The Government of Lao PDR has been implementing the 9th National Socio-Economic Development Plan (9th NSEDP) since 2021. The 9th NSEDP consists of six outcomes that can be dissected into many more outputs and focused areas. Progress of achieving these outcomes and outputs could be monitored by its monitoring and evaluation framework (M&E framework), which includes 168 indicators. Line ministries are expected to report these indicators to the Department of Planning at the Ministry of Planning and Investment – the national focal point for collating and analyzing NSEDP’s M&E indicators. However, the key challenge for implementing such a framework is that indicators of the annual NSEDP are not well aligned with those of the five-year NSEDP, resulting in the lack of data on some indicators. Some indicators simply lack the source of reliable information, while others are difficult to obtain.

In collaboration with the Department of Planning at the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the UNDP aims to strengthen the NSEDP’s M&E tracking process and establish its database for ease of access. This initiative is consistent with the UNDP support for “Effective National Planning and Financing” to review and monitor indicators for the M&E framework for the 9th NSEDP

The project requires support from a national consultant to develop and maintain database of M&E indicators for both annual and five-year development plans, link and reconcile figures and information between each data table, consolidate and analyze data for annual and five-year M&E frameworks and produce a progress report, prepare for the mid-term review of the 9th NSEDP and other capacity building activities related to the M&E of the 9th NSEDP.

OBJECTIVE

Working closely with the Department of Planning, Ministry of Planning and Investment, the consultant will be responsible for the following activities:

1. Develop data templates for reporting NSEDP targets and indicators for all six outcomes.
2. Map the annual NSEDP indicators into the five-year NSEDP indicators.
3. Collect and analyze data for assessing the progress of implementing the 9th NSEDP based on targets in the six outcomes.
4. Consolidate a data driven progress report on the 9th NSEDP
5. Assist with the preparation of the mid-term review of the 9th NSEDP and related activities to advance results-based management. 

SCOPE OF WORK:

The national consultant will provide day to day guidance and capacity building support to DOP on the monitoring of the 9th NSEDP. The consultant will liaise with other development partners that are providing support to DOP on the M&E of NSEDP as much as possible. The consultant is expected to be responsible for the following areas:

1. Development and institutionalizing of data collection templates

The consultant will support the team at DOP to either develop and or improve the existing templates for data collection for M&E frameworks for the annual and five-year development plans. The developed or improved templates should be user friendly, while ensuring its functionality. The consultant will provide support to the DOP team to also tailor templates to suit the need of data collection from each line ministries and provinces as per DOP’s feedback. The consultant will engage with Lao Statistics Bureau as much as possible to seek their input and guidance on the template. In addition, the consultant will link the five-year NSEDP with its annual plan by mapping the annual NSEDP indicators into the five-year NSEDP indicators. Once the templates are finalized, the consultant will conduct a briefing for DOP and facilitate a discussion on the steps/method for effectively rolling out the data collection. During this presentation, the consultant would present options to DOP for institutionalizing and streamlining current reporting processes.

2. Roll out a systematic data collection and analysis process

The consultant will engage with line ministries and provincial governments to conduct orientation to line ministries in terms of reporting to DOP using the finalized templates. The consultant will pilot test the data collection process for DOP including providing standardized guidance to report progress toward the targets set out in the six outcomes of the NSEDP. At the end of this piloting of data collection, the consultant will organize a second briefing for DOP to facilitate a discussion on the lessons from the data collection roll out with recommendations for improving the accuracy and timeliness of data used for these indicators. The consultant will identify any capacity gaps and additional training that line ministries and provincial governments need for effectively reporting on the 9th NSEDP and will provide guidance to optimize the benefits of any planned capacity building initiatives including that on on results-based management.

3. Consolidate the progress report on the 9th NSEDP

Based on the data collected, the consultant will consolidate the information gathered into a draft progress report with in-depth analysis and corresponding narrative for the targets of the six outcomes of the 9th NSEDP. The consultant will then conduct a briefing with DOP, LSB, line ministries, provincial governments to validate the analysis and to seek any feedback. Based on the feedback, the consultant will finalise the progress report which will serve as a key supporting document for the mid-term review of the 9th NSEDP, which will be conducted in 2023.

• Result oriented, patient, and hands-on with good teamwork skills
• Excellent computer skills (word, excel, power-point, internet, and other related matters)
• Strong data collection and analytical skills
• Strong interpersonal skill and experience in relation building

• Master’s Degree in Economics, Finance, Accounting, Data Science, Actuarial Mathematics, or related field.   
• At least 5 years of experience in data analysis, monitoring and evaluation of development plans and national development targets.
• Experience of working with government counterparts and development partners
• Excellent analytical skills.

LANGUAGE :

• Excellent working knowledge of written and spoken English and Lao is 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)
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  Offerors Letter to UNDP

Instructions for online submissions: 

• Step 1:  Please prepare all required documents electronically. 

• Step 2: Combine all documents in ONE SINGLE FILE (PDF or WORD file) and upload to the UNDP Jobs using this link  https://www.undp.org/laopdr/jobs

• 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