Background

This project for Enhancing Integrated Water Management and Climate Resilience in Vulnerable Urban Areas of the Mekong River Basin seeks to address the critical need for risk data to inform integrated water resources management and, in so doing, enable increased investment in risk reduction measures in Lao PDR and Cambodia. There is a strong connection between the upstream and downstream impacts associated with floods and water availability in the transboundary region. As such, the project seeks to address these problems faced while acknowledging the transboundary nature of the challenge and making adjustments as necessary to tailor for the variances of each country. Taking a barrier-removal approach, the project will address gaps in data collection, management, and analysis, enhance institutional and technical capacity at the subnational level for integrated climate and flood risk management, enhance the availability of resources for investment in water-related risk reduction, and aid the flow of risk knowledge and coordination across borders.

The project will also contribute towards improved hydrological and climate risk modelling and information systems, which will in turn inform flood management as well as adaptation planning and enhance the capacity of national and provincial decision-makers, as well as local stakeholders using the improved information system.

The project applies a human rights-based approach to address development challenges associated with disasters and enhance resilience to increasing climate risks through improved policy, strengthened capacity, and risk information. This approach fosters resilient and sustainable socio-economic development and contributes to the achievement of the SDGs. The number of direct beneficiaries of the project is approximately 106,481 (38,388 residents of Thakek and 68,093 residents of Pakse) and overall beneficiaries (direct + indirect) are over 1.6 million people of Khammouane and Champasack Provinces.

This project is implemented by UNDP, in close cooperation with the Department of Water Resources (DWR), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE). Asian Water Council (AWC) and K-Water will conduct some of the activities.

OBJECTIVE

The main objective of the project is to strengthen the climate and disaster resilience of people and communities in vulnerable regions of Lao PDR and Cambodia through improved risk and vulnerability assessment and advancing an integrated approach to water resources management. There are two outcomes intended at the country-level activity implementation: 1) Inclusive assessment of water-related climate risks completed in the priority river basins, 2) Enabling environment for gender-responsive climate risk-informed integrated water resources management developed. The project focuses on the development of planning capacities in the target areas using the combined method of technological/scientific approach (such as GIS, climate modelling, and database management) and participatory approach (such as inclusive participation, and community-based planning activities).

UNDP Lao PDR is seeking anational expert with knowledge and experience in institutional capacity development through conducting a capacity assessment and develop a short-term capacity development plan and deliver the training. The objective of this assignment is to build institutional capacity at the national, provincial, and district levels to improve management capacity of integrated water resource management, taking into account climate change adaptation, and disaster risk reduction measures that could be addressed during the project period until 2025 and in line with the planned project activities. The targeted project areas are the river basins (Xe Don and Xe Ban Fai) in Khammouane and Champasack Provinces.

Duties and Responsibilities

SCOPE OF WORK

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

  • Conduct a desk review and kick-off meeting to develop a detailed work plan
  • Conduct interviews/focus group discussions in Vientiane Capital and Khammouane and Champasack Province to assess the capacity at the national, provincial, and district levels.
  • Conduct an assessment and identify and analyze the main stakeholder capacity gaps of relevant agencies in decision making targeting women in vulnerable and gender-related capacity weaknesses and challenges (individual/community/organizational/societal)
    • Highlight the key capacity deficiencies (e.g. financial and physical asset deficiencies in the target groups).
    • Identify the priorities as well as the current capacity development opportunities.
    • Analyze the capacity strengths and weaknesses across all stakeholders/targeted audience.
  • Design a Short-Term Capacity Development Plan including activities, timelines, estimated cost, capacity development training guidelines, and monitoring & evaluation plan. Provide recommendations for the most effective modes of capacity development to meet the needs for transforming structurally embedded unequal power relations in water management and climate resilience.
  • Facilitate a stakeholder workshop to validate the needs assessment and report and review the approaches for enhancing agency and decision-making power.
  • Conduct institutional capacity development training in Vientiane Capital, Khammouane Province, and Champasack Province.

Competencies

  • Result oriented, patient, and hands-on with good teamwork skills
  • Excellent computer skills (word, excel, power-point, internet, and other related matters)
  • Mature personality with experience working in mixed cultural teams
  • Strong interpersonal skill and experience in relation building

Required Skills and Experience

  • A Bachelor’s degree in development studies, environmental science, disaster risk management, urban planning, gender studies, or a relevant field. A Master’s degree is preferred 
  • At least 3 years of experience working in capacity assessment and development and facilitating workshops and training.
  • Knowledge in community-based participatory planning approach.
  • Knowledge of scientific/technological planning tools, such as GIS and database management. 

LANGUAGE :  Excellent verbal and written skills in English and Lao are required

 

Requirements for submission of proposals 

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.undp.org/laopdr/jobs

 

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

  1. TOR (Annex I)
  1. 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  Offerors Letter to UNDP

Instructions for online submissions: 

  • Step 1:  Please prepare all required documents electronically; 

 

 

  • 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

 

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