Background

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, EPPCR: The "Enhancing People Participating through Community Radio (EPPCR) Project" aims to expand the community radio network to more provinces as well as to ensure the sustainability of community radio after the project is completed. Currently, there are twelve community radio stations (CRs) in 6 provinces that can reach about 600,000 people.

Community radio stations, which allow local communities to operate and broadcast their programmes, have helped to harness the relevance of radio to enable people in remote regions to access information in their ethnic languages and engage on issues affecting their lives.

Since 2018, UNDP, Ministry of Information and Culture (MICT) / Department of Mass Media and development partners have worked together to explore the potential of community radio in Lao PDR’s remote areas to support social inclusion. This preparatory work has shown a high potential for positive impacts in the area. The project responds to ambitions of both MICT and UNDP to establish linkages between various development initiatives in 12 Community Radios and to contribute to the 18 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

As part of the project closure in June 2022, an analysis of the project will be undertaken to assess its current and future sustainability in the Lao PDR context. The Consultant will support the formulation of a sustainability framework in the form of a new project document, as the EPPCR project transitions into a new phase of operation.

OBJECTIVE

This Consultancy is designed to support the overall sustainability of the EPPCR Project by first reviewing the current institutional, operational and financial mechanisms that underpin it, based on available data and stakeholder interviews, to inform the development of the next phase Project Document. The assignment is focused on optimizing the EPPCR Project after the current phase is complete in June 2022 by assessing practices and providing recommendations for future improvements. These recommendations will be in alignment with the 9th NSEDP, the UNDP Strategic Plan and UNDP Country Programmes for Lao PDR.

The Consultant will conduct site visits to a certain number of Community Radios (CRs).  These visits will be crucial to understanding the challenges and opportunities of CRs in terms of improving workflows and processes with central level government (MICT), and ensuring financial sustainability. The assessment will conclude by recommending relevant capacity building and program enhancement measures. This may include the enactment of new policies, training programs, workshops or other innovative measures that would address the identified limitations. The Consultant will support to develop a possible model(s) for the improved effectiveness and sustainability of the CRs.

The Consultant is required to develop a detailed Project Document for the next phase of the Project, including a section on sustainability and incorporating recommendations for the long-term management of the EPPCR Project. The final deliverable will include a slide deck summarizing key findings and recommendations from the assignment report, and a presentation on key recommendations for stakeholders, namely UNDP, MICT and CRs.

Duties and Responsibilities

SCOPE OF WORK

Under the supervision of the UNDP Team Leader for Governance and the EPPCR Project Board, the Consultant will be working with the support of EPPCR project team, MICT and local coordinators.

The tasks of National Consultant will include:

• Desk based review: Conducting desk-based, case study research on sustainability measures applied to similar existing Radio projects. Evaluate the approaches taken and the components and measures of a successful long-term project;
• Stakeholder interviews: conduct interviews with key stakeholders to assess current practices and inform the development of the Project Document for the next phase of the EPPCR Project, including a Sustainability Plan. The plan will ensure project sustainability of the CRs (nationally, not just EPPCR developed CRs) for the medium term (3-5 years) and long term (5+ years). The Project Document should also include a section on capacity needs at the institutional level for the EPPCR. The consultant should include recommendations for incorporating gender mainstreaming in the new phase of EPPCR as well as environmental sustainability.
• Develop Project Document: based on insights collected from desk-based research and interviews, develop the Project Document for the next phase of the EPPCR Project (2-4 years) following the UNDP Template (approx. 20-30 pages). Present the Project Document through a PPT to MICT, UNDP and selected CRs.

Competencies

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

Required Skills and Experience

• Advanced University Degree in development studies, community development, media and communication, governance, or a related field (e.g., international law, international relations, political science, etc.); Masters Degree is desirable.
• At least 8 years of professional experience in the fields of governance, public administration, communication, community development, or a related field; working experience in media and communication at the national and/or sub-national levels would be an asset;
• Demonstrated experience in conducting research studies in the fields of media, communication, community radio, community development. Experience conducting country-level assessments would be an asset;
• Experience within the UN system would be an asset;

Language  :   Fluency in English and Lao.

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 Form: 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