RFPs: Firm/ Institute supporting Thailand Competitiveness Study

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is seeking qualified firms or institutions to conduct an economy-wide competitiveness study in Thailand to address productivity challenges and support sustainable economic transformation. The five-month assignment will generate evidence-based policy recommendations, strategic interventions, and knowledge products that strengthen competitiveness, innovation, governance, and Thailand’s OECD accession agenda.

UNDP Economy-Wide Competitiveness Study for Thailand Overview

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is inviting qualified consulting firms, research institutions, and organizations to undertake an economy-wide competitiveness study in Thailand. The study aims to identify the structural factors affecting productivity, innovation, competition, and economic growth while recommending practical reforms that support long-term sustainable development.

Thailand has achieved upper-middle-income status through decades of economic growth. However, slowing productivity, demographic ageing, evolving global markets, and structural economic challenges have increased the need for reforms that improve innovation, business competitiveness, digital transformation, and investment.

The assignment supports Thailand’s national development priorities and complements ongoing initiatives led by the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), Thailand Policy Lab (TP Lab), the Tiger Landscape Investment Facility, and the Regional Building Opportunities for Leadership in Development (BOLD) Programme.

Purpose

The study aims to:

• Examine the causes of Thailand’s productivity slowdown beyond firm-size factors.
• Identify structural barriers affecting competitiveness and economic transformation.
• Promote innovation, competition, and business dynamism.
• Recommend evidence-based policy reforms.
• Support sustainable productivity growth.
• Strengthen governance and regulatory efficiency.
• Contribute to Thailand’s OECD accession agenda.
• Produce practical policy recommendations for government decision-makers.

Focus Areas

The assignment focuses on several strategic areas of economic competitiveness.

Productivity and Economic Transformation

The study will examine:

• Productivity growth
• Structural transformation
• Industrial competitiveness
• Economic diversification
• Sustainable economic development

Innovation and Business Competitiveness

Key areas include:

• Innovation ecosystems
• Technology adoption
• Digital transformation
• Firm dynamism
• Knowledge diffusion
• Private sector competitiveness

Regulatory and Governance Reform

The assignment will assess:

• Regulatory quality
• Governance systems
• Market competition
• Business environment
• Institutional effectiveness
• Transparency and accountability

SME and MSME Development

The study will explore:

• MSME productivity
• Enterprise development
• Business growth
• Investment promotion
• Access to innovation
• Competitiveness of small businesses

Policy and Institutional Analysis

The programme will also address:

• Public policy effectiveness
• Economic governance
• OECD accession priorities
• Strategic reform pathways
• Institutional coordination

Assignment Duration

The consultancy will be implemented over:

• Duration: Five months
• Implementation Period: August 2026 – December 2026

Scope of Work

The selected contractor will be responsible for:

• Developing an inception plan.
• Conducting evidence-based productivity diagnostics.
• Analysing structural, governance, market, and institutional constraints.
• Organizing stakeholder consultations.
• Facilitating advisory sessions.
• Developing strategic policy interventions.
• Preparing implementation roadmaps.
• Producing policy briefs and recommendations.
• Preparing analytical reports.
• Delivering knowledge products in both Thai and English.

Who is Eligible?

Eligible applicants include:

• Consulting firms
• Research institutions
• Policy research organizations
• Think tanks
• Economic consulting organizations
• Other qualified institutions

Applicants should demonstrate:

• At least 10 years of experience in:
  • Productivity analysis
  • Economic policy
  • Industrial transformation
  • Private sector development
  • MSME development
  • Governance reform
  • Similar analytical assignments
• At least 5 years of experience in:
  • Research
  • Stakeholder consultation
  • Facilitation
  • Policy analysis
  • Preparation of analytical reports and policy outputs

Additional advantages include experience working with:

• Government agencies
• Development partners
• Academic institutions
• Think tanks
• Private sector organizations
• Organizations operating in Thailand or the broader region

Team Requirements

The proposed team should include:

• At least one Project Manager
• At least two Project Assistants
• Additional technical experts as required to successfully deliver the assignment

Application Process

Interested firms or institutions should:

• Review the assignment requirements.
• Confirm organizational eligibility.
• Assemble a qualified multidisciplinary project team.
• Prepare a technical proposal outlining methodology, work plan, and expertise.
• Prepare a financial proposal as required.
• Submit the application according to the UNDP procurement guidelines.

How the Assignment Works (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Review the Terms of Reference

Understand the objectives, deliverables, evaluation criteria, and project timeline.

Step 2: Confirm Eligibility

Ensure the organization satisfies the required experience and team composition requirements.

Step 3: Prepare the Project Team

Assemble experts with experience in:

• Economic policy
• Productivity
• Governance
• Industrial development
• Research
• Stakeholder engagement

Step 4: Develop the Proposal

Prepare a proposal describing:

• Technical methodology
• Research framework
• Work plan
• Stakeholder consultation strategy
• Expected outputs
• Project management approach

Step 5: Submit the Application

Complete the submission following UNDP procurement procedures and required documentation.

Step 6: Evaluation

Applications will be assessed based on:

• Organizational experience
• Technical expertise
• Proposed methodology
• Team qualifications
• Ability to deliver high-quality policy outputs

Step 7: Project Implementation

The selected contractor will implement the study between August and December 2026, working closely with TP Lab, NESDC, and the UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub.

Why It Matters

This assignment contributes to:

• Improving Thailand’s long-term productivity.
• Supporting sustainable economic transformation.
• Enhancing innovation and competitiveness.
• Strengthening MSME development.
• Improving governance and regulatory quality.
• Supporting Thailand’s OECD accession.
• Creating evidence-based public policy.
• Building a more competitive and resilient economy.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

• Demonstrating insufficient organizational experience.
• Proposing a team that does not meet the required expertise.
• Submitting incomplete technical or financial proposals.
• Providing weak research methodologies.
• Failing to demonstrate knowledge of Thailand’s economic context.
• Ignoring stakeholder consultation requirements.
• Missing required supporting documentation.

Tips for a Strong Application

To improve the quality of your proposal:

• Demonstrate extensive experience in economic policy and productivity research.
• Present a clear and evidence-based analytical methodology.
• Highlight previous work with governments, development agencies, or international organizations.
• Include experts with complementary technical skills.
• Clearly explain stakeholder engagement and consultation plans.
• Show familiarity with Thailand’s economic reform agenda.
• Present practical and implementable policy recommendations.
• Ensure all proposal documents are complete and professionally prepared.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Who can apply for this UNDP assignment?

Qualified consulting firms, research institutions, think tanks, and other organizations with relevant expertise in economic policy, productivity, governance, and industrial development may apply.

2. What is the main objective of the study?

The study aims to identify structural barriers affecting Thailand’s productivity and competitiveness while recommending evidence-based reforms that support sustainable economic transformation.

3. How long will the assignment last?

The consultancy will run for five months, from August 2026 to December 2026.

4. What experience is required?

Applicants should have at least 10 years of relevant organizational experience and 5 years of experience in research, stakeholder engagement, and policy analysis.

5. What deliverables are expected?

The contractor will prepare productivity diagnostics, policy recommendations, stakeholder consultation outputs, strategic interventions, implementation pathways, analytical reports, and bilingual knowledge products.

6. What team composition is required?

The proposed team must include at least one Project Manager and two Project Assistants, supported by relevant technical experts.

7. Why is this assignment important?

The study will provide evidence-based recommendations that strengthen Thailand’s competitiveness, improve productivity, support innovation, enhance governance, and contribute to sustainable economic growth and OECD accession.

Conclusion

The UNDP Economy-Wide Competitiveness Study for Thailand offers an important opportunity for experienced consulting firms and research institutions to contribute to Thailand’s long-term economic transformation. By producing evidence-based analysis, practical policy recommendations, and strategic reform pathways, the assignment will help address productivity challenges while supporting innovation, governance reform, business competitiveness, and sustainable development.

Through collaboration with UNDP, NESDC, and Thailand Policy Lab, the selected contractor will play a key role in shaping future economic policies that strengthen Thailand’s competitiveness and resilience in an evolving global economy.