A. BACKGROUND / INTRODUCTION
The ASEAN Community Vision (ACV) 2045 sets the region's long-term direction for deeper integration, resilience, and shared prosperity. Delivering this vision depends heavily on local governments, which translate regional commitments into practical policies and actions on the ground.
UCLG ASPAC—the largest local government association in Asia-Pacific and the Secretariat of the ASEAN Governors and Mayors Forum (AGMF)—has long advanced sustainable urban development through advocacy, capacity-building, and partnerships. As an accredited ASEAN entity, the AGMF enables cities to exchange knowledge and contribute to major global and regional agendas, including the SDGs, the New Urban Agenda, the Paris Agreement, and the Sendai Framework.
With ACV 2045 now adopted, UCLG ASPAC and the AGMF are driving its localisation through two instruments: the Framework Document, which guides cities in aligning local strategies with ASEAN's goals, and the M&E Web Portal, which provides a structured system to track progress, identify gaps, and generate evidence for adaptive planning and ASEAN reporting.
This initiative is supported by the Urban Act project (IKI–BMWK, implemented by GIZ with UCLG ASPAC, UNESCAP, and partners), which strengthens AGMF dialogue and complements ASEAN cooperation mechanisms such as AWGESC and AWGCC, particularly on integrated planning, climate resilience, and disaster risk management.
B. Objectives
The overall objective of this consultancy is to support the localisation of the
ASEAN Community Vision (ACV) 2045
by developing practical instruments that guide and monitor implementation at the local level. Specifically, the consultancy aims to:
- Develop a structured and practical set of framework
to help ASEAN cities and local governments integrate the ACV 2045 into their local development agendas. - Establish a systematic mechanism
for monitoring and tracking the progress of local governments against ACV 2045 targets and indicators. - Strengthen evidence-based decision-making, adaptive planning, and accountability
at the local level through the generation and use of reliable and timely data. - Facilitate structured reporting
to the ASEAN Governors and Mayors Forum (AGMF), the ASEAN Secretariat, and other relevant regional platforms, ensuring that local government contributions are reflected in regional policy processes. - Promote peer learning and knowledge exchange
among ASEAN cities and local governments by making comparative data, good practices, and lessons learned accessible through shared platforms and tools. - Provide a policy brief
with recommendations for climate action (joint statement) for discussion at the AGMF 2026 in Manila.
C. Scope of Work
- Conduct a comprehensive review of ASEAN, national, and local government development plans to identify areas of alignment and convergence with ACV 2045, as well as opportunities for integration and localisation at the city and local government levels.
- Facilitate structured consultations with the ASEAN Secretariat, subject-matter experts, and local government representatives to ensure the Framework's contextual and regional relevance.
- Draft, validate, and finalise the Framework Document, incorporating stakeholder feedback, regional perspectives, and examples of good practices.
- Support advocacy, dissemination, and communication of the Framework across ASEAN platforms and networks.
D. Deliverables
The consultant responsible for developing the
framework
shall deliver the following tangible outputs:
- Inception Report/Proposal:
A document (maximum five pages, in Word or PDF format) detailing the methodology, work plan, and timeline for the development of the Framework and Guideline. - Initial Report:
An analytical report (in Word or PDF format) mapping ACV 2045 priorities against ASEAN, national, and local development frameworks, identifying areas of alignment, gaps, and potential integration pathways. - Draft ACV 2045 Localisation Framework Document:
A complete draft (in Word format) outlining the proposed framework, methodology, tools, and examples of good practices to support ASEAN cities and local governments in localising ACV 2045. The document shall also describe which components of ACV 2045 can be localised at the city or local government level, forming the conceptual basis for subsequent localisation tools. - Draft ACV 2045 Localisation Guideline and Indicators:
A document (in Word format) providing practical implementation guidance derived from the Framework, including a set of measurable indicators for tracking localisation progress. These indicators will later be integrated into the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Web Portal to be developed by the Web Portal Consultant. - Presentation Deck for Dissemination:
A PowerPoint presentation summarising the key elements of the Framework, Guideline, and Indicators for use in AGMF meetings, ASEAN forums, and dissemination events. - Short Version of the ACV 2045 Localisation Framework, Guideline, and Indicators:
A concise, reader-friendly version (in Word or PDF format) suitable for wider dissemination to local governments and stakeholders. - Dissemination Summary Report:
A brief report (in Word or PDF format) documenting dissemination activities, event details, participant lists, key feedback, and relevant photos related to the development of the ACV 2045 Localisation Framework, Guideline, and Indicators. - Knowledge and Data Handover Package:
All data sources, literature, drafts, workshop materials, interview notes, and analytical tools used in the development of the Framework and Guideline shall be submitted to UCLG ASPAC in an editable and reusable format. UCLG ASPAC shall retain full ownership and intellectual property rights over all materials produced. - Post-Validation Revision:
The consultant shall incorporate all comments and recommendations from the validation workshop and ASEAN Secretariat review into the final version of the Framework and Guideline before submission.
E. Qualifications
- Advanced university degree (Master's or higher) in International Relations, Public Policy, Urban Studies, Development Studies, or a related field.
- Minimum of eight (8) years of proven experience in local governance, decentralisation, policy analysis, or sustainable development within the ASEAN region.
- Demonstrated experience in developing policy guidelines, toolkits, or framework documents for international or intergovernmental organisations.
- Proven ability to conduct comparative policy research and facilitate multi-stakeholder consultations at regional and local levels.
- Strong understanding of ASEAN institutional frameworks, SDGs localisation, and multi-level governance processes.
- Excellent analytical and writing skills, with the ability to produce clear, practical, and evidence-based knowledge products.
- Ability to synthesise diverse stakeholder inputs into coherent policy recommendations.
- Full professional proficiency in English (written and spoken); knowledge of an ASEAN language is an advantage.
- Availability to participate in stakeholder meetings, FGDs, and dissemination events (online or in person).
- Positive work ethic and ability to deliver high-quality outputs under tight timelines with minimal supervision.
F. Application Procedure
Interested
consultants
— whether individuals, research institutions, or consulting firms — are invited to submit applications consisting of the following documents:
(1) Profile and Curriculum Vitae (CVs)
- For
individual applicants
: a detailed CV outlining relevant qualifications, expertise, and professional experience. - For
institutions or firms
: a company/institutional profile summarising organisational capacity, expertise, and relevant past projects, accompanied by CV(s) of the key expert(s) proposed for this assignment.
(2) Technical Proposal
(maximum 15 pages, excluding annexes)
The proposal should demonstrate a clear understanding of the assignment and include:
- Proposed methodology and tools.
- Concise work plan
(maximum one page)
responding to this ToR. - Sample(s) of relevant guidelines, evaluation reports, databases, or other knowledge products previously developed and published.
(3)
Conflict of Interest Statement
:
A declaration identifying any past, current, or planned consultancies related to ASEAN, local governance, or related initiatives that may present a conflict of interest, along with proposed mitigation measures.
(4) Financial Proposal –
A detailed financial proposal presented in
EUR
, including:
- An itemised budget demonstrating cost efficiency and value for money.
- Justification of costs based on comparable benchmarks and the scope of work.
Submission Details:
Applications must be submitted by
18 November 2025 (COB)
to
For inquiries,
contact
-
cc:
-
Note:
UCLG ASPAC reserves the right to negotiate the scope of work and timeline with the selected consultant(s) based on mutual agreement and project requirements.