Local Diaspora Consultant (CCN STTA)

CALL for CVs

USAID RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT AND TRADE ACTIVITY

Local Diaspora Consultant (CCN STTA)

Level of Effort: Up to 45 days

Period of Performance: On/about December 1, 2024 – March 31, 2025

Base of Operations: Thailand and Remote

Assignment Overview

The Activity seeks to gain a better understanding of the Burmese diaspora. Specifically, the Activity wants to understand the supply and demand sides of diaspora support by better understanding two things: (1) what the Burmese diaspora would be interested in doing and/or are doing to have a positive impact in Myanmar in a manner that aligns with USAID interests by being neither political nor contributing to the conflict, and (2) what type of apolitical financial and non-financial support that groups and/or communities in Myanmar are looking for from the diaspora. The Local Diaspora Consultant will leverage a better understanding of the supply and demand of diaspora support to provide recommendations that potentially increase the volume and pace of support from the Burmese diaspora to the groups and communities in Myanmar.

The ongoing armed conflict in Myanmar highlights the immediate need to help foster and promote investment outside of urban areas so that the economy can create sustainable non-urban employment. While the environment is challenging, the absence of significant investment in the recent past could create an opportunity for those with the knowledge and expertise to navigate the market and identify compelling investment and impact opportunities. Given the large and dynamic Burmese diaspora outside of Myanmar and the great need in Myanmar’s non-urban areas, the Activity seeks to harness the economic potential of Burmese communities outside the country itself, especially in Thailand and/or the United States, but potentially other countries such as Australia, Japan or Malaysia.

Tasks and Duties

This scope of work is for the Local Diaspora Consultant to work with the Diaspora Specialist to identify Burmese diaspora community groups, and to understand their level of interest in having a positive impact in Myanmar’s non-urban areas and their preferences in how they might have that impact, either financially or non-financially. In addition, the Local Diaspora Consultant will support to identify groups and/or communities in Myanmar that are supported by diaspora outside the country to understand what the diaspora is supporting now and what other support may be wanted. The Local Diaspora Consultant will have introductory meetings with the Activity, USAID, and the Lead Diaspora Specialist to understand the SOW and client expectations. The Local Diaspora Consultant will be provided with a letter of introduction from USAID and the USAID Responsible Investment and Trade Activity.

Task 1 – Conduct a landscape assessment of Burmese diaspora networks and programs

• The Local Diaspora Consultant will support the Diaspora Specialist to conduct a landscape assessment to assess the needs and access to finance of the existing diaspora networks and programs in Thailand (1.5 to 2 million Burmese) and the USA (322k Burmese, with the largest communities in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and Minneapolis), as well as other countries, such as Japan and Malaysia. The research should include literature reviews and primary data gathered through interviews (in-person and virtual) with key informants – a list of suggested key informants will be provided to the Local Diaspora Consultant and Diaspora Specialist – and should explore how diaspora groups engage with the current crisis in Myanmar; their level of interest in having a positive impact in Myanmar’s non-urban areas and their preferences in how they might have a positive impact through financial and non-financial means; how they mobilize funding; what their topics of focus are; who they partner/coordinate with in Myanmar; and what USAID could do to help increase the level and pace of support from the diaspora.
• The Local Diaspora Consultant must assist the Diaspora Specialist to identify and understand the most influential and impactful Burmese diaspora groups and networks, and the geographic and technical scope of the programs they offer.
• The assessment should determine whether diaspora groups would be interested in being part of a “Diaspora Alliance for Burma,” which would be a broader diaspora network supported by USAID.
• As needed, the Local Diaspora Consultant will translate interview questions and responses (Burmese to English and English to Burmese) or conduct key informant interviews in Burmese and report interview findings in English.
• The Local Diaspora Consultant will be responsible for outreach, scheduling, and coordination with key informants to secure and confirm interviews.
• The Local Diaspora Consultant will provide progress updates to the Diaspora Specialist who will debrief the Private Sector Director on progress.

Task 2 – Conduct a needs assessment of groups and/or communities in Myanmar that desire support from the Burmese Diaspora

• The Local Diaspora Consultant will support the Diaspora Specialist to conduct a needs assessment of groups and communities that desire support from the Burmese diaspora to understand (1) what apolitical activities in Myanmar are currently being supported by diaspora; (2) what, if any, other apolitical activities local groups and communities would like to have supported by diaspora; (3) how the local groups and communities receive or could receive support; and (4) what USAID could do to help increase the level and pace of support from the diaspora. The Local Diaspora Consultant will assist to identify and assess the demand for both financial and non-financial support.
• The Local Diaspora Consultant must assist the Diaspora Specialist to identify and understand the most effective and impactful apolitical activities in Myanmar that the Burmese diaspora support.
• As needed, the Local Diaspora Consultant will translate interview questions and responses (Burmese to English and Burmese to English) or conduct key informant interviews in Burmese and report interview findings in English.
• The Local Diaspora Consultant will be responsible for outreach, scheduling, and coordination with key informants to secure and confirm interviews.
• The Local Diaspora Consultant will provide progress updates to the Diaspora Specialist who will debrief the Private Sector Director on progress.

Task 3 – Write report detailing recommendations on how best to harness the economic potential of the Burmese diaspora

• The Local Diaspora Consultant will perform data entry, findings analysis, and other relevant tasks to support the Diaspora Specialist to write a report that outlines the results of Task 1, 2, and 3, and includes recommendations for both financial and non-financial interventions, as well as other potential interventions discovered during the landscape assessment that USAID/Burma might support that potentially increase the volume and pace of support from the Burmese diaspora to the groups and communities in Myanmar.
• The Local Diaspora Consultant will provide input to the Diaspora Specialist to deliver a proposed outline for the report to the Private Sector Director for review and approval in advance.

Reporting

Reports to the Private Sector Director or his/her designee.

Qualifications

• B.A. or B.S. degree required; A master’s degree in business administration, economics, development, or other related fields preferred.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in migration, qualitative research and social development planning and implementation, including international development experience. Additional experience in diaspora finance is a plus.
• Network linkages or past working experience with diaspora groups in Thailand and the United States, and apolitical civil society organizations in Myanmar is a must.
• Experience in research, analyzing and synthesizing data, writing reports is highly desirable.
• Experience in Southeast Asia and Myanmar.
• Ability to work efficiently and deliver high-quality deliverables within the time allocated.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills and writing ability in English and Burmese. Ability to communicate in other Myanmar ethnic languages is a plus.
• Experience working with USAID is a plus.

Work Procedures

The Local Diaspora Consultant will be provided with further detailed instructions that outline DAI’s work procedures, which they will be required to follow, including:

• Utilizing DAI’s External Collaboration site on SharePoint daily for all working and final documents, including background reference materials, interview notes, and other materials used in the work of completing assignments.
• Documents must adhere to ADS 501 ADS Style and Format Guide, particularly in the sourcing/referencing in footnotes primary and secondary reference materials.
• Documents must be saved using DAI’s file naming procedures.

Application Instructions

Applicants should submit their CVs via the link below and are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, as interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis. Due to the volume of applications that we receive and the urgency to fill positions, only shortlisted applicants will receive notifications on the next steps.