UNDP CO in Lao PDR: Guided by the global UNDP Strategic Plan (2022 – 2025) and UNDP Country Programme for Lao PDR (2022 – 2026), the UNDP Country Office (CO) in Lao PDR works closely with the line Ministries, mass organizations, civil society, development partners, and the private sector at both national and sub-national levels in pursuit of the national socio-economic development priorities defined in Lao PDR’s five-year National Socio-Economic Development Plan (NSEDP) and localized Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The UNDP CO’s work is strongly focused on the provision of policy advice and technical support to the Government in the design and implementation of national legislation and strategies across four broad Priority Pillars: (1) inclusive growth and reduced inequalities; (2) UXO clearance and risk education; (3) natural resources, climate change, and disaster risk reduction; as well as (4) effective, responsive and accountable governance.

UNDP CO, Governance Unit: The UNDP CO’s programming on effective, responsive, and accountable governance, inter alia, focuses on the provision of policy advice and technical support to the Government to: (1) enhance the rule of law and access to justice; (2) strengthen the role and capacities of the National Assembly and People’s Provincial Assemblies; (3) streamline the public administration reform and national initiative on decentralization (Sam Sang Directive); as well as to (4) expand public participation in the national policy- and decision-making.

UNDP Governance Unit, Responsible Business Practice: In the area of the rule of law and access to justice, UNDP CO partners with a number of line Ministries (MoIC, MPI, MoJ, MoLSW, MoNRE, MoEM), Lao National Chamber of Commerce, and Industry (LNCCI) and international Chambers, National University of Lao PDR and Non-Profit Associations (NPAs) to strengthen the understanding and capacity of the Government, private sector, civil society, and other non-profit stakeholders to uphold the international standards for responsible business practice, including the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), in Lao PDR, particularly through the implementation of the “Improving Performance, Accountability, Conduct, and Transparency of Business in Lao PDR” (IMPACT Biz) Project, funded by the Government of Japan. The UNDP IMPACT Biz Project is a part of the global UNDP-Japan joint action on “Human Rights Due Diligence in Global Supply Chains: Leveraging the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights for a Just Recovery”, being implemented in 17 target countries in 2022-2023.  

In the framework of the IMPACT Biz Project, UNDP CO seeks to achieve the following results:

• (Output 1) Capacity of the Government of Lao PDR to prevent and address environmental and social impacts caused or contributed by business operations and relationships is enhanced;
• (Output 2) Capacity of businesses, particularly Japanese, to avoid causing or contributing to environmental and social impacts through their business operations and relationships and to address such impacts when they occur is enhanced;
• (Output 3) Capacity of civil society and other non-profit stakeholders to monitor and report on environmental and social impacts caused or contributed by business operations and relationships is enhanced.

To contribute to the delivery of the business-focused Output 2, UNDP will undertake an in-depth Study on environmental and social impacts and risks faced by Japanese businesses, their suppliers and partners in Lao PDR.

OBJECTIVE:

 The overall objective of the assignment is to conduct an in-depth Study on environmental and social impacts caused by Japanese businesses, their suppliers, and partners in Lao PDR and impact-related risks for them, with the focus on the following research questions:

• What is the operational context for Japanese businesses domiciled in Lao PDR?
• What Japanese businesses and industries are domiciled in Lao PDR? What are their suppliers and partners in Lao PDR?
• What are the impacts on the environment and society caused by Japanese businesses domiciled in Lao PDR? What are the type, severity, and likelihood of those impacts? What right-holders are affected by each type of impact? Where does each type of impact take place?
• What are the impact-related risks faced by Japanese businesses domiciled in Lao PDR?
• What priority measures are recommended to be taken by Japanese businesses domiciled in Lao PDR to prevent or mitigate their impacts on the environment and society and related risks?

The analysis and recommendations should be industry-specific, founded on the UNDP Human Rights Due Diligence Guide and Tool, and structured around at least the following areas: (1) occupational health and safety; (2) labour rights; (3) environmental and community impacts; (4) safeguarding privacy; preventing stigma and discrimination; (5) corporate policy and management considerations.

The results of the Study will remain confidential for the public and will be used only to inform training materials on responsible business practice, particularly on Due Diligence, conducted for Japanese businesses in Lao PDR under the IMPACT Biz Project

SCOPE OF WORK:

The International Consultant will work under the supervision of the UNDP IMPACT Biz Project, UNDP Team Leader for Governance, and the Japanese Supplementary Budget (JSB) Global Coordination Team.

The tasks of the International Consultant will include: 

1. Produce an outline, methodology, and research plan for the Study:

• Draft an outline of the Study, which shall at least include: (1) an overview of the operational context for Japanese businesses domiciled in Lao PDR; (2) a profile of Japanese businesses, their suppliers, and partners domiciled in Lao PDR; (3) an examination of impacts (potential and actual) on the environment and society caused by Japanese businesses domiciled in Lao PDR, with the focus on specific rightsholders and locations; (4) an examination of impact-related risks faced by Japanese businesses domiciled in Lao PDR; and (5) concrete and practical recommendations for priority measures to be taken by Japanese businesses to prevent or mitigate their impacts and related risks;
• Develop a research methodology and plan specific activities under the assignment, including a list of potential interviewees and focus group discussion (FGDs). It is recommended to use the qualitative data collection method (interviews and FGDs), in combination with simple quantitative methods to illustrate the economic risks for Japanese businesses, their suppliers, and partners in Lao PDR.

       2. Conduct preliminary desk research to identify available data and existing analysis against the approved outline of the Study. 

       3. Lead the preparation and facilitation of at least eight Stakeholder Interviews and/or FGDs to verify and complement the preliminary desk 

          research with: (1) the Government; (2) national and international Chambers; (3) individual Japanese businesses; (4) development

          partners;    and (5) civil society.

       4. Lead the elaboration of the Study that examines industry-specific environmental and social impacts caused by Japanese businesses, their

           suppliers, and partners in Lao PDR and related risks for them, as well as makes industry-specific recommendations on their prevention or

           mitigation.

      5. Validate the findings and recommendations and finalize the Study:

• Validate the Study’s findings and recommendations through at least three peer-reviews by experts nominated by the UNDP IMPACT Biz Project and JSB Global Coordination Team;
• Address the feedback provided and finalize the Study approved by UNDP and JSB Global Coordination Team.

• Strong analytical and writing skills
• Skilled usage of computers and office software packages

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s level) in business administration, governance, the rule of law, human rights or a related field (e.g., international development, international law, international relations, political science, etc.)
• At least 5 years of professional experience in the fields of governance, the rule law, international development, corporate social responsibility (CSR) or a related field; working experience in business at the national and/or trans-national levels would be an asset
• At least 3 years of experience in conducting comprehensive multi-discipline research studies including in the fields of responsible business practice, manufacturing, mining, agriculture, global supply chains and logistics
• Experience within the UN system would be an asset
• Experience with the Japanese public or private sectors would be an asset

Language : English and Japanese proficiency

Requirements for Submission of Proposals 

All interested and qualified Individual Consultants should apply online using the following link: UNDP Lao PDR CO website.

In order to make a 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. Free-Form Technical Proposal:

• Explaining why you are the most suitable for the work; 
• Providing a brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the work, including the work schedule for the delivery of outputs/deliverables; 
  1. P11 Form: Education and work experience, including past experience in similar projects and contact references of at least three references for whom you have rendered preferably the similar services; 
  2. Financial Proposal From: Lump sum offer with clear cost breakdown against each deliverable.

Instructions for Online Submissions: 

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

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

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