Consultant Green transition of SME project management

Result of ServiceThis is a full-time consulting position, from 1 July 2025 to 30 April 2026, with the possibility to be extended depending on funding available. The consultancy services will be provided under the overall guidance of the Economic Affairs Officer in the Innovation, Enterprise and Investment Section, Trade, Investment and Innovation Division (TIID). It is expected that the contract will start on 1 July 2025 (tbc). The outputs will be delivered in digital copy, in Word, Excel or PowerPoint as relevant. The performance will be evaluated based on: • The consultant’s performance will be evaluated based on the quality and the timeliness of the work delivered. Outputs/ Work assignments: Output A: Set up systems and conduct training analysis need Deliverables: (1) Organise, coordinate and oversee the project the activities (2) Provide advice in policy development a. In coordination with the toolkit consultant, conduct the training needs analysis. b. Agree with the national counterparts and the consultant on the focus of the toolkit c. Conduct background research (3) Provide advice on procuring and supervise the relevant consultants a. Manage on the editor b. Manage procurement of the coaching service provider(s) for Malaysia and the Philippines 2026 (4) Monitor project implementation a. Set up project management systems including the M&E plan, stakeholders list, and project documentation filing system. (5) Provide substantive support to meetings. (6) Undertake outreach activities a. Prepare key concept notes to brief stakeholders on the project. (7) Participates in or lead field missions. (8) Monitor the budget and funding and prepare related documents/reports a. Set up budget tracking system (9) Manage the communications of the programme: a. Develop a communication strategy Delivery date: 31 July 2025 Output B: Plan the training for SME development agencies and the coaching services Deliverables: (1) Organise, coordinate and oversee the project activities a. Organise regular briefings for national stakeholders on the toolkit, training and coaching b. Agree with the national counterparts on the training for SME Agencies to take place in Malaysia c. Discuss and agree with national counterparts and service providers on the coaching process and its different elements (selection criteria and process, communications, etc) (2) Provide advice in policy development a. Conduct background research (3) Provide advice on procuring and supervise the relevant consultants a. Finalise recruitment of the matchmaking service provider for 2026 b. Follow up procurement of the coaching service provider(s) for 2026 (4) Monitor project implementation a. Start documentation of project activities. b. Review stakeholder list (5) Provide substantive support to meetings. (6) Undertake outreach activities. (7) Participates in or lead field missions. (8) Monitor the budget and funding and prepare related documents/reports a. Track expenditures (9) Manage the communications of the programme: a. Support the implementation of the communication strategy Delivery date: 31 August 2025 Output C: Provide inputs for the training toolkit Deliverable: (1) Provide two inputs for the training toolkits. The specific inputs will be identified earlier on with the toolkit consultant. Delivery date: 31 August 2025 Output D: Manage the development of the toolkit and the organization of the first exchange between SME agencies Deliverables: (1) Organise, coordinate and oversee the project activities a. Supervise the organisation of the first exchange between SME agencies in ASEAN (Malaysia and the Philippines) on supporting green transition of SMEs (2) Provide advice in policy development a. Coordinate the finalisation of the toolkit (3) Provide advice on procuring and supervise the relevant consultants a. Follow up procurement of the coaching service provider(s) for 2026 (4) Monitor project implementation a. Continue documentation of project activities b. Ensure project is on track (5) Provide substantive support to meetings. (6) Undertake outreach activities. (7) Participates in or lead field missions. (8) Monitor the budget and funding and prepare related documents/reports a. Track expenditures b. Prepare documentation for first report (9) Manage the communications of the programme a. Support the implementation of the communication strategy Delivery date: 30 September 2025 Output E: Manage the development of the toolkit and the organization of the first exchange between SME agencies Deliverables: (1) Organise, coordinate and oversee the project activities a. Supervise and participate in the first exchange between SME agencies in ASEAN (Malaysia and the Philippines) on supporting green transition of SMEs. (2) Provide advice in policy development a. Finalise the draft of toolkit, ensuring feedback from the training is incorporated, and start processing the editing of the toolkit and its formatting and design. (3) Provide advice on procuring and supervise the relevant consultants a. Ensure procurement of the coaching service provider(s) for 2026 is in place (4) Monitor project implementation (5) Provide substantive support to meetings. (6) Undertake outreach activities. (7) Participates in or lead field missions. (8) Monitor the budget and funding and prepare related documents/reports a. Prepare and submit report of activities up to 30 November 2025 and request second installment by 30 November (9) Manage the communications of the programme a. Support the implementation of the communication strategy Delivery date: 30 November 2025 Output F: Oversee the finalisation of the toolkit Deliverables: (1) Organise, coordinate and oversee the project activities a. Ensure the toolkit is edited and formatted. (2) Provide advice in policy development (3) Provide advice on procuring and supervise the relevant consultants a. Ensure the coaching service provider(s) for 2026 are briefed (4) Monitor development implementation a. Prepare an outcome report of the first exchange of SME Agencies on supporting the green transition of SMEs (5) Provide substantive support to meetings. (6) Undertake outreach activities. (7) Participates in or lead field missions. (8) Monitor the budget and funding and prepare related documents/reports (9) Manage the communications of the programme a. Support the implementation of the communication strategy Delivery date: 31 December 2025 Output G: Establish the coaching process in Malaysia and the Philippines Deliverables: (1) Organise, coordinate and oversee the project activities a. Oversee the establishment of the coaching services in Malaysia and the Philippines (2) Provide advice in policy development (3) Provide advice on procuring and supervise the relevant consultants a. Supervise coaching consultants and ensure the coaching process is effectively in place (4) Monitor project implementation a. Prepare monitoring system for the coaching and matchmaking services and start collecting data (5) Provide substantive support to meetings. (6) Undertake outreach activities. (7) Participates in or lead field missions. (8) Monitor the budget and funding and prepare related documents/reports (9) Manage the communications of the programme a. Support the implementation of the communication strategy Delivery date: 31 January 2026 Output H: Prepare compendium of training resources Deliverable: (1) Prepare a draft compendium of training resources on promoting green SMEs Delivery date: 31 January 2026 Output I: Support the coaching and matchmaking activities in Malaysia and the Philippines Deliverables: (1) Organise, coordinate and oversee the project activities a. Oversee the implementation of the coaching and matchmaking services in Malaysia and the Philippines (2) Provide advice in policy development (3) Provide advice on procuring and supervise the relevant consultants a. Supervise coaching and matchmaking consultants (4) Monitor project implementation a. Collect data (5) Provide substantive support to meetings. (6) Undertake outreach activities. (7) Participates in or lead field missions. (8) Monitor the budget and funding and prepare related documents/reports (9) Manage the communications of the programme a. Support the implementation of the communication strategy Delivery date: 31 March 2026 Output J: Support the coaching and matchmaking activities in Malaysia and the Philippines Deliverables: (1) Organise, coordinate and oversee the project activities a. Oversee the implementation of the coaching and matchmaking services in Malaysia and the Philippines (2) Provide advice in policy development (3) Provide advice on procuring and supervise the relevant consultants a. Supervise coaching and matchmaking consultants (4) Monitor project implementation a. Collect data (5) Provide substantive support to meetings. (6) Undertake outreach activities. (7) Participates in or lead field missions. (8) Monitor the budget and funding and prepare related documents/reports (9) Manage the communications of the programme a. Support the implementation of the communication strategy Delivery date: 30 April 2026 Work LocationBangkok Expected duration1/07/25-30/04/26 Duties and ResponsibilitiesBackground: The private sector plays a critical role in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As a source of innovation and economic dynamism, they have the potential to address the most critical challenges of our time. The private sector provides the vast majority of employment opportunities and is critical for providing livelihoods opportunities as well as access to valuable goods and services. However, too often economic growth and private sector expansion comes at a detriment of people and planet. This is of particular importance for the Asia-Pacific region, which is disproportionately impacted by the climate crisis and where wide income disparities persist. A just green transition of the region’s economy is an urgent requirement for safeguarding livelihoods and wellbeing of the people of South-East Asia. A green economy requires ‘traditional’ businesses to shift to greener processes, as well as the scaling up of those businesses that are green from the outset. To create systemic change towards a green economy and promote hundreds of businesses to become green, it is critical to create an enabling environment, where businesses can access the relevant skills and funding to ‘go green’ and scale up their positive environmental impact. This requires building the capacities of SME development agencies to support business become greener, exploring incentives for businesses to become green, facilitating linkages among different players, supporting coalitions for change (at the national and regional level), as well as facilitating access to finance. Project objectives: The programme will create an enabling environment for green businesses to drive a new green economy in ASEAN, by strengthening the capacity of businesses and of SME development agencies to promote, recognise and scale up green business models (objective 1) and by developing business collaborations/market linkages for green SMEs (objective 2). Objective 1 will be achieved by assessing training gaps to recognizing and supporting green businesses, developing training and coaching curricula for SME development agencies and businesses, implementing these to strengthen the capacities of SME development agencies and to directly support green businesses, and by sharing such resources at the regional level. Similarly, objective 2 will be achieved by connecting SMEs with large enterprises developing targeted engagements between SMEs and large enterprises and facilitating business collaborations among them. Project outputs: To achieve these objectives, the project will: 1. Develop two toolkits and coach SME agencies in Malaysia (1) and in the Philippines (1) to support green transition of SMEs 1.1. Conduct a training needs analysis 1.2. Develop 2 training toolkits (for Malaysia (1) and the Philippines (1)) for greening SMEs, incorporating gender perspectives 1.3. Coach the SME Development agencies in Malaysia and the Philippines on the two training toolkits 2. Provide coaching to 60 SMs in Malaysia and the Philippines 2.1. Provide coaching services for 30 SMEs in 2026 2.2. Provide coaching services for 30 SMEs in 2027 3. Develop business collaborations between green SMEs and larger enterprises 3.1. Connect participating SMEs with large enterprises through two matchmaking exercises in 2026 and 2027. 3.2. Facilitate successful business collaborations (e.g. letter of intent, purchase order, business agreements) between green SMEs and large enterprises, including through the coaching services 4. Facilitate exchanges among SME development Agencies at the ASEAN level on promoting 4.1. Organise 3 exchanges for SME development agencies in South-East Asia to discuss and exchange best practices and training resources for supporting green SMEs. 4.2. Develop a compendium of training resources that support the green transition of SMEs, incorporating gender perspectives. 4.3. Prepare a note on policy suggestions on promoting green SMEs in ASEAN Objectives of this consultancy: The objective of this consultancy is to organise and manage the delivery of these outputs. CONSULTANCY SERVICES: To support the achievement of these outcomes, ESCAP seeks to engage consultancy services to organise and manage the delivery of these outputs. The consultant will be responsible for the development, implementation and evaluation of the project Specific responsibilities and tasks include: ● Organise, coordinate and oversee the implementation of the activities envisaged in this project. All activities (except activities 4.2 and 4.3) will be delivered by a third party to be engaged as part of this project. ● Provide advice in policy development, including the review and analysis of issues and trends related to the promotion of green businesses and other research activities and studies. ○ Prepare inputs for the training toolkit. ○ Prepare a compendium of training resources ○ Prepare a note on policy suggestions on promoting green SMEs in ASEAN (preliminary high-level messages by end 2025). ● Recruit and supervise the relevant consultants (toolkit development, coaching services, matchmaking between businesses and large enterprises) and procure the necessary services (e.g. editing, printing, venue) for the different activities ● Monitor and analyze project development and implementation, preparing an M&E plan, conducting regular M&E activities and preparing regular progress reports (internal and for the donor) ● Provide substantive support to meetings including proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations, etc. ● Undertake outreach activities: prepare and deliver presentations and training sessions on assigned topics and activities. ● Participates in or lead field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties and drafting mission summaries. ● Coordinate activities related to budget and funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and prepares related documents/reports (work programme, programme budget, etc.). ● Manage the communications of the programme: develop a communication strategy in collaboration with the communication consultant and Temasek Foundation, and support and oversee the implementation of the communication strategy ● Performs other duties as required. Other considerations for the consultant: - Include a gender lens, including in the design of activities, ToRs, selection of speakers, moderators and participants; the design of the programmes; and the monitoring and evaluation of activities. - Leverage cross-country learning opportunities where possible. - Innovate in the design and delivery of activities. - The consultant will be expected to work from the ESCAP office in Bangkok. Work will be undertaken under the guidance of ESCAP, and in consultation with the national counterparts (Malaysia and the Philippines). This is a full-time consulting position, from 1 July 2025 to 30 April 2026, with the possibility to be extended depending on funding available. ESCAP will finance separately the travel associated to this work. The consultancy services will be provided under the overall guidance of the Economic Affairs Officer in the Innovation, Enterprise and Investment Section, Trade, Investment and Innovation Division (TIID). It is expected that the contract will start on 1 July 2025. ESCAP shall be entitled to all intellectual property and other proprietary rights of any products, ideas, know how, documents and/or contents (not an exhaustive list), which the contractor develops for ESCAP under the contract to be signed and which bear a direct relation to or are produced, prepared or collected in consequence of, or during the course of the performance of the contract. The work will be conducted in English. Qualifications/special skillsMaster’s degree in business, Environmental studies, International Affairs, Management, Finance, Accountancy, Law, Public Policy or related field. A minimum of four years of experience in completing research, project management and planning events and meetings. Desirable Criteria: • The candidate has work experience in Southeast Asia, including in one of the two countries in which the events will be organized (Malaysia, the Philippines). • At least 3 years’ experience in project management. • Experience in working with the United Nations. • Experience in promoting private sector development, SME development, green transition of businesses, and inclusive business. • Experience in ESG practices and/or green corporate procurement. • Experience in conducting research and policy analysis. LanguagesFluency in English is required. Additional InformationNot available. No FeeTHE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.