ThaiNGO

Term of Reference (TOR)

Technical Field Coordinator (ESG)

for

Mekong Sustainable Supply Chains Transformation and Advancement

(Mekong Sustain)

1. About Mekong Institute 

Mekong Institute (MI) is an intergovernmental organization that contributes to regional cooperation and integration through capacity development, dialogue, and advocacy for sustainable socioeconomic development and poverty alleviation in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). 

Founded and represented by the Mekong countries (Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam), MI aligns its strategies with the core tenets of the GMS Cooperation Program Strategic Framework 2030, ASEAN Economic Community, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

MI supports these frameworks through the implementation of projects across the areas of Agricultural Development and Commercialization (ADC), Trade and Investment Facilitation (TIF), and Sustainable Energy and Environment (SEE) while addressing issues of social inclusion and vulnerability, digital economy and innovation, and labor mobility. This comprehensive approach cements holistic and sustainable developmental impacts in the subregion and beyond. 

2. Mekong Sustainable Supply Chains Transformation and Advancement (Mekong Sustain) Project 

Mekong Institute is implementing a project on Mekong Sustainable Supply Chains Transformation and Advancement subject to final approval by the donor. The project aims to support Companies suppliers/component manufactures to improve their ESG performance through an interplay of Leading companies, SME suppliers, /assemblers, Technology providers and Financing companies. Leading manufacturers guide SMEs in ESG adoption through technology and financing options, while Companies suppliers and assemblers identify improvement areas on ESG standards to comply requirements of lead companies through adoption of ESG solutions accessing affordable technologies and financing options. This is aimed at enabling companies’ suppliers/component suppliers to enter the global supply chain while reducing carbon footprint. The Companies will also be provided with financing access to technology and credit through different forms of credit, leasing, to cover the cost of technological solutions. ESG regional policy adaptation will be channeled through AMEICC Working Group on the West-East Corridor Development platform/Mekong-Japan Cooperation framework. The duration of the project is 2 years for implementation in five Mekong countries namely Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. 

Under this project, a series of activities will be implemented by MI and its project partners during the project period of two years relating to: 

1. Conduct preparatory research on global and regional trends on ESG as input to training curriculum development. 

2. Training to selected Companies in CLMTV and facilitate matching with solution providers and financial institutions to monitor the progress of decarbonization plans for the Companies 

3. Conduct a one-on-one consultancy arrangement, monitoring and evaluation of decarbonization plan of the Companies. The evaluation result will be reported to the West-East Corridor Development Working Group (WEC-WG) with policy recommendations toward Mekong countries to accelerate Companies’ action toward decarbonization through regulations and supports. 

The project target group includes 150 Companies/suppliers representing three sectors on i. automobiles, ii. textiles and iii. agriculture and food industry from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. 

3. Technical Field Coordinator of the Mekong Sustain Project 

The Technical Field Coordinator will provide localized technical support and on-the-ground coordination to ensure the effective implementation of project activities in alignment with the project's objectives. 

The role will focus on supporting ESG capacity building for SMEs, facilitating access to appropriate technology and financing options, and contributing to the co-creation of practical ESG solutions tailored to local contexts. 

The Technical Field Coordinator will work closely with project stakeholders to monitor implementation progress, provide technical input, and report regularly to the Project Manager and Technical Consultant and the MI team. This position is critical for translating strategic direction into actionable support for SMEs across target countries.

The Technical Field Coordinator will take the lead in implementing key tasks under the project: 

4. Scope of Work and Responsibility 

The Technical Field Coordinator will support the operational delivery of project activities at the national level, under the guidance of the Project Manager, the Technical Consultant, and the Mekong Institute team. Key responsibilities include the following:

• Collaborate with the project team to identify and recruit eligible SMEs to participate in national training programs, based on the following country's targets. The selected SMEs must commit to full participation in all relevant project activities, including post-training support at least 20 SMEs from Cambodia
• Support national-level training sessions in coordination with an assigned co-trainer and the Mekong Sustain project team. Guidance on tailoring training delivery according to the discussions and feedback from the SMEs and trade bodies, and content provided by others.
• Provide on-the-ground technical assistance and encouragement to SMEs to enroll on the Mekong Sustain program, collecting necessary data per the guidance provided by MI for supporting them in developing the GHG inventory reports via the project’s digital platform. MI expects to develop such reports starting immediately following the training and completing them before 4 weeks of such training. Feedback from these sessions should be documented and relayed to the Technical Consultant.
• Prepare detailed training reports and support the collection of post-training feedback from participating SMEs on training quality, project support mechanisms, and management aspects.
• Assist the Mekong Institute project team and Technical Consultants in identifying and compiling a database of potential in-country partners, such as financial institutions, sustainability solution providers, and technical service companies. This includes collecting organization names, contact persons, websites, and descriptions of services offered. Please note that the final decision regarding any potential collaboration with identified organizations rests solely with the Mekong Institute. MI reserves the exclusive right to approve or decline such partnerships based on its internal assessment and strategic alignment.
• Support translation, localization, and adaptation of training and project materials to ensure they are culturally and linguistically appropriate.

5.Deliverables and Renumeration

The Technical Field Coordinator's payment will be based on satisfactory submission and acceptance of the following deliverables. The indicative time investment for each deliverable is provided for planning purposes, with the understanding that actual time may vary based on project needs and mutual agreement.