UNDP Jobs - 48255- International Consultant to Support the Formulatio

International Consultant to Support the Formulation of 8th NSEDP(2016-2020) and Linkage with the Round Table Process

Location :

Vientiane, LAO PDR

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

15-Aug-2014

Application Deadline :

28-Jul-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

60 working days over the period of four months (mid-Aug to mid-

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

60 working days over the period of four months (mid-Aug to mid-

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

UNDP has provided support to the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) of Lao PDR through a consolidated programme called the MPI Programme. The objective is to support the government in the implementation of the 7th NSEDP towards the achievement of the MDGs and Lao PDR’s graduation from the least developed country status, primarily through strengthening its capacity in planning, implementation, financing, monitoring and evaluation of the 7th NSEDP in Lao PDR. The programme consists of four components which support capacity strengthening of the Lao Government, namely; 1) consultative planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting (Department of Planning); 2) effective monitoring and evaluation via LaoInfo (Lao Statistics Bureau); 3) strengthening the Round Table Process (Department of International Cooperation); and 4) advancing Human Development through policy-informing research (National Economic Research Institute)

The National Socio-Economic Development Plan (NSEDP) is the Government’s overarching framework for all national and international development partners’ development support in Lao PDR. The 7th NSEDP for 2011-2015 which focuses on achieving MDGs and poverty reduction targets will come to an end in 2015. The government through the MPI is now preparing the 8th NSEDP 2016-2020 which has the overarching objective of LDC graduation and, in terms of format, is moving away from an output-based planning to a more boarder perspective and outcome-based approach for the 8th NSEDP. In addition, the MPI is in the process of developing a long term national development strategy from 2016-2025 and to set out a vision to 2030. These two documents will be essential key references for all stakeholders, including development partners to understand the national development priorities and focus. In November 2014, the government will organise the annual Round Table Implementation Meeting (RTIM) with the development partners. Since a review of the 7th NSEDP annual plan implementation, as well as provide a current update of the preparation for the next five year plan (8th NSEDP) will be tabled at the RTIM, the conceptual and operational linkage between the two important exercises (formulation of 8th NSEDP and RTIM) is critical.

In this regard, UNDP is seeking a qualified international consultant to support the co-chairs of the RTIM: Department of Planning, Ministry of Planning and Investment and UNDP in this important exercise to ensure an effective formulation process and high quality Plan content, in view of the upcoming RTIM.

Duties and Responsibilities

The key objective of this assignment is to assist the Department of Planning (DOP), Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), in particular to the NSEDP drafting team in ensuring an effective formulation process of the outcome-based plan, providing technical inputs and advice to the Plan and to the consultation process. The ultimate result is for the Government to achieve a high quality 8th NSEDP in terms of process, structure and content.

Scope of work:

The consultant will provide technical guidance and advisory support to DoP/MPI by fulfilling the following tasks:

Guide definition and refinement of plan objectives and outcomes to better apply the results based management concept or ensure a logical/result planning framework;
Assist DoP to ensure consistency between the 8th NSEDP and the national long term development strategy (2016-2025) as well as the vision 2030 currently developed by the National Economic Research Institute (NERI);
Liaise with the line ministries and other public bodies to ensure consistency between national and sector policy and the plan objectives and outcomes, advice on ensuring the process for managing multi line ministries’ ‘ownership’ of outcomes;
Assist DoP to incorporate comments/inputs received from development partner, line ministries, local authorities and relevant stakeholders on drafts of the 8th NSEDP;
Advise on ongoing dialogue and consultation process/procedures with development partners and other stakeholders in terms of concerns or areas of interest raised;
Review and suggest prioritised actions which were identified in recent Technical Consultations in the UK (7-15 June 2014) and set out in more detailed proposals for their possible implementation in Lao PDR in general and in the context of the 8th NSEDP;
Develop a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework for the 8th NSEDP;
Assist DoP in developing the 8th NSEDP costing through liaison with the Ministry of Finance (MoF) on financial resources available for actions under the Plan;
Guide DoP on defining arrangements for responsibility for, and management of, outcomes which span the areas of purview of more than one line ministry, including providing guidance and training for line ministries on outcome monitoring and concept;
Assist DoP in building upon the recommendations and key findings from the Mid Term Review and lesson learnt from the implementation of the 7th NSEDP and absorbing inputs/findings from relevant policy research to inform the evidence-based and quality of the 8th NSEDP, especially those related to macro-economic stability, quality and inclusive growth, poverty reduction, regional integration, etc;
Assess the needs and provide on-the- job training and any capacity building activities for the NSEDP drafting team in order to enhance their capacity in producing the quality plan and more effective process;
Liaise with TAs or technical personnel from other development partners working with DoP/MPI to ensure effective and coordinated support to the government;
Revise and finalize NSEDP manual;

In addition, the consultant will provide technical support to UNDP at the following tasks:

Provide guidance on how the aspects of post 2015 discussions (e.g. Post MDG, SDGs) and LDC graduation can be adequately addressed and integrated in the 8th NSEDP and the long term development strategy;
Provide technical support to ensure effective coordination and linkages between the NSEDP formulation and the Round Table Process management. Specifically, provide substantive inputs for the RTIM’s preparation, including reviewing the RTIM Background Document, presentations on the NSEDP, and relevant documents needing the NSEDP related information; and
Provide support to the UN RC/UNDP RR in facilitating “One UN position” in the 8th NSEDP.

Competencies

Functional competencies:

Shares knowledge and experience;
Plan and prioritizes work activities to meet organizational goals.;
Builds and sustains relationships with key constituents (international/external/bilateral/ multilateral/public/private/civil society);
Conceptualizes and analyzes problems to identify key issues, underlying problems, and how they relate;
Demonstrates excellent and effective written and oral communication skills;
Demonstrate respect to knowledge and culture and religion in a multidisciplinary working environment;
Applies the required depth and breadth of knowledge and expertise to meet job demands;
Uses information technology effectively as a tools and resource;
Demonstrated flexibility and adaptability in taking on this type of consultancy;
Good interpersonal skill as well strong written and verbal communication skills.

.Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment .

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualification:

Post graduated degree in Economics or another relevant discipline.

Experience:

A minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in the field of development, working with national development planning processes including Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers, monitoring and evaluation at the national and sub-national levels. Experience in Lao PDR or in a similar country context in related issues is an asset;
Substantive experience in facilitating government-led ODA coordination in development planning, partnership building for development and resource coordination and integrating ODA into planning and budgeting in developing countries;
Extensive knowledge of and proven experience in managing the Aid Coordination mechanism, such as the Round Table Process or similar process is a plus;
An in-depth understanding of the LDC graduation criteria and the ongoing discussion of Post 2015 agenda will be an asset;
Extensive experience in research and analysis, reviewing and conducting assessment, and developing recommendations to inform plan formulation and implementation;
Extensive experience and knowledge in change management and mentoring support;
Prior experience with UNDP/UN agencies or international organizations, particularly in developing countries is an asset.

Languages:

Excellent Command of written and Spoken English.

Requirements for submission of proposals:

All interested and qualified candidates should apply on-line using the following links:

UNDP Lao PDR Country Office website at http://www.la.undp.org/content/lao_pdr/en/home/operations/jobs/ or
UNDP Jobs at http://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_jobs.cfm.
In order to make submission please read the attached relevant documents which are also available on our web-site at
http://www.la.undp.org/content/lao_pdr/en/home/operations/jobs/:
TOR (Annex I);
Individual Contract & General Terms and Conditions (Annex II);
Offeror’s Letter to UNDP (Annex III);
Reimbursable Loan Agreement (for a consultant assigned by a firm) & General Conditions (Annex IV).

Documents to be included when submitting the proposals:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

Technical Proposal as per Annex III “Offeror’s Letter to UNDP”

Explaining why you are the most suitable for the work;
Providing a brief methodology on how they will approach and conduct the work including the work schedule for the delivery of outputs/deliverable;
CV including past experience in similar project and contact reference of at least 3 references for whom you have rendered preferably the similar service.

Financial proposal:

Detailed financial proposal: Lump sum offer with clear cost breakdown against each deliverable.

Note:

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in installments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including travel, per diems, and number of anticipated working days). All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. UNDP accept travel costs not exceeding of an economy class air ticket.

Instructions for on-line submissions:

Step 1: Please prepare all required documents electronically;
Step 2: Combine all documents in ONE SINGLE FILE (preferably in PDF however Word format can be also accepted) and upload to the UNDP Jobs using the links above;
Step 3: After that you will receive an auto reply from the UNDP jobs if your offer is received successfully.

Incomplete proposals or proposals received after the deadline will be rejected.

Please kindly refer to the Terms of Reference Annex I for detailed information on:

Project’s background;
Scope of work and Responsibilities;
Timeframe for the work;
Deliverables;
Requirements for Experience and Qualifications.

Evaluation of Proposals:

Cumulative analysis: The award of the contract will be made to a consultant who offer has been evaluated and determined as:

Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria: Technical Criteria weight; [0.7] ; Financial Criteria weight; [0.3].

Only a consultant obtaining a minimum of 50 points in the technical rating would be considered for the financial evaluation.

Note: Any request for clarification must be sent in writing to the following e-mail:latsany.phakdisoth@undp.org.

UNDP Lao PDR will respond in writing by standard electronic mail and will send written copies of the response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all consultants.

The copies of the response will be also placed on our web-site at: http://www.la.undp.org/content/lao_pdr/en/home/operations/jobs/and linked to the current Procurement Notice.

All interested candidates are encouraged to visit the above web-site for updates.

Please note that only short-listed candidates will be notified.

Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

For more detailed information about UNDP Lao PDR please visit our website at http://www.la.undp.org/lao_pdr/en/home.html.