RFAs: FEF-OSC Program Capacity Building Support for Civil Society Organizations (Laos)

Deadline: 20-Sep-2026

The French Embassy in Laos is inviting qualified organizations or teams to provide training, coaching, and technical assistance to Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Lao PDR under the FEF-OSC Program. The consultancy has a total budget of up to US$10,000, will run for approximately 12 months from October 2026, and aims to strengthen CSOs’ project management, financial management, communication, advocacy, networking, and monitoring and evaluation capabilities. French Embassy Laos FEF-OSC Consultancy Overview The consultancy is part of the French Embassy Fund for Civil Society Organizations (FEF-OSC) program for 2026–2027. The initiative is intended to strengthen the operational capacity and effectiveness of civil society organizations working in Laos. The selected consultant or team will provide practical capacity-building support through training, coaching, and technical assistance. The assignment will focus on helping participating CSOs improve both their internal organizational systems and their ability to deliver effective projects and engage with stakeholders. Why This Consultancy Matters Civil society organizations play an important role in addressing community needs, supporting development, and strengthening participation in society. However, organizations may face challenges related to project planning, financial management, communication, advocacy, monitoring, and organizational development. The FEF-OSC capacity-building consultancy aims to address these challenges by providing CSOs with practical skills and ongoing support. The assignment is expected to help participating organizations: Improve project management systems. Strengthen financial management practices. Develop better communication strategies. Improve advocacy skills. Build stronger networks and partnerships. Strengthen monitoring and evaluation systems. Improve organizational effectiveness. Develop sustainable approaches to delivering projects. Increase the overall impact of civil society activities in Laos. Key Areas of Technical Support The selected organization or team will be expected to provide support across several areas of CSO capacity development. Project Management Training and coaching can help CSOs strengthen their ability to design, plan, implement, monitor, and complete projects effectively. The consultancy will also strengthen CSOs’ financial management capabilities.

This can include support related to:

Budget preparation. Financial planning. Financial monitoring. Expenditure tracking. Financial reporting. Internal financial procedures. Communication Effective communication is important for CSOs when engaging communities, partners, donors, government stakeholders, and the wider public. Training may therefore help organizations improve their internal and external communication practices. Advocacy and Networking The consultancy will support CSOs in developing stronger advocacy and networking capabilities. This may include improving their ability to: Communicate policy messages. Engage relevant stakeholders. Build partnerships.

Participate in networks

Represent community interests. Develop strategic relationships. Monitoring and Evaluation Monitoring and evaluation is another key component of the assignment. CSOs will receive support to improve their ability to measure project progress, document results, assess outcomes, and use evidence to improve future activities. Contract Budget and Duration The total budget available for the consultancy is capped at US$10,000. The assignment is expected to last approximately 12 months, beginning in October 2026. It forms part of the FEF-OSC program covering the 2026–2027 period. Who Is Eligible? The opportunity is intended for a qualified organization or team with relevant experience in CSO capacity building in Laos. Applicants must meet key requirements, including: Be legally registered in Lao PDR. Be a Lao national or have strong Lao-language capabilities, as applicable to the applicant/team. Have proven experience as a trainer and coach. Demonstrate a strong understanding of civil society organizations in Lao PDR. Have experience using participatory and interactive learning approaches. Possess strong organizational and communication skills. Have excellent Lao and English language skills, both oral and written. Have experience in monitoring and evaluation of capacity-building activities. Preferred Skills and Experience A strong applicant should demonstrate practical experience rather than relying solely on theoretical knowledge. Applicants should also demonstrate a good understanding of the Lao civil society environment and the practical challenges faced by local organizations. How the Consultancy Will Work The selected organization or team will be responsible for developing and implementing a suitable capacity-building approach for participating CSOs. A potential implementation process includes: Assess CSO capacity needs. Identify the strengths, challenges, and development needs of participating organizations. Develop the training approach. Prepare practical and participatory learning activities based on identified needs. Deliver training. Conduct workshops and learning sessions covering relevant organizational and technical skills. Provide coaching. Offer follow-up coaching to help CSOs apply the knowledge gained through training. Provide technical support. Assist organizations with practical challenges related to project management, finance, communication, advocacy, or M&E. Monitor capacity development. Track progress and assess whether the support is improving organizational capabilities. Document results. Record lessons learned, achievements, challenges, and recommendations for future capacity-building activities. How to Apply Interested organizations or teams must submit a technical and financial proposal by September 20, 2026. The proposal should include the following components: Proposed methodology. Work plan. Detailed budget. Tea