Consultant To Develop Guide And Resources For Navigating The Regulatory Space Governing Access To Credit And Business Management In Indonesia.

Call for Consultant.

American Bar Association - Rule of Law Initiative

Legal Reform Fund

Job Title

Consultant ToDevelop Guideand Resources for Navigating the Regulatory Space Governing Access to Credit and Business Management in Indonesia.

Location

Home-based, Jakarta Special Province and other provinces (TBD)

Travel Requirements

Willingness to travel in country for research, in-person meetings, and trainings

Expected Start Date

Expected start date in September 2023

Closing Date

31 August 2023

About ABA ROLI:

For 30 years, the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) has worked in more than 100 countries to strengthen legal institutions, support legal professionals, foster respect for human rights, and advance public understanding of the law and citizen rights. In collaboration with government agencies, the judiciary, lawyers, bar associations, legislatures, and civil society, we design programs that are responsive to local needs and that prioritize sustainable solutions to pressing rule of law challenges.

For more information on ABA ROLI, please visit: https://www.americanbar.org/advocacy/rule_of_law/about.html.

About the Legal Reform Fund:

Launched in 2021 and funded by the U.S. State Department Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues (S/GWI), the Legal Reform Fund (LRF) program addresses barriers to women’s full and effective participation in economic life. LRF approaches women’s economic empowerment as an intersectional challenge, closely tied to other impediments to gender equality and focuses on five overlapping and intersectional pillars that affect women’s ability to fully and equitably participate in economic life: ability to own and manage property, ability to travel freely, access to legal and financial institutions, barriers to employment, and capacity to build credit.

From September 2021 to September 2022, ABA ROLI conducted an assessment of the enabling environment for women’s economic empowerment (WEE) in Indonesia. One of the priorities identified through the assessment is support for governmental, civil society, and legal professionals working with micro and small-sized businesses to access credit and institutions with a centralized guide and resources for navigating the regulatory space governing access to credit and business management.

As part of Indonesia’s medium-term and long-term development plans, the country has set national goals to promote the development of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises. Specific development milestones include increasing the registration of businesses still operating in the informal economy as well as the development of a strong Halal economy through promoting business certification. While the Indonesian government’s efforts to support businesses remain gender-neutral, the stakeholders interviewed, highlighted that women form most micro and small business owners and need additional support. This is backed by 2016 statistics that show 51% of small-sized enterprises in Indonesia identify as women-owned.

ABA ROLI’s assessment found that a major barrier to accessing credit is the low rate of formal registration on the part of women business owners and the inability to prove creditworthiness through a well-defined business model. Despite simplification of the business registration process through the Online Single Submission system, many women opt to not register their businesses due to a lack of information on business type classifications and legal requirements pre- and post-registration (e.g., tax obligations). The low rate of registration is further compounded by issues of accessibility related to literacy and access to technology. Beyond registration, obtaining the necessary business licenses, especially for those that provide food services (e.g., halal license and food sanitation certification), is crucial for small businesses and provides evidence to credit and loan-providing institutions of a strong business model.

Stakeholders also noted that women business owners need information and access to resources on other legal matters involving business management, including an understanding of contract law and intellectual property rights. In this regard, the development of resources such as a centralized guideto inform professionals aiding micro and small business owners on legal matterswas a common request made to ABA ROLI by governmental, civil society, and private sector actors.

Description of Consultancy

The consultant selected through this announcement, will work with ABA ROLI and relevant stakeholders, especially the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs, to develop a guide on legal and regulatory matters for professionals engaged with women micro and small business owners. The consultant will be responsible for the development of the guide and resource materials, as well as the development and delivery of training courses for key stakeholders who will be able to utilize the guide to support women businesses owners throughout Indonesia.

Responsibilities and Key Deliverables

• Work closely with LRF team in Indonesia and Washington D.C, as well as key program partners, to develop a guide for professionals engaged with women business owners so they can better support micro and small-sized business owners. The guide will cover relevant areas such as, but not limited to, understanding business type classifications, business incorporation, tax law, contract law, accessing relevant certifications, intellectual property. The guide will also contain guidance for professionals on the institutions and resources available to women business owners.
• Develop training materials for professionals engaged with women business owners so they can better support micro and small-sized business owners.
• Conduct at least three training sessions. Sessions will include action planning for participants in the on-going use of the guide.
• Prepare final handover report and training materials to be submitted to Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs, as well as other partners, for their on-going use and dissemination.
• Lead a working group of key stakeholders to review and revise the guide and training materials.

Duration and Budget

The consultancy should be completed in no more than twelve (12) months, from September 2023 to August 2024.

The maximum budget for this consultancy is $20,000 USD (not included activities-related travel costs). Please note that submissions will be evaluated based on relevant experience, as well as the competitiveness of proposed budgets.

Basic Qualifications

• Experience working in a professional environment with people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
• University degree in business law, gender studies, development studies, or relevant majors from an accredited college or university.
• Excellent writing ability (applicants encouraged but not required to provide sample work).
• Demonstrated abilities in training, mentoring, and coaching individuals, and groups.
• Experience developing training curriculum/modules related to SMEs.
• Fluent in English, both oral and written.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience working with local government officials and women SMEs owners is an advantage.
• Strong understanding of gender, social inclusion and/or economic empowerment.
• Strong knowledge of the work and regulations of the Ministry of SMEs and Cooperatives.
• Previous work experience in a not-for-profit, association, and/or NGO setting.

Interested and qualified individuals should submit their applications by email, including:

1. Cover Letter

2. Detailed Curriculum Vitae

3. Proposed budget

4.Optional: Writing sample

Please quote “LRF Consultant toDevelop Guide for Women Owned Small Businesses.”in the subject line. Applications should be emailed to[email protected]no later thanAugust 31, 2023.

The American Bar Association is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation to apply for a position with the American Bar Association, please call 312-988-5188.