TENDER: A People-Centred ASEAN Towards 2045: Advancing Gender Equality, Social Inclusion, and Wellbeing for All project – CLOSED

Status: CLOSED

Deadline of Submission: 18 January 2026 at 23:59 Jakarta time (GMT +7)

Description

The ASEAN Secretariat and the Australian Government, through the Australia for ASEAN Futures Initiative (Aus4ASEAN Futures), invite applications from firms, organisations, or joint venture/consortium/association (JCVA) for the “A People-Centred ASEAN Towards 2045: Advancing Gender Equality, Social Inclusion, and Wellbeing for All” project.

The selected Implementing Agency (IA) will deliver the full scope of project outputs and activities, including all technical, logistical, and administrative arrangements required for successful implementation. Under an integrated work plan and a unified coordination framework, the IA will deploy dedicated senior experts to support each of the four ASEAN Sectoral Bodies (ACW, ACWC, SOMRDPE, and SOMSWD)

Scope of Work

• Conduct end-term reviews of the 2021–2025 work plans of ACW, ACWC, SOMRDPE, and SOMSWD to assess achievements, challenges, and lessons learned.
• Support the development of evidence-based 2026–2030 work plans, aligned with the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and ASCC Strategic Plan, including results frameworks and M&E systems.
• Strengthen cross-sectoral coordination by developing a shared regional research agenda and fostering synergies among the four ASEAN sectoral bodies.
• Develop a coordinated public communication strategy to improve ASEAN’s ability to communicate progress and outcomes on inclusive development to stakeholders and the public.
• Identify resource, capacity, and partnership needs to support effective implementation, stakeholder engagement, and access to relevant regional research and evidence.
• Responsible for the logistical and administrative arrangements for project events, particularly the hybrid regional workshops under this Project.

Deliverables

• Inception report
• End-term review reports of the implementation of the ACW, ACWC, SOMRDPE, and SOMSWD work plans 2021-2025
• Five-year work plans of ACW, ACWC, SOMRDPE and SOMSWD for 2026-2030
• Shared regional research agenda across ACW, ACWC, SOMRDPE, and SOMSWD
• Coordinated public communications strategy for ACW, ACWC, SOMRDPE, and SOMSWD
• Online and hybrid regional workshops
• Project completion report

Duration

The consultancy will be undertaken over a continuous effective period of 13 calendar months with approximately 422 person working days of various professional services. Work will need to commence immediately after contract signing.

Terms of Reference: RevisedTenderTOR_PeopleCentred2045

Submission of Bid

Tenderers shall send their Technical Proposal and Financial Proposal via two separate emails, attaching the respective cover letters and materials specified in Section VIII above and other supporting documents to tender@aus4aseanfutures.org and aus4aseanfutures@asean.org, no later than 18 January 2026 at 23:59 Jakarta time (GMT +7). Large documents (>5MB) can be submitted in parts through several emails. Late and/or incomplete submissions will be disqualified.

Tenderers shall use the following email subjects when separately submitting their technical and financial proposals:

• Technical Proposal_”People-Centred ASEAN”_Name of Vendor
• Financial Proposal_”People-Centred ASEAN “_Name of Vendor

For Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), please visit https://www.aus4aseanfutures.org/tender-frequently-asked-question/.

Any queries on the TOR should be sent by email to query@aus4aseanfutures.org before 9 January 2026 at 23:59 Jakarta time (GMT+7). Please use the subject line: “Query: People-Centred ASEAN”

Response to received queries will be published at Aus4ASEAN Futures’ website (https://www.aus4aseanfutures.org). No individual responses or replies will be provided for queries. Please check the page regularly for updates.

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RESPONSES TO QUERIES

1.Each of these four ASBs has implemented a five-year work plan (2021–2025) aligned with ASEAN’s inclusive development goals. These work plans have undergone mid-term reviews to assess progress, identify gaps, and draw lessons to inform future planning. A summary of each ASB’s work plan, strategic objectives, and review findings is provided in Annexes A–D. (Posted on 31 December 2025)

Annexes A-D

2. Application of price weighting: If price is a weighted factor, will it only apply to Budget A? (Posted on 8 January 2026)

Yes. The assessment of price as part of the value-for-money consideration will apply to Financial Proposal A – Technical Component (Professional Fees).

Financial Proposal B – Event Logistical and Administrative Arrangements is requested to facilitate an informed decision by the ASEAN Secretariat and Aus4ASEAN Futures on whether the logistical component will be undertaken by the selected Implementing Agency or managed separately. While it will be reviewed for reasonableness and alignment with the proposed approach, it will not be assessed in the same manner as Financial Proposal A.

3. Country coverage: Are Myanmar and Timor-Leste included in the implementation of the four ASBs under the ASCC? (Posted on 8 January 2026)

Yes. The four ASEAN Sectoral Bodies under the ASCC—ACW, ACWC, SOMRDPE, and SOMSWD—comprise all ASEAN Member States, and implementation under this project covers all AMS.

Note on Timor-Leste’s participation:
As ASEAN’s newest Member State, Timor-Leste will be included in this project to support regional coherence and inclusivity.

The end-term review and development of the 2026–2030 work plans will take into account Timor-Leste’s ongoing institutional integration into ASEAN socio-cultural cooperation mechanisms, including its engagement with the four ASBs under the ASCC Pillar.

In this context, the review and planning processes will consider:

• Timor-Leste’s national policy and institutional context relevant to gender equality, women’s and children’s rights, social welfare and development, and rural development and poverty eradication;
• Alignment with relevant ASEAN regional frameworks and priorities; and
• Data availability and capacity-development needs to support results-based planning and effective participation.

Findings related to Timor-Leste will inform how the four ASBs can support the country’s integration and participation in regional socio-cultural cooperation under the 2026–2030 work plans.

4. Access to mid-term review (MTR) reports: Would it be possible for Aus4ASEAN Futures to share the mid-term review reports to support proposal preparation? (Posted on 8 January 2026)

The mid-term review reports referenced in the TOR are internal ASEAN documents and are not available for public circulation. Tenderers are encouraged to rely on the information provided in the TOR and its annexes when preparing their proposals.

In addition, we would be grateful for any updates on:

1. The recruitment or availability of PEGD project staff who will be supporting implementation of this project; and
2. The nomination of a PEGD/ASEAN representative to participate in the tender evaluation panel, in line with standard procedures.

5. Evaluation criteria: Please advise on the evaluation criteria. (Posted on 8 January 2026)

Proposals will be assessed based on their technical quality and value for money, in line with the requirements outlined in the Terms of Reference.

The technical assessment will consider, among others:

• The tenderer’s qualifications and relevant experience, as specified in Section VI of the TOR; and
• The proposed approach and methodology, including understanding of the assignment, analytical framework, work plan, and team composition.

Financial proposals will be assessed in relation to value for money and in accordance with the financial submission requirements set out in the TOR.