Background

Candidates who previously applied need not re-apply.

Since 2009 PEI has assisted DESIA by contributing to the development of financial management procedures, general technical guidelines such as IEE/EIA report writing guidelines, IEE/EIA reviewing and monitoring procedural guidelines, and capacity building. Phase II of PEI that commenced in 2012 continues to support DESIA to improve effectiveness of ESIA system, particularly for the agriculture and forestry plantation sector, as a safeguard for sustainable and climate-resilient development. One of the focus areas of the PEI-Output 3 work is to improve the process of public involvement in EIA process. In 2013, PEI has trained around 170 representatives of environmental authorities, mass organizations and a few NGOs from 11 provinces in applying Public Involvement (PI) Guidelines in EIA process.

The PEI DESIA (Output 3) aims to hire a full-time six months National Consultant to conduct PI baseline study and deliver training on PI to DESIA staff with the aim to support:

  • The revision of the current PI Guideline in the IEE/EIA Process;
  • identification of priority areas and activities for further awareness raising and capacity development in effective public involvement in EIA, supported by both MONRE DESIA and PEI;
  • Identification of the criteria and indicators for monitoring and evaluation of the PI capacity development efforts supported by DESIA, MONRE; and
  • SEtting the reference starting point for monitoring and evaluating the results and effectiveness of PI capacity development efforts supported by DESIA, MONRE.

The Local Consultant will be located within DESIA for the duration of his/her contract with travel to selected provinces.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of work and Responsibility

This is a full-time six month consultancy service. Under supervision of the Director of DESIA, Project Manager, PEI Technical Advisors (TAs) and in cooperation with the selected DESIA staff, the Local Consultant will perform the following tasks:

  • Desk review of documents related to Lao legal and institutional context for PI (PI Guideline and other related documents (EIA / IEE Ministerial Instructions), , as well as international practices in applying PI in EIA process;
  • Suggesting criteria and indicators for monitoring and evaluation of PI in EIA results and effectiveness (based on the principles of good practice PI);
  • Lead on supporting the preparation and presenting the research design of the PI study to DESIA. This would entail identifying the scope of the study include but not exhaustive the: types (sectors and investors: domestic, foreign); the number of investment projects for representative samples; focus areas; aspects of PI in EIA and etc;
  • Work closely with DESIA, PEI TAs and PEI-ESIA international expert in preparing questionnaires targeting key stakeholders (project owner, environment authorities at all levels, (affected) public representatives including a wide range of villagers, line ministries, mass organizations andNGOs;
  • Field visits and conduct the study;
  • Drafting the baseline study report;
  • Consulting with key stakeholders;
  • Development of the final study including revised (if needed) criteria / indicators of PI in EIA monitoring and evaluation;
  • Presentation of the study results to key stakeholders (final workshop / presentation);
  • Designing and delivering one or two days training on PI to DESIA staff.
  • Other duties as required.

The Local Consultant will closely cooperate and consult with select staff from the DESIA, Center for Information and Public Relation.

Competencies

Functional competencies:

  • Shares knowledge and experience;
  • Plan and prioritizes work activities to meet organizational goals;
  • Builds and sustains relationships with key stakeholder groups and project team;
  • 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.

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 Qualifications:

  • Graduate/post graduate from any subject related to the environmental and social sciences, natural resources, international/national relations, and other related fields.

Years of experience:

  • At least 6 years and extensive experience in public involvement, environmental and social impact assessment, and environmental policy and management;
  • At least 5 year experience in conducting training, baseline study related to public involvement and environmental policy;
  • Extensive knowledge of project cycle management
  • Strong interpersonal skills with ability to establish and maintain effective work relationships with people of different national and cultural backgrounds;
  • Proven knowledge of, and experience working with ESIAs and with investment management;
  • Experience working with international organizations;
  • Proven excellent coordination skills, with ability to work under pressure and handle multiple activities;
  • Knowledge of UNEP, UNDP and the UN system, including the UN common country programming process is an advantage;
  • Full computer literacy.

Language:

  • Fluency in spoken and written English is essential.

Other:

  • Ability to travel on demand.

Requirements for submission of proposals: 

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

In order to make submission please read the attached relevant documents which are also avalable 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.

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: chitlatda.keomuongchanh@und.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.