Background
Lao PDR is among the most heavily bombed countries per capita in the world, with over two million tons of munitions dropped on it during the Indochina War (1964-1973). This includes 270 million sub-munitions from cluster bombs, up to 30% of which may have failed to detonate. While the number of accidents has dropped markedly from 302 in December 2008 to 63 in December 2021, UXO contamination remains as a threat to the safety of population especially children, and an obstacle to rural development in poor and remote areas. Around 80% of people in Lao PDR live in rural areas, where livelihood opportunities are often uncertain, and food and nutrition security indicators are particularly poor. 42 of the 46 poorest districts in the country are UXO contaminated, UXO contamination can lead to loss of livestock, restricted access to land, food insecurity, insufficient basic infrastructure, reduced crop production, increased transport costs, disability, employment shortages, and other negative socio-economic outcomes. The exact total extent and location of contamination in the country is currently uncertain despite decades of systematic survey.
The UXO sector in Lao PDR consists of the National Regulatory Authority for the UXO/Mine Action Sector in the Lao PDR (NRA), Lao national Unexploded Ordnance Programme (UXO Lao), humanitarian Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), several accredited commercial companies providing UXO services, and seven humanitarian clearance teams within the Lao People’s Army (Unit 58). According to the Prime Minister’s Decree No: 67/PM, dated 12th February 2018, the overall coordination and sector lead from the Government side is mandated to rest with the NRA through the Ministry of Labour & Social Welfare (MLSW). Since the mid-1990s, UNDP has been the leading development partner supporting the UXO sector in Lao PDR. UNDP, with other partners, have helped create the two key state institutions in the UXO sector, namely UXO Lao (the main National clearance capacity) and the NRA (the Regulatory Authority). The Minister of Labour and Social Welfare chairs both the NRA Board and the UXO Sector Working Group. UNDP also serves as Co-Chair of the UXO Sector Working Group, together with the United States. The Sector Working Group is tasked to coordinate all partners concerned in the sector and achieve development effectiveness.
The new National Strategic Plan for the UXO sector, SPF III, aims to reduce the impact of UXO and guides the implementation of several important international conventions and declarations, including the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM), the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) Declaration on the Decade of the Disabled. It also details the goals of the government and its development partners over the 2011-2020 period and the planned actions for reducing the humanitarian and socio-economic threats posed by UXOs to the point where the residual contamination and challenges can be adequately addressed.
From the most recent evaluation of UNDP support to the sector in Lao PDR, having a stronger understanding of the drivers of behaviour change to better support Explosive ordnance Risk Education (EORE) was a key recommendation. As such, UNDP in Lao PDR and the National Regulatory Authority (NRA) needs to ensure a better understanding of the drivers of behaviour change. UNDP will undertake a baseline and endline Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) survey to be able to identify gaps in knowledge, attitude, and practice of individuals in UXO impacted communities where the objective is to minimise risk related behaviour and subsequent potential injury when individuals are confronted with the UXO threat. Accident analysis indicates that not only are victims engendered (where men are more prevalent than women) but also that accidents take place across several specific activities (such as forest clearing, livestock herding, firewood collection). We also may assume that knowledge acquisition does not directly impact on behaviour practice where socio-economic pressures in impoverished communities play an import part in risk taking. A key objective of the EORE sub-sector in Lao PDR is to be able to hone EORE activities to better address risk taking behaviour
OBJECTIVE
- Quantify and describe the current levels of knowledge and attitudes of at-risk individuals in UXO contaminated areas towards the risks of UXO
- Quantify and describe the current practices of at-risk individuals towards the risks of UXO
- Quantify and describe the motivations of individuals who involve in unsafe behaviour in UXO contaminated areas (risk-takers).
- Quantify, map and assess effectiveness of information/communication channels available to individuals in UXO contaminated areas
- Quantify and describe the barriers to access to knowledge, attitude and safe behaviour specific to UXO threats
Duties and Responsibilities
SCOPE OF WORK
The successful applicant will be expected to collect data to respond the following survey questions:
- What are the current levels of knowledge of individuals on the risks of UXO and threats for their lives?
- What are the current attitudes of individuals in UXO contaminated areas towards the risks of UXO and threats for their lives?
- What are the current practices of individuals towards the risks of UXO?
- What are the motivational factors specific to each age, ethnic and gender group to get involved in unsafe behaviour in UXO contaminated areas (risk-takers)?
- What are the barriers to access to information in general and knowledge specific to UXO threats?
- What are the barriers for each age, ethnic, and gender group to change their attitudes and practices (behaviours) towards safety?
The methodology for this KAP study is expected to be provided by consultant(s) in detail and approved by the NRA and UNDP UXO Unit. The main stages to consider are as follows:
- Review of all relevant project documents and develop a detailed methodology including a literature review, sampling (both criteria for geographical location and sample size of respondents) and primary data collection tools.
- Field stage: primary data collection
- Present the preliminary findings to the UXO Unit team
- Data analysis and report writing
The consultant will be supervised by by the Lead consultant, UNDP Chief Technical Specialist and under the guidance of a small committee comprising of NRA and UNDP UXO Unit staff.
DELIVERABLES
the inception phase the lead consultant should undertake a desk review all relevant project documents and other examples of KAP survey for of UXO and Mine Action sector. The inception report should bring together learning from pervious experiences in country, and in other UXO and Mine Action contexts. The report should also clearly detail the methodology including a literature review, sampling (both criteria for geographical location and sample size of respondents) and primary data collection tools. The inception report should be presented to committee comprising of NRA and UNDP UXO Unit staff to ensure the work will be meeting the clients’ expectations. The inception report should include an activity plan, detailing expected activities against an anticipated timeline.
Field research, undertaken in Lao PDR by selected international and national consultants, should be undertaken in UNDP programme areas selected and agreed during the inception period. A short weekly progress report should be submitted to the consultancy supervisor to update the client on progress, and to enable the client to assist should there be any logistical challenges or blockages. The report should report against the timeline as drafted in the inception report.
The draft report should detail the objectives of the study, the methodology, approach, and preliminary (both qualitative and quantitative) findings. Annexes should include questionnaires, as well as details of communities and individuals consulted. The demonstrations of level and gaps in KAP should be clearly quantified and qualified and demonstrated with examples.
Further, the report should provide data to answer the survey questions, with a particular focus on data to establish baseline values for the indicator 2.2. Changes in percentage of individuals (disaggregated by age, gender, ethnicity, and geography) from target at-risk groups changing KAP.
The report also should provide specific recommendations for UNDP and the wider sector with a view to maximizing the development outcomes of survey and clearance. The recommendations should be achievable and appropriate to the Lao context. As the inception report, the final report should be presented to the client for review and possible shift in emphasis, if required.
UNDP will hire a national consultant to act as a research assistant and interpreter/translator for a period of 30 days on a separate consultancy contract. The International consultant will be engaged in the final selection of the national consultant.
Competencies
- Demonstrated skill in data gathering and processing, including interviewing, focus group discussions etc
Required Skills and Experience
Qualifications:
Bachelors degree minimum. Masters level qualification preferred.
Experience:
Previous demonstrated experience in undertaking research assignments, for at least 3 years, although not necessarily in UXO or Mine Action
Languange:
- Fluent Lao language.
- Strong English skills – where the national consultant will need to act as assistant and interpreter to the lead international consultant. Interpretation services will be required to facilitate interviews, focus group discussions, liaison with local authorities etc
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HOW TO APPLY
Requirements for submission of proposals
All interested and qualified International Consultant should apply on-line using the following links:
UNDP Lao PDR Country Office website at https://www.undp.org/laopdr/jobs or
In order to make your submission, please read the relevant documents available on the link below
- TOR
Interested Individual Consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:
- Technical Proposal (Free-Form):
- 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;
- 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 Form (OFFEROR's LETTER): 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