Hiring a consultant to support handicraft product design and development, strengthen the supply chain, expand market development, and enhance the display and marketing of products crafted by artisans from Kohistan.

TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR)

Introduction/ Background

Pak Mission Society (PMS) is a national relief and development, non-governmental, and not-for-profit organization established in 2004 and registered on 13th February 2008 under the Societies Registration Act 1860. Since its establishment, PMS has reached and served unreached and underprivileged communities regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, class, religion, and social background. PMS has a triannual Memorandum of Understanding, also referred to as NOC from the Economic Affairs Division (EAD), allowing work status until March 2026. Moreover, PMS has secured three years’ membership with the Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy (PCP) after completing its qualifying partnership rounds.

The Building Resilient Kohistan Project (BRKP) is an integrated development initiative aimed at strengthening the socio-economic resilience of communities in Lower Kohistan and Kolai-Palas Kohistan. A key component of the project focuses on promoting sustainable livelihoods for women through skills development and improved market access for traditional crafts and handmade products.

PMS aims to connect artisans from Kohistan with potential markets by showcasing and selling products sourced from the project district. To lead this initiative, PMS intends to hire a female consultant who will oversee product design, quality assurance, branding, market alignment, artisan capacity building, supply chain management, and market linkages. The consultant will be key in ensuring the long-term sustainability of the initiative by improving product competitiveness and market appeal.

Objectives

The objective is to strengthen the design quality, appeal, and market readiness of artisan products developed by women in Kohistan. The consultant will ensure that products are technically sound and aligned with current market trends, culturally authentic and aesthetically refined, priced appropriately, and ready for display and sale at different markets/shops and online platforms.

Scope of Work

The consultant will provide end-to-end technical assistance, from community-level co-creation to supply chain, market-level display, and branding. Key responsibilities include:

A. Product Design and Development

• Review existing product lines developed during skill training and identify design gaps.
• Co-create new product lines aligned with market segments: textiles, accessories, home décor, and other handmade goods.
• Provide technical guidance on color schemes, stitching, embellishment, material selection, finish, and packaging.
• Assist in preparing seasonal or themed collections for display.

B. Quality Control

• Develop a context-specific quality control manual or checklist.
• Conduct training for artisans and focal persons from Kohistan on basic QC techniques and peer review methods.
• Ensure products meet minimum acceptable standards for stitching, finishing, material strength, and visual appeal.

C. Capacity Building

• Conduct hands-on training workshops in districts Kollai Pallas Kohistan, and Lower Kohistan.
• Cover topics including color theory and combination, material sourcing, stitching techniques, fine detailing, and finishing.
• Build skills for custom orders, product consistency, and batch-level quality production.
• Encourage peer mentoring and build a cadre of master artisans for sustainability.

D. Market Trend Analysis

• Conduct physical or virtual market benchmarking to assess trends in:
• Design and aesthetics
• Color and material preferences
• Pricing and packaging
• Consumer behavior (targeting tourists, urban customers, and online buyers)
• Document findings and integrate insights into the design portfolio.
• Advise on photography, styling, and packaging for e-commerce.
• Collaborate with the PMS Communications team for product photography, social media promotion, and online sales readiness.

Timeframe

• Contract Duration: 3 Months
• Start Date: February 01 , 2026
• End Date: April 30, 2026
• Field Travel: Regular visits to Kohistan, and markets in cities as needed.

Deliverables

Reporting and coordination

The consultant will report to the Project Manager, BRKP, and Program lead Islamabad. She will work closely with:

• Program team
• MEAL team in Rapid Market assessment process
• The PMS Communications Team
• Local artisan and their focal Persons
• Interior designer and digital marketing teams

Bi-weekly written updates and monthly debriefs will be required.

Eligibility Criteria

A. Technical proposal

Total Technical Score | | 70 Points

Minimum qualifying score: 50/70 (Only proposals meeting this threshold will proceed to financial evaluation).

B. Financial Evaluation (30 Points)

Desired Competencies, Technical Background, and Experience

Gender Requirement
Female consultant (mandatory), due to cultural sensitivities and direct engagement with women artisans in the target communities.

Educational Background

• Degree or professional diploma in Product Design, Textile Design, Fashion Design, Handicrafts, or a closely related discipline.
• Formal or informal certification in artisan-based value chains, creative industries, or design entrepreneurship will be considered an added advantage.

Professional Experience

• Minimum 3–5 years of progressively responsible experience working with artisan communities, preferably women-led groups, in product design, product development, merchandising, or quality assurance.
• Demonstrated experience in co-creating market-oriented products while preserving cultural authenticity and traditional craftsmanship.
• Prior experience working in rural, conservative, or remote contexts (preferably KP, Kohistan, or similar settings) is highly desirable.

Technical Competencies

• Strong practical expertise in handicraft product design, including textiles, accessories, home décor, and handmade consumer goods.
• Proven ability in quality control systems, including development of simple, context-appropriate QC checklists or manuals for artisan use.
• Solid understanding of materials, color theory, finishing techniques, durability standards, and packaging suitable for local and urban markets.
• Ability to integrate market trends, pricing considerations, and consumer preferences into product design and refinement.

Training & Capacity Building Skills

• Demonstrated ability to design and deliver hands-on, participatory training for women artisans with limited formal education.
• Strong facilitation skills with an emphasis on learning-by-doing, peer mentoring, and practical demonstrations.
• Experience in developing simple training manuals, visual guides, and job aids in Urdu (or bilingual formats).

Market & Business Orientation

• Understanding of artisan value chains, supply-side constraints, and market access challenges.
• Experience with market linkage development, exhibitions, retail displays, or online/digital marketplaces is an asset.
• Familiarity with visual merchandising, branding, and product presentation for shops, fairs, and online platforms.

Communication & Reporting Skills

• Strong analytical and documentation skills with the ability to produce clear, concise, and high-quality reports.
• Ability to document processes, training outcomes, success stories, and product portfolios for donor and programmatic reporting.

Language & Cultural Competence

• Fluency in Urdu (mandatory).
• Understanding of local languages and cultural norms of Kohistan will be considered a strong advantage.

Mobility & Work Environment

• Willingness and ability to travel frequently to Kohistan and other relevant market locations.
• Comfortable working in field-based, remote, and low-resource environments with flexibility and cultural sensitivity.

Technical Proposal

The applicant must submit the following document with the technical proposal.

• Company profile/consultant profile including the proof of relevant experiences
• CV of proposed staff who will lead the assignment and involved in assignment.
• Plan of action for the proposed assignment
• Work plan for the proposed assignment.
• Sample road map of previously completed similar assignments.

Financial Proposal

• Proposed financial offer with a complete breakdown of activities.
• The financial proposal must be submitted in PKR inclusive of all applicable taxes.

How to Apply

Interested individual consultants/ consulting firms are invited to submit their technical and financial proposals in sealed envelopes, clearly marked “Hiring a consultant to support handicraft product design and development, strengthen the supply chain, expand market development, and enhance the display and marketing of products crafted by artisans from Kohistan.”, via courier service or by hand to House No. 333, Street 29, Sector G14/4, Islamabad, Pakistan on or before 21th January 2026 before the close of business (COB).

Submissions through email and late submissions will not be entertained. For inquiries, please contact the Procurement Committee through email at imran.rehman@pakmissionsociety.org or by phone at +92-51-8446166.