Terms of reference

Consultancy on pesticides awareness among students and communities in La, Beng and Xay districts (Oudomxay province)

1 - Background to the assignment

A – CCL and the project ADAEBIO2  

The CCL (Comité de Coopération avec le Laos) has been involved in implementing rural development programs in Laos for about 40 years. Currently, CCL works in different provinces in Laos, including Phongsaly, Oudomxai and Bolikhamsai. 

The project ADAEBio phase 2 “Project on Integrated rural development in Beng, La and Xay districts, Oudomxay province”, funded by Bread for the World and the French Development Agency, is implemented from 1^st of January 2025 to 31^st of December 2027. It targets 50 villages from ethnic minorities (Khmu 80%, Hmong 10%, Akha 9%, Lao/PouNoy 1%). The project follows an integrated and participatory approach and has 3 specific objectives:

1. The villagers and communities activate levers to reduce the economic and environmental vulnerability of their agroecosystems. 
2. The local governance on environment and economic development issues is strengthened. 
3. The local knowledge on development and environmental issues are acknowledged, strengthened and shared at the scale of the Oudomxay province and beyond.

B - Context on pesticides

The use of pesticides in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) has steadily increased, driven by the expansion of commercial farming. This trend has raised significant concerns about potential impacts on the environment and human health, particularly in a context where pesticide usage is poorly documented. The use of pesticides poses threats at different levels, such as:

• Types of pesticides used: Our baseline survey shows farmers still massively use some pesticides that are officially banned and with acute toxicity, such as paraquat. Other molecules, such as atrazine, can persist in the long term in the environment.
• Management of pesticides’ empty cans and waste. These are usually thrown in the environment, leading to further pollution. 
• The use of personal protection equipment. Pesticides are commonly spread with little knowledge of the security standards for body protection.
• The person in charge of spraying. Some groups are particularly vulnerable, such as children and pregnant women.
• The storage of pesticides. If not properly stored in a secured room with proper protection, it can lead to contamination of animals or kids.
• The poor quality of information and advice received beforehand. Farmers may buy pesticides without getting well informed of the products and guidelines for adequate use. 

C - Integration of pesticides’ challenges in ADAEBIO2

CCL has been working for several years on the aforementioned issues, raising awareness and accompanying communities to find practical solutions. In the frame of ADAEBio2, villages committees are supported in improving the local governance on pesticides use and developing practical solutions. These include, between others: the use of personal protection equipment through a community sharing system, the use of waste pits for a centralized and safer disposal of empty cans, the development of agroecological farming techniques. Besides these, CCL works on raising awareness on the use of pesticides among communities, especially children. Two activities are directly linked to awareness raising:

• Awareness sessions on pesticide issues at school and secondary-school level

These shows are composed of sketches of rural life and will allow, through laughter, to convey important messages concerning the impacts of pesticides on human and environmental health, or the most risky behaviours in terms of spraying techniques, storage and waste management, or even alternatives to pesticides. The shows are followed by discussions with the students, allowing them to re-engage with the concepts presented and put them into perspective with their daily lives. The objective is to train the next generation of farmers in the risks and issues raised by pesticides. 

Indicator: 8 schools (1000 children, 40% of girls) participate in the awareness sessions on pesticides 

• Support to the students for the organisation of village pesticide events in their communities

Following the presentation of the play, the project facilitates the creation of groups of motivated students in each middle school (approximately 6-7 per group), who are trained during a 5-day workshop bringing together all the groups in a district, then regularly for approximately 2 months, with the support of teachers, in order to develop their knowledge of pesticide issues and their skills in terms of theatrical interpretation and facilitation of games and quizzes. Then the students, in partnership with the project team, organize a village event on pesticides, during which they present excerpts from the play, and facilitate a quiz and games on pesticides. The young people are thus proactively involved in the preparation and implementation of awareness-raising actions aimed at their own communities. Their involvement also allows for the presentation of the play and facilitates exchanges during the village pesticide events in the ethnic languages of the beneficiary communities, improving ownership of the activity and long-term strengthening of the knowledge of young people and farmers.  

Indicator: The pesticide village events organised with the students beneficiate to 4500 villagers (50% of women).

These ToR directly relate to these 2 activities.

2 – Objectives and outputs of the consultancy

A – Specific objectives of the consultancy

1. Raise awareness among schoolchildren (primary and secondary) about the health and environmental risks linked to pesticide use, as well as available alternatives.

Note: The 8 schools of the following villages are targeted (list subject to modification):

1. La district: Hatnick, Ano
2. Xai district: Lak 32, Namone, Huanambhak
3. Beng district: Khon, Nagoua, Nahome

Each school has students from both primary and secondary levels.

2. Support the organization of community-level pesticide awareness events led by students, to raise awareness among communities about the health and environmental risks linked to pesticide use, as well as available alternatives.

Note: Groups of students from the 6 schools from Xai and Beng districts will lead these pesticide events. Each group is made of 6-7 students from lower-secondary level. The 3 groups of each district will be trained together during workshops at district level. Each group will then organize pesticide events in minimum 2 villages, leading to 12 pesticide events.

B – Specific outputs of the consultancy

Specific output 1

1. Theatrical and educational materials for the awareness sessions in schools are produced and adapted. This includes the finalization of script of the play. 
2. Awareness sessions are conducted in 8 villages.

Specific output 2

3. Theatrical and educational materials for the pesticide events at community level are produced and adapted. These include quizzes and games.
4. 2 workshops are organised, one in Xay district and one in Beng district, to train the students and their teachers on pesticide issues and theatrical/facilitation skills to prepare the pesticides events. 

Note: each workshop is organized at the district level and thus gathers the 3 groups of students and their teachers, coming from the 3 schools of the district.

5. The 6 groups of students are followed up in their preparation of the pesticides events, during the time between the workshops and the pesticide events, to make sure they are ready for leading the events.
6. The students are supported in the organization of 12 community-level pesticides awareness events.

3 – Deliverables and timeline

4 - Methodology

The methodology is detailed in the table below:

5 - Conditions

A total of 47 days is expected. This number of working days is indicative and based on the project budget prevision and will be discussed with the selected consultant.

Most of the work is supposed to be held in Oudomxai province, except some preparatory work. Trips between Vientiane and Oudomxai, as well as transportation within Oudomxai province, will be covered by CCL. DSA and accommodation costs should appear in the daily rate proposed by the consultant. 

6 - Selection process 

The CCL is looking for one national (Lao PDR) organization. 

The application file should include: 

• A Curriculum Vitae of the consultants involved.
• A technical proposal which includes the description of the method followed to complete each step of the consultancy.
• A financial proposal which details the consultancy fees (related to the number of working days required and every expense expected to be made to reach the objectives of the consultancy). The financial proposal should detail the expected costs for each of the 2 specific objectives of the consultancy.
• Any other documents developed by the applicant and that could be relevant to the topic of the consultancy (ex: theatrical or educational material on pesticides, etc.).

The following skills will be assets:

• Background and experience in facilitation of activities at school and community levels
• Experience in theatrical and drama performance
• Background and experience on pesticide related issues

For any question about this call for proposal, please contact, before October 6, 2025: Mr Dorian DEJACE, dorian.dejace@ccl-laos.org.

Candidates should send their application file per email by October 6, 2025 to:

• CCL Director, Ms. Manivone Vorachak, manivone@ccl-laos.org
• CCL program officer: Ms. Violaine Fourile, violaine.fourile@ccl-laos.org 
• CCL Project advisor for ADAEBIO2: Mr Dorian DEJACE, dorian.dejace@ccl-laos.org 

The consultant selected will be offered a consultancy contract signed with CCL.