai and Xayabouly districts in Xayabouly Province; and Luang Prabang and Xieng Ngeun districts in Luang Prabang Province.
A participatory approach lies at the core of the project. Activities are carried out at both national and local levels, with strong collaboration among the State Inspection Authority, local authorities, civil society organizations, and community members. The project focuses on strengthening accountability and transparency mechanisms within government institutions while simultaneously enhancing awareness and capacity among public officials, citizens, and CSOs.
The project is implemented by Oxfam in collaboration with national partners, including the State Inspection Authority and other key stakeholders such as village, district, and provincial authorities, as well as civil society organisations.
Direct beneficiaries of the project include: 300 SIA staff (at least 35% women) across the three target provinces, 60 CSO representatives (50% women), 1,000 citizens (50% women, with 50% aged 15–30) engaged in Public Engagement Tools (PETs), and 30,000 vulnerable citizens (50% women) with improved access to information related to corruption practices
3. Overview of consultancy
The baseline study aims to establish benchmark values for selected project indicators and assess the existing knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, and practices of key target groups prior to the implementation of project interventions
The study will collect quantitative and qualitative data from SIA staff at the central, provincial, and district level, representatives of CSOs, and citizens in the target areas. It will assess their level of awareness, perceptions, experiences, and expectations related to corruption, accountability, transparency, access to justice and citizen engagement.
The survey will establish the baseline for identifying some output and outcome indicators. Therefore, the baseline study must consider data requirements for monitoring, evaluation and risk assessment that will be used to direct and guide the implementation of the project. In addition, the baseline study will be used to point out how best the project will be rolled out and better tailor the activities implementation to the specific needs of the targeted population
4. Objective of the consultancy
The baseline study is intended to provide social, economic and environmental data at the beginning of the project to:
1) To set a baseline as a critical element in the formula for measuring the achievement of project outcomes over time. Understand target groups’ and stakeholders’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding anti-corruption and impunity. The survey team will collect information from a range of groups, including youth, adult, and the elderly regardless of their social and economic status, who reside in three respective provinces
2) The baseline survey results will contribute to the final evaluation to assess the project’s relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability. It will be used to assess whether or not the project achieved its expected results and identify lessons learned.
3) To provide recommendations to support evidence-based implementation and adaptive management throughout the project life cycle as well as strengthening learning and knowledge generation related to anti-corruption initiatives and citizen engagement in Lao PDR.
5. Scope of the work and methodology
The Consultant will work in close cooperation and frequent communication with Oxfam and SIA, and will undertake project site visits. The baseline survey will be carried out in Vientiane Capital, Xayabouly, and Luang Prabang provinces and, to some extent, at the national level of Lao PDR. The consultant is required to elaborate a detailed baseline design and methodology and data as part of his/her inception report, using a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods.
The consultant will use diverse data collection and analysis techniques for both quantitative and qualitative data to conduct a thorough baseline exercise, which may include, at least:
– Literature review: including a detailed review of the project and supporting documents, such as the Project Implementation Plan, Log frame, indicators, among other related PSIA project documents(studies and policies).
– Consultation with the project team from Oxfam and SIA.
– Surveys: Application of structured survey questionnaires with a representative, random sample of targeted groups to quantitatively assess outcomes.
– Focus Group Discussions: With target groups and other stakeholders to assess and characterise participants’ experiences and perceptions.
– Key Informant Interviews: Consultations with communities (ethnic women and young people), SIA, CSOs, CBOs, key actors in relevant provincial, district authorities and line ministries levels and other relevant stakeholders.
Participants will be selected by “purposive sampling” at the local level for qualitative analysis. The survey will be based on a stratified random sample, and the consultant is expected to propose a representative sample size which will be agreed upon in the inception phase
The methodology should integrate gender-sensitive and socially inclusive approaches, to ensure meaningful participation of women, youth, ethnic, and vulnerable populations.
6. Times, Activities, and Deliverables
Key activities Deliverables
Contract and Inception phase
• Contract preparation for the consultation with the project team
• Write an inception report
• Half-day inception meeting with Oxfam and SIA • Document review sent to Oxfam
• Work Plan
• Inception report, detailing the design and methodology for the baseline study validated by Oxfam
• Quality assurance plan, setting out the systems and processes for assuring the quality of the research process and the deliverables sent to Oxfam
First draft of the baseline study report
• Develop survey data collection tools and sampling
• Plan first field phase
• Prepare the workshop contents and training materials for enumerators
• Conduct training for enumerators on the baseline assessment design, sampling framework, and research • Data collection tools sent to Oxfam
• Field phase plan validated by Oxfam
• Survey training materials and training report/note sent to Oxfam
• Carry out the field survey, Data entry, and Data analysis • Clean quantitative datasets(Field notes, data entry, and datasets) in Excel/SPSS/STATA format sent to Oxfam
• Transcripts of qualitative data (typed in word/excel forms)
• Writing the baseline report (content and length will be agreed upon during the inception phase) • Preliminary version of the baseline study report sent to Oxfam
• Presentation of baseline study findings to the project team and key stakeholders
• PowerPoint presentation sent to Oxfam
• Workshop report sent to Oxfam
Final draft of baseline study report
• Final consultation meeting with key stakeholders at national level for feedback and data validation
• Finalise the baseline study report • Baseline study report validated from the meeting and Oxfam
• Database and transcripts sent to Oxfam
The timeline is to be defined by the consultant, who will notably specify the total man-days and propose a timetable in their technical proposal. The consultant’s mission should commence no later than mid of September 2026 for a maximum duration of three weeks for field data collection. The consultant will have two weeks after the end of field data collection to submit the preliminary version of the study report. The final version of the report will be validated and delivered one week after feedback on the V1 (total timeline will commence from late August to November 2026)
7. Requirements of the consultant
The consultant(s) must have skills and expertise as follows:
– Master’s degree in political sciences, law, governance, development or a related field
– At least 8 years of post Master’s relevant experience at the international and/or national levels in research or advisory services and other relevant professional experiences.
– Proven experience in drafting national-level project or program documents for governance and citizen participation, social inclusion, and gender-sensitive research.
– Good knowledge of anti-corruption and impunity, as well as the Lao system and context.
– Previous experience with INGO procedures, approaches and operations
– Acknowledged similar consultancies with recognised organisations
– Sound understanding of various approaches to assess impact, including participatory methods for data collection.
– Expertise in quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis
– Computer skills (advanced user in Excel or similar software; SPSS or STATA is an asset)
– Demonstrated analytical and writing skills
– Strong interpersonal skills and experience of effective interaction with local and national government institutions and marginalised communities
– Good spoken and written communication skills in English and Lao.
8. Application process
Interested consultants should submit the required documents no later than 24 July 2026 in the electronic form to chindamani.homphasathane@oxfam.org and dalivanh.phutphong@oxfam.org Please indicate the following reference in the subject line: “Consultant for PSIA Baseline Survey”.
Documents are requested only in English. The submission should include the following documents :
– A letter of interest
– Technical proposal for the baseline study with proposed design, proposed methodologies, budget and timeframe.
– Organizational/Professional portfolio with track records, References to previous similar assignments, and team composition with CVs
At the contracting stage, the selected consultant will be required to comply with all professional, tax, and social obligations.
Clarification on the Terms of Reference for Baseline Consultancy
The prospective applicants may solicit clarification of the Terms of Reference or other queries related to the assignments to chindamani.homphasathane@oxfam.org, within 7 days of issuance of ToRs in writing. The clarifications and their replies will be shared via the sender’s official email.