Background

The Sector Working Group mechanism co-chaired by Government and Development Partners (DPs) was established in 2006. Currently, the ten Sector Working Groups (SWGs) are the key coordination platforms for each thematic area of development in Lao PDR’s Round Table Process (please refer to Annex 1 for core functions of SWGs). The groups serve as discussion forums, aim to build consensus on development priorities, and make development cooperation more effective, as set out in the Vientiane Declaration of 2015. A relevant Ministry chairs each group while development partners, based on their expertise, serve as co-chairs. The Department for International Cooperation in the Ministry of Planning and Investment acts as an overall coordinating agency. The Department also manages the meetings of SWG Chairs and Co-Chairs.

In 2015, the Government of Lao PDR commissioned an independent review of the Round Table Process including the Sector Working Group mechanism. Some key highlights from the 2015 review are:

The review of the Round Table Process and SWGs conducted in 2015 concludes that RTP including SWG mechanism is unique compared to neighboring countries in terms of design and scope. No other countries in the region has such a comprehensive development partners’ coordination process. Yet, its implementation and effectiveness can be greatly improved, especially considering the context of a number of important ongoing changes in Lao PDR.

• Firstly, the introduction of the Sustainable Development Goals, which mark a shift in focus from aiding poor countries to a focus on sustainable, inclusive economic development and the ability of countries to address social challenges through effective partnerships.
• Secondly, the importance of traditional donors in total development financing in Lao PDR has reduced.
• Thirdly, the round table process has seen gradual improvements over the last five years. However, in order to remain relevant and improve effectiveness, it will need to evolve further.

The round table process is seen by most stakeholders as useful in bringing together Government and development partners on a regular basis, promoting connections, exchanging information, providing a platform for discussion, and enabling networking. It is seen as a coordinating platform to develop common understanding on development issues. Some also see it as a platform to express support for (or disagreement with) development plans and proposed actions. The process needs more clarity on what it is about and have an increased focus, which needs to move beyond the national five-year plan to more specific development coordination. Partners would like to increase the relevance of the coordination process by making it more inclusive in practice and finding ways to better engage South-South cooperation partners, the private sector and civil society organizations. Sector working groups are seen as the appropriate venue for more substantive discussion of development policies and implementation. Partners would like to see increased efficiency and effectiveness of the resources used in the round table process. A more predictable process would dramatically increase the efficiency of the RTP. Meetings in general need to become more outcome focused and less formal.

The evolution of the round table process over the last 15 years going through various stages

• from a partnership for resource mobilization (2001-2005), through
• a partnership to advocate for important issues (2006-2010),
• to a partnership for knowledge sharing (2011-2015), needs to be continued.

The vision is to develop the round table into a broader platform over the next 15 years.

• From round table process to effective development partnerships is the theme for 2016-2025, and
• Finally achieving the Agenda 2030 in the period 2025-2030.

In this way, the process builds on earlier successes while remaining relevant in a changing world.

During the Round Table Implementation Meeting in Luang Prabang, in November 2019 several recommendations were made to improve the SWGs.   The Prime Minister’s Instructions dated 31 July 2020 tasked all SWGs to improve their data collection and use as well as tasked each of the respective SWGs with specific items.

During the High-Level Round Table Meeting of 2021 and as a result of the desk review of the mid-term review of the Vientiane Declaration Country Action Plan (2016-2025), one of the key recommendations is to conduct a review of the existing mechanism of the Sector Working Groups as their focus and utility was varied.  Some had taken on the recommendations from 2015, while others convened on an ad hoc basis, often just before the High-Level Round Table Meeting to be able to report a meeting. 

OBJECTIVE

The Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Planning and Investment in cooperation with UNDP plans to take stock of what has been achieved so far, where challenges remain and, most importantly of all, to develop recommendations on how to strengthen the benefits from SWGs for government and DPs and their contribution to Lao’s social and economic development. In this regard, an international consultant and national consultant will be recruited to work with a national consultant to carry out the review and assessment of SWG mechanism in Lao PDR

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of UNDP with close partnership with the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), the scope of this consultancy is to conduct desk review, and refine specific review and assessment methodology, including data collection methods – including interview of individual and multi-stakeholder consultations – and review/assessment tools. The national consultant will need to work closely with DIC/MPI, UNDP, and international consultant. 

The successful applicant will be expected to be responsible for the following:

Task 1: Data collection.

Desk reviews of relevant past reviews, reference materials, interviews, and group discussions/meetings with relevant stakeholders (such as: UN agencies, government officials, donors, civil society organizations, the private sector, and beneficiaries).

• Providing inputs for the review methodology and desk review exercise
• Facilitating and coordinating meetings with relevant stakeholders and be a holder of mission programme/schedule
• Collecting and analyzing all relevant documents and reports needed for the review
• Supporting the organization of the stakeholder’s consultation/structure dialogues or related events

Task 2: Data Analysis and Quality Review.

All findings should be supported with evidence and acknowledgment of data sources. A triangulation approach will be applied, using both qualitative and quantitative methods of analysis.  The initial findings and analysis will be presented to major stakeholders as a means of refinement and quality review

• Drafting some parts of the review report as guided by international consultant
• Summarizing key Lao documents in English and working with international consultant and MPI/UNDP team to ensure common understanding of key issues arising from those documents
• Interpreting discussions and/or communications into English/Lao as necessary to support the review process
• Working closely with the international consultant as necessary and within the framework of his/her qualifications to work towards the most effective conduct of the review and assessment (from planning, to executing, and reporting the review)

Task 3: Future plan.

Based on findings from the above two exercises, a clear action and way forward improvement of the SWGs shall be defined.

Working closely with the international consultant in the development of a plan of action to be reviewed and approved by a meeting of the Chairs and Co-chairs for the future TOR of SWGs including structure and management arrangements

Competencies

• Demonstrated extensive experience of research/review/assessment including translation/interpretation assignments especially for the UN
• Extensive experience working in the development context in Lao PDR
• Experience of coordination and dialogue in the Round Table Process or related events in particular SWGs
• Demonstrated capacity in strategic thinking, problem solving and policy advice

Required Skills and Experience

• Master Degree in Development, Economics, Public Policy, Communications, English, Social Sciences, Humanities or any other relevant field
• Extensive experience working with a review/assessment of a project or programme
• Extensive experience working in relations with the government of Lao PDR and/or development partners in Lao PDR would be an asset
• Substantive knowledge of development issues, especially related to Effective Development Cooperation, Governance and Equitable Growth/poverty reduction, addressed by the UNDAF, and understanding of the development challenges and sensitivity especially in term of political context
• Experience of coordination and dialogue in the Round Table Process or related events in particular issues relating to SWGs 

LANGUAGE :  Fluency in English and good working knowledge of Lao Language

All interested and qualified International or National Individual Consultants should apply online using the following links: 

UNDP Lao PDR Country Office website at https://www.la.undp.org/content/lao_pdr/en/home/jobs.html 

In order to make your submission, please read the relevant documents available at the links below 

1. TOR  (Annex I)
2. IC General Terms and Conditions _ Annex II; 

Interested Individual Consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications: 

1. Technical Proposal 

            (i)  Explaining why you are the most suitable for the work; 

            (ii)  Providing a brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the work including the work 

                  schedule for the delivery of outputs/deliverable; 

1. P11 Form  Education and work experience, including past experience in similar projects and contact references of at least 3 references for whom you have rendered preferably the similar services; 
2. Financial proposal:  Detailed financial proposal: Lump sum offer with clear cost breakdown against each deliverable. Please use this template OFFEROR’S LETTER TO UNDP CONFIRMING INTEREST AND AVAILABILITY _ Annex III.

Instructions for online 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 (30 Jan 2022)  will be rejected. 

Note:  Any request for clarification must be sent in writing before the submission deadline to the following emails: surith.sengsavang@undp.org; chanthalath.pongmala@undp.org