Regional Trade for Development - Feasibility Study and Proposal Development for the ASEAN Inclusive Trade Dashboard

⁠⁠⁠The Regional Trade for Development (RT4D) Facility supports ASEAN Member States to maximise benefits from the upgraded ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement. Under the operation of the RT4D, the Trade and Gender Equality Incubator (TGEI) with funding support from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) pilots ideas and methods, drawing on promising practice to advance gender equality in trade-related policy, technical cooperation, and development programming.

The opportunity

The RT4D Facility seeks a consultancy firm with presence in Jakarta, Indonesia (the Consultant) to conduct a feasibility study for the proposed ASEAN Inclusive Trade Dashboard (AITD). The feasibility study will assess whether the dashboard is feasible and sustainable, including institutional ownership, alignment with ASEAN priorities, data availability, potential indicators, possible dashboard formats and pathways for national or regional piloting. Subject to a positive stop/go decision in September 2026, the Consultant will develop a full proposal from October to November 2026.

The primary users of the feasibility study will be RT4D/TGEI, DFAT and relevant ASEC stakeholders. The findings may also be relevant to ASEAN Member States, development partners and organisations working on gender equality, inclusive trade, MSME development, digital trade, trade facilitation, disability inclusion and data systems.

During the feasibility study, the Consultant is expected to engage with relevant ASEC divisions and selected stakeholders in Thailand and the Philippines, subject to confirmation by RT4D/TGEI, DFAT and relevant ASEC divisions. This engagement would assess whether these countries could provide suitable national-level entry points for future piloting, including in relation to national priorities, data availability, stakeholder interest and existing policy or monitoring processes.

The assignment comprises the following activities over the period July to November 2026:

1. Finalise the feasibility study methodology and the plan to collect data, based on the discussion with RT4D/TGEI (all prospective bidders will have to develop a feasibility study methodology to be included in the Technical Proposal for this Call for Proposals).
2. Conduct desk review and stakeholder consultations with relevant ASEC divisions, selected ASEAN Member State stakeholders, data owners and technical experts.
3. Map potential indicators, available data sources, data gaps and options for sustainable updating of the dashboard.
4. Assess institutional ownership, governance, technical format and implementation pathways for the dashboard.
5. Write the feasibility study report and recommendations to inform a stop/go decision in September 2026.
6. If RT4D/TGEI confirms a positive stop/go decision, prepare a full project proposal (due for final approval by 30 November 2026) for developing the dashboard and for piloting.

Interested organisations should provide a technical proposal detailing their capabilities in supporting the scope of services outlined in this ToR.

To ensure the above can be effectively managed and completed, interested organisations should fulfil the following criteria.

• Experience developing dashboards, indicator frameworks, data visualisation products, monitoring tools, scorecards, index products or similar analytical tools.
• The Team Leader or Lead Researcher must be based in Jakarta and have a sound understanding of ASEAN architecture, including the role of the ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN community pillars and relevant ASEAN monitoring, reporting and coordination processes.
• Strong skills and experience in gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) and trade, including gender-responsive trade policy, trade facilitation, digital trade, MSMEs, trade in services or related areas.
• Strong research, consultation, facilitation and analytical writing skills, including the ability to translate complex institutional and data issues into clear, practical recommendations.
• Experience working with ASEAN institutions, ASEAN Member State governments, development partners or regional programs.
• A network of local consultants or partners able to support data collection and stakeholder engagement in Thailand and the Philippines will be an advantage.

Timeline:

Invitation Issue Date: Monday 8 June 2026

Last Queries Date: Monday 15 June 2026

Closing Date and Time: 11:59pm AEST Tuesday, 30 June 2026

Please check RT4D’s website for complete ToR.

RFP - Feasibility Study and Proposal Development for the ASEAN Inclusive Trade Dashboard